Cleanups with masks!  We ask that participants wear masks when at the meeting locations and any time they are in proximity to others, plus we acknowledge that this year there will be a new segment of the waste stream:  discarded face masks...

We had to cancel most of our cleanups last year in response to the pandemic.  But those are the kinds of small group, outdoor activities that look quite feasible this year.  We invite people to join us this year for any or all of these upcoming opportunities:

• Lewisburg Community Cleanup -- Saturday, April 3, from 1:30 to 3:30pm in the corner of Kidsburg near St Louis St and the RR tracks.  The rain date for this event will be on Sunday, April 11, same time, same location.  This is a hometown River Town Team event.
• Buffalo Valley Rail Trail Cleanup -- Saturday, April 10, check-in from 9:30 to 10:30am (end by noon), with starting points at the 15th St trailhead in Lewisburg and the 5th St trailhead in Mifflinburg.  Rain date will be the following Saturday, April 17, same time and locations.  This event is in collaboration with the Union County Trail Authority.
• Susquehanna River Cleanup -- Sunday, April 18, from 8:30am to noon, Sunbury boat launch (at the south end of town).  Rain date the following Sunday, April 25, same time and location.  This event is put on by regional partner the Susquehanna River Cleanup Project.

In a nod to COVID we will not be providing refreshments, but we will still offer gear like grabbers, buckets, bags, and gloves and also instructions/direction to key areas of focus.  You may want to bring a water bottle for yourself.

Our events are part of the Great American Cleanup which focuses on removing trash from public spaces and rights of way across the state and around the country.  The River Town Team cleanups focus on stream and river bank areas in an effort to keep litter from continuing its journey downstream and reducing the waste burden of the Susquehanna.  Volunteers pick up trash along Bull Run within Hufnagle Park as well as upstream toward Danny Green Field and downstream toward the river.  Depending on water levels, snowcover, and turnout, we sometimes also do some work in the Bull Run Neighborhood as well as at Wolfe Field along Buffalo Creek.  There is generally no shortage of trash and, given the amount of time people have been spending outdoors over the past year, that certainly continues to be true.

During cleanups conducted in the community in past years, volunteers have scoured the creeks, stream banks, a RR corridor (only after obtaining explicit permission and approvals), and even the riverbed in Lewisburg.  This spring outing will not involve any dunking like the Fall In-River Cleanups.  Instead let's take advantage on land of the window of opportunity after the snow melts and before the plants start to leaf out.  It is the perfect time to extract litter that has lodged itself in the underbrush.  Kids may find it a good way to exercise their egg-hunting skills.

Participants should dress for the weather and the activity.  Long pants and long sleeves will protect from thorns, poison ivy, and rough underbrush.  Avoid wearing knits which catch burrs and thorns.  And consider pulling back or covering long hair to protect it as well.  Sturdy footwear is recommended.  Warm gloves and shoes may be a must, depending on the forecast...  one year the temp was around 34 degrees when we were out and about hunting for garbage!