National Public Lands Day – Help Your Community, Volunteer in a Beach Cleanup on Shackleford Banks

Date: September 22, 2017
Contact: B.G. Horvat, 252-728-2250, ext. 3014

HARKERS ISLAND, NC – Established in 1994, National Public Lands Day is celebrated annually at public lands across the United States. This day of service promotes civic engagement and the caretaking of public lands. Last year, National Public Lands Day had over 200,000 participating volunteers at over 2,500 sites across the United States. It is estimated that this effort created over $18,000,000 in public land improvements.

On September 30, 2017, America will come together once more in support of National Public Lands Day. Cape Lookout National Seashore has partnered with Carteret Big Sweep in an effort to clean up Shackleford Banks. During our last cleanup effort, volunteers removed over 700 pounds of trash. Additionally, volunteers compiled data on the trash collected for oceanic research.

For this public beach cleanup effort, we are seeking volunteers who are available on Saturday, September 30th, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. To participate in this six-hour event, please register in advance for the event by calling Cape Lookout National Seashore Headquarters at [phone] x0.

Cape Lookout National Seashore’s authorized passenger-ferry, Island Express Ferry Service, will provide free transportation to and from Shackleford Banks for all volunteers participating in this clean-up effort.

Participants can prepare for a great day of service by bringing a reusable water bottle, sunscreen, work gloves, water shoes or closed-toe shoes, hat, sunglasses, beach towel, extra shirt, lunch and snacks, camera and/or phone.

Ocean trash harms marine life and threatens the livelihoods of people who depend on the ocean for fishing, tourism and transportation as well as the health and safety of local citizens. Cape Lookout National Seashore strives to be a trash-free park. This policy not only protects the safety of people and wildlife, but also encourages visitors to return to the pristine shores of the Crystal Coast.

For additional information go to: http://go.nps.gov/beachcleanup.