Every year, hundreds of pounds of garbage wash up on the shores of Virginia Key. Volunteer efforts have done an amazing job of keeping the Island’s shoreline clean. However, we need YOUR HELP!

The 34^th annual International Coastal Cleanup Day is harnessing the Power of People to Fight Ocean Trash!  Join the Virginia Key Outdoor Center for the world's largest, one-day volunteer effort for our oceans and waterways, and show your commitment to reducing marine debris, along with volunteers from across the globe!

We will be taking a short hike to North Point Beach, where much of the debris that gets washed up on the shore is from the neighboring port, Fischer Island, and passing boat traffic. We have found things such as propellers, coolers, buoys, and even animal bones.

VolunteerCleanup.org organizes Miami-Dade’s local participation in this global event with 40+ simultaneous shoreline cleanups around the county and is made possible by the generous support of our sponsor Covanta, with additional support from Capital One Café, Wells Fargo, and Miami Beach Suncare.

We will provide garbage bags, data collection cards, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a souvenir tote bag with this year’s marine animal theme, the Pelican!  Community Service hours also provided.  Where possible, please have guests in your party RSVP individually so we can ensure they get all the information and details about the event and so that we can accurately plan for turnout.

Once we are done with the Clean Up we will return to VKOC to weigh and record all debris found!

KAYAKS & PADDLE BOARDS

As a courtesy of Virginia Key Outdoor Center, a limited amount of kayaks will be available to volunteers for FREE. To RSVP for Kayaks & Paddle boards please visit vkoc.net/cleanups

WHAT TO BRING?

• Dress for the weather and wear appropriate foot-wear. We recommend closed-toed shoes for beach cleanup and water shoes for kayaking/SUP
• Sunglasses and hat are highly recommended
• Bring gloves if you have them (we suggest reusable working, gardening or dish gloves that you can pick up at the grocery store/home depot) We will have some onsite but cannot guarantee they will be in your size!
• 💧 Reusable Water bottle. There will be water stations to refill. This is a PLASTIC FREE EVENT! Forgot yours? Don’t worry, VKOC will have some for sale.
• 🧜🏻‍♀️ Bring your Friends, we’re gonna need all the help we can get!
• Volunteers must check-in and sign waivers before any materials (bags, cards, or gift bags can be distributed) Online waiver here: https://forms.gle/3thjB9yADLB9VY9W7
• **If you are under 18 and coming without a parent or guardian, you must have a parent/guardian sign the waiver form in advance 

Before the event, download the Ocean Conservancy’s CleanSwell app to participate in the Citizen Science activity to log, tally and measure the impact of your cleanup.  It’s easier and more fun than using the paper data cards!

CHECK-INS AND DIRECTIONS

Check ins will begin at 9:30AM at Virginia Key Outdoor Center. For detail directions visit vkoc.net/directions

About the International Coastal Cleanup:

Scientists estimate that more than 17 billion pounds of plastic enter our ocean every year threatening marine life from corals polyps to sharks, the health of people, and local economies 

Over the past 34 years, Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup has brought together nearly 13 million people from over 150 countries to collect nearly 250 million pounds of trash along our coastlines and waterways.

Every year during Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, volunteers comb lakes, rivers, and beaches around the world for trash picking up everything imaginable along the world’s shorelines: cigarette butts, food wrappers, abandoned fishing gear and even automobiles and kitchen appliances.

By volunteering at ICC, you will be actively participating in a global citizen science project, not only by removing marine debris but by also cataloging and tallying what you find using the Ocean Conservancy’s data collection cards or Clean Swell app. The resulting item-by-item, location-by-location Ocean Trash Index that Ocean Conservancy compiles each year provides the only global snapshot of the marine debris littering coasts and waterways around the world.