A field trip to the seashore can be an exciting experience as well as a valuable educational tool. Along the coast of North America we are fortunate to have such a variety and abundance of tidelands and marine life. This is a valuable natural resource and it is just as important to conserve seashore life as it is to conserve forests and other wildlife.

The attitudes and practices that you, the teacher, display are important. What our students learn about conservation is better "caught" than taught. Please take nothing from the beach.

Please leave all life undisturbed especially the dune grass. Dune grasses keep the beach from eroding and are extremely delicate. The saying "take only pictures and leave only footprints" is a good one to share with your students (well-maybe you can take a little garbage with you as well!).

In addition the information provided below, you will need to print the following forms before beginning your beach clean-up.

• Data Collection Guide and Checklist
• Parent Letter (English and Spanish)
• Waiver Form (English and Spanish)

• Instruct children on how to use the data cards.
• Instruct children on how to do a beach clean up.
• Conduct lessons in the classroom . ( refer to curriculum )
• Plan a lesson for the beach. ( refer to curriculum )
• Check weather conditions before leaving school. A stormy beach is not a good place to take students. Practice the phrase, "Never turn your back to the ocean" with your students before starting your field trip. Warn students to look for extra large "sneaker waves."
• Have buddies look out for each other.
• Dress warmly and wear sturdy shoes. Jackets are a must. It is usually a lot cooler at the beach, even on a sunny day. Dressing in layers works well.

Clothing

____ Windbreaker/nylon wind shell or jacket
____ Sweater
____ Long Pants
____ Shorts/T-Shirt (for hot weather)
____ Sturdy Shoes
____ Hat (sun or wool depending on weather)
____ Gloves

Other Items

____ Sack Lunch
____ Sunscreen
____ Sunglasses
____ Garbage bags from school.
____ Plastic bucket with a handle.
____ Copies of Data Card. ( 1 for 3 - 5 children )
____ Pencils.
____ A scale to weigh the trash.

Dressing for Success at a Beach Clean-Up. Your beach clean up will be a lot more fun if you have the right clothes and bring what you need. It is important to remember that it will always be colder along the water so bring additional warm clothes, to dress in layers. Wear gloves and sturdy closed toed shoes when articipating in a clean-up. Glass and other debris can be sharp. Be sure to bring sunscreen and use it.

• Have adequate adult supervision. Take only a manageable size group to the beach. A group of 30 students or less is a reasonable size. One adult for every 5-10 students is a good ratio. Divide your parents and teachers up equally among the children.
• Assign students to a buddy system before leaving your classroom. This provides the students with a working partner and eliminates the possibility of losing one student and not noticing it until faced with a stressed parent.
• No students in the water! Climbing on rocks, playing near the water, wading and wave chasing where currents exist are all potentially dangerous activities and are prohibited.
• Bring a first-aid kit with you.
• Pass out one plastic garbage bag per three children.
• Pass out one glove per child.
• Data cards are to be filled out by children or adult. They are a teaching tool for the children to keep track of the trash.
• Instruct children to avoid sharp objects and to never pick up hypodermic needles.
• Carry a bucket for dangerous objects. Instruct children to contact an adult to have them put needles and dangerous objects in the bucket. This is an opportunity, once the clean-up is over, for an object lesson about the dangerous items that are found at the beach.
• When finished, tie the trash bags in a knot and place them in available trash cans.
• Please fax or e-mail us how your trip was and the number of pounds of trash you have picked up.

Send comments to: michael@klubock.com