Dear Great Lakes community,
April is Earth Month and Citizen Science Month, which means it's the perfect time of year to become more involved in your community.
If you are interested in participating in a beach cleanup near you, check out this map from Alliance for the Great Lakes of upcoming events throughout the region. You can also explore the websites of local environmental organizations to find more events, or gather some friends to lead your very own cleanup wherever you are.
The Sea Grant Great Lakes BioBlitz is another opportunity to connect with nature by identifying the wild, living things near you using the iNaturalist app. Anyone can participate from Earth Day on April 22 through May 20.
Stuck inside on a rainy day? The NOAA Office of Education and NOAA Marine Debris Program websites have tons of creative activities for all ages—from coloring books and video series to interactive lessons.
Enjoy this time of year as we emerge from winter hibernation, and enjoy this edition of the Great Lakes Regional Marine Debris Newsletter!
Onward,
Haley Dalian Great Lakes Regional Coordinator
 Now Available for Schools: Taking a Bite Out of Lunchroom Waste Curriculum
Students from Alpena’s Immanuel Lutheran School remove litter along theThunder Bay River (Credit: Alecia Dietz).
With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan and the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative created the Taking a Bite out of Lunchroom Waste curriculum to provide teachers and students with the tools to help reduce lunchroom waste and marine debris.
The goal is to help students discover they have the power to make a difference in their school and community. This curriculum will introduce students to trash, how it becomes marine debris, and its impact on our Great Lakes. After students explore the problem of marine debris and how people contribute to it, they are provided with an avenue to take action.
Click here to explore the lesson plans.
 Great Lakes Marine Debris Action Plan Partners Reveal Region-Wide Messaging Campaign
With the support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Illinois Indiana Sea Grant and advisory partners of the Great Lakes Marine Debris Action Plan recently completed the brand assets for a region-wide messaging campaign to rally the great folks of the Great Lakes. This campaign encourages everyone in our region to recreate responsibly by reducing waste while refilling and reusing their water bottles.
Click here to download the logos for viewing and sharing!
International Joint Commission Work Group Publishes Report on Great Lakes Microplastics Monitoring, Risk Assessment, and Management
Imagery from the cover page of the final report (Credit: International Joint Commission).
The International Joint Commission's special work group recently published a report and presented their findings for monitoring microplastics in the Great Lakes, assessing ecological risk, and recommending a management framework. The report offers an evidence-based framework to consider how microplastics could be included as an indicator of Great Lakes health to inform regional management decisions.
Click here to watch the recent webinar recording and view the full report.
Plastic Debris Session Planned at the 2025 International Conference on Great Lakes Research
The International Association for Great Lakes Research will hold its 68th Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research from June 2-6, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 47 interdisciplinary sessions have been proposed. One session and panel on June 5 will be "Plastic Debris in the Great Lakes: Advancements, Gaps, and Paths Forward."
Click here to learn more about the upcoming conference and to register.
Ohio Boat Shrink Wrap Recycling Program Celebrates Nearly 20 Years in Operation
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With millions of boaters across the region alone, shrink wrap is an important tool for winterizing boats each year, but it can easily become marine debris and disposal can be difficult. Created by the Ohio Clean Marinas Program, the Ohio Boat Shrink Wrap Recycling Program's mission is to collect shrink wrap before it can reach landfills or the environment.
Every year, the operation collects thousands of pounds of shrink wrap. Since 2006, the program has recovered more than 2.3 million pounds. The program relies on cooperation from boaters, marinas, manufacturers, and the general public to succeed.
Click here to learn more about this program and Ohio Clean Marinas.
Explore More Upcoming Opportunities
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National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Opportunity
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is pleased to announce the 2025 National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) Request for Proposals. NFWF will make investments in the planning, design, and implementation of nature-based solutions to enhance protection for coastal communities from the impacts of storms, floods, and other natural hazards while improving habitats for fish and wildlife. NFWF expects the average NCRF awards to be in the range of $1,000,000 to $10,000,000. Projects must be located within the coastal areas of U.S. coastal states, including the Great Lakes states, and U.S. territories and Tribal lands. If you have questions about a project idea, Aislinn Gauchay (Aislinn.Gauchay@nfwf.org) is the Great Lakes point of contact.
Deadline: May 6, 2025 | Click here to learn more
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Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest
Bow Seat presents its 14th Annual Ocean Awareness Contest with the theme, Connections to Nature: Looking Inside, Going Inside. Express your love for the natural world through art, writing, performance, film, or multimedia. Students ages 11-18 are asked to use one of four subthemes as a jumping off point for their work.
Deadline: June 9, 2025 | Click here to learn more
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Lakes Appreciation 2025 Student Poster Contest
The North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) is hosting a student poster contest to reflect on how important lakes are to all of us. All grades K-12th are welcome to participate. Posters should follow the open theme, Why Are Lakes Special? The three winners, one from each grade range, will be notified via email by Thursday, July 3.
Deadline: June 20, 2025 | Click here to learn more
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Chicago Water Week Hosted May 4-10, 2025
Current’s 5th Annual Chicago Water Week will return May 4-10 with a week-long series of water-focused events. Partnering organizations independently host a variety of events throughout the week, from indoor and outdoor experiences to virtual and in-person gatherings. Most events are free to attend for guests of all ages, backgrounds, and industries. Explore water's impact, engage with water stewards, and build connections.
Dates: May 4-10, 2025 | Click here to learn more
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The Future of Fresh Water Conference in Milwaukee
The Future of Fresh Water Conference will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from May 14-16. Hosted by the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, this event will shine a spotlight on the vital role that local governments, industries, and innovators in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River Region play in tackling both regional and global water issues.
Dates: May 14-16, 2025 | Click here to learn more
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Emerging Contaminants in the Environment 2026
Hosted by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, the Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference (ECEC26) will be a hybrid event at the I-Hotel in Champaign, Illinois from April 28-29, 2026. The planning committee is now seeking proposed speakers and panelists. Online submission of your session proposal is required by the deadline. Potential session chairs should be prepared to attend the conference in-person.
Deadline: June 16, 2025 | Click here to learn more
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