Spring 2025 Recap: Love Blue Chapters Hit Milestones, Break Records, and Gear Up for a Big Summer

As the spring semester wraps up, we're proud to share an exciting season of accomplishments from our Love Blue Inc. college and university chapters across the country. This spring wasn’t just busy, it was historic!

We officially surpassed 40,000 pounds of trash removed from our nation’s beaches through Love Blue-led cleanups. To be exact, we’re currently sitting at 40,350 lbs, all collected by passionate volunteers united by our mission to protect our waterways.

FGCU Chapter Crushes Records (Again)

Florida Gulf Coast University continues to lead by example. Following their record-setting spring in 2022 post-Hurricane Ian, FGCU’s Love Blue Chapter once again broke records—this time removing 2,138 lbs of trash in a single semester. This chapter continues to shine thanks to not just student involvement, but a truly engaged coastal community that shows up, supports, and helps carry out our mission. When you see Love Blue in action at FGCU, you're seeing community and conservation come together in full force.

Flagler Chapter Kicks Off Strong

After an exciting launch earlier this year (highlighted in our last blog), the Flagler Chapter has already shown what’s possible when students take initiative and lead with purpose. Their momentum this semester has laid the foundation for long-term impact on Florida’s northeast coast.

Hydrated & Ready Thanks to Open Water

This spring also marked the launch of our partnership with Open Water, who supplied sustainable canned water to every volunteer at our cleanups nationwide. Hydration is essential for our teams, and Open Water’s mission to eliminate plastic waste aligns perfectly with ours. This partnership has truly elevated our operational capacity and volunteer experience.

Wildwoods Chapter Makes Waves with New Record & New Territory

Our Wildwoods Chapter continues to push boundaries—literally. This April, they broke a record by pulling 315 lbs in a single cleanup alongside the U.S. Coast Guard from Atlantic City. The cleanup took place in a new territory: Heather Road in Wildwood Crest, home to a beloved local fishing pier.

Following this success, we’ve expanded our Wildwood Crest cleanup schedule for summer 2025, launching dual shifts every Saturday starting June 14:

• AM Shift: 8 AM – 10 AM (Starting at Heather Road)

• PM Shift: 6 PM – 8 PM (Traditional slot)

The Wildwoods Chapter will be active all summer long. You can find the full schedule on our website.

Wrapping Up & Looking Ahead

During the month of May, we're hosting debriefs with each of our college and university chapters to:

• Reflect on all their amazing work this past academic year

• Congratulate our graduating seniors and talk about how we’ll keep them involved even after they leave campus

• Ensure chapter leaders are prepped and supported for the fall so they can enjoy a well-deserved summer break

Our community chapters—especially The Wildwoods and Chicago—will keep the momentum going all summer. Be sure to follow our Chicago Chapter on Instagram @lovebluechicago for updates, cleanup dates, and ways to get involved.

Join the Movement This Summer

Whether you're a student, a family, a vacationer, or a lifelong local, we invite you to be a part of our mission this summer. You can:

• Earn community service or service learning hours

• Make a real impact in your hometown or travel destination

• Help preserve the places we all love

And always remember to LOVE BLUE: Pick up trash when you see it—whether it’s at the beach, a lake, or any waterway.

We’re proud of every chapter, volunteer, and supporter who made this spring one to remember. Here's to a cleaner, more connected summer!