Teams build sandcastles at Santa Monica Beach during Heal the Bay's commemoration of the 44th anniversary of Earth Day on Saturday, April 26, 2014.

Sandcastle teams are competing for top honors to be awarded by a panel of celebrity judges, including Single Mom’s Club star Amy Smart and Mina Chow, a professor at USC’s School of Architecture. A smaller-scale competition, geared toward non-professionals and families, will be open to the public later in the afternoon, with prizes awarded in a variety of categories.

While Heal the Bay ramps up its outreach and conservation efforts around Earth Day, the Santa Monica-based nonprofit encourages Southland residents to extend the spirit all year long by participating in their Nothin’ But Sand beach cleanups, watershed restoration projects and community advocacy trainings, which are held monthly throughout the year.