Lake Erie beaches draw in hundreds of visitors on any given weekend in the summer. This can sometimes be evident by the litter left behind.

Laura Smith is a 5th generation Eagle Scout. Her and her family spend lots of time outdoors. They are often frustrated by the trash left on the beach.

"My friends and I always make it a habit to bring a garbage bag with us. When we see trash, we live by the rule leave it better than you found it."

In an effort to encourage others to pack out their garbage, Laura built trash collection posts. These posts hold baskets for people to collect their trash and pack it out of the beach after visiting.

Laura hopes everyone will grab a basket and bring it along with them when they visit Shades Beach.

"That trash can end up in our waterways and destroy our animals' habitats," said Laura. "Ideally, we want to keep those animals safe."