Associated Organizations/Programs
Based in New Jersey:
American Littoral Society, based in Highlands, Monmouth County, NJ
“The American Littoral Society promotes the study and conservation of marine life and habitat, protects the coast from harm, and empowers others to do the same. Since 1961 we have empowered people to care for the coast through advocacy, conservation, and education. We not only provide a voice for the coast, but also give concerned citizens the knowledge and tools they need to raise their voices with us.”
Central Jersey Stream Team, started in 2012, cleans up rivers in central Jersey
In July of 2012, founders Joseph David and Steven Van Deursen took Steven's son and nephew on a canoe trip from Neshanic Station to Canal Park in Raritan Borough. As they pointed out more tires than wildlife, they grabbed and removed one tire from the river that day. A year later they returned for an Eagle Scout cleanup project. “What began as a ‘simple’ service project has grown into a dedicated grass roots nonprofit organization. Over the course of dozens of large scale events and smaller efforts the Central Jersey Stream Team has now removed an astonishing 5800+ tires from New Jersey's waterways, flood plains and parks. As well as the tire haul, our team has also removed several tons of other trash and refuse.”
Clean Ocean Action (COA), headquartered in Long Branch, Monmouth County, NJ
“Clean Ocean Action is a leading national and regional voice working to protect waterways using science, law, research, education, and citizen action. COA is a broad-based coalition of 125 active boating, business, community, conservation, diving, environmental, fishing, religious, service, student, surfing, and women's groups. These ‘Ocean Wavemakers’ work to clean up and protect the waters of the New York Bight. The groups came together in 1984 to investigate sources, effects, and solutions of ocean pollution.”
NJ DEP (Department of Environmental Protection):
NJ Watershed Ambassador Program is a community-oriented Americorps program designed to raise awareness about water issues in New Jersey. This flyer explains the program and provides contact information for each of New Jersey’s 20 watershed ambassadors.
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) provides teachers (grades K-12) with the necessary tools, resources and lessons to help teach students about the importance and value of water in every day life. The Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide is a collection of more than 64 science-based, interdisciplinary activities and lesson plans that are teacher-tested and classroom ready for K-12 students. The lessons are correlated to state and national Core Curriculum Content Standards and cover an array of diverse topics and disciplines.
SEEDS (State Environmental Education Directory), an online catalog of environmental education resources available through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Based in California:
San Diego Coast Keeper “Whether it is promoting legislation to improve stormwater health, holding polluters accountable for the damage they’ve caused, educating San Diego’s students about watersheds and wildlife, hosting a cleanup along the coast, or sending trained volunteers out to collect water samples from a local creek, your San Diego Coastkeeper team is hard at work protecting our shared waters.”
Save San Francisco Bay “We protect and restore San Francisco Bay for people and wildlife, uniting the Bay Area to create a clean and healthy Bay. As climate change and pollution threaten the Bay, we lead initiatives to make our region sustainable for future generations.”
StopWaste “…is a public agency reducing waste in Alameda County, California since 1976. StopWaste helps Alameda County’s businesses, residents, and schools waste less, recycle properly, and use water, energy, and other resources efficiently.
National:
BoatUS (Boat Owners Association of the U.S.) Foundation “The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is an innovative leader promoting safe, clean and responsible boating.” according to their mission statement.
Keep America Beautiful® (KAB) A national nonprofit, “…inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment.” KAB’s goals are to end littering, improve recycling and beautify communities.
NAMEPA (North American Marine Environmental Protection Association) “is a marine industry-led organization of environmental stewards preserving the marine environment by promoting sustainable marine industry best practices and educating seafarers, students and the public about the need and strategies for protecting global ocean, lake and river resources.”
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Marine Debris Program The mission of the NOAA Marine Debris Program is to investigate and prevent the adverse impacts of marine debris. In 2006, Congress authorized the NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP) as the U.S. Federal government’s lead for addressing marine debris. The MDP achieves its mission through six main pillars: Prevention, Removal, Research, Monitoring and Detection, Response, and Coordination.
Ocean Conservancy “…is working with you to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it.” Founded in 1972 to protect whales, seals and sea turtles, has expanded to protect their marine habitats in a “more ecosystem-based approach.” And in 1986, their “staff started the very first International Coastal Cleanup.”
PADI AWARE Foundation In 1989, the PADI AWARE Foundation (formerly the Project A.W.A.R.E. Foundation) was created to “teach the world about the importance and responsibility of preserving the aquatic environment.” They run programs addressing marine debris with a goal of reducing marine debris in targeted countries by 50% by 2030. AWARE stands for Aquatic World Awareness Responsibility and Education. PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, began in 1966 and, as described on their website, “is the world’s leading scuba diver training organization.”
River Network, based in Boulder, CO with offices in several states: “Since 1988, River Network has been at the forefront of expanding national interest in protecting the waters of our country, encouraging diversity in the environmental movement, and helping engaged community members and local organizations take a stand for their waters.”
US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Trash Free Waters Program “Our mission is to prevent trash from getting into our waterways and remove trash that is already in the environment.”