EF, Heal the Ocean Joining Forces for Earth Day Cleanup

Visiting Alameda Park won’t be the only way locals can celebrate their planet this Earth Day. EF International Language School of Santa Barbara, along with Heal the Ocean and Looking Good Santa Barbara, are teaming up to tackle the tough task of cleaning Santa Barbara’s streets and beaches on Friday, April 22. EF’s 500 students will split into two groups, a beach cleanup and a city cleanup group. The beach group will cover 10 sites from Summerland to Goleta.

Jack Johnson’s Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation will provide students with T-shirts and gloves, chipping in a few thousand dollars for the event. EF got in touch with Heal the Ocean a few months back when they heard about the program. “I was floored, because it’s right across the street and I just didn’t know how big it was,” said Hilary Hauser of Heal the Ocean. “They heard about our work and really liked it, so we started working together.” In a press release, school director Kristen Reilly said, “It is the school’s vision to further introduce the beach-city cleanup model” to other campuses worldwide.

The students will be jumping on and off a bus at the different sites, and afterward will head back to campus for a presentation. It will include an awards ceremony, with prizes going to the best “fill in the blank” essay about the why the ocean matters to them. EF will be closing the school to all staff and faculty members so they can participate, promoting their campaign of “Every Day is Earth Day.”