Beachcombers Bring Discovery, Learning and Stewardship to North Padre Island

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Little girl shows Jace Tunnell a beachcombing finding.

Sandy toes, full cleanup bags and a few unexpected treasures marked a great morning on North Padre Island as community members gathered for the first public Beachcombing event hosted by the Harte Research Institute (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.


Held at Michael J. Ellis Beach and Seawall, the free family-friendly event was made possible through a $25,000 sponsorship from Phillips 66, the first corporate sponsor of HRI's Beachcombing program. The event invited Coastal Bend residents of all ages to explore the shoreline, learn about the natural and manmade objects that wash ashore, and help protect the beaches they love.


Throughout the morning, beachcombers scanned the sand for shells, sea glass and other treasures delivered by the Gulf overnight. Participants discovered everything from sea beans while also collecting marine debris along the shoreline.


In between treasure hunting and cleanup efforts, participants visited educational displays showcasing items commonly found along Texas beaches. Families also received Beachcombing T-shirts, posters and sea beans while learning about ocean currents, marine debris and the stories behind the objects that wash ashore.


Jace Tunnell, HRI's Director of Community Engagement and founder of the Beachcombing program, led a presentation highlighting how natural materials and human-made debris travel across oceans before arriving on Texas beaches.


“Every shell, sea bean and piece of driftwood has a story, and beachcombing gives people a chance to discover those stories firsthand,” Tunnell said. “When people get curious about what washes ashore, they begin to see the beach differently and understand why it deserves our care. We're grateful to Phillips 66 for helping us bring families together to explore, learn and help protect our coast.”


While the event may be over, the search for beach treasures continues year-round. Through weekly educational videos, social media posts, radio segments and newspaper columns, HRI's Beachcombing program continues to share coastal discoveries and inspire Texans to explore, learn from and care for the shoreline.