Celebrate Earth Day and volunteer for 21st annual Trash Bash
Teaming up with Coast Connection in Bokeelia, the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves will host the 21st annual “Earth Day Trash Bash” on Saturday, April 24. Volunteers are sought to help “Keep Lee County Beautiful” during this county-wide effort to clean up litter left by careless boaters in the waters surrounding Pine Island.
The local campaign also is in conjunction with the nationwide “Great American Cleanup” sponsored by “Keep America Beautiful.” Those participating will be asked to fill trashbags with debris collected in the water as well as along the shoreline. In years past, volunteers have collected hundreds of pounds of discarded fishing line, buckets, plastic bags, and many other items that made the area unsightly as well as dangerous for wildlife and other boaters.
“In years past, our volunteers have collected everything from fishing line to coolers that had blown up into the mangroves and countywide this has accumulated into thousands of pounds of trash. This is the first time we will be doing the Trash Bash in Bokeelia and it is our goal to get out and clean up the area of Jug Creek and other areas at the north end of the island,” said organizer Jamie Boswell. “We are asking everyone to come out and join us for some fun and a great way to celebrate Earth Day.”
Those participating will enjoy soft drinks courtesy of Pepsi South and water provided by Wal-Mart. Also issued to volunteers will be glad ForceFlex trash bags and Waste Pro, Veolia Environmental Serves and Waste Management will provide disposal of collected refuge.
Volunteers will meet at the Coast Connection Family Boating Center, located at the end of Porto Bella Street in Bokeelia and the Trash Bash event will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Coast Connection will offer a food concession and will provide free use of kayaks for use by participants.
The menu for the after noon will consist of smoked or fried mullet, shrimp, scallop and yellow fin tuna baskets, clam strip or po boy sandwiches, clams harvested from Pine Island waters and fried mushrooms, gator bites and jalapeno poppers. Landlubbers can purchase hamburgers or hot dogs all at reasonable prices.
A proponent of the environment, Coast Connection owner, Scot Player is pleased to have his business serve and the host site for Trash Bash.
“I have always promoted low-impact boating in an effort to a be a good steward to the environment,” said Player. “Formerly I was a park ranger and I have always been conscious of the environment and how we treat it and this event is a good way to generate awareness about the importance of a healthy eco-system to not only the old timers but youngsters as well.”
Later in the day, Coast Connection invites attendees to stick around and enjoy music from local artists. Beginning at 1 p.m. Coast Connection will offer an open mic session hosted by Guitar Steve on acoustic guitar and Scotty on congo drums who are often joined by other area musicians.
In addition to aiding in the effort to keep the waters around Pine Island clean, the Friends of the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve and Keep Lee County Beautiful can authorize service-learning/volunteer hours for area students.
Participants are encouraged to bring sunscreen, a hat, water shoes, drinking water and snacks for their comfort.
Those who would like to borrow a kayak to be used during Trash Bash are asked to contact Jamie Boswell at 851-5351 to place a reservation.
The Charlotte Harbor Estuary Program is in partnership to protect estuaries from Venice to Estero Bay. According to Boswell, this partnership gives citizens, elected officials, resource managers and commercial and recreational resource users in the 4,700-square-mile study area a voice to address diverse resource management concerns.
In addition to Trash Bash, the Charlotte Harbor Estuary Program annually sponsors Mucking About in Pine Island Sound, paddling trips in area waters and nature hikes at Little Pine Island, all of which are free to participants.