Seven hundred volunteers. Sixty tons of debris. Eighteen miles of gulf shoreline impeccably cleaned. The 21st annual Big Shell Beach Clean-Up at the Padre Island National Seashore was a stunning success this year.
In late-February, Friends of Padre, which organized the annual event, recorded breaking participation as over 700 volunteers. The website claims that since the clean-up’s start in 1995, “over 6,600 volunteers have removed 2,456,000 pounds of trash from this remote and wild stretch of beach.”
The Friends of Padre cite many reasons to clean up the beach: every piece of trash, no matter how small, has an effect on local wildlife; others who see trash may start to leave their trash, too; it’s ugly; and most importantly, mother nature is our friend, so let’s take care of her. The trash is human caused, but human efforts are the solution!
[image id="18393" title="Big Shell Beach Clean-Up"] An estimated 60 tons of debris was picked up from the Padre Island National Seashore during the Big Shell Beach Clean-Up in February. Photo from Friends of PadreThe Friends of Padre would like to remind us that beach clean-ups aren’t just once a year. They suggest that when you visit to take out what you bring in — and then some. The park entrance station and the Malaquite Visitor Center offer free trash bags for your convenience, so there’s no excuse to leave trash behind.
To each and every volunteer this year, thank you for your part in keeping our favorite seashore beautiful! If you would like to participate in the Big Shell Beach Clean-Up next year, follow Friends of Padre on Facebook for the latest updates.
Expect a squeaky clean beach this season!
Over 700 volunteers cleaned beaches at the 21st annual Big Shell Beach Clean-Up at Padre Island National Seashore. Photo from Friends of Padre