On September 20, 2025, our Surfrider Santa Cruz team hosted a beach cleanup at Rio Del Mar as part of Coastal Cleanup Day—a nationwide (and global!) event where hundreds of thousands of volunteers unite to keep our coastlines and waterways clean.
👏 45 volunteers joined us locally, giving their Saturday morning to make a difference. In just a couple of hours, they collected 27 pounds of trash—items that will no longer threaten marine life or pollute our beaches.
Here’s a snapshot of what was collected at Rio Del Mar:
Every piece of trash removed is a win for the ocean and the wildlife that depends on it. Cigarette butts, tiny plastic fragments, and food wrappers may seem small, but they add up quickly—and their impact on our environment is huge. By cleaning them up, we’re preventing pollution, protecting marine life, and creating healthier beaches for everyone.
A huge thank you to the 45 amazing volunteers who showed up, rolled up their sleeves, and made Rio Del Mar a cleaner, safer place for everyone. You were part of something much bigger—hundreds of thousands of people across the U.S. (and beyond!) who came together that day to protect our shared coastlines and waterways.
☕ Special Thanks to Peet’s Coffee in Aptos
A huge shoutout to Peet’s Coffee in Aptos for fueling our volunteers with a delicious big carafe of coffee! Your generosity kept everyone energized and ready to tackle the cleanup. We’re so grateful for your support in keeping our beaches clean.
Help us keep the momentum going! Here are a few ways you can plug in:
Together, we’re making an impact—one cleanup at a time. 💙
Surfrider Santa Cruz