Burien’s Environmental Science Center is seeking Volunteers to help with the International Coastal Cleanup, which is scheduled for the entire month of September.

“Safely pitch in this month for a worldwide cleanup of our coastlines and neighborhoods!” ESC said. “We are happy to partner with the Ocean Conservancy to offer you an easy way to log the trash you pick up as part of the International Coastal Cleanup, all while staying safe in small-scale, socially distant cleanups.”

To participate, Volunteers are asked to download and use the Clean Swell app , using the group name ‘Environmental Science Center.’ View instructions and videos below and use these additional great resources for more efforts at home and in your neighborhoods to #CleanOn!

Tracking trash shows what items are being found where, and can raise concerns or influence laws to decrease marine debris. In California for instance, the Ocean Conservancy and California Coastal Commission were able to see the positive impact the plastic ban had, because less and less plastic bags have been reported.

View the Clean Swell video:

Why Get The App?
The app allows you to easily track how much trash you collected as well as:

    • Get an estimate of pounds of trash picked up
    • Know how big of an area you covered
    • Track how much time you spent cleaning up
    • Enter “Environmental Science Center” as a group name to help us add your results to our annual data
    • Keep track of how much trash you collected over time

If You Can’t Use The App:
No problem. Go directly on the Ocean Conservancy website to report your trash (the process is very similar to the app)
How To Use The App:

  1. Get the app from your app store –The app exists for iPhones and Androids.
  2. Open the app and create an account
  3. When you start a cleanup
    • Update the number of people who are with you
    • Make sure to enter “Environmental Science Center 2020” as a group. You can do “Environmental Science Center 2020–Troop 238” or “Environmental Science Center 2020-PIE” for instance to have our group name + yours
    • Having a group name helps us track all of the trash collected, which is very precious to us!
  1. Click on “Start Collecting” to begin your cleanup
  2. Tap the icons every time you find an item in that category (use “remove item” for mistakes)

Here are some different ways to record trash while picking it up:

    • Hold the bucket and your phone in one hand and pick up trash with the other
    • Have one person pick up while the other taps the icons on the phone
    • Record what’s found at the end of the cleanup when emptying your bucket
    • If you find a small area filled with trash, you can count the trash first and then pick it up
  1. Once done, make sure the group name is entered and tap “Done Collecting” at your cleanup site. -This ensures your data and gps location are recorded.
  2. Depending on how much trash you collect, the app will show you different fun facts.
    And for the collectors, you can start a badge collection based on your progress!

Post you images and photos on social media and share your successes with us!

#CleanOn everyone!

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