When you think of a beach, you  probably think of the Atlantic or  Pacific coasts, with the salty  ocean lapping at the sand. But did you know that there are miles of beach that surround the Great Lakes? What’s more, these beaches need the same efforts toward cleanliness and preservation that our other beaches need. After all, the Great Lakes are the world’s largest freshwater resource! Litter, pollution and debris can be a big problem for these lakefront beaches. Keeping the waters and beaches clean is a major undertaking.

Now the good news: The Alliance for the Great Lakes has a great program going called Adopt-a-Beach™. Last year, more than 7,000 volunteers helped in five Great Lakes states, and what they were able to do was phenomenal. They tested water quality and beach health at more than 200 beach sites, they removed almost 427,000 pieces of litter and debris from the beaches, they collected data that was put into a database for pollution prevention and education, and they even conducted their own projects, including letter-writing and litter-reduction campaigns.  Obviously, these volunteers did some amazing things toward protecting and preserving the Great Lakes.

They can’t keep it up alone, though. They need help, and really, why WOULDN’T we help them? The Great Lakes are right in our own backyard, and keeping them clean and safe for future generations should be something we all care about. I remember going fishing in Lake Michigan  when I was a kid, but being sternly warned not to eat the fish that I caught because of potential toxins. I’d like to be able to take my own kids fishing there now without having to worry about what harmful contaminants might lurk in the fish or the water itself. I plan to do my part to help those who work to keep the Great Lakes and their beaches clean, and so should you.

The Adopt-a-Beach™ program offers two ways to help: one, donors can give contributions of $13.35 or more (that’s all it costs for a start-up kit, water test kit and needed forms for a team of Adopt-a-Beach™ volunteers); or two, volunteers can actually adopt a beach! That’s right, if you live near enough to one of the Great Lakes, the Alliance will help match you with a beach that you can help volunteer to keep pristine. Beach clean-ups are a great way for families to bond, kids to do service projects, and companies to encourage community building among their employees. You can’t go wrong by spending a little time with your friends, family or coworkers and helping the Great Lakes, as well!

Go to the Adopt-a-Beach™ page and do your part today. Then we can all go fishing!