Coastal Cleanup Day Promotes Community and Collaboration
KIDS for the BAY volunteers including friends and family, staff, past and present, and our Summer Camp families, joined us at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline for the California Coastal Commission’s 41st Annual Coastal Cleanup Day, along with thousands of volunteers across the state. Together we collected over 40 gallons of trash, mostly harmful plastic pollution!
The KIDS for the BAY (KftB) community was so excited to participate in this important statewide effort to reduce pollution in local watersheds, the bay and the ocean. KftB volunteers made their way down to the shoreline with buckets, trash grabbers, and clipboards in hand, ready to record the types and amounts of trash they removed from the watershed environment. Scouring the shoreline in search of trash, our volunteers collected and removed single-use plastics, including straws, utensils, bottles, cups, lids and caps. Volunteers also collected and removed hundreds of plastic shotgun wads, which float down the coastline from the Richmond Rod and Gun Club, and end up in the marshland habitat at Point Pinole, posing a threat to wildlife and people.
“I found my Coastal Cleanup Day experience to be rewarding. It opened my eyes to some of the pollutants that end up in the habitat surrounding our San Francisco Bay. A lot of the trash items originated from sources in the surrounding community. You can hear the firing range off in the distance, and shotgun wads were the most common thing that we picked up.”
Jon Asmussen, Volunteer
Plastic trash pollution is a serious environmental problem that harms the San Francisco Bay and the communities and wildlife who depend on it. Microplastics, now recognized as a pervasive threat to human health, are being recorded in San Francisco Bay at some of the highest levels recorded globally, according to a study by the San Francisco Estuary Institute. “Seeing the microplastic pollution deeply embedded on the coastline, tangled in plants and buried underneath sand and silt, demonstrates just how pervasive plastic pollution is,” said KftB Educator Neda Ibrahim. “Once it reaches bodies of water such as the bay, cleaning it completely is difficult, if not impossible. This is why it is crucial to stop pollution at the source.”
Campers, who volunteered alongside their parents, reflected on their sense of pride and accomplishment after participating in the cleanup. “Now that I know the cleanup is over, getting to see that there’s less trash on the beach and how much I collected, feels really good,” said Ava. “I’m really excited that I did the cleanup because I found lots of interesting items, and an animal bone!”
The young Environmentalists also reflected on why it’s important to participate in community events to help the environment: “If we don’t pick up trash, all that pollution might go into the water and animals will get tangled in it, and it will hurt them!” shared Aisha Sprague, a KftB camper. “I think it’s important to reduce pollution on our coastlines because if you don’t, it might soak into the ocean or the soil and it will be really bad. It makes a huge difference if we pick it up!” said KftB camper Amaya. Her parent chaperone Bridget Olson added, “It felt good knowing that doing one thing can actually make a huge difference for the environment. It creates a feeling of community when we all take care of our environment together.”
KftB staff family member Jon Asmussen, shared, “It was good to see a great turnout, and to see East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) coordinating with organizations like KIDS for the BAY to make a greater impact. KftB and EBRPD had all the tools we needed, and it was great to see families participating. The cleanup taught volunteers about the value of both helping the environment, and doing something good for their community.”
KIDS for the BAY staff were thrilled to collaborate with members of our community to make an impact for the San Francisco Bay estuary watershed. Past KftB staff member Mikayla Martin reflected, “I enjoyed joining the Richmond community for this year’s Coastal Cleanup Day. As a returning staff member it was really special to see familiar faces and also to meet the new staff who welcomed me.” Neda shared, “It felt inspiring to participate in an environmental service alongside so many different members of our KIDS for the BAY community. Coming together with people from all across the East Bay on a beautiful Saturday morning with a shared care for the environment was very uniting.”
“I think participating in environmental stewardship events is important not only to keep our ecosystems healthy, but also to form deeper connections within our community. It was really wonderful seeing so many summer camp kids and families outside on a Saturday, all working towards a common goal.”
Sabreena Verma, Program Coordinator/Environmental Educator, KIDS for the BAY
KftB volunteer Bridget Olson acknowledged our duty to care for the unceded lands of the Huchiun-Aguasto, an Ohlone-speaking tribe. “As human beings, we’re the ones that have caused this pollution and destruction to Mother Earth, and so we owe it to Indigenous People and Native Americans, who have always been stewards of this land–and of Mother Earth, who we depend on–to try to make it better,” said Bridget.
Coastal Cleanup Day created a lasting impact by inspiring participants to pay more attention to trash pollution in their daily lives.
“It was a beautiful day and there was a great sense of community and teamwork. It’s important that we keep the trash and litter out of our waters. We need to pick up trash to protect the habitat and the wildlife that live there. Coastal Cleanup Day made me want to participate in more stewardship days in the future. I have been noticing myself picking up trash during my daily life more frequently since the cleanup. I am now more aware of trash, and I try to clean it up whenever I can.”
Kathy Asmussen, Staff Family Member
