National Beach Day
Beaches are beautiful and amazing to enjoy! But they also need to be taken care of and National Beach Day is a time where people are encouraged to do just that.
How to Celebrate National Beach Day
Try out some of these ideas for celebrating National Beach Day:
Head to the Beach
National Beach Day is about more than just getting to the beach and lying around soaking up the sunshine – although enjoyment of the beach can certainly be part of it.
The greater purpose behind the day is for everyone to do their part to clean up some not-so-tidy parts of the beach. So grab a trash bag, and perhaps a friend as well, and join in on cleaning up the beach.
Join or Organize a Beach Cleanup
Get involved and join forces with a group that is sponsoring a beach cleanup in honor of National Beach Day. This usually includes a gathering together in the morning and pursuing a dedicated, organized effort to clean individual sections of the beach.
And if there isn’t a beach cleanup in the local area? Then start one! It’s a great time to raise awareness, recruit friends, tell folks at work or get family members to get excited about the opportunity to make a difference for the planet on National Beach Day.
Make a Donation to Charity
Those who don’t live near a beach or who can’t get there to clean up can still be part of celebrating National Beach Day.
Take part in the event by making a donation to a charity that supports keeping oceans and other waterways clean.
Consider one of these charities for making a donation:
- Surfrider Foundation. This organization believes the beach belongs to everyone, so they fight for ocean protection, plastic reduction, beach access, clean water and coastal preservation.
- Oceana. The largest organization in the world that is devoted only to the conservation of marine life. It works to end sources of pollution like oil and shipping emissions, as well as creating campaigns to protect vulnerable ocean places.
- The Nature Conservancy. Since 1951, this group has been protecting natural places, including beaches and waters.
History of National Beach Day
Beaches are places that are beloved by so many, with access to salt-water oceans or fresh-water lakes, beaches encourage healthy and fun outdoor activities like swimming, sports, building sandcastles, having a picnic, playing frisbee and simply enjoying the feel of sand between the toes.
But just like many of the earth’s precious areas, the world’s beaches are degrading due to human interference as well as global climate change. National Beach Day certainly encouraged people to spend time enjoying the beaches, as well as making them more enjoyable for everyone.
National Beach Day was founded in 2014 by animal activist and lifestyle expert, Colleen Paige. Her motivation for starting the day was to get humans to clean up the natural resources of the beaches to make them beautiful and sustainable so everyone can enjoy them for a long time into the future.
National Beach Day FAQs
What’s the story behind the earliest beach vacations?
Beach vacations became popular in 18th-century Europe when people believed seawater had healing properties.
Doctors prescribed “sea bathing” as a remedy for ailments, giving rise to coastal tourism. This trend spread globally, transforming beaches into recreation hubs.
Why are certain beaches famous for glowing at night?
Some beaches shine at night due to bioluminescence, caused by microorganisms like plankton.
Vaadhoo Beach in the Maldives is a striking example, where tiny organisms light up the waves with a magical blue glow. The effect intensifies during warm seasons.
What’s the deal with sandcastle competitions?
Sandcastle competitions are major events worldwide. The “Texas SandFest” in the U.S. attracts professional sculptors who build massive, intricate sand creations.
These festivals often include live music, food vendors, and fun activities for visitors.
How do people celebrate beach day in colder climates?
In colder regions, people celebrate beach days by visiting lakeside beaches or even indoor artificial beaches.
For example, Berlin has a famous beach bar along the Spree River, where visitors enjoy a tropical atmosphere despite the city’s climate.
What’s the weirdest thing ever found on a beach?
Beaches are home to odd discoveries. In 1992, a cargo ship spilled 28,000 rubber ducks into the ocean.
They washed up on shores worldwide, helping scientists track ocean currents. This quirky event became known as “The Friendly Floatees Incident.”
Are there any endangered beach animals?
Yes, some animals that rely on beaches are endangered. Sea turtles, for instance, often lose nesting sites to development and pollution.
Conservation groups worldwide build protected nesting areas and reduce threats to these iconic creatures.
Why do some beaches have pink or black sand?
Pink sand comes from coral fragments, like on Bermuda’s Horseshoe Bay.
Black sand forms from volcanic activity, as seen in Hawaii’s Punalu’u Beach. These unique sands reflect the geological diversity of their regions.
What are “singing sands”?
Some beaches produce a strange humming or squeaking sound when you walk on them.
This phenomenon, known as “singing sands,” occurs due to the sand’s composition and movement. Such beaches exist in Nevada’s Sand Mountain and Qatar’s Khor Al Adaid.
How do people make beaches eco-friendly?
Eco-friendly beaches are designed to minimize human impact.
In Costa Rica, the Blue Flag certification recognizes beaches with strong environmental management, such as clean energy use and waste reduction. These practices inspire global sustainability efforts.
What’s the history of beach sports like surfing?
Surfing dates back to Polynesian cultures over 1,000 years ago. Early surfers used wooden boards to ride waves for recreation and spiritual expression.
Today, it’s a global sport, with competitions like the World Surf League drawing huge audiences.
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