Tides Beach Cleanup, August 8-9, 2026

How Growing Up in a Small Beach Community Like The Tides Has Shaped My Life

                                                              By: Kaitlyn Minton

The tide was just starting to roll in, the water creeping slowly up the sand like it had all the time in the world. I sat on my usual spot at The Tides Beach, where the dunes met the shore, watching the sky turn shades of pink and orange. Growing up here, I learned to measure time not by clocks, but by the rhythm of the ocean. High tide, low tide, sunrise, sunset these were the moments that shaped my days and, in many ways, my life. In a small beach community like The Tides, everyone knows each other. Summers are filled with familiar faces, laughter echoing across the sand, and the smell of sunscreen and saltwater in the air. Winters are quieter, but that's when you really see the strength of the community neighbors checking in on each other, bundled walks along the shore, and the steady reminder that the ocean is always there, no matter the season. Growing up here has taught me the importance of connection, not just to people, but to a place. It's shown me how small moments like a walk on the beach or a conversation with a neighbor can mean everything.

The ocean has also taught me patience and resilience. Some days it's calm and peaceful, and other days it's rough and unpredictable. Living beside it, I've learned that life works the same way. You can't control everything, but you can learn how to adapt, stay steady, and keep moving forward. As I think about my future, I know that the lessons I've learned here will stay with me. After graduating, I will be attending SUNY Delhi to pursue a degree in Veterinary Technology. I've always had a strong love for animals, and I want to dedicate my life to helping them. Whether I'm working in a veterinary clinic, caring for horses as an equine vet tech, or even helping animals in a zoo or research setting, I know I want to make a difference.

Even as I leave The Tides to follow my goals, a part of me will always belong here. The sound of the waves, the feeling of sand beneath my feet, and the sense of community I grew up with will continue to guide me. No matter where I go, The Tides will always be home to the place that shaped who I am and gave me the foundation to chase what comes next.

Scarlett Ward Tides Scholarship Application

Being able to say that I grew up in the Tides Beach Community honestly is a blessing. From going to beach cleanups, and karaoke nights, to now driving and going to sunset with my friends, Tides truly has seen me in every phase of my life. I remember running up the big hill at the top with my siblings and playing on the playground that used to feel so big. Now I come back and look at it and it feels so small. Making sand castles and seeing who can hold their breath the longest turned into tanning for hours, or long talks about being scared for the future.

Rocky Point is a small town, but Tides provides an even smaller community. Leaving the beach out of it, being able to walk to my friends’ houses in five minutes truly is such a blessing. Growing up at Tides has taught me the importance of community and structure. The structure part comes from Tides being my first job, I started when I had freshly turned fourteen and loved it. My job started as sitting with some random teenager who I would maybe speak three words to on a shift. As I got older, some of my friends started to work and I would talk to whoever I could. I became more outgoing and genuinely loved work. Having a job also taught me the importance of my own money, learning to show up on time when needed, and how to work. I am very thankful to say that Tides taught me all that.

The Tides has changed since I worked there. At first when someone would drive up, we would have to move a sign, check the badge, let them drive through, then move the sign back (the sign was so old it would break with someone breathing on it). We also had these umbrellas that never stayed in the ground, safe to say I chased it at least twenty times in one summer. Running after

the umbrellas, trying to move the sign, and trying to kill the spiders in the bathroom gave me so many laughs and memories that I look back on and smile. Now, with the electronic gate, new umbrellas, and walkie talkies, those kids are living in luxury. Being able to give back to my community by helping at the beach truly makes me happy. Growing up in such a small community has shown me to always remember where you came from.

As I got older and entered my junior and senior year of high school, sports got in the way and I knew I could not work as much as I used to, and it simply would not be fair to have to find coverage all the time. So, I made the hard choice to step back for a summer, I miss working at the beach every day. The other thing that growing up as a member of the Tides has taught me is the value of a memory. Laughing with my friends on the playground when we were younger, or 

screaming trying to kill a spider in the bathroom. Tides has provided endless opportunities, memories, and I am so beyond proud to say I am a Tides community member.