Great Islands Clean Up: The Great Plastic Nurdle Hunt

Turn Screen-Free Saturday into hands-on impact. 

Join Friends of the San Juans and the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center for a family-friendly community science event at Jackson Beach. Together, we’ll search for and remove nurdles—tiny plastic pellets that pollute our shorelines and pose a serious threat to fish, birds, and marine life. 

This is a great opportunity to get kids outside, explore the beach, and contribute to real environmental research. Nurdles are small but widespread, and each one that we collect helps protect the Salish Sea. 

We’ll start at the Jackson Beach shelter with a quick introduction to what nurdles are, where they come from, and why they matter. Then we’ll head out on the beach with simple tools to begin the hunt. 

What to expect: 

• A short, engaging introduction to nurdles and marine microplastics  

• Guided beach exploration and nurdle collection  

• All supplies provided  

• A fun, low-pressure way for kids and families to participate in community science  

No experience needed! Just dress for the weather and be ready for some impactful fun!