A great Coastal Cleanup Day includes binational participation.

That’s why four of our LEAP students, six Community Advisory Council members, two staff and I spent the day at the border focusing on marine debris.

We joined WiLDCOAST for Coastal Cleanup Day at Border Field State Park for two hours. Afterwards, we went to the friendship garden between the two U.S. fences, where we met Tijuana Waterkeeper and Coastkeeper Community Council member Margarita Diaz across the fence. She brought a group of students from Mexico to meet our LEAP students and build friendships. We had a tour of the garden and did some work placing rocks. The participants also wrote wishes on rocks and placed them in the garden.

The highlight of the trip was Sandra’s marine debris lesson. Sandra presented a bilingual hands-on lesson and discussion on marine debris to students on both sides of the fence. To me, the bilingual, bi-national nature of the event was spectacular. All of the participants I spoke to were very moved by the event (myself included).

We hope to continue coordinating such inspiring events for youth in our region. If you couldn’t be there, I encourage you to enjoy a few photos on our facebook page, courtesy of Community Council member Hector Valtierra.

Special thanks to Teva and their A Pair for a Foot program for providing funds to make this important day possible.