What Scouts, Venturers, & Sea Scouts Can Do!

Be part of Scouting America’s nationwide campaign to combat waterway and marine debris. Every year, millions of tons of plastic and other man-made materials pollute our waters, threatening marine life and ecosystems. Scouts, Venturers, and Sea Scouts can:

Troop 621 of Olean, N.Y., cleaned up garbage at a campground in Allegheny State Park. Photo courtesy of Shelly Hillier

Learn about Aquatic Trash

Did you know that up to 12 million metric tons, or about 12 billion pounds, of plastic is dumped into oceans each year? Millions of pounds more is dumped into rivers, lakes, streams, swamps, and associated waterways. Disgusting right?

But it isn’t just plastic. Anything man made can become waterway or marine debris. The vast majority of this aquatic trash begins its journey to our oceans from land, sometimes miles away from our water resources.

Why does it matter?

Over 1 million marine animals are killed each year due to plastic marine debris, many more are killed from fishing line entanglement, poisoning, and loss of habitat. Just as importantly, waterway and marine debris pollutes soil, animals bred for consumption ingest the pollution, and the effects of waterway and marine debris negatively impacts our economy. Bad for animals, bad for the environment, bad for soil and food, and bad for the economy. Yikes!

You Can Make a Difference - Take Action

Scout Troops, Venturing Crews, and Sea Scout Ships can organize a Scouting for Clean Waterways Service Project.

Clean up projects can be held anywhere there is a need. Our waterways and the areas around them, parks, and recreation areas are all ideal locations for Scouting for Clean Waterways service projects. Remember that trash on land will frequently become aquatic trash.

Scouting for Clean Waterways service projects should last between 2-4 hours.

Scouting units can organize the service project on their own or they can participate with community organizations hosting similar events.

Scouting for Clean Waterways service projects can be held anytime. Scheduling the activity each year between April and June, as an Earth Day, or as a Scouts Trash the Trash Day activity are the most popular options.

*Every piece of trash collected and properly disposed of is one less piece of trash that can enter our waterways.

Recognize the Scouts Accomplishments

Scouting for Clean Waterways participants may be presented with the Scouting for Clean Waterways’ certificate after logging the service project on Scoutbook.
Scouting for Clean Waterways participants may be presented with the Scouting for Clean Waterways’ patch, available from national supply or your local Scout Shop.
Scouting for Clean Waterways service projects count toward rank advancement.
Other recognition opportunities such as the Conservation Good Turn Award are also available as an alternative.