Volunteer Beach Stewardship Program

Recommended & Created by the 
Beach Advisory Committee
 

Volunteer Beach Stewardship Mission Statement:

To provide verbal information about the City of Marco Island Beach Ordinance and assist beach goers with wildlife, directional, and/or public inquiries.

• Inform the beach-going public about the Beach Ordinance and etiquette expected on the Marco Island beach, such as the prohibition of dogs, glass, and bicycles on the beach, locations of trash receptacles.
• To educate interested members of the beach-going public about the wildlife and the steps they can take to minimize impacts, specifically, keeping off the dunes, no harassment of wildlife and the collection of non-living shells.
• When an opportunity is presented, to show members of the beach-going public the nesting shorebirds and other wildlife natural behavior, using optics or educational material.
• Provide beach-goers community information on local points of interest, businesses and current events.

Why:

The City of Marco Island Beach Advisory Committee (BAC) has researched other Florida coastal communities to find that all have some type of beach oversight ranging from volunteers to paid police and rescue forces. Due to the increased use by visitors to the Marco Island beach which has increased trash, abandonment of equipment, trespassing on dunes and impact to wildlife, the BAC recognizes that not all beach-goers are familiar with the City ordinances or are aware of the proper etiquette on the beach to conserve the beach as it is and provide assistance to local law enforcement with educational outreach. Through Volunteer Beach Stewardship, citizens can volunteer to be stewards of the beach by education and answering questions at no cost to the community.

Where:

Volunteer Beach Stewardship participants will be on the Marco Island beach, using the Marco Island public accesses, walking or riding up and down the length of the beach, easily identifiable to the beach-going public. 

Who:

A volunteer must be willing to commit time at least once a month, preferably once a week, for a maximum of a two (2) hour shift with the possibility of being called for special events, such as holiday weekends when the beaches are more crowded, marine mammal strandings or other beach events that may need volunteers. The shift would be walking the beach, not soliciting beach-goers, so the volunteer must be available and approachable if inquiries from beach-goers occur. He/she should be willing to participate in training sessions conducted by the City’s Environmental Specialist and Police Department staff. Becoming familiar with the Marco Island beach, the volunteer needs to be friendly and enjoy talking with people, being polite and courteous at all times. A volunteer should have a mobile phone to use and be able to operate a motorized beach vehicle.

A volunteer coordinator would be a person that communicates shift schedules, program news, and information from City staff. This volunteer must have access to a computer and internet and be able to communicate and coordinate volunteers’ contact information, shift schedules weekly.

Volunteer Beach Stewardship General Duties

• Be well-versed in the City of Marco Island Beach Ordinances and able to communicate the basic messages to the beach-going public in a positive way.
• Be well-versed in directions and locals points of interest on Marco Island.
• Provide information on local City Services or other businesses on the Island.
• Educate the beach-going public on local wildlife.
• Be capable of notifying law enforcement if necessary of emergencies, unlawful behavior, etc.
• Prepare and submit periodic reports, if necessary.
• Keep a record of volunteer time.
• Have knowledge of who is on the beach in an official capacity, such as the Beach Vendors, Law Enforcement, Beach Raker, Turtle Monitor, etc.
• Always represent the City of Marco Island in a positive and friendly manner.

Volunteer Beach Stewardship participants are NOT law enforcement officers. 
Their job is to educate people and assist with inquiries to beach-going public.