Adopt a Beach Program

Help Make a Difference on America's First National Seashore!

Beginning in 2024, the National Park Service will launch it's first ever adopt-a-beach volunteer program to allow interested individuals, groups, organizations, and businesses to make a meaningful impact on the health of our beaches at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

 

Marine debris and litter is a growing problem in the world that affects the health and beauty of our coastal ecosystems. The Marine Debris Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates that over 23 million metric tons of plastic enter our oceans each year, causing significant harm to these fragile ecosystems, while also creating hazards for beach visitors and negatively affecting the beauty of the Outer Banks. Continue reading below to find out how you can adopt a section of Cape Hatteras National Seashore and help combat litter and pollution on America's first national seashore.

Measureable Impacts of Adopting a Beach:

• Help remove harmful, unsightly trash and litter from our beautiful beaches.

• Contribute to the overall success of our wildlife populatons, including sea turtles, shore birds, and aquatic life, by removing harmful litter.
• Keep the NPS informed of changing beach conditions to help us be proactive in addressing issues and concerns.
• Teambuilding: Sign up your organization and spend quality time as a team working towards a common goal.
• Recognition: Be recognized for your support through public signage, website mentions, and social media content.
• Get Outdoors! Volunteering to adopt a section of beach is a great excuse to spend quality time at the beach, recharge your mental energy, immerse yourself in nature, and get some valuable exercise!
• See the results of your activism and help protect the future of Cape Hatteras National Seashore!

 

Program Requirements:

• Groups must commit to one year of beach cleanups, with four cleanup events per year. Two cleanups must take place between November and April.
• Complete a simple online form following each cleanup.
• Groups will pick their choice of beach section to clean. Sections are roughly two miles in length.
• Each organization must designate a Volunteer Supervisor as the point of contact for the group and is responsible for all reporting and paperwork.
• All volunteers taking part in the cleanup must complete the group VIP form. This covers all participants in case of injury.
• The organization is required to provide all necessary individuals to accomplish assigned area.

NPS Responsibilities:

• Each volunteer supervisor will be provided a kit containing gloves, road vests, trash bags, trash sticks, and first aid kits. NPS will replenish as needed.

• Provide recognition of organization via website and signage on adopted area.

• Provide in-person orientation for all VIP supervisors, and any volunteers of the organization that wish to attend.

 

Getting Started:

With over 75 miles of shoreline from south Nags Head to the tip of Ocracoke Island, there are sections of beach suitable for every group, ranging in length from 0.5 to 2 miles. Some sections are great for off-road vehicles, and others are better for walking. A map showing the beach sections is located at the bottom of this webpage. When you contact the park about adopting a section of the beach, the coordinator will provide a list of available areas. Groups will be able to select their top three choices for consideration. As long as the group has capacity, you may adopt more than one section of beach. Please note: During our launch year, not all sections are available for adoption.

Contact the Adopt-a-beach Program Manager to discuss your group's capabilities, interest, and to see if adopting a section of Cape Hatteras National Seashore is right for you!

 

Adopt-a-Beach is a great volunteer opportunity for all ages!

NPS Photo

Current Program Participants:

• Ramps 2 - 4: Southern Environmental Law Center
• Rodanthe Pier to Ramp 23: Pelican Watch OBX (Facebook) (Instagram)
• Ramps 23 - 25: North Carolina Beach Buggy Association
• Ramps 25 - 27: The Saboe Family
• Ramps 30 - 32: The Clay Family
• Ramps 38 - 58: Amabile Co.
• Ramp 43 to Cape Point: Cape Hatteras Secondary School Athletics
• Ramp 55 to Hatteras Inlet: Swells'a Brewing
• Frisco Beach Seasonal ORV Route: Equine Adventures
• More to come!