For Parents: More About Litter Getters

What is Litter Getters?


Litter Getter logoThe main goal of the California State Parks Litter Getter program is to encourage children to keep the parks crumb clean, wild, and healthy, and continue this behavior in their communities. Through the fun-filled and informative activity folder, they discover how litter hurts the wildlife and plants in our parks and at home, and how they can help by keeping litter in trash cans and out of reach of animals.

How Does My Child Participate?

Not all parks offer the Litter Getter program, so please check this list before heading out. 

Tell a park employee at the entrance station or visitor center that your child wants to participate in Litter Getters. Participants receive a Litter Getter activity folder that also contains instructions on picking up litter in the park. Special Litter Getter recycled paper bags are available, or you can help us do more by bringing bags to reuse to collect litter! Most parks also give out plastic gloves as extra protection for children. Remind your child to not touch sharp objects or animals. The park employee may give other park-specific instructions about where to pick up litter and what to avoid, too. 

When participants turn in their first bag of litter, they receive six state animal and plant stickers. There is a special spot for each sticker in the activity folder. When they turn in a second bag and show their Litter Getter folder with the stickers placed on it, they get a special award, and a State Parks staff member signs the certificate on the folder to proclaim that the participant is now a Litter Getter.

Bird in tree

If you can’t get to a state park, you can teach your children how to be Litter Getters at home. Download the activity booklet here, and take your children outside to pick up litter in your neighborhood.