It’s a Camocean: World Ocean Day at Cama June 12

World Ocean Day has been celebrated around the world since 1992. For the first time, Camano Island and Cama Beach state parks will hold a festival they call Camocean on June 12 at Cama Beach State Park. PHOTO BY SARAH ARNEY | STANWOOD/CAMANO NEWS Show of hands: Who secretly still loves crouching at the edge of a tide pool, carefully keeping toes from the water, searching intently for slices of life usually masked by the sea?

World Ocean Day is June 8, and to celebrate, Camano Island and Cama Beach state parks are hosting a Camocean at Cama Beach State Park on Saturday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1880 SW Camano Drive, a local celebration of saltwater and marine life.

Though this is the first event of its kind on Camano, World Ocean Day has been around since 1992, when Canada had the idea at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Since then, cities around the world have floated away with the idea, and the United Nations General Assembly made it official in 2008.

Five oceans cover the planet: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic and the recently added Southern Ocean, which was named in 2000. However, World Ocean Day also embraces in spirit the many seas, bays, ports, sounds and inlets that comprise the ragged edges of continents.

These waters generate oxygen, regulate climate and are a vast source of food, and yet, “our oceans are in desperate need of help,” said Christine Longdon, Camocean festival coordinator.

And “help” is the festival’s aim. That, and a good time. The people behind World Ocean Day and The Ocean Project (TOP) are environmentalists, not activists, Longdon said.

“We’re hoping to educate people about some of the issues going on, and give the solutions,” she added.

Longdon, who dives and is active in the marine community, said the public just needs to be educated.

“People need to be shown that the solutions are in the little simple things we can be doing to help,” she said.

With this goal in mind, there will be more than 20 booths at the festival, run completely by volunteers. It is free to the public.

The Beachwatchers, a WSU extension program, will be leading a morning beach walk at low tide and environmental groups will have displays set up.

The Center for Wooden Boats is offering discounted boat rentals, and there will be crafts for kids, music, guest speakers and plenty of space to simply picnic or barbecue.

Several cleanups have been organized leading up to the festival, at Big Ditch and Church Creek Park. Divers have also coordinated underwater cleanups.

Longdon said she’s especially grateful the state parks have been so giving.

“Had they not hosted this,” she said, “it would not be happening.”

Staff Reporter Jeremiah O’Hagan: 629-8066 ext. 125 or ohagan@scnews.com.