On Saturday, October 28th, Kingston residents have a chance to celebrate Halloween while contributing to the well-being of their local environment. A Halloween-themed shoreline cleanup event, dubbed “Trick or Trash,” will be held at Doug Fluhrer Park on Wellington Street from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM. The initiative is the result of a collaboration between Ocean Wise, Friends of Kingston Inner Harbour, and Swim, Drink, Fish.
Youth ambassadors from Ocean Bridge, a program under Ocean Wise, will lead the cleanup. “This cleanup event is proudly led by youth ambassadors from Ocean Wise’s youth program, Ocean Bridge,” said organizers. Participants are encouraged to dress in their “spookiest” costumes, though costumes are optional. Cleanup materials such as gloves, buckets, trash pickers, and garbage bags will be provided for all who attend.
The event will have a “Party with a Purpose” atmosphere, fusing Halloween festivities with a commitment to environmental stewardship. Following the cleanup, attendees can engage in festive games and enjoy seasonal treats, offering a venue for community members to connect and share their environmental concerns and initiatives.
The Trick or Trash event is part of Ocean Bridge’s broader agenda of “remote learning journeys,” which serve as a meeting point for young individuals to learn about the health of oceans and waterways. The program offers 1:1 coaching, immersive learning experiences, online workshops, and discussions to equip ambassadors with skills and knowledge to execute local or national scale projects. These youth are provided with funding opportunities to design and implement projects aimed at promoting ocean and freshwater health.
The goal of Ocean Bridge and its ambassadors is to empower young people to become Ocean Wise citizens and adopt a culture of service aimed at enhancing the well-being of aquatic environments. The Trick or Trash initiative exemplifies this mission by engaging the Kingston community in direct action to protect and preserve their local shorelines.
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