Photo: Beach Sweep volunteers from Temple Israel, Duluth, Minnesota clean the lake walk and Leif Erickson Park each year.
Minnesota Beach Sweep started 14 years ago in Duluth MN when Great Lakes Aquarium partnered with Ocean Conservancy for the Internaional Coastal Clean-up (ICC).
The ICC is the oldest running cleanup effort of its kind and involves 123 countries across the globe. Focused on removing man-made debris from coastline of all kinds, ICC volunteers also collect data about the debris they gather. This data becomes part of the global database and is used to enhance efforts to protect and restore global waterways (for more information on the ICC please visit www.oceanconservancy.org).
Beach Sweep 2011
Date: September 24th, 2011
Time: 1-3:00 p.m.
Location: Brighton Beach (Picnic shelter), Park Point (Tot Lot/First Beach) and Chester Bowl (entrance)
Special underwater clean-up for SCUBA divers! Meet at Park Point boat landing. Contact InnerSpace SCUBA at 218-726-1010 for more information.
All ages are welcome in the company of adults.
Do you have a group that would like to participate? You can also conduct your own clean up anytime in September and October. We’re happy to supply you with a clean up kit, data sheets and suggestions for a clean up site. Local rivers and streams are particularily in need of your help. Is there a body of water in your neighborhood?
Contact us to learn more about planning your own clean up or participating in one of our official clean up events:
Jenni Oppold
GLISTEN Stewardship Liaison and Minnesota Beach Sweep Coordinator
218-740-3474 ext. 1003
THANK YOU TO OUR 2011 SPONSORS!
Historic data:
- 2008 data can be downloaded here
- 2009 Minnesota Beach Sweep data can be downloaded here. International results can be found here.
- 2010 data was published in the ICC 2011 report (PDF). Minnesota specific information can be found starting on page 39.
Curriculum related to marine debris:
Cooperative Clean-up kit for grades 3-5 available for lend free of charge from Great Lakes Aquarium. Call 218-740-2007 to find out more.
Center for microbial oceanography: research and information: Lesson plans, powerpoint presentations, activities and kits.
NOAA Marine Debris Program: Fact sheets, posters, activity sheets and links to other resources for all ages.
Video produced by Heal the Bay at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium