Crandon North (Bear Cut) Paddle/Walking Cleanup 01/18/2025

Saturday, January 18, 2025 @ 9:30am-12:30pm

IMPORTANT: To participate, you must both fill out the waiver (link below) AND register for a ticket on this page.

Join Key Biscayne Community Foundation’s Citizen Science Program,  FillABag, Miami EcoAdventures, and Free Plastic for an impactful and unforgettable mangrove cleanup in the Bear Cut Preserve in Key Biscayne! This will be a guided tour into Biscayne Bay and the mangroves to remove marine debris from this vital and hard-to-reach habitat. This cleanup is particularly important as mangroves host many vulnerable species that live within these vital and diverse ecosystems, and the recent storms have likely added more debris to this area. There is also a walking portion for those who do not wish to be in the water; however, keep in mind this may be difficult as you will be climbing through the trees and there are no defined trails. Please keep in mind, EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR PARTY must be registered (Parents, if you are attending with your child, you must also be registered and fill out the waiver).

Our event is funded through a generous grant from the Florida Inland Navigation District. We will have water and snacks, plus some prizes to win after the clean up! For the water portion of the cleanup, you will need to bring or rent your own paddleboard/kayak, and life vest/personal floatation device.

Kayak/paddle board rentals:  A limited number of tandem (2-person) kayaks and paddleboards will be available for rent from PADL. Click here to reserve a rented watercraft if you do not have your own; prices will vary depending on the type of watercraft you choose (single kayaks = $40 and tandem kayaks = $60). All PADL rentals include life jacket, whistle, and delivery/pickup. You do not need to change the delivery address, this order link is specific to our cleanup and all watercraft/equipment will be brought to our launch point near the Crandon Marina (the star on the map below, click on the map to enlarge it). No refunds can be issued for watercraft rentals for cancellations made after 01/16/2025 or for no-shows on the day of the cleanup. The PADL rental link will close at the end of the day 01/16/2025 and the cleanup registration will close by 5:00pm on 01/17/2025. 

All participants will be provided:

• reusable gloves (if you have your own reusable working or gardening type gloves, bring them as we cannot guarantee we will have your size)
• buckets
• bags
• guidance on the water by a team of experienced local environmentalists

Participants should wear sun protective clothing and closed-toed shoes that can get wet. Please bring water in a reusable water bottle and wear reef-safe sunscreen. Download the Ocean Conservancy’s CleanSwell app to participate in the Citizen Science activity to log, tally and measure the impact of your cleanup.

Minors aged 9-17 are welcome as long as they are comfortable and can be safe in the water, and are accompanied by a parent or guardian. We can provide Community Service Hours for students upon request. You will get a maximum of 3 hours for this cleanup.

Waivers are required to participate:

• Waivers are available at this LINK. FILLING OUT THE WAIVER DOES NOT REGISTER YOU FOR THE EVENT, PLEASE ALSO REGISTER BELOW.
  If you are under 18 and coming without a parent or guardian, you must have a parent/guardian print and sign the waiver in advance and you MUST have your guardian fill out the waiver on your behalf.
• Paper waivers will be provided the day of the event if you forget to sign online, however we prefer to keep our printing to a minimum.  Therefore, filling out the waiver online is preferrable.

Questions? Please contact Rumya at 305-361-2770 or [email protected]