Kids' Ocean Day

Kids’ Ocean Day

Each Spring, ILACSD partners with the California Coastal Commission to coordinate San Diego County’s Kids' Ocean Day event. This program provides interactive presentations about pollution prevention and marine ecosystems to thousands of students. Students are then invited to participate in a field trip to the beach to take part in a clean up event and an aerial art formation in the sand.

The aerial art formation sends a larger message to the San Diego community that clean beaches are a vital part our livelihood. We also want to ensure the beaches are respected. The event teaches students the dangers of pollution in our marine ecosystems and the important role they play in helping keep our beaches clean.

The video from The Malibu Foundation for Environmental Education on the left shows the process of creating a human aerial art piece.

2012 Ocean Day Kids' Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup

The 19th Annual Kids' Ocean Day brought 1050 students, parents and volunteers together to send a message to the whole San Diego community to help protect our waterways and to show students that they can make a difference in helping to preserve our local environment. Students started the day by picking up trash along the beach before lining up and filing into the design that included a shield, an octopus and the message “Defend the Sea.” This stunning image was captured by Rachel Lebowitz, Digital Storytelling Director at local San Diego nonprofit organization Outside the Lens.

2011 Ocean Day Kids’ Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup

San Diego Students continue to make a "Stand in the Sand!" It was all for the 18th annual Kids' Ocean Day. The students gathered on Crown Point Shores to clean up the beach after the busy Memorial Day weekend. Following the cleanup, ILACSD staff and volunteers led the students in an aerial art formation. They formed an image of a Mako Shark with the message "coexist," reminding us to live in harmony with the marine environment.

2010 Ocean Day Kids’ Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup

More than 1,000 students, teachers, and volunteers hit the sand to clean Crown Point Shores in Mission Bay. This years event involved students from Florence, Nubia, King-Chavez, Sunset View, Cubberly, John Muir, Crown Point, Pacific Beach, Gage, Knox, and Mueller elementary schools. After the cleanup, participants made an aerial art image of the endangered California Least Tern, with the message "Sustain Life." Congratulations!

 

2009 Ocean Day Kids’ Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup

The 2009 event involved 1,000 students, teachers, and volunteers who removed debris from Coronado City Beach. After completing the cleanup, participants made an aerial art formation below to spread awareness about marine debris and how it impacts wildlife.

2008 Ocean Day Kids’ Adopt-A-Beach Cleanup

Two years ago, the event involved 800 students, teachers, and volunteers who removed 132 pounds of debris from Oceanside City Beach! The image below shows the aerial art from a bird's eye view.

 

To learn how your school can get involved or to donate, please contact our Education Coordinator

 

A special thanks

To the California Coastal Commission's Public Education Program. This event would not be possible without their support through the Whale Tail License Plate grant program.