Earth Weekend Cleanup
We are so happy that our Earth Day cleanup event was such a success! Thank you to our many volunteers, who put so much hard work into giving back to our community by beautifying the Ellen O. Moyer Nature Park and its surrounding area.
Together, with the help of more than 50 volunteers, the Annapolis City Greenscape initiative, and the nonprofit organizations Live Water and UpCycled, we were able to plant over 50 perennial flowers and grasses, and remove over two dozen bags of yard waste!
Bags of yard waste collected by Volunteers
We also removed invasive species such as English Ivy, cut down dead trees, and removed over five bags of trash with refuse both from the land as well as the water. Way to go! Fueled by coffee from Rise Up Annapolis and snacks from our local Giant, all of it wrapped up with a rewarding paddle to reconnect everyone to the land and water.
Volunteers kayak and paddle after cleanup
This year, we were happy to be able to partner with the growing nonprofit Annapolis based organization, UpCycled. Co-founder Orlando Goncalves says, “Upcycled is our way of giving single-use plastic a long-term purpose. We do that by taking plastic waste and turning it into materials, things like 2x4s, bricks.” With the materials they created from plastic waste, Orlando and his partner Freddie Striano built their first flower bed which was then filled with flowers provided by Annapolis’ Greenscape. In the future, UpCycled aims to also create sheds and temporary shelters to further help the community.
Kim Morrow of Greenscape and Orlando Goncalves of UpCycle fill a flowerbed made of recycled plastic.
In addition to the contributions of Greenscape and UpCycled, we are always honored to be working with the Live Water Foundation. Their commitment to providing water sports as a form of therapy for everyone from youth to military veterans, in combination with their effort to clean the bay through oyster recovery is a testament to their desire to give back.
Volunteers clear waste from gutters
Live Water Ambassador and Race Team Member, Mary Zarcone says, “Capital SUP has always, always been a part of cleaning up because when you think about it, you’re on the water, so it’s your personal responsibility to take care of it. They’ve really, really been one of the biggest supporters I’ve ever seen or ever encountered.” Ultimately, of course, it is you – our Capital SUP family – that keeps the clean water momentum going, and we are thankful!
We are honored and proud to work with such a mindful group of people — it really makes us extra pumped for this season’s May 15th kickoff!
Stay tuned to our Facebook, Instagram, and emails for upcoming events.