News.bytes Extra, issue 386

Ocean Day 2009 involves 800 students in Humboldt Bay dune and beach ecology

About 800 children from schools in the Eureka area converged on the South Spit of Humboldt Bay Thursday, June 4, for the annual Ocean Day cleanup and celebration. (text continues below)

Students pull invasive beach grasses

A partnership of BLM-California's Arcata Field Office and Friends of the Dunes, the environmental education event focuses on the significance of dune and beach ecosystems.  Students participate in classroom sessions led by Friends of the Dunes volunteers before participating in their day at the beach.

Once at the spit, the students break into work groups, and led by BLM staff and Friends of the Dunes volunteers, work on projects to pull invasive beach grass, invasive plants and to pick up trash.

Below are more photos of this year's event.

Several students pull at the rather large roots of an invasive plant

Some students chose to turn their green trash bags into hats

 
A student and an adult volunteer scour the ground to pick out the invasive grasses

Students sit on the beach after their work session. They arranged themselves on the beach to form the shape of a sea turtle and the words "Save Our Oceans" -- that could be seen from the air.

A panoramic photo of the students on the beach, gives an idea of how many there are 

- Photos by Bob Wick, BLM Arcata Field Office

BLM-California News.bytes, issue 386