When Ellie Sawyer comes down to Long Beach Island from North Jersey during the summer, fun in the sun and surf aren’t her only priorities. For nearly half of her 15 years, Sawyer has been an eager volunteer for ReClam the Bay.

She has been volunteering in various capacities – conducting her own American flag sale fundraisers, pitching in at the Beach Haven upweller at the old U.S. Coast Guard station and talking to youngsters at education programs at the New Jersey Maritime Museum. She earned a Junior RCTB Volunteer of the Year award in 2017.

“I think she might be the longest serving volunteer we have had,” said Rick Bushnell, RCTB founder and president.