Trail Access Post Project Report: Tread Lightly! Jeep Beach Cleanup

Tread Lightly! is a nonprofit organization based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its mission is to educate off-road enthusiasts about the importance of conserving and maintaining OHV areas. As the organization states on its website, “Our goal is to balance the off-road and off-highway vehicle (OHV) users’ need for adventure with the need to conserve the places where they ride and explore.”

The member-based organization relies heavily on contributions and volunteer efforts by its members. It funds and engages in cleanup, trail maintenance, restoration, and education efforts around the country. 

Who Is Jeep Beach? 

This project wasn’t just carried out by Tread Lightly!, however. Jeep Beach—a 501(c) nonprofit organization based out of Florida—also played a massive role in the Daytona cleanup. The organization helps to bring Jeepers together for noble causes by partnering with local hotels and restaurants, offering lodging and meals to the dedicated members and volunteers. 

What Was the Goal of This Project? 

Tread Lightly! and Jeep Beach’s Coastal Cleanup project slightly deviated from Tread Lightly!’s traditional trail-based cleanup plans. Rather than sticking to the shore and other OHV areas, this project emphasized a community cleanup of the greater Daytona Beach area. 

According to our contact at Jeep Beach:  

“Jeep Beach isn’t just the biggest gathering of Jeep lovers in the world. It’s also a nonprofit with a big heart. Each April, thousands of Jeepers roll into Daytona for ten days of fun, checking out awesome vendors, taking over the Speedway, and most importantly, raising millions of dollars for local charities. It’s a huge celebration with a real purpose behind it.

But we don’t stop at giving back financially. We’re also committed to leaving Daytona and the surrounding areas better than we found them. That’s why we kick off every morning with community cleanups across the county. We provide high-quality reusable bags that are perfect for collecting trash and tough enough to keep using on your Jeep adventures long after the event.

At the end of the day, Jeep Beach is about more than just Jeeps. It’s about community, giving back, and doing good while having a great time. Making the world a better place doesn’t have to be complicated. It just takes people who care and a reason to come together. Jeep Beach brings both to life every April in a way that truly makes a difference.”

Project Outcome

While Tread Lightly! and Jeep Beach anticipated a solid turnout from Jeepers and community members, participation was even greater than expected. From April 22 to 24, 2025, approximately 325 volunteers took to the streets to collect trash and drop it in two designated dumpsters. Some members spent hours collecting trash in bags, while others engaged in cleanup efforts while participating in a planned scavenger hunt. 

Through joint funding from various companies and local businesses, each volunteer received a reusable mesh trash sack for use during the Daytona Beach cleanup and for future trail use. By the end of the project, two and a half dumpster loads of trash were hauled away, leaving the Daytona Beach community’s streets that much cleaner and safer. 

According to Lowell Eckhart, Tread Lightly!’s Southeast Program Manager: 

“The second annual Jeep Beach Coastal Cleanup was another huge success. Rather than a beach cleanup, this year's focus was on the greater Daytona Beach area. It was created to instill a sense of responsibility for Keeping Our Communities Clean, regardless of the community's location or characteristics. It is important to always leave an area better than you found it, whether that is a trail, a campground, a National Park, a National Forest, or other public and private lands. With everyone pitching in and doing their part, we can all Protect the Adventure for generations to come.”

Doug Bigelow, Tread Lightly!'s Executive Director, also stated: 

“This was an incredible community effort. Not only by the locals of Daytona Beach, Florida, but by the off-road community, who took time away from Jeep Beach festivities to leave the area better than they found it. Thank you to our amazing partners who helped us achieve this.”

Our contact at Jeep Beach also commended the turnout, proclaiming: 

“The turnout was amazing. Hundreds of Jeepers jumped in to help with the cleanups, filling bags, making a visible impact, and showing their pride in leaving the area better than they found it. It’s a true team effort and a big part of what makes Jeep Beach so special.”

How You Can Contribute

The good work at Jeep Beach and Tread Lightly! isn’t done yet. The nonprofits have several additional projects in the works, and every cleanup effort or trail restoration can use the added funding and manpower. If you're able, volunteering or donating to Tread Lightly! or Jeep Beach is an outstanding way to give back.

Become a Member

Tread Lightly! is a member-based organization that relies heavily on membership fees for ongoing and future projects. The organization offers three individual membership tiers—$50, $100, and $250—as well as several business and club memberships. Select the option that fits your availability and start your support. 

Jeep Beach follows a similar format, relying on registration fees to fund its projects in the Florida area. Visit their registration page to learn more about the organization and its perks. 

Volunteer

Tread Lightly! always welcomes new volunteers to its ongoing projects. Visit the organization's events page to discover stewardship programs or other local events. 

If you’d like to volunteer at Jeep Beach, check out the organization’s official volunteer webpage. You can also browse Jeep Beach’s schedule, where you’ll find additional information about upcoming events. 

Donate

Donations are always welcome—funding goes directly to future projects and initiatives. Visit Tread Lightly!’s donation page to help out the organization with your choice of a one-time or recurring donation. 

Jeep Beach can also benefit from donations. Visit the Florida-based organization’s donation page to learn more about providing monetary contributions ranging from $1 to $1,000. 

We at RealTruck would like to thank the good people at Tread Lightly! and Jeep Beach for helping keep the passion we all love alive and well. Their work, whether educating others, embarking on trail cleanups, or organizing local events in the Florida area, helps preserve the trails, OHV parks, and communities we have left. Keep up the good work!