Save The Bay invites volunteers to become beach cleanup leaders for its Warwick Summer Cleanup Series, which runs through the end of August. Cleanup leaders can lead one of Save The Bay's organized weekly cleanups or lead their own cleanup efforts at their favorite Warwick location at a time that is convenient for them.

Save The Bay will hold cleanup leader training sessions on June 27, 7 p.m. at the Warwick Library and July 13, 6 p.m. and August 5, 10 a.m. at Save The Bay in Providence. This opportunity is open to all individuals and local organizations interested in keeping Warwick's beaches clean.

"Come and learn about volunteer cleanup leadership to see if it's right for you," said Save The Bay Volunteer Manager July Lewis. "We encourage anyone who is passionate about the well-being of Narragansett Bay to join us for a leadership training session. The sessions will show you how easy it is to either help Save The Bay on our Thursday night cleanups or organize your own program in the Warwick area."

Save The Bay launched the Warwick Summer Cleanup Series on June 8 at Rocky Point State Park. The program is a series of weekly beach cleanups at four locations in Warwick, rotating between Rocky Point, Salter Grove, Conimicut Point and Oakland Beach every week. The program aims to remove marine debris from the four beaches over a 12-week period and initiate ongoing anti-littering conversations within the City of Warwick.

Save The Bay hopes the combination of regular cleanups, community outreach and anti-littering messaging can make a long-term difference in reducing marine debris. If the effort is successful, Save The Bay will use the Warwick program as a model for other locations. Community leadership is vital in order to make the greatest impact and keep the trash off of Warwick's beautiful beaches. As Lewis said, "The more positive community leadership that we can get in this program, the more effective we can be at keeping Warwick beaches beautiful."

For more information about the Warwick Summer Beach Cleanup Series or to share ideas about litter prevention, contact July Lewis at jlewis@savebay.org or 272-3540 x130.