Registration Ends Today for the Fort Pickens Beach Cleanup
BEACH EQUIPMENT DELIVERY
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olunteers and scuba divers will clean the Fort Pickens Fishing Pier and surrounding beaches Saturday morning.
Registration closes Thursday, August 27, for the Fort Pickens Beach Cleanup scheduled Saturday, August 29, at Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Gulf Islands National Seashore, Ocean Hour and Third Coast Divers are organizing the cleanup around the Fort Pickens Fishing Pier and nearby beaches.
The event is free for participants who register by the deadline. Advance registration also waives the park entrance fee and includes a complimentary future day pass and a special edition park poster.
Fort Pickens Cleanup Schedule
The cleanup will take place at the Fort Pickens Fishing Pier parking area.
Saturday, August 29
Diver check in: 8:15 a.m.
Diver muster: 8:30 a.m.
General volunteer check in: 8:45 a.m.
Cleanup and water entry: 9 a.m.
Cleanup ends: 11 a.m.
Participants will meet in the parking lot across from the Fort Pickens Visitor Center. The National Park Service advises allowing approximately 20 minutes to drive from the Fort Pickens entrance station to the pier.
The event location is listed as the Fort Pickens Fishing Pier parking lot, near 1300 Fort Pickens Road on Pensacola Beach.
How to Register
Registration is available through the National Park Service event page, which links directly to the federal Volunteer.gov registration form.
The deadline is August 27. Anyone who arrives without registering in advance may have to pay the regular Gulf Islands National Seashore entrance fee.
Volunteers younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
No separate volunteer admission charge has been announced. Participation capacity and remaining registration availability are not displayed publicly, so volunteers should complete the form as soon as possible.
What Volunteers Should Bring
General cleanup supplies will be provided, including gloves, buckets, trash grabbers and hand sanitizer.
Participants should bring:
Closed toe shoes
A refillable water bottle
Extra drinking water
Sunscreen and appropriate sun protection
Water coolers will be available, but organizers emphasize preparing for coastal heat and humidity before arriving.
Ocean Hour says its cleanups may be canceled because of rain or thunderstorms. Participants should check the organization’s official schedule or social channels before driving to Fort Pickens.
What Scuba Divers Need to Know
Divers have an earlier check in and must be assembled by 8:30 a.m. before entering the water at 9 a.m.
The public event pages do not provide a complete list of required certifications, tanks, weights or other dive equipment. Registered divers should follow the instructions supplied through the official registration process and Third Coast Divers.
People who are not registered for the diving portion should participate with the general shoreline cleanup group.
Why This Cleanup Matters
Fishing line, plastic, hooks and other marine debris can accumulate around heavily used piers and beaches. Debris submerged around a fishing structure may also be difficult for ordinary shoreline volunteers to reach, which is why the event includes a coordinated diving component.
Register through the official National Park Service listing before today’s deadline, then check the weather before leaving Saturday morning.
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