Come to Our Virtual Beach Cleanup this July 25
Do you know about the beach cleanups that the Ocean Conservancy does every year? Every September, many, many volunteers make a big effort to clean their local beaches. And after 30 years, this event has picked up over 300 million pounds of garbage.
Every summer, people who work with AMC get together with their families to gather trash and work to keep local beaches fresh and clean. While we are sad we can not get together this year, we would still love for you to join us with our cleanup!
We’re hosting a cleanup event this July 25. While we can’t get together physically thanks to COVID-19 restrictions, we can all make an individual effort to clean our wonderful parks and beaches. Here’s why these cleanups are important, how to plan your cleanup, and how to stay safe while doing so.
Benefiting Parks and Beaches
Cleaning up parks and beaches is satisfying; it helps the economy and wildlife and is a great activity for a healthy, active lifestyle.
In addition to protecting the wildlife around us, “clean beaches provide economic benefit to local communities in the form of tourism dollars,” says Laura Parker from National Geographic . “In southern California, researchers calculated that in Orange County alone that potential could translate into $46 million in just one summer.”
Whether you focus your efforts on Memorial Park or Huntington Beach, you are making the world a much more beautiful place. And if you want to burn some of those pesky calories, picking up garbage can be a great workout.
Planning Your Cleanup
Once you have July 25 on your calendar in big, bold lettering, it’s time to get supplies together for the cleanup. Add these to your list:
- Gloves
- Trash bags
- Refuse bags for yard waste
- First aid kit
- Brooms
- Dustpans
- Buckets for cigarette butts and glass
Keeping It Safe
As you know, COVID-19 guidelines are still very much in place, so your crew might not be as big as you’d like it to be this year. If you’re inviting extended family or friends to join, consider this CDC advice: “When guests arrive, minimize gestures that promote close contact. For example, don’t shake hands, do elbow bumps, or give hugs. Instead wave and verbally greet them.”
Cleaning up parks and beaches really does make a difference. It also makes for a memorable activity. So wherever you find yourself this July 25, join us for our park and beach cleanup. Tag California Palms in your photos with the hashtags #livehappy and #AMCcleanup. We’re looking forward to seeing all the magic happen!
