The Chesapeake Bay Foundation invites students and campus groups to participate in Clean the Bay Day 2026, a long‑standing Virginia tradition that brings together thousands of volunteers to protect and restore our waterways. 

This year’s event will take place on: 

📅 Saturday, May 2, 2026 
⏰ 9 a.m.– 12 p.m.
📍 Locations throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed 
Find nearby sites at cbf.org/clean. 

Registration opens on March 9 and closes on April 17. 

Clean the Bay Day is a wonderful opportunity for students, clubs, service organizations, academic departments, and ROTC or athletic teams to engage in hands‑on environmental stewardship while building community and gaining service hours. Many professors and staff have found this event to be a meaningful extension of classroom learning—especially in fields such as environmental science, biology, sustainability, public health, education, and civic engagement. 

In addition to joining an existing public cleanup site, campuses also have the option to organize their own on‑campus cleanup event. If your institution would prefer to host a site, we are happy to provide guidance and support to make your campus cleanup a success. 

We hope to see members of your campus community out with us on May 2! 

For questions, please reach out to ctbd@cbf.org.