Clean the Beach. Help the Ocean. Feel Good.
Explore Ecology sponsors Community Beach Clean Ups every second Sunday of the month from 12:00 pm-2:00 pm at the South Coast Watershed Resource Center (WRC) at Arroyo Burro Beach.
Every month volunteers of all ages show up at the popular Santa Barbara beach. Armed with buckets, baskets, gloves, and a fierce desire to protect the environment they head down to the shoreline and spend an hour or two picking up trash.
Explore Ecology sponsors Beach Clean Ups on the 2nd Sunday of the month at Arroyo Burro Beach.
“It’s mostly plastic.” says Mariana Cruz, Environmental Educator for Explore Ecology. “Every month, volunteers find Styrofoam, wrappers, cups, bags, dog poop, and tons of cigarette butts.”
Explore Ecology has been sponsoring beach clean ups at Arroyo Burro for over three years and in that time participants have picked up thousands of pieces of trash. These volunteers are proving that small actions on land can affect the health of our watersheds. They’re not only keeping Santa Barbara beaches clean, they’re also helping marine life that can choke on plastic debris.
Cruz, one of five educators at Explore Ecology explains, “Children as young as four have attended the clean ups with their families. High school students come every month and receive community service hours for their time. We ask everyone to keep track of what they find, so they’re are also collecting data that we use to educate the community.”
The next clean up is on November 11th, at 12-2:00 pm.
The South Coast Watershed Resource Center is open every second of the month from 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Stop in before or after the clean up to watch films, do water testing, check out displays and see a watershed model demonstration.
Upcoming Beach Clean Ups and WRC Open Hours are: November 11, December 9, and January 13. Visit ExploreEcology.org for more information.
Eva grew up in Berkeley, CA and is a recent graduate of UCSB, where she studied Aquatic Biology and German Language. During her undergrad, Eva worked as an aquarist at UCSB’s Research Experience and Education Facility (the REEF), where she managed the aquarium facility and found a love for science communication and conservation.
Rachel Palmer
Nicole is a mixed media artist and vintage goods specialist who has been managing Art from Scrap since 2020.
Veronica grew up in San Diego and spent four years in San Luis Obispo studying Animal Science at Cal Poly. As an undergrad she learned lots about livestock, agriculture, and wildlife.
Lydia
Lindsay Johnson
MELISSA BROOKS
Jenny joined Explore Ecology first as an Environmental Educator, then as a Program Coordinator, and most recently moved into the newly created Programs, People & Culture position. Prior to Explore Ecology Jenny worked in science research and consulting, however her passion has always been science education and outreach. Jenny loves all things related to the ocean, especially free diving, and enjoying the beauty and wonder that is the underwater world. Her greatest life passion is traveling, which she hopes to do more of again soon.
Lu’s love of all things Earth began at James Madison University in Virginia, where they got their Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Lu has a Master’s degree in Spatial Ecology- the study of how creatures interact across landscapes- from East Carolina University, where they studied rock pools along a river and the critters that dwell in them.