Join the wave.
End plastic pollution.

Clean Up Activities

Ready to Discuss and Participate with Nellie?

Picking up litter is a fun, simple, free activity that can have instant results for your child and your community.

What You'll
Need

Plastic bag to collect trash

Gloves

Optional: pick up stick, separate bag for recyclables

Instructions

Assign gloves and a trash bag to each family member.

Clear out litter from a section of park, beach, vacant
lot or your own neighborhood. Take all necessary
precautions, including wearing sturdy gloves, being
careful on river banks or near roads, having adults
handle dangerous items and supervising children closely.

You can pick your favorite walk and do a one-time
sweep, or make clean-up a regular family event.

Properly dispose of all litter.

Reflections

Did you find a lot of litter?
What kind of litter did you see most often?
What could be done to help with that problem?

Why is it important to pick up litter?

What would our neighborhood look like if everyone littered?
How would you feel about living here?

What other ways can we take care of the spaces where we live?

Take it Further

Each time you step out the door to walk to the
neighbors, park or bus stop, take an opportunity to clean
up around the outside of your home. Eventually it will
become a habit.

Another new tradition: Have each family member pick
up five pieces of trash each time you visit the park,
before you start playing.

Turn trash collecting into a “rubbish race” and see who
can pick up the most trash in a certain amount of time.