Safety and Your Adopt-a-Beach Cleanup

Review the Team Leader How-to Guide or watch this video for a helpful step-by-step guide for organizing a safe and fun cleanup.

Adopt-a-Beach Team Leaders should stress personal safety with all volunteers by reviewing the following points before the cleanup begins:

• Never pick up dead animals or feces. Leave them where they are found.
• Never pick up sharp or unusual objects such syringes/needles. Leave them where they are found and contact the authorities or landowner if necessary.
• Be cautious with suspicious looking items. Leave them where they are found and contact the authorities for guidance.
• If children are volunteering at your event, tell them not to pick up items they are unsure of and to find an adult for help.

Adopt-a-Beach Team Leaders and volunteers must follow all federal, state, and local health-related guidelines and regulations regarding issues such as avian influenza and other health concerns. Adopt-a-Beach Team Leaders and volunteers should use their best judgment when planning and attending cleanups.

If you have any questions, please contact us at adoptabeach@greatlakes.org.

The decision to cancel a cleanup is up to the discretion of each individual Team Leader. While many successful cleanups happen in the rain, when in doubt, err on the side of caution. The resources below may help you when you are considering whether to cancel or reschedule your cleanup.

• Weather.gov
  • Forecast discussion pages have the most detailed information about weather event timing and a discussion about how certain (or not!) meteorologists are about their current predictions or weather models.
• Lightning
  • This tool shows real-time information about the location and frequency of lightning strikes.
  • If the forecast calls for thunderstorms or severe storms, postpone the start time of your cleanup or reschedule for a different day.
  • Keep your eyes on clues that thunderstorms may be developing: increasing and darkening clouds (especially vertical ones), increasing rain, and increasing wind. If a developing storm is nearby, seek shelter before the first lightning flash.
  • Remember: when there’s thunder, there’s lightning! Seek shelter if you hear thunder, even if you don’t see lightning. Wait thirty minutes after hearing the last thunder before leaving shelter.
• Heat index
  • Consider cancelling your cleanup if there is an Excessive Heat Watch or Warning in your area. An air temperature of 90°F can easily feel like well over 100°F when combined with high humidity.
  • Even if there is no formal heat advisory, on hot days, be sure to encourage your participants to take frequent breaks in the shade if possible.
  • No matter the temperature, always bring a full water bottle to your cleanup!
• Winter cleanups
  • While the majority of cleanups take place in the spring and summer, if you are on the beach in the winter, be sure to dress appropriately for the weather.
  • NEVER walk on ice formations along the shore. Lake ice is often thin and shifting and forms in a way that makes it difficult to tell where the beach ends and the lake begins.

Sometimes the Great Lakes can experience high water levels.

• Before scheduling your cleanup, visit your preferred cleanup location to be sure it is still a feasible site. Some beaches are currently underwater. Other beach and shoreline areas are significantly smaller and cannot accommodate large groups.
• Pay close attention to weather events, particularly with high winds. Waves may reach further onto a beach than you are used to, submerging most of the area. Waves can be very powerful. Be cautious and keep your distance.
• Be aware of submerged hazards. Although the majority of cleanups are held on solid ground, some volunteers enter the water. High water levels may submerge hazards such as piers, breakwaters, or natural formations.