Lesson 9: Organize a Beach Sweep

Lesson Information

Summary: Students take action to prevent ocean litter by organizing a community beach sweep.
Duration: A full day or more
Group size: Any
Materials: Garbage bags, gloves, first-aid kits

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Discover ways in which human communities can help ocean communities through an action project.
• Cultivate a sense of stewardship towards shoreline habitat by conducting a beach sweep.

Background

Marine debris consists of litter that has been discarded by people on land or at sea. Examples include plastic bags, bottles, cans, fishing gear, foam buoys, packaging, light bulbs, helium balloons, wire, waste paper, wooden crates, lumber, clothing, and bio-hazardous waste.

Marine debris poses two main threats to ocean life: entanglement and ingestion. Entanglement occurs when animals, like seabirds, seals, dolphins, turtles, and fish, get trapped in litter, such as fishing nets, six-pack rings, rope, and plastic strapping. They may starve to death, drown, sustain injuries, or become easy prey to other wildlife. Some species, including seabirds and marine mammals, often mistake floating garbage for food. Sharp objects may damage their digestive systems. Foam, plastic bags, and balloons may block their digestive tracts, resulting in starvation, or block their airways, causing suffocation. Sea turtles are particularly vulnerable, as they often mistake plastic bags for their favourite food, jellyfish.

Countless communities are discovering the benefits a well-planned cleanup can bring to a riverside, lake front, or seacoast. In addition to picking up shoreline debris, participants may record the types and amounts of litter found. This data is used to identify sources of garbage and to formulate strategies that will make shorelines safer for wildlife and beach-goers.

Why not organize a shoreline cleanup in your community? The following guidelines will show you how.

Procedure

1. After completing lessons 1 to 6, discuss the threat that marine debris poses to ocean communities. Explain that one way to lessen the threat is to organize a shoreline cleanup in your community.
2. Visit the shoreline at least three weeks before the cleanup. Identify fragile habitats, estimate the amount of litter, and determine what resources you will need to collect and transport this refuse. Be aware of sensitive dunes where fragile plant species are growing or shorelines where species at risk, like the piping plover, may breed.
3. Invite local businesses to sponsor the cleanup through cash donations or supplies, such as garbage bags, rubber gloves, "No Dumping" signs, first-aid kits, and refreshments for volunteers.
4. In addition to student participants, recruit volunteers for the cleanup through local media and posters displayed in schools and community centres and by contacting groups such as Girl Guides of Canada, Scouts Canada, and 4-H clubs.
5. Plan the cleanup in such a way that participants will not have to work for more than two or three hours.
6. Advise participants in advance that they should dress for the occasion. They should bring rain gear, protective footwear, and gloves, since some litter has sharp edges. They should also bring a backpack with snacks and drinking water.
7. Arrange in advance with your municipality for the pickup of trash, recyclables, and hazardous wastes.
8. On the day of the cleanup:
• Have the students and volunteers meet at an established location.
• If there are enough participants, divide them into teams, each assigned a different sector of the shoreline.
• Identify leaders for each sector.
• Determine where the collected litter is to be stored before it is transferred to a sorting centre or regional landfill.
• If there are young children among the participants, make sure there is adequate adult supervision.
• Advise all participants to be very careful when handling certain types of garbage, such as broken glass and other sharp objects. Hazardous wastes should be kept separate from other garbage and handled only by adult volunteers.
• Provide each team with a first-aid kit.
• Distribute the garbage bags and other supplies.
• Inform all participants about the sensitive nature of plant and animal habitats along the shoreline.
• Advise the participants where to report once they have finished.
• I possible, have the participants sort out the recyclables.
9. It's important to remember that shorelines are wildlife habitats. Follow these guidelines during your cleanup to help keep habitats intact:
• Leave natural materials, such as driftwood, seaweed, and shells in place.
• Prevent erosion by staying away from sand dunes and by not trampling vegetation.
• Never disturb breeding areas, especially those of endangered species such as the piping plover.
10. After the cleanup:
• Make sure that refuse, recyclables, and hazardous wastes are picked up immediately. Ask your municipality or the appropriate department to pick up any heavy objects.
• At strategic places along the shoreline, post signs depicting nesting birds with such messages as "No Dumping! Wildlife Nesting" and "No ATVs, Please! Bird Breeding Area."
• Restore vegetation with native plants that provide wildlife food and cover and serve as erosion control, but be sure to consult with experts first. See CWF's Plant Encyclopedia to learn about shoreline plants native to your area.
11. Be sure to thank all volunteers by inviting them to a picnic, other event, or distributing rewards such as caps or T-shirts.

Evaluation

Ask students to develop fact-sheets to inform people in their school and community about the threat that marine debris poses to ocean communities.