We’re excited to introduce our next Adopt-a-Beach feature, Seacoast Paddleboard Club! SPC has been a part of our Adopt-A-Beach (AAB) program since 2017! Here is a glimpse into SPC’s AAB experience.
Tell me a little about your group!
Seacoast Paddleboard Club is a social club whose members live by the mission to get out on the water, have fun, and give back. The group was established in 2015 and currently has more than 120 members in the greater Seacoast Community.
Our club hosts year-round events to support our mission on and off the water. These events range from beach cleanups and movie nights to weekly community paddles and charity events during the summer. Since introducing our club seven years ago, SPC has raised more than $200,000 for local charities.
What beach have you adopted and why?
One of our club’s core values is protecting our playground. We paddle at Pirates Cove beach in Rye regularly, so when we learned about Blue Ocean Society or Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation Society’s adopt-a-beach program, we jumped on the opportunity to help preserve this stretch of sand.
Why did you choose to adopt a beach through Blue Ocean Society?
We pride ourselves on acting locally and supporting organizations and businesses in our backyard. We’ve known about Blue Ocean Society for many years and have always wanted to find ways to collaborate with BOS. The adopt-a-beach program was a perfect fit. Your dedication and commitment to ocean cleanups made Blue Ocean Society an easy choice.
What item(s) do you find the most, and is it what you expected?
Unfortunately, we find a lot of plastic items and an enormous amount of broken traps, or what Lobstermen refer to as “ghost gear.” Living in New England, finding so much lost and damaged gear is not surprising. Seeing how groups like Traps 2 Treasures address the problem is fantastic. The plastic problem is an entirely separate battle. Hopefully, we can solve this plastic problem sooner rather than later. It will take a monumental effort by everyone to turn that tide.
Have there been items you’ve found that you were surprised to see a lot of?
Dog poop. Seriously, we’re amazed how people can go through the effort to put the poop in a bag yet fail to carry it off the beach. Many of us in the club are dog owners, and we find this situation very annoying!
What is the craziest/weirdest thing you’ve found?
The absolute craziest thing I’ve ever found was a biohazard bag that got caught around my surfboard leash. The good news is that this event didn’t happen in New Hampshire, but since you asked, it needed to be told. 🙂 Also, a couple of years ago, we found a ton of dead squirrels!
Do you have a fun cleanup story to share?
Maybe not a favorite cleanup story, but definitely a favorite type of cleanup. This past summer, we started teaming up with like-minded supporters such as Jetty, Maloo, Ohana Kitchen, and Kooks Cafe & Beach Bar to increase interest and participation in our cleanups. The result of these co-sponsored cleanups has been excellent, and we’re grateful to be working alongside brands we admire.
Has adopting this beach changed your behavior? Is there anything you do differently now?
It hasn’t so much changed our behavior but reinforced our commitment to preserving the places we love. Many of our members pick up trash every time they step on the beach. You could say we are a group of optimists believing that small changes over time can make a big difference.
Is there anything else you’d like to share in the blog post?
Yes, Seacoast Paddleboard Club typically hosts our Pirates Cove beach cleanups on the last Sunday of every month. These cleanups are open to the general public, so everyone is invited to join us- not just SPC members. You can learn more about us at www.SeacoastPaddleboardClub.com. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.
Thank you to Seacoast Paddleboard Club for sharing your fantastic cleanup stories with us! We’re so grateful for your love and dedication to the ocean!
Get Involved!
Click here to learn more about our Adopt-a-Beach program! You can view which beaches are available for adoption, read our AAB Handbook, and fill out an adoption application.
Are you interested in joining a beach cleanup before you commit to adopting? Join us on New Year’s Day at Jenness Beach in Rye from 1:00 pm to 3:00. We’ll also be at Hampton Beach on Saturday, January 7th, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Learn more and register here. We hope to see you there!
