Thanks for a great beach cleanup season!

Closing out the season with one final push, the KBIC Natural Resources Department wrapped up its last beach cleanup on September 29th. Staff members from across the department came together to help ensure our community’s beaches are clean and ready for winter. During this final cleanup, our team collected approximately 150 pounds of trash from eight different beach sites. While some larger items like a wooden pallet were recovered, the majority of the debris consisted of cigarette butts, food wrappers, and other small litter items that might seem insignificant on their own but quickly add up across our beaches.

This day capped off what was a busy and successful summer of shoreline stewardship. A major part of that success is thanks to our NRD Youth workers, who took the lead on weekly cleanups throughout the season. Many of these cleanups were full eight-hour days walking beaches and removing litter.

Together, between May 12th and September 29th, we removed more than 750 pounds of trash from local beaches.  This huge achievement reflects the commitment and hard work of our staff, volunteers, and community partners. The Department is thrilled that the Keweenaw Roller Derby team, Superior National Bank, and Baraga County Memorial Hospital each volunteered to “adopt” a beach cleanup this summer. Partnering with local groups is a key part of keeping our community engaged and our natural spaces protected.

One of the highlights of the season was Lake Superior Day which was held the week before the KBIC Pow Wow. More than 50 community members joined us for a special beach cleanup event and other festivities to honor and celebrate Gichigami.

If your group, business, or organization is interested in “adopting” a beach cleanup next summer, we’d love to hear from you!  Let us continue working together to protect and preserve the beautiful waters and shorelines we all share. Please contact Cera Shelafoe at cshelafoe@kbic-nsn.gov for more information about KBIC NRD’s beach cleanup program.