Paddle for the Pass: A Waterfest Community Cleanup

Calling All Boaters, Paddlers, Walkers and Volunteers

Saturday, October 3, 2026
8:00–12:00 PM
Stump Pass Beach State Park

Our waterways and state park lands need many hands and several boats.

Join us for Paddle for the Pass, an ambitious community cleanup bringing volunteers together by boat, paddlecraft and on foot to remove litter, marine debris and other harmful items from Lemon Bay, Stump Pass and surrounding state park lands.

The cleanup area is extensive. Separate routes have been created for boaters, paddlers and volunteers working from shore, allowing teams to reach places that cannot be addressed from a single access point.

Whether you own a boat, enjoy paddling or prefer to remain on land, there is an important role for you.

We Need Volunteers

Bring Your Boat

Volunteer boat crews are especially important to this cleanup.

Boaters are encouraged to bring their own vessels and help reach more remote shorelines along Manasota Key and Peterson Island. Boats will allow teams to remove larger items and transport collected debris that paddlers and walkers cannot safely carry.

Join a Paddle Cleanup Team

Kayakers and paddle boarders will follow designated routes to remove trash and marine debris from shorelines and shallow areas best reached by paddlecraft.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own kayak or paddleboard. Rental equipment from SUP Englewood is very limited and is available free to volunteers by RSVP.

Help From Land

You do not need a boat or paddlecraft to participate.

Beach walkers and land-based volunteers will help remove harmful items from designated areas of Stump Pass Beach State Park. Shore-support volunteers are also needed to assist with check-in, supplies, debris collection and other event logistics.

Photography and Media

Volunteer photographers and media participants can help document the cleanup, recognize participating organizations and show the community what coordinated conservation work really looks like.

Cleanup Routes

Our route map shows the scope of the cleanup and the areas assigned to boat crews, paddling teams and land-based volunteers. As you can see some area are best tackled by boats or paddlers or land crews. We need boat assistance for debris hauling.

A large dumpster is being delivered to the Ainger Creek Boat Ramp and volunteers will be needed on-site for audits of the debris collected as well as to help unload debris from boats. If you’re interested in volunteering at the ramp please let us know so we can assign your station accordingly. 

Volunteer roles can be chosen according to your interests, equipment and abilities.

Event Details

• Saturday, October 3, 2026
• 8:00–12:00 PM
• Stump Pass Beach State Park
• Advance volunteer registration requested
• Opportunities for boaters, paddlers, walkers and shore volunteers
• Cleanup routes include areas along Stump Pass Beach State Park, including Manasota Key, Whidden Key, and Peterson Island
• Coffee and refreshments provided with support from Dearborn Coffeehouse
• Cleanup supplies will be provided by Keep Charlotte Beautiful
• Participants should dress for outdoor work and changing weather conditions

Please bring sun protection, insect repellent, a reusable water bottle and closed-toe shoes that can get wet. Additional instructions specific to each cleanup team will be provided to registered volunteers before the event.

Every Boat and Every Volunteer Matters

This is not a cleanup that can be completed by one small group working from one location. Reaching the targeted shorelines and park lands will require coordinated teams and we genuinely need the community’s help.

Bring your boat. Bring your paddlecraft. Bring your family, friends, coworkers or community group. If you care about the health of Lemon Bay and the coastal places surrounding it, this is a tangible way to help.

REGISTER TO VOLUNTEER – RSVP TODAY 

Community Partners

Paddle for the Pass is being organized in partnership with Englewood Beach Waterfest, Keep Charlotte Beautiful, Florida State Parks, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 87, SUP Englewood and Dearborn Coffeehouse.

Together, we can remove harmful debris, protect wildlife habitat and leave our waterways and state park lands healthier than we found them.