Historic Virginia Key Beach Park | International Coastal Cleanup

Be part of the world's largest volunteer effort to clean up our oceans!

Please join us at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park for the 2017 International Coastal Cleanup.

Historic Virginia Key Beach Park is on the island of Virginia Key just across the Rickenbacker Causeway (East of Rickenbacker Causeway).  This 82 acre historic Beach Park has natural wetland areas, hardwood hammocks and a pristine shoreline that stretches nearly one mile on the Atlantic Ocean and Bear Cut.  Come get to know this historic Beach Park as we work together to clear its shoreline and natural areas of trash and debris.

Access the park from Rickenbacker Causeway, make a left turn at the second traffic signal just before Bear Cut Bridge on Virginia Beach Drive.  Drive to the end of Virginia Beach Drive and enter through the main park entrance gate.

There is ample parking in the lot and no vehicle entry fee for International Coastal Cleanup volunteers on Saturday. (Leave no valuables in your car!)

We will meet in at the Orange Picnic Pavilion. Please arrive by 8:45 AM.

If you plan to attend with very young children, please be advised that there are no lifeguards on duty and young children should be accompanied by an adult at all times. That being said, everyone is welcome, young and old!

All youngsters must be accompanied and closely supervised by an adult. One adult for each 2 children between the ages of 4 and 8. One chaperone for groups of 4 children ages 8 and above. No one under the age of 16 will be allowed without an adult. Thank you for understanding.

Where possible, please have guests in your party RSVP individually so we can ensure they get all information and details about the event.   Everyone that participates should register online---even if you are coming together. We will need your name on the RSVP list as an individual (or your parent, families together are fine) in order for you to get the giveaway goodie bag.

Each participant must present a signed waiver. If you are bringing someone else's child, there must be a waiver signed by his or her parent. Waivers will be collected at sign-in, before supplies are distributed.

Be prepared to work as part of a team of 3 or 4 for efficient collecting, bagging and data-keeping.

What to Bring

• Sunscreen. Sunglasses. Hat. Insect repellent.
• Your own re-usable garden or kitchen gloves. We will supply thin latex gloves.
• Tongs are handy for picking thru the seagrass. The longer the better!
• Buckets for the younger kids; we will provide plastic trash bags.
• Let's reduce our plastic waste and bring our own re-useable drink containers. Ice water will be provided.
• Whatever snacks you or your children will need. We will provide some refreshment but only as long as supplies last.
• All volunteers must wear closed-toed shoes!

We're usually done at this small site by 11:00. You’re welcome to stay and enjoy the Beach Park; walk thru the park and the wetland boardwalk, historic mini train and carousel amusement rides (FREE Noon-5pm) or just relax on the shore.

Community Service Hours provided.

Before the event, download the Ocean Conservancy’s CleanSwell app to log, tally and measure the impact of your cleanup.  With Clean Swell, the data you collect will upload to Ocean Conservancy’s global ocean trash database in real time. It’s easier and more fun than using the paper data cards! You can download the app here:

 iPhone: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/clean-swell/id985692119?mt=8

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.oceanconservancy.cleanswell

By volunteering at ICC you will be actively participating in a global citizen science project, not only by removing marine debris, but by cataloging and tallying what you find using the Ocean Conservancy's data collection cards or the Clean Swell App (that you can download in advance in iTunes store or Google Play). 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 coast and waterways around the world.

**New for this year, the Miami version of the official 2017 International Coastal Cleanup t-shirt, with this year’s whales shark design is for sale. Shirts are $9 + s/h and can be pre-ordered until 1 week before your cleanup if you want to have your shirt to wear to the cleanup. Order online here: