Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Beach.
Hi Amy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Beach Junki started as a nickname someone gave me after noticing how much time I spent at the beach—walking at sunrise and just being there.
In 2013, everything changed when I came across a sea turtle in distress and was able to help with its rescue and release.
I became involved with the local sea turtle patrol team. Through those experiences, I learned so much about sea turtle conservation and, just as importantly, I began to see how much education was missing.
What started as morning beach walks slowly turned into a mission. I wanted to do more than clean up trash—I wanted to educate, inspire, and help create lasting change. That vision led me to officially form Beach Junki as a nonprofit organization in 2020.
One of the first initiatives was the Washed Up Project, which transformed marine debris into art. We have 2 educational displays at the beach, along with our Beach Clean Up Buckets and Beach Toy Borrow Box.
2022 we received a grant from the Sea Turtle Specialty License Plate, we were able to install 48 sea turtle education beach signage at public beach access in Fernandina.
In 2024 we received a grant from the Endless Summer Specialty License plate for the purchase of our transit van to transport tools and supplies to beach clean ups and events.
In 2024 I created my first Sea Turtle Festival, with a pretend sea turtle hospital where children can do a pretend intake and learn about the threats to sea turtles and how to help them survive.
In 2025, I reached another milestone when I received a permit from FWC to transport live sea turtles to rescue hospitals. To date, I have transported two sea turtles—something that feels incredibly full-circle from that first rescue years ago.
Beach Junki is proof to me that small, consistent actions can grow into something powerful. What started with one person and a love for the beach has become a community-driven effort rooted in education, compassion, and hope for healthier oceans and protected wildlife.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As the founder of Beach Junki, running this organization has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done—but it hasn’t been easy.
Like many grassroots nonprofits, one of our biggest challenges has been finding and keeping volunteers. So many people care about the beach and want to help, but coordinating schedules, training volunteers, and having enough hands when they’re needed most can be difficult. A small core group often carries a large share of the work, and burnout is something I work hard to avoid—for myself and for those who give their time so generously.
Funding is another ongoing challenge. Applying for grants takes time, research, and paperwork, and there’s no guarantee of approval. Even when grants are awarded, they are often restricted to specific projects, which means day-to-day operating costs still rely heavily on donations, sponsorships, and community support.
Behind the scenes, running Beach Junki means wearing many hats—planning events, managing volunteers, handling permits and insurance, coordinating partners, reporting to funders, and keeping everything organized and compliant. To save money, I created our logo myself and built our website, which I’ve managed and maintained since 2015.
There were times when I truly wanted to give up. I could have stepped away and focused solely on building websites—but that wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to do something that mattered. I wanted to create something that would make a real difference, even when the work was hard, unpaid, and uncertain.
Much of this work happens quietly and behind the scenes, but it’s essential to keeping the mission moving forward. Despite the challenges, I keep going because the impact is real. Every cleanup, every educational sign, and every child who learns how to protect sea turtles reminds me why this work matters.
The struggles are part of the story, but so is the resilience. Beach Junki continues because of community—people who show up, lend a hand, share our mission, and believe that caring for the beach is worth the effort.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What I do best—and what Beach Junki is known for—is turning care into action. We don’t just talk about protecting the beach; we create hands-on opportunities for people of all ages to learn, participate, and make a real difference. One of the best compliments I’ve ever received came from someone I deeply admire. They told me that I’m a doer—that while many people talk about wanting to make a difference, I actually step in and do the work. They also said I never give up. That meant a lot to me, because it reflects how I approach Beach Junki and life in general. I believe real change happens through action, persistence, and showing up, even when it’s hard.
I am most proud of the permit I received from FWC. It has always been my goal to help save sea turtles. I saw the need to get sea turtles to rescue when they washed up on the beach.
I am also proud of the Sea Turtle Festival. It has been a dream of mine for more than 15 years, and seeing it come to life has been incredibly meaningful. What started as an idea rooted in education and conservation has grown into a community celebration that brings together families, artists, educators, nonprofits, and local businesses—all united by a shared love for sea turtles and our beaches.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beachjunki.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BEACHJUNKI
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BEACHJUNKI
