Your neighborhood, our environment!

FAQ

• Q: Where will sites be located and is this an in-person event or self-led?

  We are offering two unique opportunities for volunteering:

  Self-Led Option: Our Creek to Bay self-led option is a cleanup run by YOU! If you are trying to keep your circle small and limit your exposure to groups you can stay close to home and collect litter throughout the streets of your neighborhood! This option allows you to support your neighborhood and protect our San Diego watersheds by preventing tons of litter from entering our creeks, bays, and the ocean. This option is not permitted by ILACSD and instead you are solely responsible for collecting and disposing of trash, supplies, and assume all responsibilities for the cleanup. Don’t forget to report your litter debris and cleanup location after your cleanup. When you register you’ll receive a link to report your litter totals which will be automatically uploaded to our Volunteer Impact Map so we can see your passion in action! Register for a self-led cleanup here.

  In-Person Site: If you are eager to participate in a group setting and meet new people, join members of the public at our designated sites led by a site captain or staff member! There will be 78+ sites all throughout San Diego County. Our in-person sites are managed by ILACSD and volunteer Sites Captains to include permitting, trash disposal, and all supplies. You can pick the site of your choosing through our Community Hub! Your litter totals will be added by the Site Captain or Staff Member at your site.

  No matter where you live in San Diego County, every gutter, street, parking lot, park, canyon and beach is in one of the county’s 11 watersheds. The health of these systems means healthier creeks and ocean for all of us!

• Q: How do I prepare for a self-led independent cleanup?

  If you choose to not join an in-person, staffed cleanup location but rather to lead your own independent cleanup on the day you will be responsible for gathering your own supplies, managing the trash you collect and dispose of, and picking a location for your cleanup. Please keep in mind the self-led cleanups are not permitted by IlACSD. We have resources available to help you make the most of what you have at home such as our Resource Guide: Click here for our Virtual Cleanup Resources Guide! You may want to bring snacks, hand sanitizer, and should wear sturdy closed toed shoes and clothing appropriate for a cleanup. Hats, water, and sunscreen are highly recommended. Register on April 1st through our Community Hub to get more details on how to setup a great cleanup day!

• Q: Can I register as a family or group?

  Yes! As you register, you have the option to Sign Up as a Group to keep your team members together through our Community Hub (where you register for this event). Group Leaders will be able to track who has joined their group through your unique Group URL link (you will receive this link upon group registration) or register on behalf of your group.

• Q: How do I register my group?

  How to Register Your Group:

  1. Choose our self-led cleanup option or in-person site through our Community Hub.
  2. Once you choose your site: Click sign-up With Group.
  3. If you have an account simply Login. If you are new to our community hub click New Volunteer
  4. Step One: Enter your group name. Ie. Flanigan Family, SDGE, etc.
  5. Select: You are the leader of the this group if applicable, and proceed with Add Group.
  6. Step Two: Enter the group size
  7. Step Three: Reserve and Invite
  8. Your group URL will generate. Copy this URL and email or send to your other group members.
  9. Don’t forget to download your waivers for your group to sign and bring to your cleanup site on April 23rd!

• Q: Does this count for community service? What about court-ordered service?

  This event does qualify for Community Service Hours for all sites and participants (in-person and self-led).

  If you require Court Ordered hours verification, this is only available at hosted in-person sites (a site captain or staff member has to verify Court Ordered Hours for your cleanup). Please inform your site leader upon arrival of your verification needs.

  To receive volunteer hours, digital service forms, and Letters of Appreciation – volunteers must:

  •         Register for the event through I Love A Clean San Diego’s Community Hub
  •         Participate in the cleanup
  •         Capture a photo of your active participation in the cleanup
  •         Log your volunteer hours post cleanup through your profile on the Community Hub

  Follow our How To Guide for step-by-step instructions.

• Q: How can I stay safe?

  Follow CDC Guidance on vaccinated and unvaccinated requirements throughout the County. For cleanup-related safety, please read the safety guidelines you’ll receive via email when you register or take a few minutes to watch our fantastic safety video brought to you by our very own staff!

• Q: How old do I have to be to volunteer?

  Creek to Bay is a great event for the whole family. Kids are more than welcome to participate; volunteering at a young age can instill community stewardship for life! Check your site details for more site specifics. Scout troops can earn a Creek to Bay 2022 Patch after they participate in the clean and successfully log their hours on their profile in the Community Hub. Need help logging hours after the cleanup? Click here for a Guide!

• Q: How will we know our impact?

  After your cleanup, weigh the debris you collected (trash and recycling) and share it with I Love A Clean San Diego by taking a short survey after your cleanup. The litter data and cleanup location you enter in the survey will automatically populate on our county-wide Volunteer Impact Map! This participatory map shows a quantitative measurement of the day’s cleanup efforts. Participants will contribute to real time, crowd-sourced metrics and impact for the event. Once registered, volunteers will be sent a link to a simple survey to report back on their cleanup stats, which can be accessed on mobile device or computer.

• Q: Can my Troop get patches for participating?

  Yes, this is one of two opportunities in 2022 for which your Troop may receive a patch! The categories are: Creek to Bay (4/23) and Coastal Cleanup Day (9/17). Patches will be available for request starting on 4/23. To request patches, head to your profile on our Community Hub and Log Your hours after your cleanup! Follow this guide to log your hours – complete the logbook survey and at the bottom you will find our patch order form. We have a limited supply of scout patches, which will be given on a first-come-first-serve basis. Our staff will confirm your order as soon as possible following the cleanup event. However you choose to support our organization, whether volunteering or with a generous donation, your help is always appreciated (and essential) to keep San Diego’s watersheds beautiful and healthy!