World Oceans Day Celebration of the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers

On Saturday, June 8, Clean Ocean Action, the Rumson Environmental Commission, and Rally for the Navesink Alliance members celebrated World Oceans Day by hosting the 2nd Annual Rally for the Rivers Eco-Fest at Victory Park, in Rumson, NJ. This was a free event, made possible by Metrovation, owners of The Grove in Shrewsbury and Brook 35 in Sea Girt, among other properties. Nearly 300 attendees enjoyed hands-on interaction with turtles and other coastal critters, river seining, all-ages yoga, learning to row, ask a master gardener, music, marine debris art and more - all in the spirit of “Watershed Mindfulness” education. The event “connected the drops” by highlighting the importance of keeping the rivers clean and of their affect on the health of the ocean. 

The Clean Ocean Action crew at the Eco-Fest in Victory Park, Rumson

Pictured left to right: Swarna Muthukrishnan, Kari Martin, Kendall Keelen, Peter Blair, Cindy Zipf, Alison McCarthy, Patricia Dunkak, Megan Andreasen, and Isabelle Rosa

COA’s Alison McCarthy coordinated the event that hosted over 30 environmental organizations.

Bottle Cap Art with Red Bank Environmental Commission

River Seining with Monmouth County Parks System 

 Children were able to dive into the fun by getting their Environmental Passport stamped after visiting different activity stations throughout the park. Once an Environmental Passport was stamped 18 times, participants became eligible to redeem free local giveaways throughout June, as well as possible extra credit or a homework pass if shown to their teacher.

Children enjoying the Music Together station at the Eco-Fest with Coastal Melodies

2019 Eco-Fest Activities 

• Action and Information Tables – Jersey Shore Sierra Club and Navesink Maritime Heritage Association All Ages Yoga – Flow Paddle Yoga
• Baby Shark Pollution Maze – Middletown Environmental Commission
• Bottle Cap Mandala Art Project – Red Bank Environmental Commission
• Coastal Critters Games and Activities – Save Coastal Wildlife
• Enviroscape Demonstration – Clean Ocean Action
• Fish Printing Craft – American Littoral Society
• Guess the Dirty Dozen – Clean Ocean Action
• Healthy Lawns Pledge – Rumson Garden Club
• Learn to Compost – Master Gardeners of Monmouth County
• Learn to Row – Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School Rowing Team
• Living Shoreline Tank – NJ Sea Grant Consortium
• Lorax Arts and Crafts – Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School AP Spanish
• Marine Debris Art – WATERSPIRIT
• Marine Debris Timeline – NJ Sea Grant Consortium
• Music Together – Coastal Melodies
• No Wipes in the Pipes Game – Rumson Department of Public Works
• Pollution Math – Fair Haven Environmental Commission
• Project Terrapin – Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School
• Recycling Game – Rumson Environmental Commission
• Reusable Bag Giveaway – Little Silver Environmental Commission
• River Seining – Monmouth County Park System
• Sail Trimming – River Rats
• Sailing Seashell Identification – Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute
• Seed Planting – Monmouth Conservation Foundation
• Shell Painting Craft – NY/NJ Baykeeper
• Worming Around the Garden – Garden Club of Fair Haven

Attendees learning about "watershed Mindfulness" at COA's Enviroscape table 

Passport Rewards, including Discounts and Giveaways:

Special thanks to A Kneaded Vacation on Massage and Wellness, Alfonso’s Pastry Shoppe, Canyon Pass Provisions, Cups and Cakes, Cupcake Magician, Distinctive Toys, Fairwinds Deli, Greenlines, Guaranteed Plants and Florist, In the Garden, Lusty Lobster, Moby’s, Music Together Coastal Melodies, River Road Books, SeaBreeze Cleaners, Sickles Market, SoulShine Studios, and The French Market!