Page 130 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2026

SPORTS & OUTDOORS
Good foR You,
Hands-On VOlunteering THat Strengthens BOdy and COmmuniTy story by Joey Lee
130 | June 2026
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
Mississippi Oyster Gardening Program
Here’s something most people don’t think about when they’re trying to get in shape: some of the best exercise on the Coast isn’t happening in a gym. No trainers, no treadmills, no fancy classes. But there’s plenty of lifting, stretching, and cardio involved. It’s happening on beaches, in neighborhoods, and in the woods—and the people doing it aren’t tracking their heart rate or counting reps. They’re just showing up to help.
If you’re looking for a way to move more or just a reason to get off the couch that actually feels worth it, the Coast has no shortage of ways to give back, and a lot of them come with a side effect: you’re going to get a real workout.
The Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Program runs cleanups regularly across Hancock, Harrison and Jackson Counties. Since 2016, more than 10,000 volunteers have put in nearly 40,000 hours and removed over 70 tons of litter from local beaches, waterways and wetlands.
That may not sound like exercise but a cleanup usually means several hours of walking on uneven terrain, bending over and over (and over), hauling bags and covering more ground than you planned. It’s steady, continuous movement—the kind that improves cardiovascular health and flexibility. And unlike a