Theodore Too helps Marine Museum clean up and celebrate marine environment

The Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston will participate in a community action dive and shoreline clean-up alongside Neptune & Salacia Diving and Swim Drink Fish for the PADI Aware Dive Against Debris weekend on June 18 and 19, 2022. This two-part event takes action and celebrates the protection and preservation of the Great Lakes marine environment.

According to a release from the Marine Museum, Saturday, June 18 will feature a community action dive and shoreline clean-up at Gord Downie Memorial Pier, and on Sunday, June 19 the public is welcome to celebrate the water and learn about the local marine environment at the museum with like-minded community organizations.

To add some whimsy to the weekend, Theodore Too Tugboat will be available for deck tours over both days. The public is also welcome to meet Theodore’s Captain and Crew at their Dive Against Debris Community Booth. School and community group programs are invited to book deck tours from Jun. 20 to 23, 2022. Registration for the complimentary tours will open at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 10. Information about Theodore Too’s visit and week of programs can be found at marmuseum.ca/TheodoreToo2022.

The Marine Museum noted that Theodore Too Tugboat’s 2022 visit is generously supported by the Gill Ratcliffe Foundation and the Anna and Edward C. Churchill Foundation.

The Marine Museum is still looking for divers and non-divers to join them for the waterfront and shoreline clean-up on Saturday, Jun. 18, 2022. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gord Downie Memorial Pier.

“Scuba divers and snorkelers are invited to help remove as much underwater debris as possible, while non-divers are needed for shore support with divers at the Pier or shoreline clean-up along Breakwater Park,” event organizers stated. “The PADI Aware Foundation’s mission is to drive local action for marine conservation, with both a ‘fins on’ and ‘fins off’ approach, starting with proactively working to tackle key ocean threats like habitat destruction, climate change, over-fishing, and land-based pollution. Dive Against Debris® is a true ‘fins on event’, where certified divers volunteer their time to remove marine debris while collecting critical survey data that can be used by marine researchers and policymakers for conservation efforts.”

For those interested in joining the action, here’s how you can get involved:

• On-shore: the Museum and its partners invite members of the public to volunteer their time to help with the clean-up on-shore. Sign up here: www.neptunesalacia.com/dadygk2022
• In the water: certified SCUBA divers and snorkelers are required. To find out if you can participate as a diver, contact Guillaume at [email protected]

On Sunday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes will welcome a number of community groups for a family-fun day of learning, exploration and water celebration, according to the release. Throughout the day children are welcome to take part in the event passport and for a chance to win a prize. Full details about this activity are available on the event website, marmuseum.ca/events.

The museum said that the following community leaders will participate:

• Swim Drink Fish
• Turtles Kingston
• Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre
• Katarokwi Grandmother’s Council
• Preserve Our Wrecks
• Marine Museum of the Great Lakes

Learn more about the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston on their website.