(802) 763-7733 info@whiteriverpartnership.org 4266 VT Rte. 14, South Royalton, VT 05068

Annual Volunteer Events

To promote long-term stewardship of the White River watershed, we organize numerous seasonal opportunities for people of all ages to do something good for their communities and their river.

CANCELLED FOR 2021 – May: Plant a tree

Each spring hundreds of volunteers help us plant thousands of trees along the White River. We spend the summer, fall and winter recruiting willing landowners to participate in our Trees for Streams Program, designed to restore native trees and shrubs along the banks of the river. This vegetation has many benefits, from improving wildlife habitat and water quality to stabilizing streambanks. We order trees and planting materials in December and January, plant the trees in late-April and early-May, and recruit volunteers all year long! Specific planting dates are posted in late-April on our Upcoming Events webpage.

May – August: Monitor water quality & river access

Since 2001, the WRP has coordinated a Water Quality Monitoring Program to better understand potential threats to water quality and public health. Each summer, WRP staff and volunteers keep tabs at over 20 sites throughout the watershed, including popular swimming holes and locations that have the potential to become contaminated. On eight Wednesdays during the summer, our volunteers measure water clarity and conductivity, and collect water samples that are tested for bacteria. We recruit new volunteers every spring as needed. Contact us to learn more.

The WRP is working with partners to create a White River Water Trail Stewardship Network. Our long-term goal is to provide safe recreational access to the White River by recruiting and supporting a stewardship volunteer at each Water Trail site. Volunteer stewardship responsibilities include visiting a specific Water Trail site once a month during the summer; gathering data on trash, hazards, and site improvement needs; and collecting trash as needed. Follow this link to see the WRWT sites across the White River watershed that require a site steward!

September: Cleanup the river

The WRP coordinates a September river cleanup in conjunction with Vermont’s River Cleanup Month and the Connecticut River Conservancy’s Source to Sea Cleanup. We focus our event on public access areas along the river, providing a valuable service to towns as well as private landowners who are generous enough to share their land with the public. River cleanups are a fun way for the whole family to get their feet wet and their hands dirty while improving the beauty and cleanliness of the White River.

Get involved

Stay posted about current volunteer opportunities by visiting our Upcoming Events webpage or our Facebook page. Or subscribe to our email list-serve (see right-hand side of this page) to receive notifications about upcoming events.