Everything on the street ends up in the creek, and everything in the creek ends up downstream. It’s dirty, cold, weirdly fun work — and the water is visibly better when you climb out.
Wade In on Creek Cleanup Day
Find your watershed group's next cleanup, put on boots you don't love, and spend a morning hauling tires and grocery bags out of the creek that runs through your city.
What you'll need
- Boots or shoes that can get soaked
- Work gloves (they usually supply the rest)
- A tetanus shot that isn't ancient
Pitfalls
- Search your creek or river's name plus cleanup — nearly every urban waterway has a friends-of group.
- Sign the waiver, mind the crew leader, stay out of fast water.
- Bring your kids if the group allows it. Pulling a tire out of a creek is a core memory.
He leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. — Psalm 23:2-3