STREAM CLEAN-UP: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Stream Clean-up?
The Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy’s annual Stream Clean-up is the largest single-day stream clean-up in the state of PA, drawing thousands of volunteers from local communities. These volunteers remove trash and debris from many of the open spaces and streamside areas within the Perkiomen Creek Watershed. In addition, many corporate groups and local business help to sponsor this event.

When / Where is the Stream Clean-up?
In 2024, it is scheduled for Saturday, April 13th from 9 am - 12 pm. We also offer corporate groups the opportunity to volunteer on Friday, April 12th. The event traditionally takes place in April to coincide with Earth Day and the Great Pennsylvania Clean-up.

Each year, we target the most in need 100 - 200 locations throughout the watershed for clean-up. Stream Clean-up sites are located at public parks, trails, schools and private property. Some locations naturally accumulate debris from storms and flooding, requiring attention every year, while other sites just need one good cleaning (like a old dump site). Once priority locations are determined they are posted on the site map.

How are clean-up sites chosen?
We rely on our many partners, members, and community residents to help us locate sites with accumulated trash, tires, and scrap metal. All locations are within the waterways of the Perkiomen Creek Watershed. Potential clean-up sites are visited on foot and evaluated by the amount of trash, accessibility, and safety factors. All sites are either publicly accessible (like a park or trail) or accessible by permission from the landowners. The location must be safely accessible by foot and have some place nearby for volunteers to meet and park. Sites with toxic debris or dangerous conditions will not be included in the clean-up.

Have a site in mind that you would like to see included in this year’s clean-up? Suggest a site by clicking on the button below:

Why host a stream clean-up?
An incredible amount of trash makes its way into our local waterways each year. It is tossed out of car windows, blown from yards, trash cans, and parking lots, washed away by floods or stormwater, and even dumped intentionally. Not only is trash unsightly, it degrades the safety and quality of the water we drink and recreate in, and can be downright deadly to fish, birds and other wildlife. Our annual Stream Clean-up is a regional community event for anyone wishing to make a positive difference in the health, safety and beauty of our local environment.

Who can volunteer?
Everyone! Our volunteers range in age from 3 to 93 and they are local residents, students, teachers, scouts, clubs, sports teams, church and service groups, local businesses, etc.!

We do request that Stream Clean-up volunteers are at least 3 years old, and that a responsible adult accompany all volunteers under age 12. All minors who will not have a parent or guardian to sign them in the morning of the clean-up (i.e. a child with a scout troop or a 17 year old who drives themselves) must bring a signed minor waiver form which can be accessed here. Each site has a recommended minimum age requirement so be sure to read the site description before choosing your site.

May I register a whole family or group of volunteers?
Yes, in fact groups make up most of our volunteers for this event. During the registration process, you will see a plus sign (+) next to the site you wish to select. You can use this to sign up as many people as you want under your name, as long as there are enough slots left at that site. If one person signs up, they will receive all emails about the clean-up, and are responsible for forwarding that information to everyone in the group. For a small group, you can have everyone sign up individually for the same site (but hurry, before all the slots are taken!).

If you are with a group of 30 or more, you may want to call us at 610-287-9383 or email our Director of Conservation, Jessie Kemper, to discuss which site or sites would be best for your group. You may need to split into smaller groups to cover 2 or more sites to accommodate your group.

What happens if there is bad weather?
The Stream Clean-up takes place rain or shine. In the event of dangerous or predicted unsafe weather, such as icy conditions or flooding, the clean-up event will be rescheduled. Please check your emails before leaving if these conditions arise. In addition, if the event is cancelled, there will be an update posted to our website and social media pages.

What should I wear/bring & what will be provided?
First and foremost, dress appropriately for the weather! Volunteers are happiest and do their best work when they are warm and dry! Otherwise, plan to get dirty. Wear long pants or jeans and long sleeve shirts, plus heavy soled shoes or boots that can get wet. No open-toed shoes or sandals. Depending on the site, if you have rain boots or waders, you might want to bring them with you. You might also want to bring a change of socks and shoes for when you are finished. Be sure to eat breakfast and bring plenty of water.

Every clean-up location will be assigned a volunteer who will act as a site leader. Your site leader will have all of the supplies for you when you arrive at your clean-up site, including work gloves, trash bags, and if needed, shovels, pruners, or safety vests. Site leaders will also provide a sign-in sheet and a safety overview at the start of the clean-up.

What is a site leader and how can I be one?
Site leaders play a very important role in the Stream Clean-up! Because of the size of this event, it is not possible for Conservancy staff members to be present at the sites on the day of clean-up. Instead, a volunteer at each site will be pre-designated as a site leader to act as a day-of coordinator for the volunteers at their site. Site leaders are required to attend a short zoom meeting the Thursday evening before the clean-up to pick-up instructions and supplies for their group. Leaders must arrive at their clean-up location by 8:45 am to meet and register their volunteers, give a short safety speech (provided), and hand out all supplies. Site leaders make sure volunteers behave responsibly and safely. They must have a functioning cell phone to report back to the Conservancy when their group has finished cleaning. Site leaders also receive a free event t-shirt!

If you are interested in acting as a site leader at your clean-up site, please email jkemper@perkiomenwatershed.org

What is a pick-up crew member and how can I be one?
Our pick-up crews are incredibly important! These are groups of 2 - 6 volunteers with a pick-up truck (or sometimes a trailer or dump truck) who are responsible for arriving at the clean-up sites after the clean-up is completed to load up and bring all of the trash, tires, and scrap metal to the dumpsters. There are usually about 20 different pick-up regions, each of which are assigned at least 2 pick-up crew members who take the collected trash from the clean-up sites within their region to the dumpsters. Pick-up crew members begin working around 12 pm and are usually finished around 3 pm. Some clean-up volunteers like to double as site leaders and pick-up crew members. Pick-up crew members also receive a free event t-shirt!

There is a separate sign-up page for pick-up crew members that can be accessed by clicking on the button below:

What should I do when I get to my assigned site?
Locate your site leader, who will be standing near a Stream Clean-up sign and a bag of supplies. The site leader will have you sign in, hand out supplies and go through a quick safety briefing. The site leader will also tell you where the trash should be piled for safe and easy access by the pick-up crew.

What if I need to leave early?
Volunteers are welcome to leave whenever they choose. We request that all volunteers arrive at their assigned clean-up location promptly by 9 am to receive all supplies and safety information. If you choose to leave early, please notify your site leader and return all unused supplies before you go.