Here at San Diego Sailing Tours, we care about the environment and the ocean that we operate out of. Did you know that the ocean provides about 50%-85% of the Earth’s oxygen? Much of our ability to live on this planet is due to the healthy balance of our oceans and the life within it. Unfortunately, our oceans are suffering largely due to city pollution, runoffs, and plastics. They not only harm sensitive habitats, but also wind up in our seafood supply. Want some plastic with that lobster? No thank you! So if you’re a San Diego native, or just visiting during these days, take the opportunity to volunteer cleaning up our waterways. Bellow is a list of organizations and their cleanups that you can participate in!

SAN DIEGO COAST KEEPER BEACH CLEANUPS

Join the CoastKeepers on Jan 13th at 9 am at Ponto Beach, Carlsbad for a beach cleanup. The Coastkeepers are a volunteer organization that often conduct beach cleanups and monitor the health of the local ocean and beaches. 

Driving Directions
From I-5 North or South: Exit at Poinsettia Lane and head west. Turn left (south) onto Carlsbad BLVD (Coast Highway 101) and continue to South Carlsbad State Beach parking area on the right just before the hill. If you pass La Costa Ave, you’ve gone too far.
Beach Cleanup Information
  1. Meet at the location described, and look for the blue Coastkeeper pop-up tent. That’s where you’ll start your morning by signing in and borrowing cleanup supplies.
  2. We will have supplies on hand, but by bringing your own reusable gloves, reusable bag/bucket and/or reusable water bottle, we create less waste in order to remove it.
  3. Please wear comfortable clothes, closed-toed shoes, and sunscreen. All volunteers (individuals as well as groups) are welcome to participate and must sign this liability waiver. Volunteers under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian present at the beginning of the cleanup to sign a liability waiver before the minor can participate.
  4. Registration is not required unless a group is larger than 25 people – to register please contact [email protected].
  5. As a volunteer, you play an active role in determining the sources of trash on our beaches. During the cleanup, please be prepared to fill out a data card detailing the types of trash that you collected, and make sure to have your trash weighed when you return to the registration table at the end of the cleanup.

SAN DIEGO RIVER FOUNDATION

San Diego Estuary Habitat Clean Up, 9:30 am, Jan 20th, near Sea World and Mission Bay Dr. San Diego Sailing Tours will be participating in kayaks, however, extra volunteers can help out on shore by contacting the volunteer director. This is a large event, so please contact in advanced. 

About this event: Once a year, the San Diego River Park Foundation gets special permission to enter the San Diego River Estuary on kayaks and pull trash out of the water in this sensitive habitat. This is a unique opportunity to see the San Diego River from a new angle while helping out!

The San Diego River Estuary is a critically important 330-acre wildlife area with habitat for many sensitive species, including endangered birds that nest in the estuary, like the Ridgway’s Rail and the California Least Tern. Over 100 different species of birds use this area as a rest area along the Pacific Flyway during their yearly migrations between Alaska and Mexico.  Limited volunteer spots available. To sign-up for the interest list and receive full details, please email [email protected]

San Diego Wetland Habitat Clean Up, 9:00 am, Jan 27th, at Dog’s Beach.

About this event: The Friends of the San Diego River Mouth, a chapter of the San Diego River Park Foundation, needs volunteers with an interest in helping to save and restore one of the last remaining Coastal Dune and Wetland Habitats in San Diego. Over 95% of these habitat areas no longer exist in California. Home to many endangered birds, fish, and mammals this area needs your help to remain as a viable habitat area. An educational walking tour will be included.

Activities include: invasive plant removal, native plant rescue, watering and care of recent plantings, trail maintenance and litter removal. All tools and supplies are provided. Community service hours can be verified for those that need them. Be sure to dress in clothes that can get a little dirty and wear closed-toe shoes, no sandals or flip-flops allowed for safety reasons.

Volunteers will meet in the grassy area just inside the Dog Beach parking lot in Ocean Beach at the western end of Voltaire Ave. For more info or to RSVP call 619.297.7380 or email [email protected]