How to shellebrate National Seashell Day
National Seashell Day is on June 21st, the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The Registrar at National Day Calendar proclaimed National Seashell Day to be observed annually in 2017. No matter where you live, or whether it's the first day of summer or winter, here are some fun ways to celebrate seashells.
Head to the beach and grab some shells
Kick off summer with a trip to your beach to collect some empty shells. No shells on your beach? Collect sea glass, rocks, driftwood, or your favorite beach finds or do a quick beach clean up. Read about the shells you might find in the Outer Banks, and seashells found in Florida, and information and terms to help identify your seashells. Have you found any of the top ten Florida seashells? You might still find a few seashell egg casings on the beach this time of year, too!
Looking for some great places to find shells? See which beaches our readers said were their favorite shelling beaches.
Check out some of the National Parks and National Recreation Areas with beaches, including some parks where you can collect seashells.
Watch this video where Sarah Rosenbaum takes us to Southwest Florida to shell in one of the world’s largest Mangrove Forests.
Make art with your shells
Take some of your shells and grab your art supplies to make some coastal art. Here are a few ideas:
- Seashell Butterflies
- Seashell Topiary
- Seashell Decoupage
- Mandala Dotted Seashells
- Sand Dollar Ornament
- Mermaid Shells
- Pastel Shells
- Beachy String Lights
- Framed Beach Treasures
- Mussel Shell Tree
Display your shells
Gather some of your shells or other beach treasures and group them in a pretty bowl or on a shelf where you can admire them. See how sheller Amanda Collett displays her extensive collection of seashells.
Take a quick visit to Naomi Black’s tiny seashell museum in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico, which houses her privately owned seashell collection.
Share photos of your favorite shells
Get inspired by the winners in the 2022 Beachcombing Seashell Photo Contest and take your own photos of you favorite shells.
See some of Amanda Collett’s collection of seashells in this short video.
No live shelling
Seashells are homes to animals. Don’t take any shells that have a creature living in them—return them gently to the water. And don’t take too many shells, as they help create the sand we sink our toes into on the beach. Learn more about Sustainable Shelling and Ethical Shelling.
View Tina's collection of various tropical shells that can be found in Japan.
Tag your posts with #NationalSeashellDay so others can admire your photos!
How do you shellebrate National Seashell Day? Let us know in the comments!
Learn more about seashells
Learn more about identifying shells, the history of seashell collecting, great shelling beaches, and the lives of the animals who make the shells we find on the beach. Articles ›
