Beach Ambassador Program: A Big Success!

Our first summer of Ambassadors on the beach—and at community events—was successful and eye-opening all at once!

North Beach Preservation Alliance Ambassador tents were set up in Swan Beach and Carova on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. throughout the summer. We talked with more than 1,500 visitors—some who have been coming here for 20 years, some visiting for the very first time, and many somewhere in between.

Those conversations gave us plenty of opportunities to answer questions—and, just as importantly, to ask a few of our own. Here are some of the things we learned:

Tire pressure matters. Many visitors didn’t realize that bumps and ruts in the soft sand can be caused by driving with too much air pressure. Thanks to a generous donation of tire gauges from Twiddy & Co., many visitors were able to check their pressure and adjust it to at least 18 psi.

The foreshore is an important part of the beach road. We explained why keeping the foreshore open during the low-tide cycle is important for all vehicles, especially emergency vehicles, and discussed the unique challenges of sharing a public road on the beach.

Driving behind the dunes comes with its own set of rules. We answered questions about speed limits, intersections, and the importance of looking both ways before crossing. Many visitors were surprised to learn that collisions behind the dunes are considered “no fault,” since there are no stop signs posted.

We also learned a lot from our visitors. One thing came through loud and clear: people love the remote feel of the North Beach. More than 95% of the visitors we spoke with said the remote experience was a major reason they chose this beach. Many told us it was worth the longer drive and the lack of nearby commercial businesses and said it was more relaxing than other beaches they had visited.

We also heard concerns about the amount of new home construction. Many visitors wanted to know when construction might slow down, expressing concern that too many buildings could change the look and feel of this unique beachscape.

Thanks to a generous donation from Mirita Dymcznski of bracelets printed with the NBPA website, we were also able to direct visitors to our Visitor Page for more information about the beach, wildlife, and safe beach practices.

Wednesday Educational Series

As part of the Ambassador Program, we introduced an educational series each Wednesday in front of Wash Woods Rescue Station. The program focused on North Beach wildlife, beach safety, and other interesting topics.

The series was especially popular with younger visitors. Kids particularly enjoyed the shell-painting activity, which gave them a creative outlet while teaching them about the shells found on North Beach.

We would like to thank Lisa Hurley with N.E.S.T., Sylvia Wolfe, and others who contributed their time, energy, and expertise to this fledgling program. We look forward to expanding the series in summer 2027 with new topics and engaging craft activities.

A Big Thank-You

A big thank-you to everyone who volunteered their time to make the summer beach experience a little better for residents and visitors alike:

Kathy Fowler, Kim Dombrowski, Melinda Farmer, Cathie Blanton, Lynnette Savarino, Debbie Pinardo, John Pinardo, Crystal Pilkins, Carol Slamowitz, Meladye Shively, Shari Sierra, Tina Wettengel, Denise Khouri, and Edna Baden.

We had a great first summer—and learned a lot along the way.

Let’s do it again next summer!