SUP Cleanup | Who We Are

All proceeds from our SUP Cleanup merchandise benefit cleanup costs.

There are plenty of ways you can help us standup for a clean ocean!

SUP Cleanup Organization’s mission is to remove trash and debris that gets left behind or washed up on beaches. By uniting standup paddlers to “standup for a clean ocean,” SUP Cleanup can make our coastal environments healthier now and for future generations.

SUP Cleanup began as a grassroots organization, tackling the trash problems of local beaches and islands but as the popularity of paddling grows, so has the environmental conscious of America. Groups and individuals must start taking action to keep our land and water healthy and prosperous. With this ever growing need, it is SUP Cleanups’ vision that chapters will spring up across the United States covering every ocean, lake and river to give back to the ecosystems that we get so much from.

SUP Cleanup originated in Wilmington, North Carolina by local shop owners, Catherine and Jeoffrey Nathan of Coastal Urge, in March of 2009. Paddling around the islands off the coast of Wilmington, they realized the accessibility paddlers have to marshes, small islands and remote beaches. With heavy boat and tourist traffic throughout most of the year, areas such as Masonboro Island, Lee Island and Figure Eight Island gather quite a bit of trash and debris.

Since March 2009, SUP Cleanup has organized monthly cleanups in Wilmington’s surrounding islands and waterways. As standup paddle boarding’s popularity grows nationally and globally, SUP Cleanup founders are hoping to spread the idea and membership throughout the sport’s network of paddlers to make this a monthly occurrence on beaches everywhere. Wilmington’s chapter has been fortunate to receive support from community businesses and organizations allowing them to find success with each cleanup in the organization’s inaugural year.