The 2026 Marine Debris Calendar Is Now Available! madison.piascik Mon, 12/15/2025 - 11:14

The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce that our 2026 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download! Our art contest aims to get students thinking about how marine debris impacts our ocean and Great Lakes, and what they can do to help. This year’s calendar features artwork from 13 students in first through eighth grade from seven states and three U.S. territories. All are winners of the “Keep the Sea Free of Debris” art contest. 

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Tags art contest art education

Congratulations to Our 2025 Art Contest Winners! madison.piascik Thu, 09/25/2025 - 11:35

We are pleased to announce the winners of the NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest! We received many colorful, creative, and informative entries from around the country, and although we wish we could showcase them all, we are excited to share the winners of this year’s contest with you. The winning artwork will be featured in a 2026 calendar, which will help to remind us every day of the importance of being responsible stewards of the ocean. Thank you to all the students and schools that participated in this year’s contest! 

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Tags art contest education art

Growing Stewards of the Coastline: One Cool Earth's Journey with Local Students emily.greene Thu, 12/12/2024 - 17:01

In San Luis Obispo County, California, protecting our creeks and coastlines is a shared responsibility. The estuary, teeming with life and natural beauty, faces growing threats from pollutants that enter through creeks and rivers, impacting the delicate ecosystems that depend on clean waters. One Cool Earth wanted to help tackle these concerns.

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Tags California prevention education

Now Open: The Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest! madison.piascik Thu, 10/10/2024 - 10:16

Are you a student or teacher who’s passionate about marine debris? Then get your art supplies ready, because this year’s NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest is officially open! Students in grades K-8 from the United States and U.S. territories can submit their artwork now through December 13th. Enter today and you could see your artwork featured in our 2026 Marine Debris Calendar! So get crafty, get creative, and help us raise awareness about marine debris.

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Tags art contest art education

The 2025 Marine Debris Calendar Is Now Available! madison.piascik Fri, 09/27/2024 - 15:16

The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce that our 2025 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download! Our annual art contest aims to get students thinking about how marine debris impacts our ocean and Great Lakes, and what they can do to help. This year’s calendar features artwork from 13 students in kindergarten through eighth grade from eight states and two U.S. territories, all winners of the “Keep the Sea Free of Debris” art contest. Keep your eye on our blog and website for information on the next contest, which opens October 15, 2024.

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Tags education art contest calendar outreach

Zero Waste Back to School Preparation madison.piascik Tue, 08/06/2024 - 09:36

Back to school season is here! There can be a lot of waste associated with back to school shopping in the form of single-use plastic and packaging materials that can ultimately end up in our ocean and Great Lakes. As you prepare your classroom and check off your back to school shopping list, the NOAA Marine Debris Program has resources for both students and educators to prepare for the school year ahead. Our online resources are a zero waste must-have for this back to school season!

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Tags Back to School plastics zero waste education

Now Available: An Educator’s Guide to NOAA’s Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project madison.piascik Wed, 07/24/2024 - 13:58

The NOAA Marine Debris Program created the Guide to MDMAP for Educators as a resource for educators who are interested in implementing MDMAP surveys with their students. The Guide provides instructions and tips for participating in MDMAP and planning, conducting, and following up on monitoring surveys with student groups. Understanding where, how much, and what kinds of debris are present in the marine environment is important to help combat the problem. This knowledge, along with an understanding of how the amount of marine debris on shorelines is changing over time, is essential to developing new and effective strategies for prevention, education, and outreach. 

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Tags monitoring shoreline monitoring education Back to School

Congratulations to Our 2024 Art Contest Winners! madison.piascik Mon, 04/15/2024 - 11:15

We are pleased to announce the winners of the Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest! We received many colorful, creative, and informative entries from around the country, and although we wish we could showcase them all, we are excited to share the winners of this year’s contest with you.

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Tags art contest art education

The 2024 Marine Debris Calendar Is Now Available! madison.piascik Tue, 11/28/2023 - 10:02

The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce that our 2024 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download!

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Tags art contest art education

Now Open: The Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest! madison.piascik Mon, 10/16/2023 - 10:24

Are you a student or teacher who’s passionate about marine debris? Then get your art supplies ready, because this year’s NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest is officially open! Students in grades K-8 from the United States and U.S. territories can submit their artwork now through December 15.

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Tags art contest education

Reducing Single-Use Plastics on College Campuses neil.mccoy Mon, 01/30/2023 - 11:00

Eckerd College, located along the sunny coast of the Gulf of Mexico, has been working hard to reduce single-use plastic consumption on campus for years. Following a successful NOAA Marine Debris Program prevention grant focused on reducing single-use plastic at Eckerd, the Reduce Single-Use Project teamed up with the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. On both campuses the team has encouraged college students to rely less on plastics through events, beach cleanups, and even an app.

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Tags Florida prevention education

Capturing Debris and Inspiring Action Along the Anacostia River neil.mccoy Thu, 12/08/2022 - 11:00

The Anacostia River has a long and important history. Today, the Anacostia River watershed is home to more than 800,000 people, encompassing portions of Washington, DC, and Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties in Maryland. Unfortunately, each year hundreds of tons of trash from surrounding lands makes its way into the river. Nearby communities have been working hard to address this problem, and help guide overall reductions in trash and litter entering the river.

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Tags Mid-Atlantic prevention removal education