LE/AD Lake Appreciation Events
LE/AD Lake Appreciation Events
There are over 550 lakes in Polk County and each one of them can use a little tender loving care. One way to start appreciating our lakes is to recognize July as Lakes Appreciation Month.
WHAT IS LAKES APPRECIATION MONTH?
Citizens are encouraged to enjoy their lakes and reservoirs throughout the year but especially in July – as July is Lakes Appreciation Month. The North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) sponsors Lakes Appreciation Month each July nationwide to draw attention to the value and importance of lakes and reservoirs. Americans love to spend July, especially the Fourth, on the water, at beaches and on lakeshores. Boating, fishing and swimming are favorite recreational uses of American lakes and reservoirs. Lakes and reservoirs also play other vital and often hidden roles. They provide drinking water and irrigation water for agricultural fields and are a source of electricity and power generation. They also serve the important function of absorbing rainfall and runoff from land, help to prevent floods, and provide homes for precious wildlife. It is clear that as we enjoy and use lakes, we have to protect them. Because lake pollution is caused by so many different activities, no one regulation will suffice to prevent it. Education and outreach aimed at changing individual behavior are key components to any successful lake protection effort.
For us here in Polk County, that means an opportunity to kick of a yearlong quest to celebrate our beautiful lakes (over 500 lakes). Lakes Education/Action Drive (LE/AD), along with the City of Haines City, City of Lakeland, Lakeland Clean & Beautiful, City of Winter Haven, Keep Winter Haven Clean & Beautiful, Polk County Board of County Commissioners and Keep Polk County Beautiful are helping to coordinate their efforts with one goal in mind – removing trash from our lakes and leaving Polk Count y’s lakes better than they were before!
Here’s what you can do:
- Join a scheduled Lake Appreciation Event (see Events Calendar) or
- As an individual, family or organized group: Clean up your favorite lake any day/any time during the year. Those who pre-register and return their wrap up report surveys to LE/AD you will be offered a LE/AD membership discount and invited to our Volunteer recognition event. REGISTER HERE https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lakes-appreciation-lake-cleanup-tickets-36086500695
REGISTER for any of the Events at www.lakeseducation.org
LAKE APPRECIATION EVENTS
July 7, 2017 – 9:00 A.M. on Thursday morning at Lake Eva Boat Ramp in Haines City. Register at All those that preregister and help clean the lake will be served a Pizza in the Park lunch at 11:00 A.M.
July 8, 2017 – We suggest getting started by 9 AM to beat the heat for a Clean Up on Crooked Lake. Yes, 4th of July has come & gone, but you still have a chance to help us declare our independence! Independence from lake trash, that is. Join Defenders of Crooked Lake’s 4th annual “Keep Crooked Clean” project. In past years, we have collected: a submerged boat, bicycle, fluorescent tube light, fishing line, a full six pack of beer, fireworks debris, tarps, plastic, glass and cans, and more…. Our campaign to curb the Grassy Island Litter problem has proven successful.
This year, let’s try each family taking out their own boat or walking the shoreline in your area. Or pick an area of concern that you know about. One suggestion is checking for litter from the US 27 canals and other stormwater run-off areas
July 18, 2017 – 9:30 A.M on Tuesday morning at Lake Howard Park, in Winter Haven. Register for this cleanup at www.lakeseducation.org. All volunteers that preregister and help clean the park and lake shore of Lake Howard will be served pizza in the park at 11:30 A.M.
September 13, 2017 – This Wednesday is an early release day for Polk County schools. We are inviting any youth groups, families and work groups to join us for this afternoon lake cleanup at Lake Cannon. Participants can pickup trash by foot, boat or kayaks (some kayaks will be available to use – waivers must be signed) or bring your own paddling device. Just be ready to help us pickup trash on the Chain of Lakes.
October 7, 2017 Lakeland Cardboard Boat Challenge – One Saturday each fall starting at 8:00am Lakeland sponsors this amazing Community Event to celebrate and learn more about our precious water resources. Everyone is invited to enter and build a boat out of cardboard and duct tape (space is limited register early) or just come out to Lake Hollingsworth to see the boats race at 10:00 am and find out how far a cardboard boat will go (you may be impressed).
October – Painting with a Twist – Join us for a Fundraiser
October 11th at Lake Hollingsworth starting at 12:30 P.M. This Wednesday is an early release day for Polk County schools. We are inviting any youth groups, families and work groups to join us for this afternoon lake cleanup at Lake Hollingsworth Boat Ramp. Participants can pickup trash by foot, bicycle, boat or canoes/kayaks (some kayaks will be available to use – waivers must be signed) or bring your own paddling device. All volunteers that preregister and help clean Lake Hollingsworth will be served lunch at the boat ramp 12:30 P.M.
November 15, 2017 12:30 P.M. This Wednesday is an early release day for Polk County schools. We are inviting any youth groups, families and work groups to join us for this afternoon lake cleanup at Lake Hartridge Park. Participants can pickup trash by foot, boat or kayaks (some kayaks will be available to use – waivers must be signed) or bring your own paddling device. Just be ready to help us pickup trash on the Chain of Lakes.
January 24, 2018 12:30 PM This Wednesday is an early release day for Polk County schools. We are inviting any youth groups, families and work groups to join us for this afternoon lake cleanup at Lake Beulah. Participants can pickup trash by foot, canoe or kayaks (some kayaks will be available to use – waivers must be signed) or bring your own paddling device.
February 7, 2018 12:30 PM This Wednesday is an early release day for Polk County schools. We are inviting any youth groups, families and work groups to join us for this afternoon lake cleanup at Lake Parker. Participants can pickup trash by foot, boat or kayaks (some kayaks will be available to use – waivers must be signed) or bring your own paddling device. Lake Parker is large lake and we will be assigning sections of the lake to different groups that sign up. Meeting location and pizza location will be the Lake Parker Park by the boat ramp.
March 2018 Painting with a Twist Lakeland Fundraiser – Lakeland Date and Time TBD.
March 11, 2018 starting at 12:30 P.M. This Wednesday is an early release day for Polk County schools. We are inviting any youth groups, families and work groups to join us for this afternoon water cleanup along the Peace River. Participants can pickup trash by foot, canoes or kayaks (some kayaks will be available to use – waivers must be signed) or bring your own paddling device. Exact location TBD by water levels as the date gets closer.
April 28, 2018 Project EAGLE at Lake Shipp, one of the longest running lake cleanup events on the Chain of Lakes and in Polk County. Boaters of all engine types and citizens join to adopt a lake along the chain to clean. Everyone meets back for a complimentary lunch after the cleanup and good fun. Register with Keep Winter Haven Clean and Beautiful and join us for this large lake cleanup event.
May 2018 Seven Rivers Water Festival is a countywide educational event that brings together, private, public and non-profit groups to share with the citizens and visitors of Polk County information on our important water resources. Date and Location TBD check www.polk-county.net/7rivers for more information.
Again if you can’t participate in one of these planned lake cleanup days, any day is a good day for a Lake cleanup! Participating in lake cleanups is just one way to draw attention to the value and importance of lakes. While July is National Lakes Appreciation Month, we encourage citizens to hold lake cleanups through the year. If you, a family, or a group wants to do a lake cleanup, please just email lakeseducation@hotmail.com or register online at . Together with our partners we will provide needed supplies. Remember to send us a picture, of your group, with names and number of bags removed – we will record your information into the countywide database and invite you to our annual LE/AD Volunteer recognition event.
