Are you a Coastal Steward? Do you want to be? Anyone can participate. Here are a few ways you can inspire others and make a difference for the California coast (and win prizes!).

For Classroom teachers or youth group leaders:

Your students can become Coastal Stewards by pledging to improve our coastal environment. A Pledge Sheet of activities is available that are particularly suited to students and the classroom. In addition to the Pledge Sheet, there is further information and background on each of the pledge activities, explaining why taking these steps helps to protect and preserve our coastal and marine resources, and providing ways to learn more. One participating group will be randomly selected to receive a $100 gift certificate for educational supplies from Acorn Naturalists. All you need to do is send us an email by the end of May telling us what you did!  Download the pledge and get more information here: http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/steward/class.html. National Environmental Education Week, http://www.eeweek.org (this year’s theme is oceans), and Earth Day are coming up in April – so now is the perfect time to engage in a stewardship with your students.   

For Everyone:

The California Coastal Commission invites the public to submit personal stories of coastal stewardship, in conjunction with our Coastal Stewardship Pledge. If you have taken part in something (small or large) to care for our coast and ocean, please share your story and/or pictures in order to inspire others to take action in their daily lives. Your stories may be posted on the Coastal Commission website.

Submit your coastal stewardship story by May 31^st for the chance to win a "Coast-Lover's Prize Package" (“classic” Coastal Cleanup Day t-shirt, zippered tote bag, pack of greeting cards featuring photos of California coastal animals, and other surprises...). Make your submission by email to coast4u@coastal.ca.gov (please keep any photos to under 500 Kb in jpg format) or by postal mail to: Coastal Steward Stories, California Coastal Commission, 45 Fremont Street, Suite 2000 , San Francisco , CA 94105

Be sure to include your phone number, mailing address, and email (if available) in order to be eligible for the contest. Submissions will be posted on the California Coastal Commission’s website (at CCC discretion) at www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/steward/stories.html.  A winner will be chosen by random drawing. The public will be invited to post comments on the stories once they are on the website.

For ideas on how to be a Coastal Steward, check out the Coastal Stewardship Pledge at www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/steward/pledge_form.html (or click on the link at www.coastforyou.org).

Thank you for making a difference for our coast and ocean! Please contact me with any questions. 

Annie Kohut Frankel
Public Education Program
California Coastal Commission
45 Fremont Street, Suite 2000
San Francisco , CA 94105
www.coastforyou.org
(415) 597-5888
(800) COAST4U
fax: (415) 904-5216
afrankel@coastal.ca.gov