iReport — Last year at this time, the BP oil spill was raging in the Gulf of Mexico. The 2010 Hands Across the Sand was an passionate event that reflected the agitation of this environmental assault. 2011 Hands Across the Sand took place in the same San Diego location as last year-Pacific Beach near Crystal Pier- but with a decidely more mellow vibe. Earlier in the mornng, an estimated 300 volunteers turned out for a Surfrider Foundation-sponsored beach clean-up. Groups of Boy Scouts, Geico Insurance employees and San Diegi State sorority girls prowled the sands, boardwalk, and beachside alley-ways for litter, trash, cigarette butts and more. Ben & Jerry’s set up a tent and handed out free ice cream cones to the volunteers. After the clean-up concluded, perhaps 50 or so people walked up to the water's edge and linked hands in a show of solidarity with our ocean. It was especially heartening to see all the kids that were down on that beach. 2011 Hands Across the Sand was quietly powerful and modeled positive environmental behaviors for beach-goers and tourists alike.