BREEF Earth Day Beach Cleanup & Fun Day Inspires Community for a Cleaner, Brighter Future

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) concluded Earth Week by hosting a Beach Cleanup and Fun Day on Saturday April 27, at Saunders Beach.

The Fun Day featured an engaging beach soccer game, a spirited round of Jenga, and a sack toss game. Attendees embraced the diverse range of activities, fostering camaraderie and enjoyment throughout the event.

Students play bag toss game on Saunders Beach at BREEF Earth Day Beach Cleanup & Fun Day

During the beach cleanup participants were taught how to collect data by using detailed surveys which helped them to document the types of trash that was found on the beach. The majority of items were plastics, predominantly, plastic bottle caps.

Those who attended also learned about local fisheries regulations, invasive species, coastal degradation and how to measure the lip of the Queen Conch in order to identify if it is mature enough to be harvested.

BREEF Intern, Christopher Clarke gives Earth Day Funday participants conch lip measuring demonstration

Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, BREEF’s Executive Director stated, “Knowledge is power and having information on what is on the beach and what is causing pollution really effects change in people’s personal behavior and helps us to combat these issues at the source.”

The largest group of participants were the 17 Waterkeepers Cadets and Youth Environmental Ambassadors (YEA) visiting from Grand Bahama. Waterkeepers Bahamas Programme and Outreach Facilitator Andurah Daxon stated, “We haven’t addressed plastics in our program yet, so this is a valuable learning opportunity for them to integrate leadership qualities with environmentalism.”

Students clean up Saunders Beach and collect data on types of trash found

Waterkeepers students used the opportunity to sharpen their environmental knowledge while enjoying themselves in community building activities. Waterkepers Cadet, Azaria Louis said, “Participating in Earth Day activities like this is personally meaningful because it reinforces the importance of environmental stewardship while offering a refreshing break for the mind.”

Waterkeepers YEA, Jermaine Bowleg Jr. said, “It was enlightening to observe the diverse array of litter on the beach, particularly containers from nearby restaurants such as food packets and utensils. More initiatives like this are needed.”

Students participate in Saunders Beach cleanup at BREEF Earth Day event

To learn more about how you can get involved and participate in the next upcoming event please visit www.breef.org.