If you’ve ever joined us for a beach cleanup, you’ll remember that the tools needed to remove debris from our beaches are simple: a sturdy trash bag, work gloves, and a data card to record what you find are the essentials. To facilitate as many beach cleanups as possible in our area and beyond, we’ve created a Digital Beach Cleanup Kit that details exactly how to organize and complete your own cleanup using these supplies from around your home!
In addition, we are also now accepting data submissions through an app available on your smartphone, Marine Debris Tracker! By accessing Blue Ocean Society’s data card through Marine Debris Tracker, you will be able to submit your count of items you find during your cleanup to us immediately, no printing needed. For those who prefer pencil and paper, printable data cards are also included in the Digital Beach Cleanup Kit.
The Marine Debris Tracker app can be downloaded on iPhone and Android app stores (left). Once the app is opened, Blue Ocean Society’s data card can be chosen via the “Change List” button (right). Complete app details can be found in the Digital Beach Cleanup Kit.
Blue Ocean Society conducts around 200 beach cleanups per year on beaches in New Hampshire, southern Maine, and northern Massachusetts. Using our Digital Beach Cleanup Kit, we hope to be able to increase that number along the Seacoast, and also provide a support framework for those wishing to conduct a cleanup outside of our region.
Whether you are planning a beach cleanup with a friend, your family, your workplace, or community group, our goal is to help with your planning, preparation, and implementation of an effective beach cleanup while staying safe.
Students from Souhegan High School reflect on their data card findings at a beach cleanup on Hampton Beach.
Here is a preview of the information you will find in the downloadable Digital Beach Cleanup Kit PDF:
Before the Cleanup:
- How to prepare before your cleanup day
Supplies Needed for the Cleanup:
- Supplies that you will need to gather and provide for your group, or ask that your volunteers bring along with them
Cleanup Safety:
- Information to share with your group on how to stay safe at your cleanup
What Happens at the Cleanup:
- How to structure your cleanup and collect data
Submitting Your Cleanup Data:
- How to submit your data to Blue Ocean Society after your cleanup
Collecting Data with our App:
- A guide to using our data collection app, Marine Debris Tracker, for your phone
Collecting Data with our Data Cards:
- A guide to using our printable data cards
To download a PDF of our Digital Beach Cleanup Kit, please click here.
Employees from Weston Solutions document their findings on paper data cards at Wallis Sands State Park.
