Coos Bay on the Oregon Coast, that is. This coming Saturday, September 24, is a celebration of National Estuaries Day with an event hosted by the Coos Bay Surfriders and South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.

The 6th Annual Stand Up For The Bay starts at 9:00 AM downtown at the public docks/boardwalk. Participants can join the paddle group or a clean-up group. Paddlers will stand up paddle, canoe or kayak along a prescribed route. The route is moderate in length taking 1 – 2 hours. Accompanying the paddle group will be two lifeguards and a boat. Paddlers are required to wear life jackets.

The clean-up group will walk along the same route on either side of the boardwalk picking up litter/trash along the shoreline. This group will be provided with gloves, buckets, and bags.

Following the participatory events, there will be a Luau on the Boardwalk (good weather) or the Broadway Theater (not so good weather).

Those wishing to join in can pre-register here: http://www.coosbay.surfrider.org/stand-up or at Waxer’s Surfshop for $10.00. Kids under 12 participate free! Same day registration is $12.00. All participants receive a meal ticket, a beer ticket and entry into the paddle joust. Any proceeds will go to Surfrider’s many programs that benefit our waterways.

Even if you just want to watch, come join in this exciting day on Coos Bay!