Big Shell Beach Cleanup


Padre Island National Seashore

The primary function of Friends of Padre is to fund and organize the annual Billy Sandifer Big Shell Beach Cleanup in perpetuity. Beginning in 1995, the Big Shell Beach Cleanup occurs once a year in the Big Shell portion of the Padre Island National Seashore (PINS). Each year, hundreds of volunteers dedicate a Saturday to removing trash from this rugged, desolate stretch of beach. Since its inception, over 12,925 volunteers have removed 3,122,000 pounds of trash from this remote and wild stretch of 4 Wheel Drive Only beach.

RESULTS FROM 2022: The official numbers are in! Despite low temperatures and rain, 500 volunteers removed 30 tons of trash from 25 miles of Padre Island during the Big Shell Beach Cleanup. Thanks to everyone who came out to clean and to our sponsors. Billy would have been proud.