By Kayla Pringle
Each year, young artists across the state of Texas have the opportunity to turn creativity into conservation through the SPLASh (Stopping Plastic and Litter Along Shorelines) Beach Sign Art Contest. Open to students ages 4–18, the contest invites kids to design original artwork that encourages beachgoers to protect Texas beaches, reduce trash, and respect coastal wildlife, especially the shorebirds that depend on these habitats to survive.
The winning artworks are more than just celebrated; they become part of the landscape. Selected designs are transformed into educational signs that are posted on beaches throughout the Texas coast, across Follet’s Island, Bolivar Peninsula, and Galveston Island. These signs play an important role in reminding visitors that small actions, like picking up trash or keeping distance from wildlife, can make a big difference.
Texas beaches provide critical habitat for a wide variety of shorebirds, including plovers, terns, sandpipers, and gulls. These birds rely on coastal areas for nesting, feeding, and resting during long migratory journeys. The Houston–Galveston region sits along major migratory flyways, making local beaches especially important stopover sites for birds traveling thousands of miles each year.
Unfortunately, shorebirds face growing threats from habitat loss, human disturbance, and pollution. Trash left behind on beaches can entangle birds or be mistaken for food, while foot traffic, off-leash pets, and human activity near nesting areas can cause birds to abandon nests altogether. Educational signage plays a key role in addressing these challenges by helping beach visitors understand how their actions affect wildlife. Signs created by kids are especially effective because they are eye-catching, relatable, and often spark conversation among beachgoers.
The Beach Sign Art Contest is designed to be accessible and fun for young artists of all skill levels. Participants are encouraged to create artwork that sends a clear message about keeping beaches clean and protecting wildlife. The contest works well for individual students, families, classrooms, art clubs, and homeschool groups, and many educators use it as a hands-on way to connect art with environmental education.
Parents and teachers in the Houston–Galveston area often incorporate the contest into lessons about coastal ecosystems, conservation, and community responsibility. By combining creativity with real-world impact, students learn that their voices, and their artwork, can play a role in protecting the places they care about.
Artwork submissions are accepted through March 31, 2026 and full contest rules, age divisions, and submission details can be found at www.splashtx.org/artcontest. Selected designs will be featured on beach signage used throughout the region, sharing important conservation messages with thousands of visitors each year.
As beaches grow busier in the spring and summer months, these messages become even more important. By participating in the Beach Sign Art Contest, young artists help ensure that Texas beaches remain safe, healthy, and welcoming for both people and the shorebirds that depend on them.
Photo: Beach signs featuring art from previous winners
Credit: Kayla Pringle
