International Coastal Cleanup planned for islands
As part of the Ocean Conservancy’s annual International Coastal Cleanup, Coastal Watch will host volunteers to pick up garbage and debris on Sept. 16 on the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva.
For the event, volunteers will go to their designated beach section at or about 8 a.m.
Volunteers should wear clothes that are suitable for beach conditions. Closed-toe shoes are not required but they are recommended, along with sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and a filled reusable water bottle.
They will track their collected trash using the Ocean Conservancy’s Clean Swell app.
Cleanup supplies will be provided and can be picked up today, Sept. 13, to Sept. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation headquarters, at 3333 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel. For those unable, supplies will also be available on the day of the event from 7:30 to 8 a.m.
Bank of the Islands will provide lunch for volunteers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the SCCF Bailey Homestead Preserve, at 1300 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Supplies can be returned at that time.
To sign up for a section of beach, visit https://dash.pointapp.org/events/89087.
As of Sept. 8, 42 of the 96 total spots were taken.
The following beach sections still had openings available:
– Sanibel Moorings Resort to Nerita Street: Two open spots
Parking and beach access is at the resort.
– Sundial Resort to Gulfside City Park: Five spots open
Volunteers can park at the park and walk east toward the resort. Parking is free with a Sanibel A or B parking sticker or $5 per hour without one.
– Gulfside City Park: 13 spots open
Volunteers can park at the park. Parking is free with a Sanibel A or B parking sticker or $5 per hour without one.
– Gulfside City Park — Tarpon Bay Road: 10 spots open
Volunteers can park at the park and walk west toward Tarpon Bay. Once on the beach, volunteers will walk west toward Tarpon Bay. Parking is free with a Sanibel A or B parking sticker or $5 per hour without one.
– Tarpon Bay Road Beach Access: 15 spots open
Volunteers can park at Tarpon Bay. Parking is free with a Sanibel A or B parking sticker or $5 per hour without one.
– Rabbit Road — Beach Access #6: One spot open
Volunteers will park at the beach access. A Sanibel A parking sticker is required to park.
– Beach Access #6 — Tropical Winds: Three spots open
Volunteers will park at the beach access. A Sanibel A parking sticker is required to park.
– Turner Beach — Captiva: Five spots open
Volunteers will park at the beach park. Parking is free with a Lee County Annual Beach Parking Sticker or $5 per hour without one; parking is limited.
For more information, visit https://dash.pointapp.org/events/89087.
For questions, contact Coastal Watch Director Kealy McNeal at kmcneal@sccf.org
Coastal Watch is part of the SCCF family.