The 29th Annual Clean the Bay Day kicks off June 3 as thousands of Virginians volunteer, cleaning up the rivers, streams, and beaches of the Chesapeake Bay.
Every year on the first weekend of June, Virginians of all ages converge on the Chesapeake Bay to pick up trash, litter, and debris along the water. Since 1989, more than 146,000 volunteers have taken part in Clean the Bay Day, removing an estimated 6.4 million pounds of garbage. There are a total of 68 clean up locations, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation is actively looking for volunteers at each of them. Volunteers are only asked to show up dressed and ready to clean up the beaches! While trash on the beach can certainly be picked up year-round, the Clean the Bay Day focuses on the major unseen threats to the Bay watershed, such as sediment pollution and habitat loss, which require a concerted and coordinated effort to fix.
The Clean the Bay initiative is one of the largest of its kind, uniting municipalities, non-profit organizations, private businesses, and even military installations in pursuit of cleaning the Chesapeake Bay and its connected waterways.
Volunteers are asked to come wearing close-toed shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. Remember that Clean the Bay Day is a rain or shine event, so plan accordingly. Long sleeves are recommended for the times you might need to venture into rougher terrain. On the day, consider bringing work gloves, a hat, sunscreen, bug spray, and any allergy medication (especially if you are allergic to insect stings).
The full list of all 68 clean-up locations is available here and you can use the link for each location to get yourself registered. You can also send an e-mail to [email protected] to get registered or call 1-800-SAVE-BAY. The registration deadline is Wednesday, May 31, 2017!