Join Pitch In and be a part of the Annual Coastal Cleanup Day

Saturday, September 20th from 9am-12pm

This is the 41st Anniversary of the largest cleanup on the planet.
Become A Sponsor! ~ Become a Site Captain! ~ Join The Fun!

Mark your Calendar for May 9th, 2026 for the Third Annual Pitch In All County Cleanup Day. Working together We Can Make Santa Cruz the Cleanest County in the State.

Opportunities to participate will be updated here on a regular basis.

Upcoming Cleanups

Join San Lorenzo Park Neighbors for Volunteer Day! (Saturday, September 13th 2025)
- Time: Saturday, September 13th 2025, 10:30 am - Noon
- Meet Up Location: SLP Duck Pond.
- Click to Sign Up
- Followed by a volunteer celebration with lunch and beverages at the Hotel Paradox pool from noon to 1pm for volunteers provided by Solaire Restaurant + Bar.

Join Save Our Shores cleanups
- Save Our Shores Cleanup @ Hidden Beach (August 23 @ 9:00 am - 11:00 pm)
  - Time: August 23, 2025 9:00 am - 11:00 am
  - Meet: Benches overlooking the beach near the end of the path, past the playground.
  - Facilities & Accessibility: There is a bathroom on site and drinking fountain available in the park. Parking is very limited in the parking lot. Overflow parking available on neighborhood streets, Save Our Shores has been informed by the County of Santa Cruz that permit parking only signs on neighborhood streets are not valid or enforced.
  - Registration is required
  - More Information
- Save Our Shores Holiday Cleanup @ Cowell & Main Beach (September 1st @ 9:00 am - 11:00 pm)
  - Time: September 1st, 2025 9:00 am - 11:00 am
  - Meet: Base of the stairs to Cowell Beach.
  - Facilities & Accessibility: Restrooms and drinking fountains are available onsite. Metered parking is limited, so please plan accordingly.
  - Registration is required
  - More Information
- Save Our Shores Holiday Relief Beach Cleanup @ Beer Can Beach (September 2nd @ 9:00 am - 11:00 pm)
  - Time: September 2nd, 2025 9:00 am - 11:00 am
  - Meet: Top of the stairs to the beach off of Via Palo Alto.
  - Facilities & Accessibility: There are no restrooms or drinking fountains on site. Parking is limited, so please plan accordingly. Please note that this location has a long staircase down to the beach.
  - Registration is required
  - More Information
- Annual Coastal Cleanup Day (September 20 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm)
  Annual Coastal Cleanup Day returns for it’s 41st Anniversary on Saturday, September 20 from 9am-12pm at sites around the Monterey Bay. Annual Coastal Cleanup Day is an amazing opportunity to get outside with your fellow community members, clean up local habitats, and prevent trash from becoming harmful marine debris. We hope you will join the thousands of volunteers worldwide that will be participating this year! Register Here to Volunteer!

Join Coastal Watershed Council!
- San Lorenzo Park Neighbors (September 13 @ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm)
  Meet at the duck pond at 10:30 am to join in!
  Join the San Lorenzo Park Neighbors and the Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department for a morning of volunteer service to beautify San Lorenzo Park, followed by a concert! Make a difference by picking up trash in the park, and help with special projects that may include painting, sanding benches, planting, weeding, raking, and or pruning. Tools will be provided for volunteers, as well as water and coffee. Meet at the duck pond at 10:30 am to join in! Email us with questions at sanlorenzoparkneighbors@gmail.com.
- Coastal Watershed Council River Health Day @ San Lorenzo River (October 11 @ 10:30 am - 12:00 pm)
  Plant and maintain native seedlings along the banks of the San Lorenzo River to increase biodiversity and revitalize the river ecosystem. Generally, we meet on the east riverbank between the Laurel Street bridge and the Branciforte Creek pedestrian bridge. Sometimes we meet near Mike Fox Skate Park. Free parking is available in the CWC parking lot at 107 Dakota Ave. Paid parking is also available on Dakota Avenue or across the river in downtown Santa Cruz. The closest parking garage is at 601 Front Street. RSVP to receive up-to-date location information.

Join Grant Park Neighbors for community cleanups and fun!
- Time: September 6 @ 9am
- Meet: Esplanade Park. beach for a cleanup the first Saturday of every month.
- For more information, please visit grantparkneighbors.org

Keep Capitola Salty
- Saturday, August 23, 2025
- Saturday, September 20, 2025
- Saturday, October 11, 2025

Cleanups Accomplished

Interlaken Cleanup

January 28, 2023

Cleanups image — Click to view the flyer

The blue skies and nearly balmy weather on Saturday, January 28^th 2023 defied our recent memory of atmospheric rivers and deluges of rain. Many areas in Santa Cruz county were devastated by the dramatic weather, waves, and flooding. The Interlaken Region of South Santa Cruz County was one such area, with homes and agricultural fields overtaken by flooding and debris.

A community clean-up was organized by Ramon Gomez, Chief of Staff of County Supervisor Felipe Hernandez (4^th District) and sponsored by The Trash Talkers, County of Santa Cruz, and Watsonville Wetland’s Watch. Engaging nearly one hundred volunteers, most of whom were youth members from the Watsonville Church of the Latter Day Saints, participants worked tirelessly to assist in restoring the neighborhood.

With broad smiles and positive attitudes volunteers put on their gloves and got to work. Working in teams, volunteers removed sand bags, and plastic from homes and driveways for pick up by members of County of Santa Cruz Public Works who contributed their time on a Saturday. Going door to door FEMA flyers were handed out and homeowners were given assistance from helping remove flood damaged appliances and carpet, to replacing furniture.

A special thank you to Matt Hackwell, Stake President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints of the Santa Cruz county area, Karen Faurot, Rosa Meyer, and Cynthia Simunovich for their inspirational leadership and support of the volunteers.

Cleanups To Date

Upcoming Cleanups

Cleanups Accomplished

Interlaken Cleanup