More Information on Stream Cleanup with the Farm and Anacostia Watershed Society
Christian M
The mission of the Anacostia Watershed Society is to protect and restore the Anacostia River and its watershed communities by cleaning the water, recovering the shores, and honoring the heritage. Since 1989, AWS has mobilized thousands of volunteers and supporters to help return the Anacostia River and its surrounding communities to a clean and healthy condition. The vision is to make the Anacostia River and its tributaries swimmable and fishable, in keeping with the Clean Water Act, for the health and enjoyment of everyone in the community. Community involvement is critical to achieving this vision, and I cannot stress more how our work could not be done without volunteers!!
Briefly, you will be working on Saturday, June 11 from 10:00am - 1:00pm at ECO City Farms located in Edmonston, MD. Please plan on arriving at 9:45am to allow ample time to sign in and get settled before the event begins. Your lead that day will be me, and and I can be reached the day of at 301-221-3567. Up until the day of, we really encourage volunteers to field any questions or concerns in my direction at the office.
River Cleanup
What to Expect: AWS river cleanups usually involve picking up trash and debris along the Anacostia River and its tributaries. Our river cleanups have an educative approach; AWS staff will talk about our watershed and the history and ecology of the area, and will be sure to point out interesting native plants and animals. AWS staff will brief everyone about basic safety measures to ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable experience!
What to Bring: We strongly recommend wearing long pants, closed-toe shoes, and basic gear to protect from the sun (hat, sunglasses and sunscreen). Also, long sleeve shirtsshould help protect skin and minimize skin exposure to poison ivy and ticks, which are found in parks throughout the D.C. area. We recommend bringing along an insect repellant designed to deter both deer ticks and mosquitoes. Don’t forget to bring plenty of water to avoid dehydration, and a snack if you feel that would be necessary. AWS will provide gloves, tools and other supplies to get the job done.
Regarding winter outings, it is important to wear layered clothing made of wool, silk or synthetic fabrics. Cotton is not recommended as it holds on to moisture so it does not insulate when you get wet. Regarding summer outings, it is important to wear clothing that breathes easily and is lighter in color.
Where to Go: Please click here for directions to ECO City Farms. If you plan on taking public transportation, please allow yourself enough time to arrive at the event on schedule.
Youth: If there are any members of the group who are under 18 years of age, they will need to have their parent or guardian sign the AWS waiver and bring it with them on the day of the event. A parent or guardian must also be present at the event. If the underage waiver is not brought, and/or a parent or guardian is not present, the minor will unfortunately not be able to participate in the event. Thank you for understanding.
Please click here to review our Underage Volunteer Waiver.
Thanks in advance for your time and dedication! Again, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns!
Madeline Koenig
Membership and Volunteer Coordinator
The Anacostia Watershed Society
The George Washington House
4302 Baltimore Ave. Bladensburg, MD 20710-1031