DiRtBaG Clean-Up Week
April 20-25, 2026
Every April, when the snow melts and reveals the litter on the sidewalks, forests, trails and beaches of Homer, HoWL DiRtBaGs clean it up. Local businesses and community members support the DiRtBaGs and HoWL need-based scholarships, through donations during Clean-Up Week.
2026 SCHEDULE
April 17: DiRtBaG Ball- All-you-can eat pizza and sundae party for families 6:00-8:00pm
Early-Bird tickets available here!
21+ 80’s Dance Party 9:00pm-12:00
April 20-24: Litter Clean-Ups- Crews meet from 3:30-5:30 and 4:15-5:30, Monday-Friday
HoWL chaperones are present to supervise crews.
April 25: Awards Celebration- Beach litter pick-up, pizza party & prizes 11:00am-2:00pm
Virtual Clean-Up: Unable to join us at the above times? You can still participate with your own crew by picking up trash bags and gloves from the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies office. Make sure to let us know where you cover during your clean-up and how much trash you collect!
Registration for DiRtBaG Clean-Up-Week 2026 is now open!
In 2025, 68 youth participated to collect 316 bags of trash around Homer!
Since 2011, 968 DiRtBaGs have cleaned up 2000+ bags of litter from Homer's trails, beaches, streets and sidewalks.
TO PARTICIPATE:
Youth ages 8-18 meet at the Bishops Beach green Monday-Saturday where they dispatch to litter locations. Snacks, gloves, safety vests and DiRtBaG t-shirts are provided. In addition to scholarships, HoWL recognizes youth who pick up the most trash, get the dirtiest, or exemplify teamwork and leadership during our party on Saturday.
DiRtBaGs collect pledges from businesses and community members. When pledge money is submitted to HoWL after Clean-Up week, a scholarship of equal amount is applied toward the cost of a HoWL program. Register above to join us for this year’s clean-up-week!
TO VOLUNTEER:
DiRtBaG Clean-Up Week is made more magical by the adult volunteers who help us pull it off. Every year we need responsible adults to: supervise and drive crews to litter locations, provide snacks for the DiRtBaGs, and assist with the party on Saturday. To volunteer, contact HoWL’s Programs Director!
TO SPONSOR THE DIRTBAGS:
DiRtBaG Scholarships rely upon the generosity of Homer’s local businesses and community members. Your cash donation translates directly to both: a cleaner Homer and a youth getting to participate in a HoWL program.
2026 Sponsorship Benefits:
$300+ cash or $500+ in-kind donation = Your logo on the 2027 DiRtBaG Tee-shirt, a Gratitude Flag flying annually at Clean-Up Week, your business name and link on our website
$100+ cash or in-kind donation = a Gratitude Flag flying annually at Clean-Up Week, your business name and link on our website
$50+ cash or in-kind donation = a Gratitude Flag flying annually at Clean-Up Week
