Do you know a budding artist in 3rd, 4th or 5th grade? Do they like to draw or paint pictures? Their artwork could decorate trash barrels on local beaches.

The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors recently launched the Can the Trash! Clean Beach Poster Contest and educational campaign to teach kids how trash from anywhere in Los Angeles County—no matter if it’s left in the South Bay, San Fernando Valley, the Gateway Cities or East L.A.—can end up on beaches like Dockweiler, Venice and Zuma and in the ocean. The campaign includes the original “Clean and Blue” video, which is online at beaches.lacounty.gov/postercontest.

Additionally, 3rd-5th graders are encouraged to enter the Clean Beach Poster Contest. Students can submit artwork containing environmental messages about keeping the beaches/ocean clean for a chance to have their art wrapped around beach trash barrels on some of Southern California’s most popular beaches. Five winners will be chosen from each grade. The deadline for contest entries is Jan. 12, 2019.

“We have a responsibility to keep our ocean and iconic beaches as clean and healthy as possible, and the Can the Trash! Clean Beach Poster Contest is a creative way to promote this mission using the energy and ideas of the next generation,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose Fourth District includes the County’s southern beaches. “I’m looking forward to seeing students’ art and environmental messages on beach trash barrels!”

In addition to “Clean and Blue,” the educational campaign includes the “Ocean Heroes” activity guide. The activity guide was developed in partnership with Heal the Bay and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works. All materials are available online at beaches.lacounty.gov/postercontest.

“Through the Can the Trash! Clean Beach Poster Contest and educational campaign, we hope to teach individuals from an early age the importance of keeping our watershed and beaches free of trash and other pollution,” said DBH Director Gary Jones.

For more information, visit beaches.lacounty.gov/postercontest.

An electronic media kit containing the “Clean and Blue” video and “Ocean Heroes” activity guide is available at bit.ly/CanTheTrashMedia.