VOLUNTEER JOB DESCRIPTION FOR CLEAN OCEAN ACTION:
BEACH SWEEPS CAPTAIN

Job Title:

  • “Beach Captain” for Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweeps

Supervisor (one): 

  • COA Pollution Prevention Coordinator and Beach Sweeps Program Coordinator
  • COA South Jersey Program Coordinator and South Jersey Beach Sweeps Coordinator

Goal:

  • Lead a local beach cleanup as part of statewide effort to stop ocean pollution.  The information collected about debris at your local site will help spread the message about the dangers of litter in the marine environment; in 2003, over 4,600 Sweeps volunteers at 114 locations collected over 240,000 items that weighed 66,000+ pounds.

Major Responsibilities: 

  • Posting/distributing flyers locally
  • Organizing site with local officials and public works department
  • Instructing volunteers at cleanup site
  • Overseeing debris (trash and recyclables) collection and placement
  • Counting/tallying data from volunteers’ data cards

Time Commitments: 

  • 2 Saturdays each year (in late April and late October)
  • 8:30am-1pm on each Saturday in spring and fall (actual event is 9am-12:30pm)
  • 3 hours to post flyers in area/town of cleanup site one month prior to event(s)
  • 3 hours to compile data within one week after cleanup event(s)
  • Pre- and Post-Sweeps Beach Captain Information Sessions (2 hours each, evening)

Qualifications: 

  • Physical ability to walk the beach; some ability needed to lift medium size bags of trash
  • Communication skills and ability to spread word about the Sweeps (post flyers, make phone calls, send emails)
  • Enthusiasm for the environment

Training & Preparations:

  • No previous experience is necessary.  Guidelines, tips, and assistance will be provided by Clean Ocean Action.  Attendance at pre- and post-training sessions is strongly encouraged.

Work Location: 

  • Local ocean, lake, river, or stream shore as determined by Sweeps Coordinator(s) or chosen by beach captain.

Benefits to the Volunteer:

  • Remove tons of debris that litters beaches and endangers marine life
  • Make a difference in your community
  • Being part of a statewide and international (in the fall) event
  • Meet people who share goal to improve and protect the environment
  • Potential media coverage


Last Updated:  Thursday, September 25, 2008
Clean Ocean Action
Main Office:
Clean Ocean Action
18 Hartshorne Drive, Suite 2
Highlands, NJ 07732
Voice: (732) 872-0111
FAX: (732) 872-8041


A member of Earth Share of New Jersey