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, 2024 9AM – 1PM | Barnegat Lighthouse State Park *Volunteer limit reached, please look for another clean-up!* |
Barnegat Twp | Lauren Keltos | April 23rd, 2024 Time TBD | Location TBD |
Beachwood | Dawn Tapp | April 26th, 2024 6PM | Beachwood Beach |
Berkeley | Crystal Pirozek | April 23rd, 2024 9AM | C&C Marina – 211 Sloop Creek Rd, Bayville, NJ 08721 |
Brick | Raymond LeChien | April 27th, 2024 10AM | Riverwalk Refuge (40.0451093, -74.1016694) |
Eagleswood | Victoria Vella & Maria Van de Zilver | April 24th, 2024 Rain Date April 25th 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)** |
Lakewood | AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador WMA 13 – Caroline McFarland | April 20th, 2024 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 | DATE & TIME TBD | Cedar Bridge Ave along Cotterals Branch. **Adult-Only Cleanup** Disclaimer: This cleanup is along a roadway. Yellow Safety vests will be supplied for street-side safety. |
Little Egg Harbor | Kim Clark & Jim Ardoin | April 27th, 2024 9AM – 11AM | Pinelands Regional High School Bog Cleanup – be prepared to get muddy! |
Long Beach Twp | Frank McLauglin & Joe Stefanoni | TBD | Location TBD |
Manchester | Gabrielle Fox | April 21st, 2024 11AM -1 PM | Location TBD |
Mantoloking | Ed O’Malley | April 27th, 2024 Time TBD | Location TBD |
Plumsted | Jeff Mason | April 24th, 2024 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, 2024 Rain Date April 25th, 2024 Time TBD | Location TBD |
Point Pleasant Beach | Jen Feltis | TBD | Location TBD |
Seaside Heights | Lynette Lurig | April 25th, 2024 10AM – 3PM | Sunset Beach – Bayfront and island cleanup. *Volunteer limit reached, please look for another clean-up!* |
Seaside Park | Danielle Fadeski | TBD | Location TBD |
Ship Bottom | Matt Bernstein | April 20th, 2024 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 | AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador WMA 16 – Kerstin Axe | April 26th, 2024 Time TBD | Location TBD |
Toms River | Crystal Pirozek | Multiple | Contact Crystal for more information. |
Tuckerton | AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador WMA 14 – Melanie Thorn | April 21st, 2024 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. |
Wall Twp | AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador WMA 12 – Charlene Kiley | April 20th, 2024 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!