California’s Adopt-A-Beach program gives people of all ages the opportunity to learn about and actively participate in conserving coastal resources. The Adopt-A-Beach program is I Love A Clean San Diego’s most popular volunteer program. A statewide program funded by the California Coastal Commission, ILACSD coordinates over 5,000 volunteers annually through the Adopt-A-Beach (AAB) program.

The Adopt-A-Beach program is not just about trash. It’s about the need for clean oceans, shorelines, and waterways. It is about Californians acting together to create lasting solutions to marine pollution. Our oceans and waterways have been a dumping ground for man-made debris. The harmful effects of marine debris are severe and include:

• Negative economic and aesthetic impacts
• Harm and risk to human health and safety
• Injury and death to animals through entanglement and ingestion
• Habitat destruction

I Love A Clean San Diego has recently expanded the Adopt-A-Beach program to include inland areas, in order to highlight the fact that almost 80% of marine debris originates from inland sources. By adopting a canyon or park inland, your group can prevent trash from making its way to waterways and eventually the ocean.

For a complete list of adoptable beaches and inland areas, please see Adoptable Areas.