Annual Sea Oat Planting Event

The City of Cape Canaveral is looking for beach-loving volunteers to help plant 19,872 sea oats along two miles of the City’s shoreline at its 2026 annual Sea Oat Planting Event. This year’s event was made possible through the generosity of Surfing’s Evolution and Preservation Foundation and will take place on Saturday, February 14, 2026, starting at 8:30 a.m. The City’s beach and vegetated dune system are its first line of defense against potentially hazardous high tides and storm surges. Sea oats are a key component of this critical coastal defense system, as they help to stabilize the dunes, allowing them to grow and strengthen the City’s shoreline. To date, the City has invested $146,430 towards this resiliency effort — a remarkably small investment that protects tens of millions of dollars in homes, infrastructure, and thousands of lives behind this enhanced duneline. Sea oats can be considered a form of “green infrastructure” since natural methods are being utilized to mitigate an issue (i.e., storm surge and high tides). This type of infrastructure appreciates in its value over time as it becomes more established and quite literally grows, whereas traditional “grey infrastructure” – concrete, buildings, roads, etc. – depreciates over time, often losing value. Cape Canaveral has planted over 216,000 sea oats since 2005, and this incredible achievement would not have been possible without the support of hundreds of community volunteers. Those interested in lending a hand at this year’s event can report to any one of the City’s 17 public beach crossovers to assist. All supplies and planting instructions will be provided. This event is open to volunteers of all ages. Minors wishing to participate must be accompanied by an adult. After the 2026 sea oat planting event, the City will be ten years ahead of schedule to meet its target of planting more than 220,000 sea oats as laid out in the City’s 2021 Resiliency Action Plan. When: February 14, 2026, @ 8:30 a.m.Where: Public beach ends in the City of Cape CanaveralWhat to bring: Hat, sunscreen, water, gloves, friends, and family