Check out what Surfrider Ventura County was up to this month at our beach cleanups!
Respect the Rincon Parkway - September 14
At our September 14th RRP cleanup, we were so pleased to see that our local high schools were represented at the beach both in and out of the water, enjoying the waves and stewarding the beaches.
Seventeen volunteers came out, including local students and their parents from Buena High School, Foothill Tech High School, and far away students from near Palm Springs.
We collected over 160 pounds of trash which included over 35 pounds of recyclable cans and bottles, 853 cigarette butts, and over 20 bags of dog poop. Our trash total was 100 pounds above average. We need your help when you go to the Rincon Parkway: take a trash bag and pick up the area where you spread your beach gear.
Questions? Email RRP@ventura.surfrider.org with any inquiries!
Join us at RRP the second Saturday of every month!
Ormond Beach - September 21
California Coastal Cleanup Day at Ormond Beach was a major success. On September 21st, we had 62 volunteers come out and pick-up 6,000 pounds of trash from the beach and lagoon!
With a UTV helping haul trash to the dumpsters, we were stoked to remove such a large volume of trash from the area. Volunteers walked a mile stretch of beach, venturing into the dunes and along the lagoon to pick up all sorts of items including a children’s basketball hoop, a shopping cart, and water-logged foam pieces. It was great to be able to make such a big impact before the rainy season hits and washes all that trash out to the sea.
We were joined by multiple different school and youth groups, including Royal High School’s Ecos Chicos club and Oxnard Girl Scout Troop 65237. Thank you to everyone who was able to come out and support us—this day wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing and dedicated volunteers!
See you next third Saturday at Ormond!
C Street - September 28
On September 28th, 99 community volunteers came out in the fog and drizzle at the Ventura Promenade and removed 123 pounds of trash and recycling and 3700 cigarette butts from the promenade and beaches. Many thanks to them and the 6 core volunteers who ran the cleanup!
Join us at C Street every fourth Saturday of the month! Next month, we're collaborating with Rip Curl Ventura. They will be giving away freebees during the cleanup and have lunch available afterwards!
Sponsored/Private Cleanups & Special Events
Beach Cleanup with Tidy Seas - September 8
On September 8th, we teamed up with local non-profit Tidy Seas and the Ventura Dive Shop for a beach cleanup at C St. We were stoked to have 60 volunteers join us and pick-up over 182 pounds of trash from the beach and promenade!
At the end of the event, Tidy Seas organized lunch donated by Jay Dogz SB and an opportunity drawing for volunteers to get a chance to win amazing prizes from a host of different businesses, including locally-owned Betty Belts, Topa Topa, and Island Packers. Thank you to all the food and prize sponsors for making it possible to give back to our communities!
Started locally in Santa Barbara, Tidy Seas is another amazing non-profit organization focused on cleaning up the coast. Thank you to Tidy Seas for organizing this awesome collaboration, and check out more information on them here.
Private Cleanup with Oak Hills Elementary School - September 13
On September 13th, Oak Hills Elementary School’s 5th grade classes came out for a beach cleanup at Oxnard Beach Park. The 92 enthusiastic students picked up over 52 pounds of trash and participated in an educational beach scavenger hunt. The students took to the beach and dunes, discovering all sorts of beach litter and learning more about the beach ecosystem.
A week before the cleanup, we gave a presentation to each 5th grade class to educate the students further on why Surfrider’s beach cleanups are so important and the lasting impact they can have by participating. Big thank you to Oak Hills Elementary for giving us the opportunity to involve youth in our mission!
If you are interested in having your class participate in a private educational cleanup, please email AAlejo@ventura.surfrider.org!