Stand Up To Trash

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Stand Up To Trash

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Stand Up To Trash Mission: 501(c)(3)
Our Mission
Protect our ocean by raising awareness of the harmful impact of plastic pollution through environmental education that empowers future generations.

06/17/2026

🌟Partner Spotlight ~ Dana Wharf Whale Watching 🐋

This week we’re proud to spotlight Dana Wharf Whale Watching, a partner that has helped connect our community to the ocean for generations.

As the first business to operate in Dana Point Harbor when it opened in 1971, Dana Wharf has spent more than 50 years inspiring people to experience the beauty of whales, dolphins and marine life firsthand.

Their support of Stand Up To Trash has been incredible. Over the years, they have generously donated hundreds of whale watching certificates for our cleanup participants, helping create unforgettable ocean experiences and deeper connections to the marine environment.

Captain Don Hansen believed that when people experience the ocean, they learn to care for it. That belief continues to guide Dana Wharf today and aligns perfectly with our mission.

Thank you, Dana Wharf, for your generosity, partnership and dedication to inspiring ocean appreciation in our community! 💙🌊🐳

All photos courtesy of

06/11/2026

🌊 Ocean Fact of the Week

Take a deep breath.
Now thank the ocean.

More than half of the oxygen we breathe is produced by tiny ocean plants called phytoplankton.

Though invisible to most of us, these microscopic organisms help make life on Earth possible every single day.

The ocean isn’t just a beautiful place to visit.

It’s our planet’s life support system.

Every piece of litter we prevent, every cleanup we host and every person we inspire helps protect the waters that sustain us all.

💙 Because every breath connects us to the ocean.

06/09/2026

🚙 🌟Partner Spotlight ~ Frank’s Irvine Subaru

This week, we’re proud to shine the spotlight on one of our longest-standing and most impactful partners, Frank’s Irvine Subaru.

For the past five years, Frank’s Irvine Subaru has stood beside Stand Up To Trash, supporting our mission to protect our beaches, harbor and ocean through education, community engagement and action.

Most recently, they took that support to another level by providing us with a vehicle that has helped transport cleanup supplies, educational materials, event equipment and everything else needed to power our programs throughout Orange County.

Their commitment goes far beyond sponsorship. Frank’s Irvine Subaru truly lives the values of the Subaru Love Promise, investing in environmental initiatives, community cleanups, tree-planting programs, education, health, pets and local nonprofits that make a difference.

As a proud partner, we are honored to help represent Subaru Loves the Earth, one of the five pillars of the Subaru Love Promise.

Through this initiative, Subaru supports environmental action through community cleanups, tree distribution programs, sustainable business practices and partnerships that help create healthier communities for future generations.

Together, we’ve removed thousands of pounds of litter from our coastline, inspired thousands of volunteers and shown what is possible when businesses and nonprofits work together for a common purpose.

Frank’s Irvine Subaru doesn’t just talk about making a difference they show up and make it happen.

Thank you for believing in our mission, investing in our community, and helping us continue this work year after year.

We are incredibly grateful to have you in the Stand Up To Trash family. 💙🌊

06/08/2026

🌊💙 251 Ocean Advocates. 250 Pounds Removed. One Amazing Day for Our Ocean. 💙🌊

Our World Oceans Day Cleanup was a huge success!
251 volunteers came together and removed 250 pounds of litter, including a lobster trap, large pipes and countless pieces of plastic film.

While the big items get attention, the tiny pieces matter just as much.
These fragments have begun breaking down and can easily be mistaken for food by birds, fish and other wildlife.

That’s why every piece picked up makes a difference.

One thing we love about Dana Point Harbor is the incredible commitment to keeping it clean.
When we arrived before sunrise to set up, the harbor maintenance team was already out collecting litter.
Their daily efforts are a big reason our harbor looks so beautiful.
The fact that our volunteers still found 250 pounds of debris shows how important it is to stay vigilant and never become desensitized to litter in our environment.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this day so special ~
🧘‍♀️ Breezy from Yoga Six DP for starting our morning with a beautiful yoga session.
 🎶 Baby Beach Friendly Old Guys for the sweet ukulele music and island vibes.
 🤿 PADI AWARE Foundation for an inspiring presentation showing how divers can help protect the ocean below the surface.
 🐋 Donna Kalez and Dana Wharf for gifting 100 ocean protectors a whale watching adventure and helping connect people to the ocean we’re working to protect.
 🚙 Frank’s Irvine Subaru for the 2026 Forester that helps us transport supplies to our events.
 🏛️ Ocean Institute for providing the perfect venue for our Lunch & Learn.
 💙 Our sponsors and partners who support our mission in so many ways.

And most importantly, thank you to every participant who chose to spend a Sunday morning with friends and family helping care for our coastline.

We love this community.
Together, we’re proving that small actions create big change. 🌎✨

World Ocean’s Day pics 📸 by Dana Wharf and Laura Lopez

06/06/2026

🗺️📍🧭We’re feeling incredibly grateful and excited!

A huge thank you to The Log California’s Boating & Fishing News for featuring the 2026 Dana Point Citywide Scavenger Hunt in this fantastic article!

What started as a simple idea to encourage people to explore their community has grown into a month-long adventure connecting residents and visitors with Dana Point’s history, culture, coastline, local businesses and environmental treasures.

We’re especially thankful to all of our sponsors, partners and participants who help bring this event to life.

Your support makes it possible for families, friends and explorers of all ages to discover hidden gems, learn something new and create lasting memories right here in Dana Point!

The hunt is officially underway through June 30, so grab your passport at sponsor locations, solve the clues, collect stamps, enjoy special offers and enter for a chance to win some amazing prizes!

Thank you, The Log, for helping us share the adventure! 💙

06/04/2026

🏆 Introducing the Golden Bucket Award Volunteer Spotlight! 🏆

At Stand Up To Trash, we believe that meaningful change happens because of people who consistently show up, roll up their sleeves and lead by example.

Each month, we’ll be recognizing one outstanding volunteer whose dedication and service help make our programs possible.

We’re honored to announce our first Golden Bucket Award Recipient Tom Brattvett!

For more than four years, Tom has been a familiar face at our cleanups, showing up month after month with enthusiasm, determination and a passion for keeping our coastline clean.

If you’ve attended one of our events, you’ve probably seen Tom hauling in bags of debris and earning the title of “Biggest Catch” time and time again.
Through his commitment and hard work, Tom has personally removed well over 1,500 pounds of trash from our beaches, harbor and waterways.

But what makes Tom truly special isn’t just the amount of trash he collects, it’s his consistency, positive attitude and willingness to lead by example.

He reminds us that one person can make a tremendous difference when they choose to take action.

Tom, thank you for your dedication, your service and for inspiring all of us to leave our community better than we found it. 🙏

Congratulations on being our first Golden Bucket Award Volunteer Spotlight! 💙🌊🪣

05/19/2026

What does it really mean to be an ocean steward? 🌊

While planning this year’s Dana Point Scavenger Hunt, I found myself reflecting on something much deeper than clues, passports and local history.

Growing up in Dana Point, this town shaped who I am.
The beaches, harbor, trails, and people created a connection that made me want to protect it.

As our community grows, I started wondering… how do we help others build that same connection to the places around them?

Inspired by the words of Baba Dioum, “In the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand, and we will understand only what we are taught,” and our partnership with the Acjachemen Tribe, the original stewards of this land, I wrote a new blog post about community, connection, stewardship and why people protect what they love.

This one came straight from the heart. 💙

📲Link in bio to read the full blog

Let me know what you think it means to be an ocean and/or land steward

05/18/2026

A huge THANK YOU to Harbor Rock Wealth Management for cohosting our 4th Annual San Clemente Beach Cleanup this weekend! 🚮

The morning started with a beautiful blessing and land acknowledgment from Chena Edmundson of the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians Acjachemen Nation, reminding us of our connection and responsibility to care for the land and sea. 🪶🌊

Together, 62 amazing volunteers removed 40 pounds of trash from the coastline, proving that every piece picked up matters, especially the small debris that can easily be mistaken for food by birds and marine life.

One thing we heard all morning was, “I didn’t pick up much, just a lot of little stuff.”
But those tiny pieces are often the most harmful to our ocean wildlife.
Every bottle cap, plastic fragment and micro piece removed helps create a healthier future for our beaches and ocean. 💙

So while the trash collected may not always weigh much, the value of removing it is far greater.

We loved seeing so many people come together to give back to the community, including one participant who celebrated her birthday with us alongside her family, and kids who drove all the way from Fountain Valley just to participate!

Thank you again to Harbor Rock Wealth Management for 4 years of partnership, community leadership and helping inspire positive action for our oceans!

Turning awareness into action together! 🩵💙🚮

04/26/2026

Today was a historic day of firsts.

For our nonprofit.
For the City and County

We’re incredibly proud to introduce the first Toy Box Library in Orange County, right here at Baby Beach!

Built on the simple idea of community and care, this “take a toy, leave a toy” box encourages reuse, reduces waste, and brings a little extra joy to families spending the day by the ocean, just like the little free libraries you see in neighborhoods, but with a coastal twist.

This project truly took a village, and we’re so grateful for the support that made it possible:
Supervisor Katrina Foley, OC Parks, and the City of Dana Point

Huge thank you to:
Matt Macarwich for building the box 🪚🗜️🧰
Dana-Beth Farris & Candace Alfaro for the beautiful artwork 🎨🖌️
Sign Lingo for bringing the signage to life

This is what community driven impact looks like and we’re just getting started!

Take a toy. Leave a toy. Love our beach. 💙

04/23/2026

Big impact from a small but mighty crew 🚮

Shoutout to these Tesoro High School classmates who took home the Biggest Catch at our Earth Day cleanup, removing a large piece of treated wood from the beach!

Here’s why that matters
 Not all “wood” in the ocean is created equal 🌊
 Natural driftwood is part of the coastal ecosystem, it breaks down over time and even provides habitat for marine life.

But treated wood is a different story. 🚫
 It’s often coated or infused with chemicals to prevent rot (think pesticides, preservatives, heavy metals) and when it ends up in the ocean, those toxins can leach into the water, impacting marine life, water quality and ultimately all of us.

By removing this piece, these students didn’t just clean the beach…they helped stop harmful chemicals from entering the ocean. 👏

This is what turning awareness into action looks like.

Want to make an impact like this?

Come join us at our next cleanup for World Oceans Day Sunday June 7! 🌎🌊

Address

Dana Point, CA

Website

https://www.standuptotrash.com/

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