During the 2018-19 school year, teams of middle schoolers tackled the problem of plastic pollution in our waterways with the National Geographic GeoChallenge. First-place teams from sixteen regional competitions traveled to the 2019 Geo Championships in Washington, D.C. in May 2019. This blog series introduces you to each of those teams in their own words.* Registration for next year’s #NatGeoChallenge opens in August at NatGeoEd.org/GeoChallenge.

Concerned about all of the pollution reaching the Colorado River, the GeoScientists team designed a “river sweeper” prototype to collect plastic debris in the river. They also started a public awareness campaign in their school against littering.

From: Gateway Pointe Elementary School in Gilbert, Arizona

Team Motto: There’s nothing we can’t tackle!

A funny thing about your coach: Every time Miss Adkins leaves the classroom she says, “Don’t burn the classroom down.”

A funny thing about your team: CeCe is the oldest yet she is the shortest. Anabelle is the second shortest and she is the second oldest. Mykah is the second tallest in our group and the youngest. Basically, the shorter you are the older you are in our team.

Favorite moment at the regional competition: At the regional competition, we got Panda Express for lunch. Amelia got a fortune that said, “You will get help from an unexpected source.” Anabelle’s fortune said, “Your success will lead to a great future.” CeCe’s fortune said, “Something great will happen in your life.” Mykah’s fortune said, “You will have good luck today.” Then we won our regional competition!

When I think of National Geographic, I think of … saving animals, and helping and improving our environment.

Registration for the 2019-2020 National Geographic GeoChallenge opens in August.

*Team responses have been lightly edited for grammar.