Group Leader Checklist

Prior to the Event:

• Pick up cleanup supplies from ILACSD office.
  Supplies include trash bags, recycle bags, gloves, Data cards, Summary card, and trash grabbers (optional).
• Distribute the individual liability waivers to all who will be participating.
• If your cleanup site is an inland area or in Mission Bay, print out the group sign in sheet for everyone to sign in when they arrive to the event.

Day of the Event:

1. Distribute liability waivers to volunteers who have not already signed them. Every volunteer must sign a waiver. Be sure to collect all the waivers.
2. If your site is in Mission Bay or an inland area, have each volunteer sign in on the group sign in sheet.
3. Thank everyone for participating and explain the importance of a beach cleanup and their volunteer efforts.
4. Review safety/ cleanup rules with volunteers:
   • Children should be supervised by adults at all times.
   • Do not pick up needles, syringes, broken glass, or other hazardous items. Alert a lifeguard/ ranger of their location.
   • Do not touch injured or dead animals.
   • Do not turn your back on the ocean, street, or other hazards.
   • Make sure fire pits are cold before touching.
   • Driftwood, shells, and seaweed are not trash. Please leave them on the beach.
   • Recycle aluminum and tin cans, unbroken or broken glass bottles, plastic beverage containers, and clean paper.
   • Have fun!
5. Explain the data cards to volunteers. Instruct each group to assign one person to track each item they pickup. Be sure each volunteer tallies every piece of litter, and does not use words like “a lot” or “tons,” as only numbers are viable. When the group is finished, have them total up their tallies and fill in the total in the box next to each item. Types of trash are sorted by categories based on the material the item is made of, and there is room at the bottom to add in any additional items not on the list.
6. Divide the group into teams of two or three, with one trash bag, one recycle bag, one data card, and pencil per group and one glove per person.
7. Assign a time and place for everyone to meet when the cleanup is finished.

After the Event:

1. Deposit trash in dumpsters and recycling in bins if available on-site, or as instructed by ILACSD or park rangers. You may need to take your recyclables to a nearby recycling center or home to be put out for your curbside collection.
2. Have each volunteer group total up their tallies on their data cards and write in the sum in the box next to each item. Collect the data cards and add up the total from each one to report on the summary card.
3. As soon as possible, provide ILACSD with all collected waivers, summary card, and data on the beach cleanup: the number of volunteers, hours spent cleaning, and pounds of trash and recyclables collected. (1 full bag= approx. 10lbs.)