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Contact: Kim Hawkins, 415-464-5130
Point Reyes National Seashore, in conjunction with the California Coastal Commision, will be sponsoring a beach cleanup at Drakes Beach on Saturday, September 15, 2012. The cleanup will take place from 10 am to 1 pm. This is a family-friendly event with a "Dress like Drake" (our famous pirate) contest and a "Bling Your Bucket" competition with prizes awarded. There will be light refreshments served as well. Participants are encouraged to bring sunscreen and their own water bottles. California Coastal Cleanup Day is an annual event which occurs on the third Saturday of September. California Coastal Cleanup Day is the premier volunteer event focused on the marine environment in the country. On this day, 50,000 volunteers turn out to over 700 cleanup sites statewide to conduct what has been hailed by the Guinness Book of World Records as "the largest garbage collection" (1993). Since the program started in 1985, over 750,000 Californians have removed more than 12 million pounds of debris from our state's shorelines and coast. In 2011, volunteers picked up 1,345,776 pound of trash along California's coastlines and over 40% of it was recycled. When combined with the International Coastal Cleanup, organized by The Ocean Conservancy and taking place on the same day, California Coastal Cleanup Day becomes part of one of the largest volunteer events of the year. The Drakes Beach cleanup is sponsored by Point Reyes National Seashore, Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Environmental Action Committee of West Marin, and Point Reyes National Seashore Association. This is an annual effort in California, when citizens come out to help collect data and clean up our beaches. Meet in front of the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center at Drakes Beach at 10 am to pick up supplies. Contact Kim Hawkins at 415-464-5130 or by email for more details. Safety is our first priority for any beach cleanup. Even the cleanest-looking beach can hide dangers under the sand. Nails, broken glass, hypodermic needles have been found during Coastal Cleanup Days. The possibility exists that debris from the 2011 Japanese earthquake and resultant tsunami may also begin arriving on our shores. Everybody that joins a beach cleanup is required to sign the California Coastal Commission's waiver form. Members of school groups, scout troops, and any person under the age of 18 will need a signature from a parent or guardian to participate in the cleanup. Forms are also available at cleanup sites on Coastal Cleanup Day. Coastal Cleanup Day is the highlight of the California Coastal Commission's year-round Adopt-A-Beach program and usually takes place every year on the third Saturday of September, from 10 am to 1 pm. Coming at the end of the summer beach season and right near the start of the school year, Coastal Cleanup Day is a great way for families, students, service groups, and neighbors to join together, take care of our fragile marine environment, show community support for our shared natural resources, learn about the impacts of marine debris and how we can prevent them, and to have fun. Coastal Cleanup Day is also the kick-off event for Coastweeks-three weeks of coastal and water-related events for the whole family. -NPS- |
Last updated: August 19, 2017