Haw River Clean Sweep Waterway Cleanup and School Competition

 

Mission Statement: Teach children the importance of protecting our rivers and streams through a once-a-year, hands-on cleanup and year-round education program.

 

Objectives and purpose: We offer a competition to encourage children to work as volunteers to clean the river. Introducing children to the Haw River, in this way, we feel, is the best way to encourage life-long stewardship for the Haw. To win prizes, teams compete to sign up the most volunteers at our sites along the River.  Prizes are given to team leaders as well as school or group coordinators. Scoring based on a factor of percentage turnout and number of participants.

 

When and where does the clean up take place?

This September 21st, we will clean at 10 bridges on the Haw River, from 9am-12noon. To find out which bridge is nearest to your school or group and to register your team (or to volunteer as an individual) see our list of cleanup site leaders at www.HawRiverTrail.org. This list will be posted after September 1st. Please let us know if you would like to volunteer as a site leader or help coordinate teams from your school or group by August 25th.

 

What are some things we’ve found in the River?

In the past 5 years, we’ve found bowling balls, basketballs, tennis balls, MacDonald balls, Every ball sport has been represented except Jai alai. Crews have loaded and floated out on boats, ovens, dryers, washing machines, dishwashers, air conditioners, engine blocks, radiators, newspaper vending machines, gas tanks, truck cockpits, burned out station wagons. Our most common type of trash is plastic, metal and glass drink bottles, and cigarette butts, safe for even a 3rd grader to pick up.

 

Results for 2001

689 volunteers picked up 20 tons of trash (80 cubic yards or two large dumpsters) at 10 clean up sites from the Haw River or its tributaries.

 

NC Big Sweep Waterway Cleanup and School Competition winners.

1st place: Rivermill Academy, 63% of school, 163 participants, Contact Martha Honus, HonusM@netscape.net

2nd place: Alamance 4H, 27% of group, 63 participants, Contact Kay Cole, kay_cole@ncsu.edu

3rd place: Boy Scouts troop 54, 64% of troop, 16 participants, Contact Bill Mcbride, bmcbride@netpath.net

 

Sponsors for 2000-2001 (font size based on level of sponsorship)

BioQuest Marketing and Business Development, Biscuitville, Brain Train, Carolina Biological, Carver Restaurant, County Ford, East Pack, Fidelity Bank, First Citizens bank, Glen Raven, Inc., Graham Cinema, Industrial Paper Plus, Jordan Properties, Longhorn Steak house, Mebtel, Pro Canoe and Kayak, Professional Klean, Dr. Christopher Kakavis, Dr. Sam Powell, Tom Powell & Associates, Townsend Bertrum, Triton Water, USDA Alamance County Soil and Water Conservation, Wal-Mart, Burlington Superstore, Waste Industries, William C. Powell

 

Organizer; Mike Holland, PhD, Phone: 336-376-9322, 

E-mail: dr_mike@mindspring.com