April 20th to April 27th
About the Blitz
Litter – it’s everywhere! You see it on our streets, in our parks, on our shorelines, and in the water. Blown by the wind on trash day, tossed out car windows, intentionally dumped – however it gets there, it’s an eyesore and bad for the environment.
The Barnegat Bay Blitz is an annual watershed-wide cleanup that brings together hundreds of volunteers with one goal in mind – keeping our land and water clean by removing litter from our neighborhoods. By removing bags, bottles, and butts to tires and larger items, Blitz volunteers make a difference!
Volunteer for a Blitz Cleanup
Volunteer at one (or more!) of the cleanups happening throughout Ocean County during Earth Week. Use the list below to find a cleanup in your area, then email the Captain to sign up as a volunteer. The Captain will send you information, including where to meet, and provide a waiver/photo release form for you to sign. For cleanups by kayak or canoe, bring your own except where noted. Read our “Tips for Volunteers” for information about what to bring and wear and how to stay safe during a cleanup.
Most captains are still in the planning phase, but feel free to reach out and ask about your desired cleanup. If you do not find a cleanup in your area and would like to request a specific area in need of one, refer to the Report a Trashy Site section below. We have a few individuals interested in hosting a cleanup that do not have a location determined.
Location | Cleanup Captain | Date/Time | Notes |
Barnegat Light | Lynda Jeanette | April 26th 9AM – 1PM | Barnegat Lighthouse State Park *Volunteer limit reached, please look for another clean-up!* |
Barnegat Twp | Lauren Keltos | April 23rd 9AM | The Municipal Dock in Barnegat 427 E Bay Ave, Barnegat, NJ 08005 Will include trail side, wetlands, woods, a small section of bayside beach (depends on tide) and roadside areas. |
Berkeley | Crystal Pirozek | April 23rd 9AM | C&C Marina – 211 Sloop Creek Rd, Bayville, NJ 08721 |
Brick | Raymond LeChien | April 27th 10AM | Riverwalk Refuge (40.0451093, -74.1016694) |
Cattus Island County Park | N/A | April 22nd 9 – 11AM | Barnegat Bay Partnership Staff Cleanup *Volunteer limit reached, please look for another clean-up!* |
Eagleswood | Victoria Vella & Maria Van de Zilver | April 24th Rain Date April 26th 10AM – 3PM | Kayak Cleanup of the Westecunk Creek; also land cleanup available for anyone that doesn’t want to kayak at Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area. **Bring your own Kayak (BYOK)** |
Island Heights | Tanara Hall | April 20th 10AM – 1PM | Family-Friendly Event! Volunteers needed! Location TBD |
Lakewood | AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador WMA 13 – Caroline McFarland | April 20th 10AM-12PM | Lake Shenandoah County Park – Water-based Cleanup! Canoes supplied, limited availability. Feel free to bring your own kayak, canoe, or SUP. Register here: https://forms.gle/pvUKXVKhufJJfWeG6 |
Lakewood | Graceanne Taylor | April 18th 11AM | Cedar Bridge Ave along Cotterals Branch. Park at S Clover St, Lakewood, NJ 08701 in Lake Shenandoah parking lot near the food truck. **18+ Cleanup Only** Disclaimer: This cleanup is along a roadway. Yellow Safety vests will be supplied for street-side safety. Register here: https://forms.gle/DRJbybJQeWPY6XJM7 |
Little Egg Harbor | Kim Clark & Jim Ardoin | April 27th 9AM – 11AM | Pinelands Regional High School Bog Cleanup – be prepared to get muddy! |
Long Beach Twp | Frank McLauglin & Joe Stefanoni | April 24th 10:30AM | Meet at Long Beach Township Field Station at 127 W. Osborn Ave in the Holgate portion of LBI. |
Manchester | Gabrielle Fox | April 21st 11AM -1 PM | Pine Lake, Lake Dr. |
Mantoloking | Ed O’Malley | April 27th 10AM | Meet at the Patty Brand Memorial Garden on Bergen Avenue, near the bay, in Mantoloking. |
Plumsted | Jeff Mason | April 24th 10AM – 2PM | Cleanup at the intersection of East Colliers Mill Road and Colliers Mill WMA. Wear long pants and bring tick spray! |
Point Pleasant Borough | Matthew Scott | April 24th Rain Date April 25th 10AM | Site 1: Community Park (2255 Bridge Ave, Point Pleasant) – parking lot on site. Small trail & perimeter of park. Site 2: End of Bayberry Lane past Nellie F. Bennet Elementary School (approx. 1535 Bayberry Lane, Point Pleasant) – parking on Bayberry Lane Site 3: Point Pleasant Canal Walk (Approx. 2100 River Road, Point Pleasant) – Parking on River Road Site 4: Point Pleasant Fisherman Access (Approx. 738 Howe St, Point Pleasant) – Parking on Howe Street |
Point Pleasant Beach | Jen Feltis | April 24th Time TBD | Potential Locations: 1 – Little Silver Lake along Arnold Avenue 2 – Lake of the Lilies- St. Louis Avenue and Baltimore Avenue 3 -Inlet Drive by Manasquan Inlet 4 – Maryland Avenue Beach Area *Volunteer limit reached, please look for another clean-up!* |
Seaside Heights | Lynette Lurig | April 25th 10AM – 3PM | Sunset Beach – Bayfront and island cleanup. *Volunteer limit reached, please look for another clean-up!* |
Ship Bottom | Matt Bernstein | April 20th 12PM to 3PM | Family-Friendly Clean-up! Free food at Joe Pop’s Shore Bar & Restaurant from 1pm to 3pm. Cleaning up the beach and bayside nearby. Contact Matt for more information. |
Surf City | Peter Hartney | April 26th Time TBD | N. 23rd street to the bay. |
Toms River | Crystal Pirozek | Multiple | Contact Crystal for more information. |
Tuckerton | AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador WMA 14 – Melanie Thorn | April 21st 10AM – 1PM | 120 W Main St, Tuckerton, NJ 08087 Volunteers will meet at the Hunting Shanty at the Tuckerton Seaport. We have 10 double kayaks available for volunteers to use along Tuckerton Creek. Volunteers may bring their own kayaks or canoes, but if you don’t have one there will be another clean-up at the end of Great Bay Blvd on the beach. Register Here: https://forms.gle/cLjJ5oET9929Urmx9 |
Wall Twp | AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador WMA 12 – Charlene Kiley | April 20th 10AM – 1PM | Allaire State Park |
You will need to sign a Liability & Photo Release waiver either prior to or the day of your cleanup. Click the button below to download the waiver AFTER you’ve contacted a Captain and secured a spot at a cleanup. You can download, fill out, and upload your waiver anytime before your cleanup, or you can fill it out on the day of. When uploading, please submit your waiver as a PDF or an image (.jpg, .png, etc.).
Report a Trashy Site
You are our eyes on the watershed. Do you know a location that needs a clean-up? Tell us about it!
Become a Blitz Sponsor
Interested in sponsoring the Blitz? Sponsors help with cleanup supplies, t-shirts for volunteers, refreshments, publicity, and more. Sponsor logos will be displayed on this site and on promotional materials. Contact Bailey Sanders at bsanders@ocean.edu for more information.
Thank you to NJ Department of Environmental Protection and Ocean County Clean Communities for its ongoing support of the Blitz!
A special thank you to Richard and Karen Knudson of Barnegat Township for their generous sponsorship of the Blitz!
Click any of the icons in the map below to see the results of the 2023 Barnegat Bay Blitz!