General
Q:When is the next COA Beach Sweep?
A: Our Beach Sweeps take place on one Saturday in April and October from 9:00 am-12:30 pm. Dates for the following year are determined during the fall of the previous year. For this year's Beach Sweeps dates, click here
Q: Is the event rain or shine?
A: Yes, the Beach Sweeps are held rain or shine. In the event of a weather emergency (such as a hurricane), the event may be cancelled. Volunteers would be notified of the cancellation via email.
Q: How do I select a Beach Sweeps location?
A: The Beach Sweeps occur at 80+ locations, primarily along the NJ shoreline at the same time on the day of the event, unless otherwise noted. Select a site from the the list of cleanup locations, then simply register at CleanOceanAction.org and attend!
Q: Who can participate in the Beach Sweeps?
A: Volunteers of all ages are welcome to participate in the Beach Sweeps. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Only registered volunteers can participate.
Q: What time does the event start and end? Is it required that I attend for the entire time?
A: For most sites, arrival time is at 9 am and ends at 12:30 pm. A handful of sites (marked accordingly) have altered start and end times due to the tides of the day. We encourage participants to stay as long as they can, but there are no time requirements.
Note: volunteers seeking to receive credit for 3.5 hours should arrive when the cleanup begins.
Q: What do I have to do to prepare for a Beach Sweep?
A: Prior to the event date, online registration is required. On the day of the event, be sure to wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes and dress according to the weather conditions. Bring your own gloves and a reusable water bottle. Volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own bucket for trash collection, as this helps to reduce the number of plastic bags used. All other materials to clean the beaches will be provided.
Q: How can I receive verification of my volunteer hours?
A: On the day of the event, bring any forms with you that need to be signed. If you don't have your own form, you can print COA's Volunteer Hours Certification Letter and bring it with you to the Beach Sweep. Beach Captains will also have extra forms available on site. Before you leave, fill out the form and ask the Beach Captain at your site to sign off on your hours.
Q: What is the data card used for?
A: Clean Ocean Action compiles the data collected by our volunteers from the data cards. We total all of the information and produce an annual report showing the results from the Spring and Fall Beach Sweeps of each year. The data collected provides a legacy of information that can be used to identify sources of pollution, monitor trends, and discover and promote solutions. This data has been used in legislation to pass bills that will reduce the waste entering our oceans. A recent example is when New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy recently used COA’s data about the enormous amount of cigarette filters collected during COA’s Beach Sweeps to help pass legislation to ban smoking on public beaches and in public parks.
Q: How can I get more involved?
A: There are plenty of ways to get more involved with the Beach Sweeps, plastic reduction, and COA’s other initiatives, including:
· Learn more about being a Beach Captain!
· Not 18 years of age yet? Learn about signing up to be a Junior Beach Captain!
· Donate to support the Beach Sweeps and COA’s year-round programs.
Registration
Q: Where can I find the online registration form?
A: If registration is open, the online registration form can be found on our main Beach Sweeps page. Registration for the Beach Sweeps typically opens about two months prior to the event (mid-February and mid-August). The registration form will not be available if registration has not yet opened.
Q: Is registration required?
A: Yes, registration is required.
Q: How do I register a group? Does each member need to register separately?
A: Each individual in a group must register separately. When completing the online registration form, you can list your group name in the "Group/Organization Affiliation" field.
Q: What can I expect after I register?
A: You will receive an automated confirmation email after submitting your registration form. This email will not specify the location that you registered for, so please take note of your selected cleanup location when filling out the online registration form. All registered volunteers will receive a site-specific email 2-3 days prior to the Beach Sweeps.
Q: What if I registered but can no longer attend?
A: Cancellation for an individual is not necessary. If you are cancelling on behalf of a large group (20 people or more), you can notify COA of the cancellation by sending an email to beachsweeps@cleanoceanaction.org.
Beach Sweeps Day
Q: What should I bring with me the day of the event?
A:Volunteers should bring gloves (preferably reusable work/garden gloves) and a bucket for trash collection. To help reduce the number of plastic garbage bags used, volunteers are highly encouraged to bring your own bucket for trash collection; repurposed is ideal! It may also be useful to have a small drawstring bag or backpack along with items such as a reusable water bottle, snacks, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, bug spray, etc. to make the experience more enjoyable. Most importantly, don’t forget to bring your passion for the ocean and a positive attitude!
Q: What should I wear to the Beach Sweeps?
A: Volunteers should wear closed-toe, hard-soled shoes for safety; no sandals please! Remember, it's colder at the beach, so dress for the weather and dress in layers. Hats and sunglasses are excellent for sun protection. The cleanup can last for a few hours so it is important that participants are prepared for walking and being in the elements for an extended period of time.
Q: What happens when I get to the cleanup location?
A: Each cleanup location has a volunteer Beach Captain who is in charge of the cleanup activities at their site. Volunteers should check in with the Beach Captain upon arrival. Beach Captains will provide participants with a black bag for garbage, a white bag for recycling, and a data card and pencil to use during the cleanup. Gloves are not provided.When you pick up a piece of debris, record the debris in the appropriate spot on the data card, then place the debris into the correct bag (garbage or recycling). While on the beach, please be respectful of the wildlife and avoid walking on the sand dunes. Tally your data card items when you are finished.
Q: Can I bring my dog to the Beach Sweeps?
A: Each municipality has different rules regarding dogs on beaches; Beach Sweeps volunteers are asked to adhere to these rules. COA recommends that volunteers contact the municipality directly to find out if dogs are permitted on the beach.
Q: What if I find something I am not comfortable picking up?
A: Do not pick up anything that makes you uncomfortable. Please alert your Beach Captain about any issues or safety concerns during the event.
Q: What do I do with my data card and trash bags after I finish?
A: Total all of the items on your data card and enter the total items collected for each item in the box. Then, return your completed data card (front and back) to the Beach Captain. Follow instructions provided by the Beach Captain regarding where to place your garbage and recycling bags. If you brought your own bucket, be sure to dump the contents of your bucket into the appropriate bag (trash or recycling). Be sure to return any additional supplies that the Beach Captain may have provided (gloves, trash pickers, etc.).
Q: Who do I contact for questions on the day-of the Beach Sweeps?
A: In the case of safety emergencies, contact 911 (debris on the beach is not an emergency). For all other concerns on-site, speak to your Beach Captain.
·If you are en route to the cleanup location, there will be instructions on the office answering machine (732-872-0111) as to who to contact with urgent questions, if necessary. However, the most efficient way to receive an answer to a question is by planning ahead and contacting COA before the day of the Beach Sweeps at beachsweeps@cleanoceanaction.org or 732-872-0111. The Beach Sweeps is a statewide event that requires assistance from all COA staff, so there will not be any staff available to answer phone calls received at the COA office on the day of the Beach Sweeps. Again, it is strongly recommended to ask questions before the date of the event so that COA staff can be of immediate assistance and ensure a safe and enjoyable Beach Sweeps for all.
