Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine mammals, as well as more than 1 million seabirds, die each year from ocean pollution, including ingestion of or entanglement in marine debris. Let’s teach our children by example how to stop being litterbugs and to Leave Only Footprints everywhere they go.
The Leave Only Footprints program exists to raise awareness and participation in green initiatives and Leave No Trace https://lnt.org/learn/7-principles behaviors among visitors and residents of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
Our resources are precious. So to take this initiative a step further, we ask that you teach children to leave in place all shells, driftwood and other little treasures found along the shores. Take the time to be in awe of their beauty and realize just how lucky you were to come across it, then set it back down. Maybe take a picture of it. Let it remain in its home instead of taking it back to your home.
Instead of carrying a bag to collect shells, use it to collect any litter you may find along your way, including cigarette butts, aluminum cans, plastic, or any other object that doesn’t belong there.
Teaching young children the importance of picking up litter and leaving natural resources behind is an important way to shape their future and ensure they will have the same privileges we had growing up.