More than 800 elementary school students from nine Title 1 schools across San Diego County gathered at Mission Beach to take part in Children’s Ocean Day 2025, a large-scale environmental event organized by I Love Clean San Diego.
The event combined environmental education, hands-on cleanup efforts, and artistic expression. It ended with a striking aerial art display on the beach, where students formed a 180-foot-wide image of a leopard shark spelling out the word “Restore” in the sand.
Jenny Barrows, spokesperson for I Love Clean San Diego, praised the students’ enthusiasm and commitment. “I would not be surprised if the children who showed up today become environmental leaders in San Diego,” she said.
Children’s Ocean Day is part of a larger statewide program led by the California Coastal Commission. The event is funded by proceeds from special whale tail license plates and donations to the Protect Coasts and Oceans Fund on California tax returns.
The Whale Tail Foundation supported regional events across California, including in San Diego, Orange County, San Francisco, Bakersfield, and Humboldt County. Their funding helped local organizations host cleanups and raise awareness about ocean conservation.
Anne Kohut Frankel, Public Education Program Manager for the California Coastal Commission, emphasized the importance of youth involvement. “The students are sending a powerful message about the need to protect and preserve California’s coast,” she said. “Their actions show us that we can repair our coast and ensure it continues for future generations.”
During the event, students worked under the guidance of organizers and volunteers to collect litter and create the aerial art design. A helicopter captured the image from above.
In total, students removed more than a thousand pounds of trash from the beach.
Children’s Ocean Day 2025 was made possible by support from local school districts, environmental partners, dedicated volunteers, and the education and outreach team at I Love Clean San Diego.
