Hearts of Gold proposes to host a Coastal Cleanup and Watershed Education Day on September 19, 2026 in partnership with the City of San Juan Capistrano. This event will be part of the 40th Annual International Coastal Cleanup, joining millions of volunteers around the world in one of the largest global environmental service efforts. The project is designed to educate and empower local youth to become environmental stewards through hands-on service and interactive learning. Participants will learn first-hand the primary sources of marine debris, how water and debris move through our watersheds, and how everyday actions affect the health of our oceans, waterways, and local communities. They will also gain an understanding of the history and global significance of the International Coastal Cleanup movement. The program will include two primary components: San Juan Creek Cleanup: Youth and community volunteers will remove litter and debris from the creek and surrounding areas to help prevent pollution from reaching the ocean. Environmental Education Aligned with the International Coastal Cleanup Event, participants will count and categorize all debris collected and then sync data findings with the TIDES Database, managed by the Ocean Conservancy and ultimately shared with the larger cleanup community. Additionally, a hands-on watershed model will demonstrate how water flows through our communities and illustrate how pollution travels from neighborhoods to creeks, rivers, and ultimately the ocean. Participants will engage in an interactive discussion about watersheds, stormwater runoff, marine debris, and practical ways they can protect local ecosystems. Hearts of Gold has proudly organized this annual event in partnership with the local municipality and/or water district for the past eight years. This year, we anticipate once again welcoming nearly 150 volunteers, the majority of whom will be youth between the ages of 3 and 16 years old. Through this meaningful service-learning experience, participants have continued to develop their sense of environmental awareness, civic responsibility, and a lifelong commitment to protecting natural resources. At Hearts of Gold, we remind every participant that caring for our waterways begins where we live. Our watershed education is centered around a simple but powerful message: ""If you are standing on Earth, you are standing in a watershed."" This guiding principle helps youth understand that everyone has a role in protecting the environment and that individual actions can have a lasting impact on the health of our communities and oceans. "