Some people surprise you with how much they can accomplish when they put their minds to something. Abigail (Abby) Klarin made that impression from her very first Ocean Defenders Alliance (ODA) cleanup in March 2025. Joining her mother, Tessa, at a wetlands cleanup, Abby tackled the trash-filled waterway with remarkable determination. Her enthusiasm is a welcome reminder that the next generation of environmental stewards is ready to step up and make a difference.

ODA Founder and President Kurt Lieber remembers the day Abby first joined a cleanup and explains why her enthusiasm left such a lasting impression on him:

Through all the years of pulling people together to clean up this planet, it’s always been a struggle to get young people to participate. But hope springs eternal and I keep putting feelers out to just about anyone who will listen.

That has resonated with 2 of our long-time volunteers, Dave and Jean Merrill.  Whenever we announce the date of a cleanup they pass it along to their friends and colleagues. On this particular occasion I’m going to share with you, Tessa Klarin received an email that Jean had forwarded to her.

Tess showed up with one of her daughters, Abigail, for a Bolsa Chica Channel cleanup in March of 2025. 

Abby impressed me right away, she had a never-ending store of energy and she dug right in, pulling trash from this filthy waterway. She went full speed for the 3 hours we were there, and at the conclusion of our day amongst the trash and blazing sun, she asked “When is the next one?”

I understand why young people can’t seem to find the time to participate in community volunteer projects. They have a ton of things going on with school and social lives, plus giving up one of their precious weekend days away from their sporting events or social outings is asking a lot of them.

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But Abby feels differently. I can tell she wants to protect the habitat and animals she loves, and like the young filly that she is, is ready to hit the trail!  She’s joined us on other cleanups in the last year-and-a-half. She grabs her gear and tears into the piles of trash that would otherwise be heading to the open ocean.

I have a good feeling that Abby is going to be a leader in whatever endeavor she pursues in life. The earth, and all her creatures (and us at ODA!), are lucky to have her out there doing her best!

Captain Kurt

Dear Friend, after you read our Q&A interview with Abby, be sure to watch her video interview and check out the photo gallery below!

Q: What drew your attention to the ocean/environment and when?
A:  Going to the zoo and SeaWorld when I was younger first drew my attention to the environment and ocean. Seeing wildlife conservation presented in such a fun and unique way opened my eyes to the importance of protecting Earth and its animals!

Q: What are your favorite ODA cleanups?
A: My favorite ODA cleanup was earlier this year when we got special permission to go to snowy plover conservation habitat at seal beach to clean up the beach for the plovers!

Q: Any funny stories to share from an ODA cleanup?
A: One funny ODA story was after we finished cleaning along the channel a few of us volunteers began playing soccer with a crusty soccer ball we had found while cleaning. Ultimately someone accidentally kicked the ball in the channel and the next thing we know is one of the guys throws off his shoes and dives into the channel to retrieves the ball! 

Q: Why do you like volunteering with ODA?
A: I love volunteering with ODA because of the community! I enjoy getting to talk with and learn from people of different generations and backgrounds. Everyone brings something unique, and it makes volunteering such a fun and rewarding experience!

Q: Your mom also volunteers. Can you talk about the positives of volunteering together? Did one or the other start first with ODA or did you both “dive in” at the same time?
A:  We both “dove in” at the same time! Volunteering together has been such a wonderful experience because I always have someone to talk to, and we get to spend quality time together. After every cleanup, we usually grab lunch, which has become a fun tradition and a great way for us to bond while giving back to our community.

Q: Why do you think it's important for people to support ODA?
A:  I think it’s so important for people to support ODA because of how dedicated they are to protecting and helping ocean wildlife. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to help because after every cleanup, you can immediately see the difference we’ve made. Seeing how much cleaner and better the beach or channel looks makes the experience so rewarding and shows how important ODA’s work is.

Check out this interview with this impressive young lady:

Abby’s participation with ODA has offered a glimpse of what can happen when young people are given the opportunity to make a tangible difference. She threw herself into the work, stayed the course under challenging conditions, and finished the day eager for another chance to help. Her determination is encouraging, especially as ODA continues working to involve more young people in protecting the natural world. With volunteers like Abby stepping forward, there is good reason to feel hopeful about the future of our environment.

You can help make more cleanup opportunities possible by supporting ODA’s efforts to remove harmful debris before it reaches the open ocean. Whether you volunteer your time or make a donation, you become part of the work to protect wildlife and the habitats they depend on.

Explore Abby’s photo gallery below to see her in action at ODA cleanups and the enthusiasm she brings to protecting our environment.