Mangrove Cleanup Day at Weedon Island
Once a month, paddlers trade a morning paddle for a shoreline sweep — and the preserve gives it back in spades.
Priya Anand
The Mangrove Dispatch
The first Saturday of every month, the Weedon Island preserve hosts a paddler-led cleanup: a morning on the water collecting the plastic and line that tangle in the prop roots after every busy weekend. It's part paddle, part stewardship, and the best way to see the preserve up close.
What to expect
- When: first Saturday of the month, 8:00am
- Where: Weedon Island canoe launch, 1800 Weedon Dr NE
- Provided: mesh bags, grabbers, gloves, and a paddle briefing
- Skill: beginner-friendly — most work is in the shallow fringe
"You leave with a full bag, a cleaner preserve, and a route you wouldn't have found on your own."
Come prepared
Bring water, sunscreen, and closed-toe shoes you don't mind getting muddy. The cleanup runs two hours and finishes by 10am, before the lot fills and the heat sets in. Sign up through the preserve center — it helps them plan supplies and parking for the crew.
