We're Back! The 37th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day is set for Saturday, September 18, 2021 from 9am-Noon, at beaches and waterways throughout the state. Help us remove the trash and plastic pollution that has been accumulating since the CA Coastal Commission was last able to run organized cleanup events. In 2019, more than 74,000 volunteers (including many from ACSC!) picked up more than 900,000 pounds of trash from beaches and waterways throughout California.
Volunteers are also invited to participate throughout the month by cleaning up their neighborhoods, parks, and other local areas. Trash from inland areas flows downstream to the coast, so cleaning up neighborhood trash helps prevent marine debris. Gather cleanup supplies from home, download the CleanSwell app (to count your trash, and to have your trash counted!), and clean on your own time throughout September. More than 14,000 Californians participated in a neighborhood cleanup during September 2020, preventing over 150,000 pounds of trash from entering our stormwater systems and potentially polluting our coast and ocean.
This is how it will work:

• ACSC is partnering with East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) for this event and we will be cleaning up Crown Beach!
  
• After the clean-up, head to ACSC for Open Sail! Show the front-desk staff a photo of yourself participating in the beach clean up to earn a free ACSC Open Sail Pass!
  

In addition the Coastal Commission and its partners recommend the following practices for cleaning up litter and other debris:
Preparation

• If you are sick in any way, DO NOT go out for a cleanup.
• Assemble your own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): face mask, gloves, and make sure to wear close-toed shoes to protect against sharp objects.
• Download the Clean Swell app (available for free on all platforms) to keep track of what you pick up and how many people participated with you.

 
 
 Cleanup
 

• Follow your local safety guidelines (Maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet from everyone you encounter, even if you are wearing a mask)
• Check your local air quality at www.airnow.gov  
• ALWAYS wear gloves – disposable if available - and dispose or wash them immediately after your cleanup.
• Avoid touching any surfaces like railings, benches, etc.
• Avoid touching your face.
• Do not pick up sharp objects, especially syringes!
• If you clean up a local beach or waterway, be mindful of the conditions (such as high tide, sneaker wave warnings, etc.), and be careful near the water’s edge.
• Keep a safe distance from all wildlife!
• Unfortunately, you may find used gloves, masks, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) among litter. DO NOT PICK UP ANY PPE without a grabber. Put all PPE litter in a separate disposable bag. 

 
After Cleanup
 

• Dispose or wash gloves immediately after your cleanup. To properly remove disposable gloves, grab the glove opening near your wrist and pull towards your fingers, then turn the glove inside out before disposing. 
• Wash your hands thoroughly as soon as possible, and use hand sanitizer in the meantime if soap and water are unavailable.
• Show us your cleanup! Post your pictures using our #protectyourhappyplace (and #coastalcleanupday) hashtags on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and see how your community is participating.

 
Have fun and remember, safety first!
 
Thank you for your help and support!

Summer Camp was awesome!  We had three sessions and 103 campers enjoying the wind and water and improving their sailing skills. 

One highlight was the Feva Sailing Camp’s Adventure Sail to San Francisco guided by ACSC Lead Instructor, Casey Tolan:  

“We could not have had a better day to sail to San Francisco with the Fevas. With the tide going out as we were sailing to the Bay Bridge, the tide coming back in going home, and just the right amount of breeze, it was a perfect day! We towed out and anchored for lunch right off the tip of Alameda and once done, the campers were off sailing to the Bay Bridge. Those boats are fast, and having done this sail before with FJ's, I was expecting this to be an all-day sail, but they got there at 1pm! With time to spare, the sailors wanted to capsize and sit on their boats to say 'I capsized and sat under the Bay Bridge!' Next, we hooked up for a tow and set off for Alcatraz for a long downwind sail. With the wind picking up, I decided, for safety, that staying next to the city front was best and Pier 39 was a good place to unhook and start our downwind sail back. 
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I don't take many of my classes to the Bay Bridge and going to Pier 39 was the farthest I have taken a class. I had full confidence in my sailors as their skills and attitudes showed that they were capable of doing this sail. They knew what to look out for; not only ferry boats, container ships, and other vessels around, but more importantly, they were aware of each other and of me and they listened for important whistles. If someone capsizes they know to come back, stay close, and stick together. Knowing their skill level and having trust in my sailors was important when going out. For some this was the farthest they’d gone, and was a new place to sail. The Feva sailors knew the importance of staying together in a new environment they are not familiar with and they did a fantastic job. We could not have asked for a better day to go out. For them to have this experience and make this accomplishment was amazing!”