Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Head over to a beach or sandy area on Ward Island. There is a spacious sandy beach to the right of Lake Shore Avenue, if you are heading north. You don't need a beach to find beach glass, but your luck will probably be better.
Go at sunrise or sunset when the sun is low on the horizon, on a sunny day. At these times the sun causes the glass to glow because of its angle in the sky. This makes it easier for you to distinguish the glass from other beach debris. Going early in the morning means you will beat other beach-goers to the good glass. Go at low tide, if you can. Fall and spring are better beach glass-finding seasons because the tide is lowest during these times.
Walk slowly down the beach without wearing sunglasses. Sunglasses deflect light, which makes it harder for you to see the glass, so wear a sunhat if you want the protection. Allow yourself a few hours to do some serious searching. Bring a bag for your finds. It is best to stroll the few feet near the tideline, where new deposits of glass are most likely to be.
Pay special attention to deposits of beach debris. More debris will naturally gather in some spots on the beach. The areas along the tideline are the places most likely to hold beach glass. If the debris consists of rocks, beach glass is likely to be mixed in near the top, and roughly the same size. The lighter glass lands on top of the rocks, while it ends up buried under shells. Digging under shells is probably a waste of your time, but these deposits can be revisited another day.
Stop and examine any piles that look promising. When you are close to the ground, you are at the best vantage point. Take the time to carefully eye the debris when you are close.
Collect any interesting pieces but don't examine them too closely. If you aren't sure if a specimen is glass or it looks too plain, take it anyway. When you wash something at home, it may prove to be better than you thought.