Adopt A Beach and Clean Up the Great Lakes

Thousands of people will hit the beach September 15, but they won’t be aiming for the surf—they will stoop to pick up trash, record their findings and perform simple water quality tests to determine the water’s health, as part of the annual September Adopt-a-Beach Event, coming to Chicago, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.

The Alliance for the Great Lakes (AGL) Adopt-a-Beach program is simple: volunteers adopt a favorite stretch of shoreline and care for it by clearing away litter either once a year during the September cleanup or throughout the year.

Beach adoption is easy for individuals and for groups, but unlike similar programs, Adopt-A-Beach doesn’t stop at litter pick up—which totaled more than 15,000 pounds last year—it inspires adopters to use their findings to make real-world changes for their beaches.

AGL launched its first September Adopt-a-Beach cleanups in Michigan and Illinois in 1991, to coincide with the International Coastal Cleanup. Over the years, AGL volunteers have written letters to the editor, produced film clips and created displays of their cleanup results for the public. Others have gone further, taking the data they collect beyond the beach and into the boardroom.

Formed in 1970, the Alliance for the Great Lakes is the oldest independent Great Lakes organization in North America. Their mission is to conserve and restore the world’s largest freshwater resource using policy, education and local efforts, ensuring a healthy Great Lakes and clean water for generations of people and wildlife.

Dates and times for cleanups may vary by location. Join the September cleanup by registering online at GreatLakesAdopt.org.