Earth Day is a global action to protect the planet. It’s happening on 22 April this year. The theme for Earth Day 2022 is ‘Invest in Our Planet’. That’s not about spending money! It’s about putting effort into accelerating the great work that is already being done to combat climate change and clean up our home. It’s all about everyone taking ownership and doing their bit. Sometimes the task seems overwhelming, but we can all take action in our own lives that joined together will make a big difference to the planet. So don’t despair, it’s exciting to think what we can achieve together and how much fun we can have along the way. Here are some easy ideas to get involved, because no one is too small to make a difference!

Join a Queensland Beach Clean – or Organise One For Your School

Recent events here on the Sunshine Coast have shown what a force our communities are when they set to work together on a beach clean. Huge storms have landed load of debris and plastics on our beautiful beaches. But we haven’t sat back and watched it happen. Instead, our local communities have taken to the beaches with bags and helped cleaned up.

Unfortunately, there is still much more to do but people are uniting to make it happen. One person with one bag could easily make a big difference to one turtle! 

Beach cleans are probably the largest environmental volunteer event in history. So, grab a bag (a biodegradable doggie poop bag will do!), grab your mates, and get on down to the beach and be part of history! You could even have a competition to win some lollies if you collect the most trash.

Take Action: 

Get Involved in a Beach Clean on the Sunshine Coast

Get involved in a Beach Clean Near Brisbane

Fundraise to Support a Queensland Coast Care Charity

There are plenty of Queensland coast care charities to choose. On the Sunshine Coast there’s Coolum Coast Care, or there’s Great Barrier Reef Foundation and Sea Shepherd.

Ocean Crusaders operate around Brisbane too.

Take Action

How about a sponsored swim or a shark drawing competition to raise money for your favorite Queensland coast care charity? Just ask and they are sure to want to help you get started.

Plant Trees

Trees and forests are one of our most powerful tools to combat climate change and provide food and habitat for the species of the world. But our planet is currently losing trees at a staggering rate. In fact, about 27 soccer fields of forest are lost every minute. 

Trees are amazing and filter the air and protect us from climate change. They also keep our land healthy and provide food, energy and income to communities. What’s not to like about trees? So, why not plant trees yourself? (in a designated area obviously!!)

Take Action

Plant your own tree or Donate to plant a tree

The Usual Stuff

Of course, you can always be doing all the usual stuff to make the world a cleaner place, like reducing your use of plastics, reducing your carbon footprint and energy consumption, making sustainable seafood choices and enjoying the ocean responsibly.

 Further reading –  ‘How Can I Protect the Ocean‘ 

Educators & Schools

 We have some great FREE ocean resources and activities on our website in our Human Impact section, including: Plastic Diaries, Plastic Ocean Life Cycles, Human Impact Presentations and more.

Or why not book an incursion so we can come in with our team and inspire the kids with a live marine animal program?

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Coastcarers are marine legends. They dedicate their time and energy to protecting our beautiful coastline. Many of us will visit Queensland’s beaches over the Summer holidays. You can do your bit to celebrate Coastcare Week this summer holiday by combining your trip with a mini beach clean or simply by making little changes to your day that will make a big difference. Remember, tiny ripples make big waves!! Here is some useful information to guide you into Celebrating Coastcare Week.

What is Coastcare Week?

When is Coastcare Week 

Coastcare Week runs throughout the first week of December each year.

Get Involved – Join Coastcare

To join a group, check out the Coastcare website

You don’t have to join a group to make a difference. Here are our top tips on how to protect Queensland’s beaches this holiday as part of your day out.

TOP TIPS…

Enjoy exploring the rockpools!

Learning all about the marine environment will inspire you to want to protect it and all that lives there.

Take a bag with you

Collect rubbish and plastic marine debris as you walk. Every piece of plastic removed from the marine environment can save an animal’s life and reduce microplastics in the ocean.

Have a competition to see who’s collected the most rubbish

It’s disappointing that the beaches are littered but there’s no harm in making cleaning them fun!

Keep to walking tracks

This protects the vegetation that provides habitat for birds and animals. It also prevents erosion.

Keep your dog on a lead

Especially on dunes with vulnerable vegetation.

Look out for birds and animals

Try not to disturb them and make sure your dog leaves them in peace too!

Avoid and reduce plastics

Plastic has a habit of blowing around. If you don’t use it or take it to the beach, it can’t go astray and harm marine animals.

Have fun and feel good!

Enjoying the beach will make you feel good…and caring for it along the way will make you feel even better.

Here’s a great guide to our local rockpools…

Sunshine Coast Rockpool Identification Guide

More useful info…

How to Get Involved in a Beachclean

Xmas Beach Activities

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If you want to make a difference and take action to protect our ocean environment, why not join a Sunshine Coast beach clean? It’s sure to inspire you and make you feel great and you’ll probably learn a lot and meet some pretty amazing people too. Read on to discover how to get involved in a beach clean in Queensland and start getting active for the environment today.

What’s a Beach Clean?

Beach clean ups are community activities that happen along coastlines around the world. They are normally organised by volunteers and have a fun and lively atmosphere. Environmental groups, civic organizations and individual beach-goers join forces to collect beach rubbish in order to make the beach a nicer, safer place and to improve the health of the coastal and ocean ecosystem.

It’s an amazing feeling to be part of the solution. So, why not check out these brilliant organisations that plan these events in our incredible region and find out what’s coming up….

Organise a Beach Clean on the Sunshine Coast

Click the links below to find out all about how to organise a beach clean on the Sunshine Coast.

• Coolum Beach – Beach Clean Ups Sunshine Coast  & Coolum and North Shore Coast Care
• North Shore Beach & Yaroomba Beach – North Shore Clean Up Crew
• Mooloolaba Beach – Plastic Free Sunshine Coast
• Golden Beach – Visionary Ocean Warriors
• Noosa – Our Biosphere

Or Brisbane

• Brisbane – Ocean Crusaders

Other organisers…

• Sea Shepherd Sunshine Coast
• Surfrider Sunshine Coast

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