Roll up your sleeves, San Francisco, because St. Johns County is calling for volunteers to help clean up the beaches—it's time for the 22nd Annual Turtletown USA Beach Cleanup. Set for May 10, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., volunteers are needed to help remove the litter and debris that mar our shores, just in time for the sea turtle nesting season, which kicks off on May 1.
According to a release on the St. Johns County's official website, the cleanup is critical for the safety of sea turtles, providing them with an uncluttered haven to nest, and this effort is particularly significant for the local Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles - they're rare, and last year's nesting numbers were off the charts. Volunteers don't need to register in advance; they can just show up at any of the multiple check-in locations, including Mickler’s Landing and Vilano Beach, ready to get to work.
The local community is known for its hands-on approach to environmental preservation, and as part of the get-hooked-on-keeping-SJC-litter-free ethos, the county ensures participants are armed with all the necessary supplies for the day. All you need to bring is personal: sunscreen, water, and proper beach attire—think closed-toe shoes and a hat to keep the sun at bay.
And for all the students out there looking to rake in those community service hours—a free and easy opportunity awaits you at this event, besides the sense of doing good, community service forms will be available on-site, no strings attached. The event means to be inclusive, an activity where people of all ages can converge, for the sake of our beaches, for the love of our turtles.
