Click to See Our Community Events for 2010 Current 2009 - 2010 Stats Adopt-A-Block Adopt-A-Block is a program of the Isla Vista Recreation and Park District, which focuses on reaching the community members, and gives them an opportunity to participate in maintaining a litter-free Isla Vista . The program is also designed to educate the public about the proper disposal of wastes and recyclables. Volunteers donate their time each week to help keep the environment of Isla Vista free of trash that could end up cluttering the streets, which drain directly into the ocean. As a community program, Adopt-A-Block has an important goal of minimizing the amount of pollution created by litter and waste. This is an issue of concern due to Isla Vista 's extremely large population of nearly 20,000 people living within one square mile.   Get Involved! Volunteers: There are three ways for volunteers to get involved!   Adopt-A-Block Weekly Volunteers Groups or individuals can adopt a specific block of Isla Vista and conduct weekly trash pick-ups on their block(s). They get a coupon(s) from a business sponsor after each clean-up! Monthly Community Cleanups & Special Clean-ups Large cleanups are scheduled monthly, as well as during special events such as Halloween and Spring Move Out. Click here for our 2009 schedule. Group Cleanups Campus clubs, fraternities, sororities, sports teams, community organizations, and any/all other groups can schedule their own special street or beach cleanups for community service. Contact the Adopt-A-Block Supervisor @ (805) 968-2017 ext. 24 or e-mail cleaniv@ivparks.org   Who’s Involved? The Adopt-A-Block program works to benefit the entire community, including the students, businesses and community members. The program is headed by the program supervisor who organizes and recruits volunteers. The volunteers in the Adopt-A-Block program include a wide range of people. The program volunteers include UCSB sports teams, clubs, group organizations, fraternities, sororities, and students, as well as community members and other volunteer organizations. Furthermore, the program also allows businesses to become involved by donating goods or services to the program's volunteers. Overall, Adopt-A-Block has set up agreements with hundreds of volunteers over the years, as well as having established many relationships with local IV businesses.   Our current volunteers include: UCSB Environmental Affairs Board ( EAB ), The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), Dos Pueblos High School, Alpha Epsilon Phi , People Creating Success Inc., Hermanos Unidos, Zeta Phi Rho , UCSB Water-ski Team, Circle K International, Kappa Alpha Theta , Isla Vista Surfrider, Gamma Phi Beta , Phi Alpha Delta, Pi Beta Phi, Alpha Chi Omega , Sigma Chi Omega , and many others.   If you are a business owner or manager and are interested in sponsoring our great volunteers, please see the sponsorship opportunities section towards the bottom of this page.   Special Events Adopt-A-Block is a year round project that periodically holds special neighborhood cleanups for any interested community members who want to get involved. Once a month, Adopt-A-Block holds a community wide cleanup which brings together all participating volunteers and invites community members to come out and clean up the streets of Isla Vista . It is a day in which the goal is to clean the entire community of Isla Vista . Click here to see our Community Clean-Up Schedule for 2009!   Facts Isla Vista is a community which covers an area of approximately one square mile and accommodates nearly 20,000 people, including both students and families. The Adopt-A-Block program spans over 20 streets in Isla Vista , divided into many blocks. As a result of college-living, the city unfortunately generates a lot of trash. Adopt-A-Block and Isla Vista 's great residents combine to create a strong team dedicated to cleaning up the wonderful community. The Adopt-A-Block Program has been extremely effective in achieving its goal of keeping Isla Vista clean. Since 1998 it has properly disposed of an average of over 7,000 pounds of trash per scholastic quarter. In Summer and Fall of 2007 alone, through the committed work of our volunteers and gracious donations of our business sponsors, Adopt-A-Block managed to eliminate over 90,000 POUNDS of trash!!!   Businesses: Interested in Sponsorship? Businesses which choose to sponsor the Adopt-A-Block Program provide incentives for community volunteers. The incentives could be for free foods, discounts, or any other creative way! It also provides good publicity for the businesses in encouraging public concern and awareness throughout the community.   If you are interested in signing up your business as a sponsor for the Adopt-A-Block Program please stop by our office or call the Isla Vista Recreation and Park District at 968-2017 and ask to speak with the Adopt-A-Block Supervisor.   Back to Top