SAN DIEGO — On May 7, I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) hosted 600 San Diego elementary-aged students at Mission Beach for Kids Ocean Day, the county’s largest student cleanup and aerial art project.
Students from six Title I schools collected 97.25lbs of litter and created a 100‑by‑350‑foot aerial art message, featuring a bat ray and the message, “Coast for All.”
This year’s theme, “Coast for All,” served as a reminder that coastal access and clean beaches should be available to everyone.
“This was over 40 kids’ first time at the beach,” said Ali Nicoloff, director of education at ILACSD. “This program not only has a positive impact on the environment. It gives kids the opportunity to experience their coast, forming a connection to their local environment and feeling a sense of belonging outdoors.”
Ahead of the event, ILACSD organized educational assemblies at Chula Vista Learning Community Charter, Doyle Elementary, Fay Elementary, Los Penasquitos Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, and Zamorano Elementary.
Littering often begins inland but travels through storm drains, damaging beaches, and endangering marine animals. ILACSD presented a lesson about ocean pollution and held practice cleanups on the school campuses to prepare the students.
The six schools headed to the beach this morning to turn their ocean conservation knowledge into care for their local environment.
Students collected plastic wrappers, bottles, and pieces of confetti. Once the cleanup concluded, teachers, volunteers and ILACSD staff organized the students for their aerial art image.
“This event is so special because it allows students to see themselves as environmental stewards,” says Flora Fuentes-Solano, Elementary Coordinator at ILACSD. “Every time they look back at their aerial art picture, they will remember the event and the impact of their actions.”
This year’s Kids Ocean Day was made possible through the support of California Coastal Commission, Northrop Grumman, Cox Communications, SeaWorld San Diego, Grifols, Sundt Foundation and Airport Authority.
About Kids Ocean Day
Kids Ocean Day is an international movement, from San Diego to Hong Kong, engaging elementary-age youth in ocean cleanups. Michael Klubock, sailor turned environmental educator, founded the program in 1991. ILACSD joined in 1999 and has connected almost 20,000 students and over 40 elementary schools to San Diego’s beaches and conservation efforts.
