You don’t have to be part of a big group to have a Family Beach Clean-up Day. Make it part of your beach day or beach getaway and do something positive for the environment. Children learn best from example; showing them that you care for the beach will be a memory they won’t soon forget.

 
Here’s what you need to have a successful Beach Clean-up Day:

  • Sunscreen: Always a necessity whether you’re on the beach or in the water.
  • Trash bags. You can also use smaller supermarket bags as a way to repurpose some of that plastic that accumulates in our homes.
  • Plastic gloves. Drug stores and supermarkets sell these by the boxful.

If you schedule this at the beginning of your beach day, you’ll probably have more enthusiastic participation from your family because they are not yet tired from the sun, sand and water. After you stake out some sand for your family’s beach gear, gather the trash bags and gloves and do an inspection of your immediate area. Pick up cans, plastic bags, cigarette butts and any odd trash left by another beachgoer. (Leave the glass bottles to the adults to collect, just in case there are sharp edges.)

 
You don’t want to disturb other beachgoers, but you could also take a stroll along the beach and gather trash as you go. There are trash and recycling receptacles at several different points along the beach. Who knows? You might just inspire other families to follow suit and Leave Only Footprints.  GSOBT 2-17 LOF