This year on Friday, May 17, Kids Ocean Day educated and inspired more than 1,000 students from nine Title 1 elementary schools across San Diego County. This event profoundly impacted participants with a beach cleanup and extraordinarily unique aerial art project.
Mission Beach provided a scenic backdrop for the largest student-centered beach cleanup in San Diego.
“Kids Ocean Day inspires thousands of students across the state at five different sites to inspire new ocean stewards and show the collective impact that students can have to take care of the local and global environment,” said Ryan Mayeda, director of education at I Love A Clean San Diego.
The Kids Ocean Day program began in March with educational presentations at their respective schools followed by a school campus cleanup to prepare students for the larger beach cleanup event. The culminating beach cleanup gave these students first-hand experience in applying their new ocean conservation knowledge. The students removed over 100 pounds of litter and recyclables from the local environment, protecting wildlife and our shared environment.
Following the cleanup, students, chaperones, teachers, volunteers, and staff created a remarkable aerial art message, spanning an impressive 240 feet by 240 feet, which spelled out the powerful statement, “Make Ripples” along with a sea lion. The full theme was, “Make ripples of positive change as ocean ambassadors to take action and inspire others.”
The interactive nature of this event is a catalyst for youth to care for their environment, and encourage a lifestyle that fosters the well-being of the planet. For many students, it was their first visit to the beach, creating a memorable experience that would last a lifetime.
This year’s Kids Ocean Day was made possible through the generous support of the California Coastal Commission, San Diego Kiwanis Club Foundation, Cox Communications, Erasca Foundation, and Wells Fargo. Thank you to Sony for the drone and ground photography. Thank you to Melanie Kaplan and Outside the Lens for the aerial photography.
