Camarillo volunteers can help clear trash from two local waterways Saturday, Sept. 19, as part of California's annual Coastal Cleanup Day.

The City of Camarillo announced two cleanup sites open from 9 a.m. to noon. At Mission Oaks Park, volunteers will meet at the main canyon near the tennis courts. At Calleguas Creek, the meeting point is North Creekside and Paseo del Campo, at the bottom of the slope entrance to the creek bottom.

No registration has been required in past years, according to prior city announcements. The city asks volunteers to bring gloves, a bag or bucket, water, closed-toe shoes and sun protection.

The cleanup is part of a statewide effort led by the California Coastal Commission. It falls on the third Saturday of September each year.

Last year's results

The event has a track record in Camarillo. At the 40th anniversary cleanup on Sept. 21, 2024, 187 volunteers collected 800 pounds of debris from the same two sites, according to the city's October 2024 CityScene newsletter. The city said the collected debris would have otherwise polluted local waterways and the ocean.

The city has noted that more than 60 percent of trash collected on Coastal Cleanup Day statewide probably originated from inland sources, washing onto beaches through creeks and rivers.

What to know before you go

The terrain at both sites is rugged. The city has warned in past years that the cleanup areas are not suitable for strollers or children under age 5.

High school students who participate can earn community service credit, according to a prior city announcement.

Moorpark cleanup too

Moorpark residents have their own option the same morning. The City of Moorpark is hosting a Coastal Cleanup Day event at Villa Campesina Park, 4704 Leta Yancy Rd., from 9 a.m. to noon. That cleanup focuses on the Arroyo Simi.

Ventura County's cleanup efforts are coordinated by the county Public Works Agency's Watershed Protection District, according to the Ventura County Star.

For more information about Camarillo's sites, visit coastalcleanupday.org.

Upcoming community events

  • Saturday, Sept. 19: Coastal Cleanup Day, 9 a.m. to noon, Mission Oaks Park and Calleguas Creek (Camarillo); Villa Campesina Park (Moorpark)
  • Sunday, Sept. 20: Free landfill day in Moorpark
  • Monday, Sept. 21: Moorpark "Superhero Academy" day camp