Volunteers invited to join Washington Coast Cleanup Day Saturday

Tuesday, 16 April 2013 00:00

OLYMPIA – April 15, 2013 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is putting out a call to volunteers to hit the ocean beaches for a huge beach cleanup effort Saturday, April 20.

Gov. Jay Inslee has proclaimed Saturday, April 20, Washington Coast Cleanup Day. The Commission is one of eight founding organizations among a group of cooperating sponsors known as the Washington Clean Coast Alliance. The CoastSavers program of the Alliance organizes a major coastal cleanup each year around the time of Earth Day.

Last year, more than 1,300 volunteers removed 30 tons of marine debris from Washington’s Pacific Ocean beaches.

Volunteers are invited to sign up on the CoastSavers web site, www.coastsavers.org/washington or sign up at state and national parks on the ocean. Volunteers also can simply show up to help on cleanup day. All abilities are needed; anyone who can hold a bag can help. While some volunteers carry garbage bags to roadside dumpsters, others simply fill the bags so that participants in four-wheel drive vehicles can pick them up along the beach.

Other members of the CoastSavers Alliance include the Grass Roots Garbage Gang, the Pacific Northwest Four Wheel Drive Association, Discover Your Northwest, Lions Club International, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Olympic National Park and the Surfrider Foundation.

Stay connected to your state parks by following Washington State Parks at www.facebook.com/WashingtonStateParks, www.twitter.com/WaStatePks and www.youtube.com/WashingtonStateParks. Share your favorite state park adventure on the State Parks blog site at www.AdventureAwaits.com.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages a diverse system of more than 100 state parks and recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation. Washington State Parks turned 100 years old on March 19 and invites the public to join the celebration at events in parks all over the state, all year long. For more information, visit www.parks.wa.gov/events/.

Support state parks by purchasing your annual Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.