Virginia Key Outdoor Center's Beach Take Over | International Coastal Cleanup 2021

It’s time for the 36 th annual International Coastal Cleanup! Join us for the world's largest, one-day volunteer effort for our oceans and waterways, and show your commitment to reducing marine debris, along with millions of volunteers from across the globe!

Spearheaded globally by the Ocean Conservancy, VolunteerCleanup.org organizes Miami-Dade County’s local participation in this worldwide event with 45+ simultaneous shoreline cleanups around the county. The Miami-Dade ICC is made possible by the generous support of our tidal sponsor Covanta, with additional support from Banesco USA, Blackstone Charitable Foundation, Miami-Dade County RER-DERM, Pubbelly Sushi, WPLG Local 10, and with special thanks to the Benjamin & Gloria Joannou, Jr. Family Conservation Fund.

We will provide garbage bags, gloves, data collection cards, and a souvenir tote bag with this year’s marine animal theme, the Octopus! *Community Service hours also provided*

Registration is required to participate. Where possible, please have guests in your party RSVP individually so we can ensure they get all information and details about the event and can accurately plan for turnout.

Group A will be kayaking / paddleboarding to the North Point of the Island (if conditional allow it). on the shoreline by the Virginia Key Mountain Bike Trails, this is ideal for those that do not want to get wet. RSVP while spots are available! 

- Bring your paddleboards, kayaks or canoe! This group will have to paddle out to the island's north point across the Port of Miami and Fisher Island. If you have kayaks, paddleboards or a motor boat (trash transport) to share? We can use more help. Please email me to arrange for additional support. 

- BORROW A FREE KAYAK OR PADDLE BOARD - 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

Group B will be on the shoreline by the Virginia Key Mountain Bike Trails, this is ideal for those that do not want to get wet. RSVP while spots are available! 

Site Details

• Parking Information: Please park in our lots. Parking is FREE to those that RSVP. Please show your confirmation email at the gate. For detailed directions visit vkoc.net/directions
• Check-in will start at 9AM
• This event is suitable for all ages

Volunteers should:

• Dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear. We recommend closed-toed shoes.
• 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!
• Bring water in a reusable container. Let’s reduce waste and refuse single-use disposable plastic water bottles, where possible. We will have a cooler for cold water refills.
• Complete the online waiver here in advance to expedite check-in. **If you are under 18 and coming without a parent or guardian, you must have a parent/guardian print and sign the waiver HERE in advance. Waivers are required before any materials (bags, cards, or gift bags can be distributed)
• 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!

About International Coastal Cleanup:

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

Over the past 36 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 cataloguing 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.