Stand Up To Trash

Mission Statement

Empower local communities to protect our environment by fostering awareness, inspiring action and providing solutions for waste prevention, cleanup and community education.

Through our four pillars—Prevention, Removal, Education & Awareness and Community Engagement, we work to create a healthier planet for future generations.

Prevention – Reducing waste before it becomes pollution by providing technical assistance to alternative options 

Removal – Actively cleaning up trash from beaches, parks, and communities to restore and protect natural spaces.

Education & Awareness – Informing and inspiring individuals to make conscious choices that minimize their environmental impact.

Community Engagement – Bringing people together to take collective action, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility.

Vision Statement
Stand Up To Trash envisions a future where every community takes a proactive stance against environmental pollution and embraces a shared commitment to sustainability.

Stand Up To Trash hosts monthly Yoga, Beach Cleanups and Lunch & Learn in Dana Point Harbor to promote cleaner environments, provide educational awareness, and community empowerment against the pollution crisis. These cleanups are unique with both land and water options. Kayaks and stand up paddle boards are available for free for participants to remove trash from the harbor in a new and enjoyable way. The cleanups are also gamified with prizes for biggest catch, smallest catch, and weirdest find to promote a fun and more engaging experience to rather hard and dirty work. Cleanup events are then coupled with a free 30 minute Lunch and Learn program for all participants.

Lunch & Learn features a distinguished speaker to come and discuss various environmental topics related to a monthly theme. Monthly themes and speakers are inline with the National or International Days such as Earth Day, International Cleanup Day, World Oceans Day and America Recycles Day. If there isn’t an environmental day in that month we pick educational topics such as Marine Protected Areas, Watersheds, Shark Conservation, etc.
The speaker gives a 20-30 minute interactive talk on their topic of expertise before lunch is offered to participants. Additionally, the speaker sticks around to meet and greet the community and answer any questions. This is a unique opportunity for the community to learn and ask questions from local experts on issues prevalent in their own backyards.

Stand Up To Trash cleanup events are a community based program with 16 local partners each month. In addition to the Ocean Institute and The City of Dana Point, the Dana Point Harbor Partners, The County of Orange and Supervisor Katrina Foley, Irvine Subaru, Coffee Importers, Captain Dave’s Whale Watching, Westwind Sailing, Killer Dana Surf Shop, Dana Wharf, Shaka Love, Custodians Of The Sea, Sign Lingo, Pure Baja, Worthy Brewing, and Starbucks also see the value in these cleanup and education efforts and donate their time and resources to perpetuate our cause. 


Through our environmental education initiatives, we've not only removed a cumulative total of 10,366 pounds of trash from our environment but also raised awareness among over 8,000 participants about the importance of waste reduction and environmental conservation.

Our programs have sparked tangible behavioral changes, inspiring individuals to adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives. Moreover, our strong community engagement, including partnerships with 17 local organizations, Title 1 Schools, local indigenous tribe, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Boys & Girls Club of Capo Valley have enabled us to reach a broader audience and foster a culture of environmental stewardship.

As we continue to expand our efforts, we remain committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability of our programs and are proud to share the testimonials and success stories of those whose lives we've positively impacted along the way.

Campaign - Beach Cleanup and Lunch & Learn - As the community becomes aware of us and the participants grow, we have found a need for iPads. 4 so there are 2 at each registration table. (4 * $1,000)
What started with 25-50 people has grown to several hundred and we’re still checking in with a printed spreadsheet and pen!
We're leasing a car big enough to haul all the the equipment and supplies. ($337 a month x 12= $4,044 a year)
Graphics ($350 a month *12 = $4,200 a year).
Buckets & Grabbers are either not being returned or the grabbers lose function ($23.00 each x 100 = $2,300 a year)
Campaign - The Ocean Starts At Your Front Door - Fieldtrip to Beach with hikes, scientific studies, experiments and take home toolkit - Each Trip $2,000.

Campaign - Yoga, Beach Cleanups and Lunch & Learn are based and serve the Southern California community. Expanding into other communities.
Campaign - The Ocean Starts at Your Front Door - Southern California, underserved communities.

Hello, I'm Vicki Patterson the Founder of Stand Up To Trash. Although the nonprofit started in 2020, I've been living the sustainable life my entire life. A lifelong vegan and environmentalist, I'm fiercly protecting our community, oceans and ALL of its inhabitants (human and animal). Our nonprofit is a community of lovers of the ocean, the animals and each other. Creating a network through science and passion, love and family, I bring the community resources to engage and expand their search to living their version of sustainable.

Not only is this my passion, it is my life's work. I not only teach about the environment, I walk the walk. In my daily life I'm constantly challenging myself to do better and asking myself, is there a better way, do I really need this, can I make it? The answer is usually yes. We're developing a community that learns and shares and grows together.