On Saturday, June 6, at 9 a.m., Beach.com will transform Rockaway Beach in Queens into a hub of environmental action, inviting local volunteers and community leaders to gather at 66-16 Beach Front Rd. for a large-scale cleanup timed to honor World Ocean Day—the international observance falling just two days later on June 8. The initiative brings together an unlikely but powerful partnership: Beach.com, an online directory connecting travelers to coastal vacation destinations, and the Laru Beya Collective, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering historically marginalized BIPOC youth in Far Rockaway through surfing and ocean stewardship.
World Ocean Day matters because it anchors a global conversation about the ocean's irreplaceable role in our ecosystems and our shared responsibility to protect it. For Rockaway Beach—a South Queens shoreline that has weathered environmental neglect and historical inequities—this cleanup represents something deeper than debris removal. It's a moment when a community can actively reclaim its coastline and model stewardship for younger generations.
The driving force behind this partnership is Aydon Gabourel, Founder and Executive Director of Laru Beya Collective. His vision extends far beyond a single cleanup day. Through free surf therapy and water safety programs, Gabourel's organization helps young people—especially girls and youth of color—build confidence and community in the water. "Rockaway Beach is where we teach, heal, and grow together," he explained. "Starting our surf camp with a beach cleanup is about leading by example and taking care of the place that raised me." Those words capture the event's essence: it's not imposed from outside but rooted in genuine love for a place and a commitment to its future.
Beach.com's role reflects a broader mission to "inspire travelers and coastal communities to care for the places we love," according to their event page. The platform organizes volunteer-led beach cleanups nationwide each year, recognizing that coastal health depends on sustained community action. By partnering with Laru Beya Collective, Beach.com amplifies work that's already happening at the grassroots level in Far Rockaway, giving it visibility and resources.
The cleanup welcomes participants of all ages—minors must be accompanied by an adult—creating space for families and neighbors to work side by side. Organizers ask volunteers to arrive by 9 a.m. for orientation, where they'll receive a cleanup t-shirt and guidance. Participants are encouraged to bring reusable water bottles, hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, gloves, trash pickers, closed-toe shoes, and comfortable clothing. It's a practical checklist that shows the organizers understand both the work ahead and the summer sun beating down on volunteers who show up to do it.
What makes this event resonate is its grounding in reality. Rockaway Beach needs these cleanups. The young people in Far Rockaway need role models showing them how to care for their environment. And communities everywhere need reminders that protecting the ocean isn't someone else's job—it's ours, together, starting now. As Gabourel put it, "World Ocean Day highlights our shared responsibility and commitment to community care."