STANWOOD—On Saturday, July 12, Kayak Point Park in Stanwood became a hub of environmental action as over 70 youth and volunteers gathered for a Youth Beach Cleanup, that removed 151.47 pounds of trash. The hands-on event, a collaborative effort between Snohomish County Council President Nate Nehring’s Office and WSU Beach Watchers, aimed to educate and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards in preserving the shoreline of Puget Sound.

“I think we are really blessed to live in Snohomish County hat has a rich and beautiful environment,” Council President Nate Nehring shared with the Lynnwood Times. “From the Puget Sound to the Cascade Mountains, it is critical that we work to preserve that natural beauty through environmental stewardship.”

Nehring chairs the County’s Conservation Futures Program Advisory Board which has funded, on a competitive basis, millions of dollars to preserving farmland, green spaces, and forest land.

“I attended one of WSU Beach Watchers’ events before, so I thought it’d be cool to do a youth-focused one,” Nehring told the Lynnwood Times when asked about the genesis of such an event. “We’ve got our park ranger and other volunteers here.”

Dozens of members from The Grove Church in Marysville were also on hand assisting with Saturday’s beach cleanup.

WSU Beach Watchers, a volunteer program dedicated to protecting the Salish Sea through education, research, and stewardship, guided participants in safely collecting debris. Gloves, garbage bags, and refreshments were provided ensuring volunteers were equipped and energized to make a difference.

“This beach cleanup is part of our stewardship efforts, and we’re super excited to partner with Nate Nehring’s Ooffice for this youth-focused event,” Jonathan Robinson, a Program Coordinator with of WSU Beach Watchers told the Lynnwood Times. “We do monthly beach cleanups. We kind of alternate around at public beaches in Snohomish County.”

“Inspiring the next generation to be stewards of their environment and giving them a sense of what helping looks like is huge,” he added.

WSU Beach Watchers have conducted cleanups on beaches at Howarth Park, Picnic Point, Jetty Island, and in Edmonds.

Cleanups remove a variety of debris, from bottle caps and straws to dog poop and on one occasion, Robinson shared, a 30-pound Styrofoam dock float.

“You never know what you’re going to find,” Robinson said adding a message for park visitors to pick up after oneself, “Pack it in, pack it out. Take a sweep around your picnic table to ensure you didn’t leave any trash behind.”

This simple rule, he stressed, helps maintain a park’s beauty and protects marine life from pollutants and plastics.

WSU Beach Watchers, launched in 1989 by WSU Island County Extension and expanded to Snohomish County in 2006, remains the only Extension-sponsored Beach Watchers program. Based at Willis Tucker Park in Everett, the group trains volunteers through an 80-hour program in topics covering water quality, coastal processes, and marine life. In return for the 80-hours in training, volunteers commit to 80 hours of service, which can include cleanups, scientific surveys, or outreach at festivals.

Kayak Point Park, nestled along Port Susan’s scenic shores, is 3,300 feet of saltwater beach surrounded by lush evergreen forests, offering pier fishing, windsurfing, hiking, picnicking, camping, and boat launching.

For those interested in learning more about WSU Beach Watchers, visit their website or contact Jonathan Robinson directly at jonathan.w.robinson@wsu.edu.