Sand Castle Contest

    Diggers and shapers, unite! The Clamshell Foundation’s sand castle contest starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday at Atlantic Avenue Beach in Amagansett. There will be five categories of competition: Sand Fleas, for children up to 8, Sand Hoppers, for 9 to 15-year-olds, Sand Tribes, for families, Sand Shapers, for adults, and Sand Pros, for veterans of the sand castle arts.

    While it’s free to watch the construction of ephemeral structures and the formation of sandy creatures, the cost to take part is $10 for a group of up to six people. The money raised through the registration fees and the sale of T-shirts and other merchandise goes toward the foundation’s charitable work, which includes scholarships for East Hampton High School seniors and, traditionally, roasting chickens for East Hamptoners who might be having trouble paying for groceries.

     The first contest was held in 1992, started by Rossetti Perchik of Springs, the foundation’s executive director. The Web site to visit is clamshellfoundation.org. The rain date is Sunday.