I Love A Clean San Diego partnered with more than 1,000 elementary school students from around San Diego County last week to create a “sea change.”
On May 20, students from Title I elementary schools gathered at Mission Beach Park for Kids’ Ocean Day, an annual beach clean-up.
“The goal is to get these kids educated and involved,” said Sarah Buchholz, marketing manager for I Love A Clean San Diego. “We need to make a dramatic shift in everyday habits that impact the health of the environment and Pacific Ocean.”
Equipped with gloves, trash bags and checklists, the students set out to pick up as much trash as they could from the sand and surrounding areas. For many of these students, it was their first experience with volunteer work; for some, it was their first trip to the beach.
“I’m just glad that we get the beach all to ourselves today,” Title I elementary school student Julie Summer said. “And we get to try to make it beautiful.”
The students and volunteers started collecting trash at Mission Beach Park and made their way along the water toward South Mission Beach. A record of the collected trash was compiled, and an aerial photo of living art spelling “Sea Change” was taken.
Title I schools are schools serving students from high-poverty backgrounds and receiving federal assistance.
“For many of these kids, their environmental impact is not something they think about every day,” Stacy Vaughn, a parent and volunteer from Florence Elementary School, said. “But it doesn’t matter where a child comes from; they are leaving a footprint.”
Prior to the clean-up, presentations were made at the different schools, teaching students about the power and importance of a clean ocean, what it means for their future and what they can do to help. Bringing them to the beach gave them a hands-on learning experience.
“These students are reflecting that we are on the verge of a ‘sea change’ in how we relate to the ocean and the rest of the natural world,” California Coastal Commission Chair Steve Kinsey said. “Since the problems facing our ocean were caused by us, it is up to us to find a way to address them.”
Along with the eager and energized students, a variety of other volunteers had chosen to donate their time to help lead the students and participate in the clean-up. Kohl’s, Cox Communications, the San Diego County Bar Association and the Navy all had a substantial volunteer presence at the event.
“My manager came last year and loved it and wanted to bring a group this year,” Kohl’s associate and volunteer Elena Goleta said. “If this helps kids and helps clean up San Diego, I’m there.”
According to Goleta, we live in a beautiful city that will not remain this way if we continue to neglect it.
According to Buchholz, the clean-up is designed to leave kids educated and inspired to be “lifelong environmental stewards.”