Palisadian Boy Scout Cleans Local Beach with CD 11 Team

By MAGNOLIA LAFLEUR | Reporter

The West Los Angeles Boy Scouts partnered with Councilmember Mike Bonin’s team on Monday, January 31, for a beach cleanup at Will Rogers State Beach. Palisadian Rowan Cote was the lead Boy Scout who organized the clean-up, and was recognized for his efforts by Bonin on social media.

Living in Pacific Palisades made this volunteer job extra special for Cote who felt “great” helping alongside his Troop.

“I enjoy the beach. Sea life and birds who live at the beach … can get physically harmed by trash from trying to eat it or can be wrapped around them,” Cote said to the Palisadian-Post.  “The plastic caps from water bottles and face masks were some of the most collected items.”

Cote, a ninth grader at Palisades Charter High-School, held a meeting where he invited his Troop, answered their questions and tracked their RSVPs via email after coordinating a date, time and location with Troop Leader Jay Kenny.

Cote also made an announcement regarding the event during a Pacific Palisades Community meeting, inviting attendees to join in the beach cleanup.

“Rowan wants to make a difference in his community and in the future, make a difference globally,” Rowan’s mother, Jenny Hope, said to the Post. “Rowan has always had a love for the beach. Additionally, he is surprised to see people litter, anywhere, especially in nature where it harms wildlife so readily.”

After the event, Bonin honored the Scouts and Cote for their dedication to cleaning the beach.

“Over the weekend, the CD11 team partnered with West LA Boy Scouts Troop 1 for a beach cleanup at Will Rogers State Beach,” Bonin shared to Twitter on January 31. “Thank you Rowan who organized his fellow Scouts and the many volunteers who helped throughout this beach cleanup.”

Having been a Scout since he was in second grade, Cote comes from a family of Scouts—his mother was a Girl Scout, and her brother a Boy Scout.

Jenny shared that she is grateful her son is able to develop and grow as a Scout and has high hopes for him.

“Rowan has gained leadership skills, in particular with collaborations like this beach clean-up with the Councilmember and the Boy Scout Troop,” she said. “I hope to see Rowan embrace being a leader and change maker in the environmental space. He has the passion so it shall be interesting to see as more develops for Rowan.”

Through the Troop, Cote is learning how he can make a difference in his community and is determined to continue leading and making the world a better place by keeping nature trash-free.

“It felt like I accomplished something rather than doing nothing when we live near the beautiful beaches,” Cote said. “I’m looking forward to volunteering with Heal The Bay and other organizations that protect our beaches and wildlife.”