Noelle Eschete and her mom, Britta, have called Mount Vernon home for the last eight years. When they have some free time, Noelle likes to go to Bayview State Park on the shores of Padilla Bay, right along the water on the beach.

"I like it there because it's peaceful and I like the sand, the water, the trees, the birds," says Noelle.

Noelle's mom, however, likes walking along the Skagit River. "I love to observe the changes," says Britta, "the patterns eroded in rocks, as the river-route changes over times, the overhanging vegetations, the rocks, how clear the water is, and everything is visible below the water."

Noelle says she does her part to keep Puget Sound healthy by throwing trash away in the right place and if she sees pieces of paper, she picks them up.

"To be honest, I don't think Puget Sound is very healthy," she says. "There's all the pollution and we're not doing anything about it. Some people are trying to clean up the Sound by not throwing cans in the water, but when cars go by, exhaust and oil goes into the water and people aren't doing anything about it."

"Maybe we just have to start with some simple things to do," says Britta. "I've been hauling a crate of dishes, cups and napkins around with me lately so more events I organize are paper-waste free. We should all be making at least one resolution of something we can do-- and stick with it."