For the past three years, boats made out of post-consumer recyclable materials floated on Lake Erie during a unique event to help raise awareness about the impact of plastic on our environment. Come join us for:
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Boat Launch at 10 am
Lower Edgewater State Park Beach
6700 Memorial Shoreway
Cleveland, Ohio 44102
Build and float your plastic boat in Lake Erie!
Winners will be recognized in four categories:
- Fastest Boat
- Best Use of Recyclable Materials
- Most Artistic Style
- L'il Sailors
The "Best Use of Recyclable Materials" winner will have their boat recycled by Polyflow.
Polyflow offers an innovative technology that for the first time allows true recycling of mixed dirty plastic and rubber waste.
Looking for Ideas for your Boat?
In 2003, Marcus Eriksen, founder of The 5 Gyres Institute, sailed the Mississippi River on a plastic raft called Bottle Rocket. In 2008, Marcus sailed across the Pacific Ocean on a raft made of 15,000 plastic bottles, called JUNK. And in 2009, he sailed in Lake Erie on The Cola-hoga. Watch some of Marcus' videos for ideas on how to make a plastic boat.
Watch for details about the Boat Float and Marcus Eriksen at the Burning River Fest on July 21 and 22, 2012.
You Can Make a Difference: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
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Photo credit: Nancy Hughes
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The Great Lake Erie Boat Float is being held in conjunction with the Museum's Annual Conservation Symposium presented by The Cleveland Museum of Natural History. This year's theme is Forest Management.
Beach Cleanup
Recent reports tell of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch located in the Pacific Ocean, but we don't have to go to the ocean to see the impact of plastic on our environment. Trash on the beach originates from your own front yard and travels down the storm drains when it rains eventually to end up on the beach or the waterways. You can make a difference by picking up the trash in your own front yard! Watch this fun video!
Come watch the boats float on September 8, and bring along a garbage bag to pick up plastic trash along the beach.
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| Photo credit: Nancy Hughes |
Registration Information
Registration is required for all participants floating their boat in the Fourth Annual Great Lake Erie Boat Float. There is no registration fee but all participants must sign a liability waiver and will be required to wear a life jacket while in the water.
Registration Form
L'il Sailors Registration Form
The Li'l Sailors category is for children 12 years of age and younger who would like to build a small boat out of post-consumer recyclable materials. All Li'l Sailors boats will be displayed on the beach before the start of the Boat Float. The winner of the Li'l Sailors category will be determined by a judge and prizes will be awarded in this category at the conclusion of the Boat Float. Li'l Sailors' are encouraged to fill out a registration form by September 1 to be considered for a prize.
Registration Deadline: Sunday, September 1, 2012
For more information, contact Cathi Lehn by email at: clehn@cmnh.org.
Launch site and course
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Lower Edgewater State Park Beach
6700 Memorial Shoreway
Cleveland, Ohio 44102
Boat Launch will be at 10 am from the Lower Edgewater State Park Beach. Spectators welcome!
Transportation to and from Launch Site
All participants will be responsible for the delivery and removal of their boats and all components of their boat to and from the Park. A map of the launch site is available here.
Recycling or Re-use of Materials
It is the responsibility of each participant to ensure that their boat is composed entirely of post-consumer materials and that all materials are transported from the Park and disposed of in a responsible manner at the conclusion of the Boat Float.
Sponsors