Stand Your Sand Day June 4

Stand Your Sand Day | Saturday, June 4, 8:30am

This South Walton event was announced today by SoWal local Dave Rauschkolb on Facebook.



Walk the 10 miles of South Walton's Beaches for the Customary Use of OUR BEACHES for all. Let no barriers or signs impede us on our beaches on this day or ever. "This sand is your sand, this sand is our sand".

Join together for our sand and walk the walk for OUR beaches.

On June 4th, 2016 the citizens of America, Florida and South Walton County will gather at west and east ends of SoWalBeaches and meet in Grayton Beach State Park. This, to claim the Beaches of South Walton from the dune line to the water line for the Customary Use for all to fairly and equitably use and enjoy for eternity. We will traverse and ignore any and all barriers, signs, ropes and chains. We reserve the right to stop for a rest to enjoy the view at any point along the way

We will not litter. We will behave responsably and we will leave only our footprints. We will be respectful of beachfront homeowners and the Walton County Beach Activities ordinance but will use and enjoy the beaches as we have for centuries. This is the way it has been, this is the way it will be.

To stay hydrated water stations will be placed at marked beach accesses along the way. Wear appropriate sunscreen, headwear and clothing for protection from the sun.

June 4 is also National Trails Day

FB event page | for updates on event, comments, etc

View attachment 60052

@BlueMtnBeachVagrant - why don't you want to share the beach? Why do some beachfront owners want to stop us all from using the beach?

Not all beachfront owners want to stop people from using the beach. I want people to show some respect for my property. I don't want the masses sitting on my walkover to take pictures (happens daily during season), I don't want people walking up next to the dune that is trying to build (if there is an incline, stay off of it), I don't want people tearing up the sand fence to get to their toy (Frisbee, ball, kite, etc.) that has blown into my yard (move further away so it doesn't blow into my yard), I don't want people sitting on the incline right up on the dune. Go sit on the flat part of the beach or down by the water. I don't want to hear your loud music when I'm sitting on my deck. I don't want to hear all the foul language. I'm tired of picking up the trash left behind. There are a multitude of things that happen daily that nobody takes into consideration. Spend a day watching the things that people do in front of some of the beachfront houses. People will do things "at the beach" that they would never do at their own home and think because they are "at the beach" that it's okay.

I'm tired of the vendors constantly putting up umbrellas in front of my house, having weddings in front of my house (and blocking the driveway) and having bonfires in front of the house. Vendors should not be making money while using my property. Add to all of the this the total lack of enforcing any rules. We have rules but nobody enforces them. Very frustrating.

UPDATED June 4 Events

View attachment 60173


Stand Your Sand, Love Your Lakes, Love Your Parks!

STAND YOUR SAND! (Parks open at 8:00, walk starts at 8:15)
Won't you join together on June 4th for Stand Your Sand and have a walk on the beach? Join hands and walk 10 miles from the east and 10 miles from the west and enjoy South Walton's Beaches to establish our customary use for all. If you don't want to walk 10 miles you can join in at any point along the way. Suggested starting point at Topsail State Park from the west and Camp Helen State Park on the east at 8:15 a.m.. Let no barriers or signs impede us on our beaches on this day or ever. This, to claim the Beaches of South Walton from the dune line to the water line for the customary use for all to fairly and equitably use and enjoy for eternity. "This sand is your sand, this sand is our sand"

LOVE YOUR LAKES!
Celebrate and enjoy our fragile Coastal Dune Lakes along the way and join up from the east and the west at Grayton Beach for Coastal Dune Lakes Day! Walton County's Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board (CDLAB) is hosting a celebration of South Walton area coastal dune lakes on Saturday, June 4, 2016. The event will be held at Grayton Beach State park from 10:00 a.m. til 3:00 p.m. Celebrate Coastal Dune Lake Day at Grayton Beach State Park Jun 4 | SoWal.com - Insider's Guide for South Walton Beaches & Scenic 30A.

LOVE YOUR PARKS!
Celebrate and support your State Parks for the treasures they are. We are so fortunate to have so many amazing State Parks along South Walton's beaches. Show your support for your beach Parks on June 4th and pay the entrance fees that keep them thriving. Start your walk at Topsail or Camp Helen State Parks and finish at Grayton Beach State Park

Join hands for our sand and walk the walk for OUR beaches.
Join hands to embrace and protect OUR fragile Dune Lakes.
Join hands to celebrate and support OUR State Parks.

On your walk in STAND YOUR SAND consider traversing and ignoring any and all barriers, signs, ropes and chains that are in violation to the Walton County Beach Activities ordinance "(Items left on the beach overnight will be discarded. (Ordinance 2013-04 Section 22-54) "Obstructions also include fences, ropes, chains, or signs unless properly permitted by county, state, and federal agencies as appropriate.".

Reserve the right to stop on any portion of the dry sand for a rest to stay properly hydrated to ensure good health and to enjoy the view. Please do not litter. Please behave responsably and leave only your footprints. Please be respectful of beachfront homeowners and avoid confrontations. Be respectful of the Walton County Beach Activities ordinance. Do use and enjoy the beaches as people have for centuries.

The walk on the beach is in no way an official event of any kind; It is only an idea. All people have the free will to choose to act on an idea or not. We all have the right to walk on the beach; no permit needed.

IMPORTANT: Please be aware and avoid any contact with post and roped off sea turtle nesting areas. Also near and within the State Park boundaries and inlet/outfalls avoid crossing or trampling posted and roped areas that provide barriers to protect nesting shorebirds and waterbirds.

Stay hydrated water stations will be placed at marked beach accesses along the way. Wear appropriate sunscreen, headwear and clothing for protection from the sun.

After the walk meet up at Grayton Beach State Park and celebrate our beaches, State Parks and coastal dune lakes for COASTAL DUNE LAKE DAY! Celebrate Coastal Dune Lake Day at Grayton Beach State Park Jun 4 | SoWal.com - Insider's Guide for South Walton Beaches & Scenic 30A

June 4 is also National Trails Day

FB event page | for updates on event, comments, etc

I'm walking most of the day but I'll get there in my all electric, no gas Tesla.

Why must everything be "us vs them"? If you support a cause, join the cause. If you don't support, don't join the cause.
Seems some forget how fortunate we are in America to peacefully protest.
Some forget how blessed we all are to live in such a wonderful part of the state, country, and world.
I don't know Dave R. But I bet I could find 100 things to agree with him on, and 100 things to disagree with him on.
I will always choose to find common ground with my fellow man, and fellow SoWal brothers & sisters
Kindness is contagious. Come on folks... Let's get along.

So many people have moved here who don't even go to the beach. That's sick.

.....Seems some forget how fortunate we are in America to peacefully protest.

And until then, the laws regarding private property need to be respected and enforced.

I agree with everything you said with one clarification regarding your comment above:
Lawful and peaceful protests usually take place on public property unless the private property owner gives consent.

Aside of the obvious private vs. public beach positions, there is one simple FACT that is undeniably recorded as such within the Official Records of Walton County - much of the property that Dave R. and his crew intend to protest on is CURRENTLY private property. And apparently he/they have decided to "take" that property for their own personal use (at least for a day) without any legal due process.

I wouldn't have any problem at all with the protest taking place along 30A and the bike paths carrying signs for all to see. That IS public property and where peaceful protests customarily take place. And surely they will get plenty of exposure from all the 30A traffic.

It is disrespectful to pit neighbor against neighbor in this manner, even if the beachfront owners are in the minority (that's why we have laws and the Constitution).

I have a feeling the WCSO will be getting an increase number of calls thanks to these individuals - unless they decide to walk along the waters edge as most typical beach strollers do, simply out of courtesy. To purposefully ignore the no trespassing signs as encouraged by Dave R. and walk on the higher part of the private beach for the purpose to promote publicity and conflict is just plain wrong.

Dave R. admits this will be decided in the courts. So why not be nice and neighborly and just wait until then?

And until then, the laws regarding private property need to be respected and enforced. The right to peaceful enjoyment of one's private property is one of the most sacred rights protected by the Constitution. Until this is decided in court, we shouldn't allow this sacred right, one that we all enjoy in America, be made a mockery of.

I agree with everything you said with one clarification regarding your comment above:
Lawful and peaceful protests usually take place on public property unless the private property owner gives consent.

Aside of the obvious private vs. public beach positions, there is one simple FACT that is undeniably recorded as such within the Official Records of Walton County - much of the property that Dave R. and his crew intend to protest on is CURRENTLY private property. And apparently he/they have decided to "take" that property for their own personal use (at least for a day) without any legal due process.

I wouldn't have any problem at all with the protest taking place along 30A and the bike paths carrying signs for all to see. That IS public property and where peaceful protests customarily take place. And surely they will get plenty of exposure from all the 30A traffic.

It is disrespectful to pit neighbor against neighbor in this manner, even if the beachfront owners are in the minority (that's why we have laws and the Constitution).

I have a feeling the WCSO will be getting an increase number of calls thanks to these individuals - unless they decide to walk along the waters edge as most typical beach strollers do, simply out of courtesy. To purposefully ignore the no trespassing signs as encouraged by Dave R. and walk on the higher part of the private beach for the purpose to promote publicity and conflict is just plain wrong.

Dave R. admits this will be decided in the courts. So why not be nice and neighborly and just wait until then?

And until then, the laws regarding private property need to be respected and enforced. The right to peaceful enjoyment of one's private property is one of the most sacred rights protected by the Constitution. Until this is decided in court, we shouldn't allow this sacred right, one that we all enjoy in America, be made a mockery of.

To purposefully ignore the no trespassing signs as encouraged by Dave R. and walk on the higher part of the private beach for the purpose to promote publicity and conflict is just plain wrong.

Bring your Children to Stand Your Sand, Love Your Lakes & Love Your Parks.

Yea, that's it. Teach your children while they're young, "Hey little Johnny, do you see that nice piece of private property over there? If you want it, all you have to do is go walk on it and it's yours."

Never mind judicial process - just take it.

And I have to agree with previous posters, WCSO will probably do nothing, especially if children are involved and used as human shields.

Sure seems to me that this Stand Your Sand event is sure trying to upstage the more noble events, Love Your Lakes & Love Your Parks. Why is it even scheduled on the same day?