Skip to content

Seaside Stories

How to Be an Earth Steward in Seaside

February 23, 2021 | by KM Collins

An estimated 14 billion pounds of discarded plastic and garbage — from cigarette butts and water bottles to food wrappers and plastic bags — is dumped into the ocean each year, some of which washes onto Oregon’s otherwise pristine coastline, including Seaside. 

Ocean trash isn’t just unsightly; it is lethal to wildlife like turtles and shorebirds. Microplastics (the tiniest form of plastic pollution) have also been found in bottled water and  shellfish, as trash gets into local waterways. Chemicals found in cigarette butts can also leach into the water. 

“Oregon’s beaches, trails and parks are our shared treasure,” says Jon Schmidt, a statewide cleanup organizer with SOLVE. “The wildlife we share the Coast with deserve a healthy and safe place to live. Locals and tourists alike can do their part by picking up trash they see on the ground and always packing out whatever you bring to the beach.” 

Visitors are playing a huge role in helping to keep it clean. With Earth Day (April 22, 2021) right around the corner, you may be looking for ways to celebrate and swing the stewardship pendulum toward safer, cleaner, rubbish-free beaches. Here are two ways to start banking your beach-cleanup karma credit.

 

Oregon Spring Cleanup

The Spring Oregon Beach Cleanup is an annual event with roots stretching back to 1986. In honor of Earth Day, participants will descend on beaches across Oregon to collect and remove marine debris en masse. Cleanup volunteers will meet at locations along the Oregon Coast including the Seaside Promenade at 10 a.m. on April 17, 2021.

 

Treasure the Beach

Visitors to Seaside can pitch in during a beach visit any time of year. To quell the significant damage trash can cause on the marine environment, Seaside Aquarium, City of Seaside and SOLVE host Treasure the Beach, Seaside’s monthly cleanup effort. Cleanups are scheduled for 9 to 11 a.m. the first Saturday of every month. Participants meet in front of the Seashore Inn on the Promenade to collect supplies like bags and gloves, then comb the beach (while keeping social distance) picking up litter. 

 

These efforts are having a big impact. In 2019 a total of 450 people participated, removing an estimated 1,865 pounds of trash from the beach. In 2020, despite COVID-19 challenges and weather cancellations, 253 people participated and removed 2,180 pounds of trash.

To participate in Treasure the Beach, simply show up on the day of the cleanup. For monthly Treasure the Beach event listings, check the Seaside events calendar. If you’re unable to make it to one of the organized beach cleanups but still want to contribute, visit the Seaside Aquarium gift shop to pick up complimentary bags and gloves. 

Whenever you’re visiting, make sure to throw all food wrappers and other garbage in trash cans or pack it out with you. For more on how to be a steward at the Coast and beyond, read up on tips for how to visit responsibly

and so much more!

The Best Part of Waking Up

Delicious breakfast dining at favorite Seaside local hot spots.

Learn More
The Sweet Side of Seaside

Above photo: A tray of sweets on display at A Sweet Affaire, held every February. In February, we invite you to bask in the sweet ...

Learn More
View from the Pacific Pier

The view circa 1906 of Seaside's old Pacific Pier

Learn More
Seaside Art Scene

Seaside is well-known for its scenic coastline, color-drenched sunsets and abundant natural beauty, but this coastal town has an a...

Learn More
Watching Nature Run its Course in Seaside

Wonderful natural beauty in Seaside,

Learn More
Crabbing & Clamming as Seasiders Do

“How have you lived here this long and never crabbed?” That’s the question I kept asking my friends and gracious hosts in Se...

Learn More
Honeymooning in Seaside

Part of the fun of planning a wedding is also planning the honeymoon (and I’ve been collecting ideas for both)! Many couples dream of the ideal honeymoon location, and on the top of their list should be Seaside! Sand, sea, and surf, along with amazing places to stay, eat, and be merry.

Learn More
Fishing Adventures In and Around Seaside

Fishing on the Oregon Coast near Seaside

Learn More
Great Breakfast Spots in Seaside

Osprey Cafe Breakfast! It’s the most important meal of the day. And when you know where to go, it can also be the most delicious...

Learn More
1st Generation Boardwalk: High Definition for the Old Guard

The Promenade started out as a wooden boardwalk that attracted visitors from far

Learn More
The Tale of the Driftwood Forts

As driftwood forts become more rare along the Oregon Coast, the memories hold strong.

Learn More
The Seaside Estuary makes an ideal spot to go bird watching along the Oregon Coast.
Where to Go Birding in Seaside

Seaside may be a small town, but it’s a big destination for birds, and as a result, birdwatchers hitting nearby spots on the Ore...

Learn More
Beauty and the Beach (and a Photo Bomb)

The sundial in Seaside has been around since the 1940s - you can check it out on the promenade today.

Learn More
5 Places to Watch the Big Game in Seaside

If you’re interested in watching the Big Game — either the one in February for professional football, other epic sports matchu...

Learn More
Ranger’s Guide to the North Coast

Some of Oregon’s most scenic and history-rich places are located in or around Seaside. In fact, within just a one-hour drive, yo...

Learn More
Celebrate the Holidays in Seaside

Celebrate the holiday season — Seaside-style! That means escaping the frenetic holiday bustle and slowing down to enjoy the sigh...

Learn More
Drilling in Seaside

World War I soldiers drilling on Seaside's beach.

Learn More