GULF BREEZE, Fla. -- Join Gulf Islands National Seashore for two volunteer cleanup events in September, one in the Florida district and one in the Mississippi District. For all events, please sign up at www.volunteer.gov.
Event: International Coastal Cleanup at Fort Pickens, Florida
Date: Saturday, September 16
Time: 9:00 - 11:00 am; Check-in starts at 8:45 am.
Description: This event will entail cleaning the water and area surrounding the Fort Pickens fishing pier and the.5 miles of associated beach by foot only. Youth are allowed to attend with a chaperone. This event is in partnership with 3rd Coast Divers, Ocean Hour, and AmeriCorps.
The Fort Pickens Fishing Pier will be closed to all visitors for the safety of the divers participating in the cleanup starting Friday, Sept. 15, at 8:00 pm until Saturday, September 16 at noon.
Event: National Public Lands Day Cleanup at Ship Island, Mississippi
Date: Saturday, September 23
Time: 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. Check-in starts at 8:30 am.
Description: This event will entail cleaning up a mile of the beach by foot on a barrier island with little shade. Due to the length of this cleanup, this event is not recommended for youth. Ferry service via Ship Islands Excursions will be provided free of cost to the island. Departure is from Gulfport, Mississippi.
Trash grabbers, buckets, gloves, and hand sanitizer will be provided. Please wear closed-toe shoes and bring water and snacks. Volunteers will receive a confirmation email with instructions if they were selected to participate.
About Gulf Islands National Seashore: Created in 1971, the national seashore stretches 160 miles along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and Mississippi and includes barrier islands, maritime forests, historic forts, bayous, and marine habitats. Visit us at www.nps.gov/guis, on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service