Cleaning up the coastline!

Hey, Earth Rangers! It’s me, Penny! I’m a shoreline enthusiast, fan of the environment, and the neatest, tidiest piping plover you’ll ever meet!

I wanted to tell you about a very important day that’s coming up soon – September 21st, to be exact. That’s Coastal Cleanup Day (one of my favourite days of the year)! On Coastal Cleanup Day, we have one goal: Work together to beautify our beaches and keep litter out of the water!

Cool coastlines

Coastlines (also called shorelines) are some pretty special places, environmentally speaking. Coastlines are places where the land meets a body of water, like a lake or an ocean. Lots of animals and plants call shorelines home. In fact, Canada has the longest coastline in the ENTIRE world! (We’re talking 243,042 km in total!)

We need to keep our shores clean for some very important reasons. First, animals can mistake litter for food. An animal that eats garbage will become very sick. Second, animals can become tangled in garbage and get injured. Finally, creatures and plants can hitch a ride on litter and the wind or water can take them to new habitats – places they’re not supposed to be.

Lend a hand!

So, how can a clever Earth Ranger like you help? The first thing you need for a coastal cleanup is…a coast! You can visit a local pond, lake, river, stream or ocean – those all count! You’re going to bring along an adult and some friends or family members to be part of your cleanup crew. To stay safe, wear gloves and leave any sharp items to the grownups. And if you happen to see me out there on the shore, don’t forget to wave!

Want some more info? Just go to the Earth Rangers app and accept the Shoreline Saver Mission. There, you’ll find our handy How to Save a Shoreline guide, full of helpful tips about how to do your own coastal cleanup.

Join other Earth Rangers on September 21st for Coastal Cleanup Day and do what you can to make the world a more beautiful place!