Activist Spotlight: Beatrice Barnes with the Ventura County Chapter

What is your current role with the Surfrider Foundation?

I am a lab analyst for the Ventura County Chapter’s Blue Water Task Force. I am also collaborating with my local Surfrider chapter and the Ventura Unified School District to minimize single-use plastic in their cafeterias. 

When and why did you choose to get involved?

In elementary school, I began joining my dad at Surfrider cleanups and learning about the importance of protecting coastal environments. These early experiences motivated me to continue volunteering and advocating as I grew older. In my present involvement with Surfrider, I’m inspired to mitigate the impacts of climate change and plastic pollution, educate my peers, and build community around environmental action. 

I also love hiking, surfing, running, and pretty much any activity outdoors, so protecting natural spaces for future generations to enjoy is another motivating factor for me. 

What are some local environmental issues that you have witnessed? 

A variety of climate change-induced issues like wildfires, mudslides, and coastal erosion impact water quality and endanger marine life in Ventura. As is the case in most places, our beaches also suffer from plastic pollution. My work monitoring water quality with BWTF and minimizing plastic waste in VUSD cafeterias aims to combat these environmental circumstances that I’ve seen intensify throughout my life. 

What Surfrider projects have you been involved with? How have these projects impacted your community?

Attending beach cleanups is the way that I’ve been involved with Surfrider for the longest. Now as president of my high school’s environmental club, I love organizing days where my peers join me in volunteering. In 2024, Surfrider Ventura County volunteers collected about 2,975 lbs of trash from C-Street, so the positive impact of cleanups for people, animals, and our environment is immense.  

More recently, I’ve been involved with BWTF where I help monitor water quality and publish results for 19 local sites. After rains or other weather events, harmful bacteria is present in the ocean, so disseminating timely water quality information is very important to the health of the community. 

Since August, Surfrider has also been supporting me in my campaign to reduce single-use plastics in my school district’s cafeterias. Currently, plastic sporks with plastic wrappers are distributed to thousands of students everyday. I see the sporks and wrappers littered all around campus, many of which make their way to storm drains and barrancas that lead to the ocean. 

In an effort to replace this wasteful system, Surfrider has guided me in advocating for change through public comment, a petition, and ultimately drafting a school board resolution. While the resolution is awaiting a vote, VUSD recently indicated that sporks without plastic wrapping will be distributed in the 2025/26 school year. The plastic wrappers are one of the most common pieces of trash that litter campuses, so this is a great first step and a significant win for our oceans. I’m excited to continue advocating for sustainable practices in the future! 

Do you have any personal experiences or campaigns/issues where the social justice and environmental movements have intersected?

I have two years of experience working with another local organization called the Pesticide Free Soil Project. Our work encompasses advocating against the environmental and social justice issues surrounding pesticide usage and conventional farming practices. Certain disadvantaged communities disproportionately carry the burden of many environmental concerns, which is why it is imperative to prioritize social justice when crafting legislation and other solutions to environmental challenges. 

What can Surfrider do to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment?

Continuing student outreach and hosting events for all ages/interests/experience levels. The BWTF program in Ventura does a great job of this. Joy Downing Riley, Ventura’s BWTF Lead, brings the water samples to my AP Environmental Science classroom so that my peers and I are able to test and log data during lunchtime at school. Programs like these make it super accessible for young people to get involved. This definitely helps foster a growing, diverse community of ocean advocates. 

Barnes speaks to the Ventura Unified School District to reduce plastic products in area schools.

What is the most important thing you tell others about Surfrider?

Protecting our oceans and addressing global environmental concerns seems daunting, but getting involved with Surfrider is a great way to “think globally and act locally.” Building momentum for the movement towards environmental action is increasingly important, and local action absolutely makes a difference. Not to mention, volunteering with Surfrider is super fun! Beach cleanups in particular are such an easy way to meet new people, hang out with your friends/family, and get fresh air — all while making a positive impact. 

What has been the highlight of your Surfrider experience?

The VUSD plastic spork reduction campaign and the generosity of the Surfrider community throughout this ongoing process. I was initially tackling the project on my own, but teaming up with Surfrider a few months ago has been invaluable. From offering feedback on my proposal to writing a formal letter of support to the school district, Surfrider has been an incredible support. Seeing environmental improvements within the cafeterias slowly come to fruition is fulfilling, but most of all, it gives me hope for the future of our oceans and the environment. 

Thanks so much Beatrice! Is there anything else you would like to add?

I am a recent graduate of the California Youth Climate Policy Leadership Program, a stipend-based opportunity for high school students interested in advancing environmental policy within their school district. CYCP equipped me with the knowledge and skills to lead the campaign to eliminate plastic utensil wrapping in VUSD. I highly recommend that young climate activists in California apply for the 2025/26 cohort. It’s not only an incredible learning experience, but a chance to institute real change in your community through civic engagement.