Beach, Marsh Cleanups Among Earth Day Projects

Earth Day activities, including beach cleanups and special celebrations of the outdoors, will take place this weekend and Monday around the South Bay.

Activities planned by staff and volunteers at Cabrillo Marine Museum for Saturday include an early morning cleanup of the beach and tide pool area at Point Fermin Marine Life Refuge, followed by tours of Salinas de San Pedro, a man-made salt marsh near the museum.

Videos, films, displays, demonstrations and educational materials will be available and museum staff and representatives of local environmental groups will answer questions. Families are invited to volunteer and bring picnic lunches. Events will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the museum, 3720 Stephen White Drive, San Pedro. For information, call 548-7562. Admission to the museum is free, beach parking is $5.50.

In Torrance, students from North High and West High on Saturday will clean up Torrance Beach, Redondo Beach and Madrona Marsh as part of the California Coastal Commission’s Adopt-a-Beach program and Torrance Earth Day activities. The cleanup, organized by Dow USA in cooperation with the Coastal Commission, will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at both beaches.

On Monday, the Friends of Madrona Marsh will hold a nature and bird walk in recognition of Earth Day, to be led by Torrance naturalist Walt Wright. Participants will meet at the Madrona Marsh Nature Preserve at 4 p.m. Monday. Walkers will park and start the walk at the kiosk on the Interpretive Triangle off Plaza Del Amo between Maple and Madrona avenues, Torrance. For information, call 32MARSH.

A panel discussion on “For Earth’s Sake: The Prevention of War and Environmental Degradation” will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at Torrance High School, Little Theatre, 2200 Carson Blvd. The program includes speakers from the World Federalist Assn., the United Nations Assn. and the Sierra Club. For information, call 618-0621.

Speakers from local environmental groups, musicians, singers and a multimedia presentation by the Palos Verdes/South Bay Conservation Council will offer entertainment and information about Earth Day during a program to be held 7-9:30 p.m. Monday at Palos Verdes Library, 650 Deep Valley Drive, Rolling Hills Estates. The Conservation Council is a coalition of environmental groups in the area. For information, call 545-1384.