Eagle Scout clean up project

Thank you for your support of Kaleb’s Eagle Scout project. It is our intention that you have a safe, enjoyable, and productive experience. Here are some things you should know to help us achieve that goal.

It is very important that you register each person participating individually. Where appropriate, only one set of contact information is needed for a family group, however each individual must be registered for waiver of liability purposes.

When you arrive, please park in the marked spaces along Creek Dr (coming down the hill) not along the river. Sign in will be at the bottom of the hill along the river. After a safety brief, work groups will be dispatched to targeted ares.

What to expect:

This is a wade in event. You can expect to be in waste deep or slightly deeper water removing tires and other waste directly from the river bed. We have identified the location of waste concentrations, and have lead volunteers in water with you to guide and assist your efforts.

If you are not comfortable participating in that way, there are shore based efforts that will need volunteers such as carrying the collected waste being brought in to the collection area, or assisting with lunch set up for after.

How to dress:

Obviously, this is a muddy job at minimum. Dress to get wet and muddy. We strongly encourage you to wear footwear that has good traction, is secure to your foot and at least has a toe box (like teva sandals). Footing will be treacherous throughout. Long sleeve shirts and pants are recommended for shore line work as you will be exposed to poison ivy, stinging nettles, and hemlock (hogshead). Those who intend to go in water should wear light, quick dry fabrics that allow free range of motion. Air temperatures may be on the cool side, we recommend a change of warm dry clothing and a towel to be kept in your vehicle. We will provide work gloves.

General Safety:

Informed is prepared, right? Here’s a list of things we ask you to consider.

• Work in pairs. Generally, we focus on 5 person teams at minimum. This allows for multiple pairs to support each other with heavy items where hands are needed, and extra eyes on supportive safety. Going solo is never advised nor allowed. Please work together.

• There are many safety risks inherent. Some of which I detailed above in "how to dress". You are strongly encouraged to think of any health considerations unique to you. Sensitivity to noxious weeds, stinging insects should be taken into account.

• Even when the water is clear, it is not clean. Yes, you will be exposed to open source water that contains the chloroforms that indicate E. coli. To protect yourself you should wash your hands and be prepared to change clothes. We will have a portable hand sink available. And if we must state the obvious, please don’t drink the water.

• Sharps, weapons, and questionable items…. Simple, don’t touch em. We will have some of our Wrecking Crew volunteers on hand to resolve such matters.

• Speaking of those Wrecking Crew volunteers… they will be identifiable by their neon bandana. They are seasoned vets who’ve been doing this for a bit and are there to help keep you safe and share some of the tricks we’ve learned to make heavy muddy work not so heavy and muddy.