Young environmental champions collected more than 112 kilograms of litter while learning about marine conservation ahead of World Ocean Day celebrations.
The City of Cape Town’s Junior River Wardens Programme marked World Ocean Day early by bringing together 48 young environmental champions for a day of conservation, education and action at Lagoon Beach.
Hosted by the City’s Biodiversity Management Branch and Nature Connect, in partnership with Shark Spotters and the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation, the event provided learners with hands-on experience in protecting South Africa’s coastal ecosystems.
Learners from Red River Primary School, Floreat Primary School and Ysterplaat Primary School participated in the programme and received official Junior River Warden T-shirts, hats and protective gloves.
The day began with interactive environmental education sessions led by the Shark Spotters team. Learners explored the important role sharks play in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems and took part in activities focused on ocean conservation, biodiversity and environmental stewardship.
Participants also learned about threats facing marine life and how individual actions can contribute to healthier oceans and coastlines.
The practical conservation component saw learners join the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation in a beach clean-up along Lagoon Beach. Working together, they collected 112.16 kilograms of litter across 500 metres of coastline.
Items collected included plastic bottles, sweet wrappers, chip packets, fishing line, cans, discarded toys and footwear.
Using the internationally recognised Dirty Dozen litter audit methodology, learners recorded and categorised waste found on the beach, helping them better understand the sources of pollution entering marine environments.
The collected waste was removed and responsibly disposed of by the City’s Ndabeni Waste Depot.
Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews, said the programme plays an important role in developing environmental leadership among young people.
“As we approach World Ocean Day, it is important that we educate young people about our oceans, the role they play in ensuring a stable climate and the fact that our collective survival and resilience rely on the health of our oceans,” he said.
The Junior River Wardens Programme is a partnership between the City’s Biodiversity Management Branch and Nature Connect and aims to provide practical conservation experiences that strengthen young people’s connection with nature.
By combining environmental education with real-world action, the Lagoon Beach event empowered learners to become ambassadors for conservation within their schools and communities.
The initiative also reinforced the message that protecting rivers, wetlands and oceans is a shared responsibility that benefits both people and the environment.
