VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

THERE ARE So many ways to be involved with WILLAMETTE riverKEEPER!

Willamette Riverkeeper provides opportunities to volunteer your time to learn more about the river, contribute to our programs, and become involved in river issues.

SIGN UP FOR AN EVENT AND LEARN MORE ABOUT FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES!

The easiest way to learn about on-going volunteer opportunities, special events, increase your knowledge, and get involved in river issues is to sign up for our monthly Riverscape e-newsletter and periodic alerts for special announcements and events. You can also check our events calendar and register for volunteer events that are already scheduled.

River cleanups

Willamette Riverkeeper frequently hosts on-water and on-land cleanups to remove garbage from the Willamette River and its tributaries. Regularly scheduled cleanups in collaboration with municipal agencies happen on a monthly basis in Eugene (Trashy Tuesdays) and Corvallis (Trashy Thursdays), with additional cleanups occurring sporadically throughout the lower Willamette. We also organize a massive cleanup effort across the entire watershed every October, with cleanup events occurring at over a dozen locations as part of the Great Willamette Cleanup. We often collaborate with small businesses and student groups for private cleanups – please reach out if you have a group of employees who are looking for volunteer opportunities!

Restoration

Each year, our restoration team partners with the greater Wapato Revival collaborative of organizations to tackle the removal of invasive aquatic species including a variety of public volunteer opportunities. Additionally, Willamette Riverkeeper may hold volunteer planting, invasive removal events based on project needs or time of year, or may have a need for various support roles (sometimes by canoe). Please contact our restoration manager, Vanessa Youngblood for more information, or check our calendar to register ahead of time for events as they are scheduled.

Paddling trip & Events assistance

Are you an experienced paddler interested in sharing your skills with beginning paddlers? Do you have knowledge of, or a passion for a certain stretch of the river you would like to impart on others? Please consider joining our volunteer safety paddler team. Each year we provide a safety training in early spring, for volunteers who may help out with our educational River Discovery trips, on-water cleanup efforts, or multi-day fundraiser events, such as Paddle Oregon and Pinot Paddle. We may also have a need for assistance with logistics, registration, or other leadership roles. Please email our regional recreation coordinators, Theresa Tran (Portland to Salem) and Luke Stuntz (Salem to Eugene), to learn more about how to get involved.