Coastal Cleanup Day: McLaren Park

Looking for a way to show some love to the California coast and Steinhart Aquarium at the same time? Look no further!

Celebrate Steinhart Aquarium's Centennial and Coastal Cleanup Day with some good, not-so-clean fun at our family-friendly cleanup in San Francisco's McLaren Park on Saturday, September 30, from 10 am to 1 pm.

Co-hosted by the Academy and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, the cleanup will feature welcoming remarks from the senior director of Steinhart Aquarium, Bart Shepherd.

Cleaning up our community is its own reward, but we're sweetening the deal a bit: All volunteers will receive a free admission ticket to the Academy at the end of the cleanup, redeemable anytime within the next year!

To claim your free ticket, you must register for the cleanup in advance, attend the entire cleanup, and provide physical photo ID that matches the name on your registration. Limit one free ticket per attendee while supplies last.

When is it?  Saturday, September 30, from 10 am to 1 pm. The cleanup will start promptly at 10!

Where is it?  Meet in the free Jerry Garcia Amphitheater parking lot, located at 20 John F. Shelley Dr. If the lot fills up, there are several other lots in McLaren Park within a 10-minute walk of the cleanup site.

Is there parking?  Yes! There is free parking in the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater parking lot, located at 20 John F. Shelley Dr., where you will check in. If the lot fills up, there are several other lots in McLaren Park within a 10-minute walk of the cleanup site.

Is it near public transit?  Yes! MUNI line 29 is a 7-minute walk from the cleanup site, and line 54 is a 15-minute walk.

What should I bring?  Closed-toe shoes are required, and long pants, layers, a hat, and a water bottle are strongly recommended. No need to bring trash bags, gloves, or pickers—we got you covered.

Is it kid-friendly?  Yes! Kids are naturals at picking up trash, especially when there's a fun picker (and some friendly competition) involved. Please note, however, that cleanups can be tiring for kids under 5.

Can I register a group?  Sorry, you can only register one participant at a time on the San Francisco Recreation and Parks website. Please have each member of your party register individually. 

Isn't Coastal Cleanup Day on September 23?  Technically yes! But Steinhart Aquarium turns 100 years old on September 29 so we decided to schedule our cleanup one day later, on the 30th—and we're excited to keep the statewide cleanup energy alive for an additional week.

I have more questions!  We have answers! Please contact our co-hosts at the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department at recparkvolunteer@sfgov.org or 415-831-6884.