NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August
16, 2005
INDIVIDUALS AROUND LAKE ERIE ENCOURAGED
TO PARTICIPATE
IN UPCOMING COASTWEEKS EVENTS
Beach cleanups again part of “Take Pride In America”
program and
International Coastal Cleanup Day
TOLEDO,
OH – The Ohio Lake Erie Commission (LEC)
is seeking volunteers to help with projects aimed at cleaning up recreational
areas along Lake Erie as part of the 2005
Coastweeks observance, August 20-September 18. Cleanups are also being
coordinated by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) as part of the
national “Take Pride in America”
program.
Ohio’s Coastweeks
is part of a nationwide effort to educate the public about protecting
coastlines around the country. Nearly 30 events are scheduled along Lake Erie throughout August and September, including
beach walks, nature programs, and shoreline conferences, as well as cleanup
efforts. Ohio
will also join in the worldwide cleanups taking place September 17 known as International Coastal Cleanup Day wherein
countries around the world will conduct cleanups on the same day.
Take Pride in America is a national partnership
seeking support and recognition for volunteers who work to improve public
recreational areas, including forests, grasslands and wildlife refuges. Ohio became a partner to
the program in 2004.
2005 Coastweeks Cleanups Include:
Back to Nature
Cleanup in a Remote Location - Starts 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 20 in Oregon
OH. Meet at the north end
of Yondota Road
in Jerusalem Township at Cedar Point NWR sign. Rain
or shine we will collect and record litter at a normally closed wildlife
location where eagles, ducks, deer and foxes play. Sponsor: US Coast Guard
Auxiliary
2nd Annual
Conservation Camp
Out & Beach Sweep on August 20–21. Two
days packed with educational tours, hands-on activities for all, collect and
record litter from East
Harbor State
Park beach, pollution control poster contest for
kids, nature related scavenger hunt, kids' crafts & more. Beach Sweep cleanup starts 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 20.
All children must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the North Beach
Bathhouse. Call 419-734-4424 x2 for event times and locations.
Troop 294 Eagle
Eye Cleanup
- 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10. Help
us make a these grounds a better place for visitors and wildlife! We will
record the trash and area cleaned. Bring gloves and brooms if you have
them, we will provide the trash bags. Meet at Cullen
Park (corner of Summit
& 101st., Toledo)
Sponsor: BSA - Troop
4th Annual Coastweeks Cleanup
- 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10. Meet
at Euclid Beach at the pavilion. Bring
gloves and wear shoes for walking on sand to help collect and record litter
from Euclid
beach. Sponsor: Cleveland
Lakefront State
Park.
Coastweeks Cleanup
- 8:30 a.m.- Noon on Saturday, Sept. 10. Mentor Lagoons Nature
Preserve include 1-1/2
miles
of natural beach, so join us in this natural area to clean up the litter washed
in from Lake Erie-a tradition for the last 6
years! We will supply the garbage bags and some gloves, but if you have
your own gloves, please bring them. Wear comfortable shoes - sandals are not
recommended. Even though light refreshments will be provided, it is recommended
to bring your own water bottle. This is a great opportunity for groups to
acquire service hours. Meet at the Lagoons Marina office (8365 Harbor Dr.); dress for the weather
and sunscreen is recommended. Registration is requested, call the City of Mentor's Public Works
Dept. at 440-974-5780 before 4 p.m. Sept. 9 to register. Sponsors: Cleveland Lakefront
State Park, City of Mentor
3rd Annual Great
Lake Erie Round-up - 10 a.m.
on Sunday, Sept. 11. Meet
at Gordon Park,
8701 Lakeland Blvd, N.E.
AquaMasters of Lakewood takes pride in Lake Erie and wants to help make a difference and you can
too! Join our festive of fun as we pick up litter and beautify our surroundings
at Gordon Park and boat ramps. For all volunteers
helping in this effort, a luncheon will be served and a reverse raffle to follow.
Sponsor: AquaMasters of Lakewood
Euclid Creek
Stewardship Week - Back
to the Future – taking place Sept. 13-17. Stewardship activities throughout the
watershed, including a Lake Erie boat tour, stream clean ups, stream monitoring,
motor oil recycling and guest speakers. Call 216-524-6580 for event times
and locations. Sponsor: Euclid Creek Watershed Council, Friends of Euclid
Creek, Cuyahoga SWCD
International Coastal Cleanup Day Event:
9th Annual Maumee Watershed Clean Your Streams Day - 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 in the Toledo Area. Tired of all the trash along the
streams in the area? Come help the Maumee RAP and Duck & Otter Creeks
Partnership clean your stream banks. All volunteers must attend an 8:30 a.m.
orientation to receive cleanup location assignment. Meet at one of 4 kickoff locations, visit maumeerap.org/CYS.html, to find the
nearest location to you. Sponsor: Maumee
RAP
Among
the other 2005 Coastweeks events are:
Adventures
In Canoeing – 8-10 p.m. on Friday, August 19, at Mentor Marsh
State Nature Preserve in Lake County.
Receive basic instruction in canoeing before hitting the
water at Shipman Pond. Call
216-881-8141 ext. 3001 for information.
Explore The Coast –
Noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 27, at Painesville
Township Park
Community Center in Lake County.
Take a tour around the park and visit with many different organizations that
work to make Lake Erie great.
Star
Gazing - Mars Spectacular! - 8:30 p.m.on Saturday, August
27 at Mentor Lagoons Nature Preserve and Marina (8365 Harbor Dr., Mentor)
and then hike to the west beach where a campfire will be waiting. Mars
and Earth are with 34,649,589 miles of each other on this date, closer than any
other time in recorded history. Learn how to use sky charts to view the night
sky and the moon from the west beach at the Mentor Lagoons. Make sure to bring
a small flashlight. Dress for the weather. Pre-registration is requested.
Call 440-974-5720 before 4 p.m. August 26. Program is canceled if it is
raining. Sponsor: Cleveland
Lakefront State
Park.
Glacial Glimpses Hike –
1 p.m. on Sunday, September 4, at the glacial grooves area of Kelleys Island
State Park in Ottawa County.
Learn about one of Ohio’s greatest
geological features – the glacial grooves on Kelleys Island.
Hike along the island’s north shore and learn about migrating birds with
members of the Kelleys Island Audubon Club.
Monarch Butterfly Festival – 10
a.m. on Saturday, September 10, at Kelleys
Island Historical Association in Ottawa County.
Celebrate the miraculous monarch butterfly with crafts, food and butterfly
tagging demonstrations.
Full Moon Canoe – 7 p.m. on Friday, September
16, at Wildwood Park
in Cleveland.
Canoe Euclid Creek to Lake Erie under a full
harvest moon. Instruction provided. Pre-registration necessary at 216-881-8141
ext. 3001.
Birds & Butterflies at Dike 14 – 7:30 a.m.
on Saturday, September 17, at Cleveland
Lakefront State
Park Dike 14 Gate. The 88-acre wildlife haven
features more than 280 species of birds.
Bird Walk At Headlands Dunes – 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, September
17, at Headlands Dunes
State Nature Preserve in Lake County.
Plan to see many fall migrants as these birds prepare to fly south for the
winter. Pre-registration is requested at 440-974-5720.
Maumee Bay Coastal Campout – 4 p.m. on
Saturday, September 17 to 10 a.m. on Sunday, September 18, at Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon. Enjoy a sunset over the bay at this family
campout with pot-luck dinner.
Kelleys Island Kayak Poker Paddle - 9 a.m. on Saturday, September
17. Meet at Kelleys Island State Park
- Sand Beach.
Leisurely paddle the shores of Kelleys Island while stopping at 5 island
beaches. Best hand wins. Prizes galore! (intermediate kayaking) Sponsor: Kelleys Island
Kayak Club and Kelleys
Island Audubon Club.
For a listing
of all events and additional information on the programs listed or to learn
about other Coastweeks activities, visit the Ohio Lake Erie Commission web site
at www.epa.state.oh.us/oleo or call the Ohio
Lake Erie Commission at 419-245-2514, or for more information on the Take Pride
in America
campaign, visit www.TakePride.gov
-30-
For Further
Information Contact:
Edwin J. Hammett, Ohio
Lake Erie Commission
(419)
245-2514