An estimated 4,000 students in Los Angeles assembled to participate in the 26th annual “KIDS OCEAN DAY” at Dockweiler State Beach. The event is one of the largest beach cleanups in the state.
This year’s theme, “Care For What You Love,” was visually illustrated via a student-led aerial art formation in the shape of sea animals and a heart.
Among the Valley-area schools participating were students from the Academy for Enriched Sciences (Encino); Carlos Santana Arts (North Hills); Canterbury Elementary School (Pacoima); Fair Avenue School (North Hollywood); Fenton Charter Leadership Academy (Sun Valley); Fenton STEM Academy (Sun Valley); Madison Middle School (North Hollywood); Melvin Avenue Elementary (Reseda); Mount Gleason (Sunland); Nestle Elementary (Tarzana); Newcastle Elementary (Reseda); Pacoima Charter Elementary School (Pacoima); Roy Romer Middle School (North Hollywood); and Vaughn Learning Center (San Fernando).
“This year, we are celebrating our 26th year as thousands of children experience and love the beach, some for the first time,” said Michael Klubock, founder of the Malibu Foundation for Environmental Education and KIDS OCEAN DAY.
“Love, for me, is the foundation of caring. Our theme this year taps into the basic emotion of love that I think activates people into action. Caring for their family, neighborhood and the beaches and ocean.”
The students were gathered with teachers and community volunteers for a massive beach cleanup. Afterward, kids created a giant aerial art formation in the shape of sea animals and a heart.
The statewide Aerial Art Program was coordinated by John Quigley of Spectral Q.
This year, KIDS OCEAN DAY was celebrated in six cities across the state of California and was sponsored by the California Coastal Commission. More than 8,000 kids participated in similar events in cities such as San Diego, San Francisco, and Monterey — with half of these students participating at the Los Angeles event, making it the biggest in the state.
“It’s natural for us to protect what we love, like our families and our homes,” said Jack Ainsworth, executive director of the California Coastal Commission. “These kids are showing the ocean some love and appreciation and encouraging us to follow their lead.”
Since 1991, nearly 750,000 kids have participated in the KIDS OCEAN DAY School Assembly Program and beach cleanups.