For the last 55 years people from around the world have come together on Earth Day to celebrate community and the world that we live with acts of service to care for the planet that we call home. Earth Day has always been a special thing to me as it coincides with my birthday on April 21. In the last five years, it has become even more special as I celebrate these days with friends, family, and neighbors as we join in common cause and renew the vow to make our river and green spaces clean, healthy, and accessible to all.

For this 5th year of effort, as our impact grows and the number of volunteers that this event attracts increases; we have made a few changes to the registration process to help you have a safe, well organized, and rewarding experience.
The first change is in the ticket registration type. You will be asked to select from 3 options based on the type of volunteer effort to expect. You will be prompted to select either Blue Team for in the water wade in waste removal, Orange Team for roadside and shoreline waste and litter removal, or Wrecking Crew for those who have already committed to specific event staff roles.
We have switched to an online paperless volunteer waiver. You will be prompted to e-sign the waiver before final "check out". It is important to note that each person attending must provide their name, age, and gender as well as individually review and sign the waiver attached to "terms and conditions’. Minor children must have a parent/ guardian sign as well
Also, during the registration process, you will also be prompted to answer a number of questions that will hopefully provide you with a clear set of expectations to help you prepare. You will then receive specific instructions in your confirmation email that will cover everything from where to park when you arrive and how to dress for comfort and safety to where to sign in on the morning of the 19th.

On the morning of, we will be coordinating several different focus areas of effort along 5 miles of roadway, 22 acres of Conservancy preserve, 4 different illegal dumping sites and 3 different adjacent community green space areas that impact the Conestoga. Once signed in, volunteers will be directed to the shuttle area to be transported to designated work sites.

One thing that will not change is our post clean up social lunch. Pizza, refreshments, and birthday cup cakes will be served immediately after all volunteers have returned to the registration area. If you choose not to participate in the lunch social, we will ask that you consider staying long enough to be a part of a group photo.

“When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think, as we lay stone on stone, that a time is to come when those stones will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, 'See! This our fathers did for us.”

― John Ruskin- 1819-1900

FAQ

Can I bring my family? Yes. However, no one under 18 will be permitted to participate in the Blue Team, and individuals under 14 must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or designated chaperone. All others between 14 and 18 must have a signed parental consent on the waiver.
I want to come to the clean up with friends and family, will we be able to volunteer together? Yes, as long as you choose the same ticket type, and identify your group as we transport volunteers to assigned work areas so we can keep you together.