In 2017, Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage, OLAUG, was formed. We have been cleaning up ponds on Cape Cod from Falmouth to Chatham ever since. Gathering small teams of swimmers, ages 64 to 85, we sweep along the shallows, diving down to pick up beer cans, golf balls, fishing lures, waterlogged dog toys, hats, jackets, shoes, and occasionally a tire, cell phone or box of spent fireworks.
Whatever we heave up from the bottom, we hand to the Garbage Collector who paddles a canoe or kayak. One swimmer goes ahead looking for snapping turtles and guides the swimmers around them. Our affection and respect for the fish, turtles, and plants that live in the ponds are what motivates us. Well, that and cookies.
Who knew that a bunch of old ladies in bathing suits would generate so much interest? But generate we did. We’ve been featured in local newspapers, the Christian Science Monitor and Readers Digest, on local and Boston TV stations, CBS and NPR, and in multiple videos. This year we have dates with the Boston Globe, NBC Nightly News and AARP, among others. It seems in these times of bad news and discord, our story of courage, fun, and connection with nature and each other has struck a chord.
OLAUG received a Special Recognition Award at the Annual Meeting of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod (APCC) on Sunday, August 25, 2024 for our work cleaning up the ponds of Cape Cod.
DONATE: Your tax-deductible donations enable us to buy safety equipment, subsidize wetsuit purchases for members, create educational materials, etc.
Help us clean up more ponds and spread the word about caring for these natural treasures.