What does a Local Coordinator do?
What does a Volunteer do?
How can I enter the Poster Contest?
How can I become a Sponsor?

With more than 1,500 miles of shoreline to clean we need your help! Please join us in 2008 as a volunteer, local coordinator, or sponsor.

This year's kick-off will be on September 20th (location TBD), but local coordinators are welcome to schedule their events throughout September and October.

In addition to cleanup events, students (in grades 4-12) are invited to participate in the COASTSWEEP poster contest.

What Does a Local Coordinator Do? Back to the top
Local coordinators are people who want to organize a cleanup event. Sites can include your local beach, bay, estuary, pond, lake, marsh, seafloor, or riverbank. In addition to choosing a site, you can also determine the date, time, and duration of your cleanup event.

As a local coordinator, you can put together your own team consisting of family members, students, classmates, co-workers, or any other people you may wish to invite. If you are organizing a public cleanup, we can help you recruit volunteers from your community. Please let the COASTSWEEP coordinator know if your cleanup is not open to the public.

Don't forget - we also have underwater cleanups. If you're a certified diver and would like to organize your own underwater COASTSWEEP cleanup, please fill out the Local Coordinator Response Form - this can be found on the page For Local Coordinators.

The COASTSWEEP coordinator will work with all local coordinators to ensure that the necessary permits and liability waivers are signed. All supplies will be sent to you, including garbage bags, gloves, data cards, captain reports, and any other materials required for a successful cleanup.

The COASTSWEEP coordinator can also help you solicit donations from within your local community and can assist with the logistics of your event - including how to dispose of the debris your team collects.

If you would like to get involved as a local coordinator and organize your own cleanup, please fill out the Local Coordinator Response Form that can be found on the page For Local Coordinators.

What Does a Volunteer Do? Back to the top
If you don't want to organize an event yourself, you can volunteer. Volunteers have two very important responsibilities. First, volunteers will remove trash and debris from the designated cleanup site. Second, volunteers will keep track of the types and quantities of trash and debris removed. This data will be used to better understand what types of materials are polluting the beaches all over the world! Check the 2008 Cleanups to see a list of events you can join.

How Can I Enter the Poster Contest? Back to the top
The COASTSWEEP poster contest is open to all Massachusetts students in grades 4-12. Participants are invited to submit their entries by Friday, September 12. For guidelines and more information, see the Poster Contest Rules. Teachers, we have data from past COASTSWEEP cleanups if you are interested in conducting a marine debris lesson in conjunction with the poster contest. Please contact Kristin Uiterwyk for details.

How Can I Become a Sponsor? Back to the top
COASTSWEEP relies on the support of COASTSWEEP sponsors to help make the program a great success. Financial contributions and in-kind donations help us show our appreciation for all of the hard work done by the volunteers and local coordinators. Donations also help make sure that volunteers have adequate supplies needed for a safe and productive cleanup.

Visit the Sponsorship page for information about COASTSWEEP sponsorship opportunities.