Rivanna Conservation Alliance

POSTPONED - Paddles with a Purpose - Pirate Edition 🏴‍☠️
2025-07-09 16:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Darden Towe Park, 1445 Darden Towe Park Road, Charlottesville, VA
DUE TO FORECASTED THUNDERSTORMS, THIS EVENT IS BEING POSTPONED. KEEP AN EYE OUT HERE AND IN OUR NEWSLETTER FOR A NEW DATE.
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SQTc
Help RCA clear litter out of the Rivanna River! This pirate-themed cleanup paddle will begin at 4:30pm at Darden Towe Park and end at the Rivanna River Company. This paddle can vary in time but is intended to conclude 7pm. Pirate costumes are welcome and encouraged!
This paddle will be self-supported, meaning that you are responsible for bringing your own paddling equipment (or renting equipment from the Rivanna River Company) and shuttling your boat and yourself. The section is rated as beginner-friendly. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
After the cleanup, stick around for a Sea Shanty themed Little Saturdays at the Rivanna River Company, which goes until 9pm!

Schenks Branch Stream Cleanup
2025-07-12 09:00 - 11:00 | Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad, 828 McIntire Rd, Charlottesville, VA
Help RCA clean trash from our watershed! We will be picking up trash in and along Schenks Branch, which parallels McIntire Road and drains to Meadow Creek, a tributary of the Rivanna River.
RCA will provide all materials needed for the cleanup including gloves, trash bags and trash pickers. Participants should plan to bring a reusable water bottle and wear clothes that can get dirty. Please bring waders or waterproof shoes if you have them. Closed-toe shoes are required. There will also be a limited number of waders available for volunteers to use. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SQUj

Charlottesville Tom Sox Game
2025-07-17 17:00 - 19:00 | CHO Airport Field, 1400 Melbourne Rd, Charlottesville, VA, 22901
RCA is being recognized as Nonprofit of the Night at the Charlottesville Tom Sox home game against the Culpeper Cavaliers this Thursday, July 17th!
Join RCA staff on Thursday at 5PM at CHO Airport Field to cheer on Charlottesville’s local collegiate summer baseball team, enjoy concessions, and check in on what RCA has been up to this summer.
Plus, when you mention you’re with RCA, you’ll receive FREE admission for you and your family, good this Thursday only. Gates open at 4PM. See you at the field!

July Invasive Workday at Riverview Park
2025-07-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Riverview Park, 298 Riverside Drive, Charlottesville, VA
Join RCA and partners of the Rivanna Forest Restoration Partnership for a 2-hour volunteer workday at Riverview Park. We will be managing invasive plants that are threatening native tree canopy in a high-priority forest area.
RCA will provide needed tools like loppers, pruners, gloves, and safety glasses, but feel free to bring your own. Volunteers should wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Please bring a water bottle. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
This event is subject to change due to weather. If you have any questions, or sign-ups are closed, please contact RCA’s Watershed Coordinator Bailey Pleasant at bs********@**********er.org
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SQTR

Riverview Park Walk-and-Talk: Design, Water Quality, Hydrology
2025-07-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Riverview Park, 298 Riverside Drive, Charlottesville, VA
Join us for a Rivanna Restoration Project at Riverview Park Walk-and-Talk on Sunday, July 20th. The topic of discussion is project design, water quality improvement, and hydrology.
Meet at the RCA kiosk near the top of the boat stairs at 6:00 PM. RSVP to in**@**********er.org in case we need to reschedule due to weather.

Paddles with a Purpose
2025-08-06 17:30 - 19:30 | Darden Towe Park, 1445 Darden Towe Park Road, Charlottesville, VA
Help RCA clear litter out of the Rivanna River! This cleanup paddle will begin at 5:30pm at Darden Towe Park and end at the Rivanna River Company. This paddle can vary in time but is intended to conclude around 8pm.
This paddle will be self-supported, meaning that you are responsible for bringing your own paddling equipment (or renting equipment from the Rivanna River Company) and shuttling your boat and yourself. The section is rated as beginner-friendly. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
After the cleanup, stick around for food and drinks at Little Saturdays at the Rivanna River Company!
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SRkU

Riverview Park Pop-Up
2025-08-12 09:30 - 11:30 | Riverview Park, 298 Riverside Drive, Charlottesville, VA
Join RCA at Riverview Park for some pre-back to school fun at the river. Come play with bugs, nets, art, and more! Drop in any time between 9:30 and 11:30 AM.

August Invasive Workday at Darden Towe Park
2025-08-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Darden Towe Park, 1445 Darden Towe Park Road, Charlottesville, VA
Join RCA and partners of the Rivanna Forest Restoration Partnership for a 2-hour volunteer workday at Darden Towe Park. We will be managing invasive plants that are threatening native tree canopy in a high-priority forest area.
RCA will provide needed tools like loppers, pruners, gloves, and safety glasses, but feel free to bring your own. Volunteers should wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Please bring a water bottle. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
This event is subject to change due to weather. If you have any questions, or sign-ups are closed, please contact RCA’s Watershed Coordinator Bailey Pleasant at bs********@**********er.org
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SQ82

August Invasive Workday at Riverview Park
2025-08-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Riverview Park, 298 Riverside Drive, Charlottesville, VA
Join RCA and partners of the Rivanna Forest Restoration Partnership for a 2-hour volunteer workday at Riverview Park. We will be managing invasive plants that are threatening native tree canopy in a high-priority forest area.
RCA will provide needed tools like loppers, pruners, gloves, and safety glasses, but feel free to bring your own. Volunteers should wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Please bring a water bottle. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
This event is subject to change due to weather. If you have any questions, or sign-ups are closed, please contact RCA’s Watershed Coordinator Bailey Pleasant at bs********@**********er.org
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SQ81

Riverview Park Walk-and-Talk: Trees & Landscape Design
2025-08-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Riverview Park, 298 Riverside Drive, Charlottesville, VA
Join us for a Rivanna Restoration Project at Riverview Park Walk-and-Talk on Sunday, August 17th. We’ll be joined by Wolf Josey Landscape Architecture to discuss trees and landscape design of this project.
Meet at the RCA kiosk near the top of the boat stairs at 6:00 PM. RSVP to in**@**********er.org in case we need to reschedule due to weather.

Riverview Restoration Webinar
2025-08-27 18:00 - 19:30
Design of the Rivanna River Restoration at Riverview Park project is nearing completion. Tune in to a virtual public webinar with the Rivanna Conservation Alliance, Wolf Josey Landscape Architects, Ecosystem Services, and the City of Charlottesville to learn more and ask questions about the project scope, benefits, and park impacts.
Please direct any questions to in**@**********er.org

Paddle and Tire Pull in Fluvanna County
2025-08-30 09:00 - 16:00
Let’s get discarded tires out of the Rivanna River! This tire removal day kicks off the Rivanna River Round-Up season. We hope to be adding more tire pulls and paddling cleanups as we watch water levels over the next month.
This paddle will be an out and back in the lower Rivanna River in Fluvanna County, an area that we have not had a chance to paddle in several years. We will paddle upstream to start and float back with loaded boats. RCA has some canoes to lend, so please let us know if you need a boat.
Pulling tires is strenuous, filthy work — but so satisfying to know that you are removing pieces of persistent plastic pollution from our watershed and preventing billions of pieces of micro-plastics from getting into our oceans!
Please bring a water bottle, sunscreen, river shoes, and any favorite tire pulling tools you may have (a flat hoe, crowbar, etc. is useful but we will have some to loan, too).
Detailed directions will be sent after you sign up. The site is about 40 minutes from Charlottesville. We encourage car pooling and can help coordinate!
Email in**@**********er.org with any questions or sign up here: https://htru.io/SRHC
If we don’t do this, who will? Thanks for joining us!

Advanced Biological (Benthic) Training
2025-09-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Rivanna Conservation Alliance, 1150 River Road, Suite One, Charlottesville, VA, 22901
This training is designed for current benthic monitors who collect benthic field samples and/or participate in lab days. The aim of this workshop is to develop identification skills, refine family-level characteristics, and cover any topics monitors may need additional help with. Advanced training is required to become a certified benthic monitor and adopt benthic sites.
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SRdl

Introductory Biological (Benthic) Training
2025-09-04 10:00 - 13:00
This training session will cover the fundamentals of in-stream biological sampling – catching and identifying benthic macroinvertebrates for the purpose of evaluating water quality and stream health. This session includes both a classroom and a hands-on field component.
Attending an Introductory Biological (Benthic) Training is required for anyone interested in becoming a volunteer benthic monitor with RCA. No previous experience is necessary. Training sessions are free to RCA volunteers.
The location for this event is to be determined and dependent on water levels.
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SRdj

Introductory Biological (Benthic) Training
2025-09-06 10:00 - 13:00
This training session will cover the fundamentals of in-stream biological sampling – catching and identifying benthic macroinvertebrates for the purpose of evaluating water quality and stream health. This session includes both a classroom and a hands-on field component.
Attending an Introductory Biological (Benthic) Training is required for anyone interested in becoming a volunteer benthic monitor with RCA. No previous experience is necessary. Training sessions are free to RCA volunteers.
The location for this event is to be determined and dependent on water levels.
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SRdk

September Invasive Workday at Darden Towe Park
2025-09-09 10:00 - 12:00 | Darden Towe Park, 1445 Darden Towe Park Road, Charlottesville, VA
Join RCA and partners of the Rivanna Forest Restoration Partnership for a 2-hour volunteer workday at Darden Towe Park. We will be managing invasive plants that are threatening native tree canopy in a high-priority forest area.
RCA will provide needed tools like loppers, pruners, gloves, and safety glasses, but feel free to bring your own. Volunteers should wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Please bring a water bottle. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
This event is subject to change due to weather. If you have any questions, or sign-ups are closed, please contact RCA’s Watershed Coordinator Bailey Pleasant at bs********@**********er.org
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SRq8

September Invasive Workday at Riverview Park
2025-09-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Riverview Park, 298 Riverside Drive, Charlottesville, VA
Join RCA and partners of the Rivanna Forest Restoration Partnership for a 2-hour volunteer workday at Riverview Park. We will be managing invasive plants that are threatening native tree canopy in a high-priority forest area.
RCA will provide needed tools like loppers, pruners, gloves, and safety glasses, but feel free to bring your own. Volunteers should wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Please bring a water bottle. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
This event is subject to change due to weather. If you have any questions, or sign-ups are closed, please contact RCA’s Watershed Coordinator Bailey Pleasant at bs********@**********er.org
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SRq7

6th Annual Rivanna River Round-Up
2025-09-20
Volunteer registration is OPEN for RCA’s biggest trash cleanup event of the year, the Rivanna River Round-Up!
This year’s sixth annual cleanup will be held on and around Saturday, September 20th. Take a stand for clean water by volunteering for a variety of cleanup opportunities in the Rivanna watershed.
Check out the sites and sign up here! Continue to check the website as we may add additional sites.

Riverview Park Walk-and-Talk: Trails
2025-09-21 17:00 - 18:00 | Riverview Park, 298 Riverside Drive, Charlottesville, VA
Join us for a Rivanna Restoration Project at Riverview Park Walk-and-Talk on Sunday, September 21st. The topic of discussion is trails.
Meet at the RCA kiosk near the top of the boat stairs at 5:00 PM. RSVP to in**@**********er.org in case we need to reschedule due to weather.

Charlottesville Middle School 7th Grade Watershed Field Trips (Day 1)
2025-10-07 09:15 - 13:15 | Camp Albemarle, 1675 4-H Way, Charlottesville, VA
Join us at Camp Albemarle for Charlottesville Middle School’s (formerly Buford Middle School) 7th grade watershed exploration field trips! We will be running stream macroinvertebrate sampling, a forest walk, and various ecology-related games with each group. You do not need to have any experience, and we will provide an orientation for new volunteers. Thank you so much for your help!
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SRHl

Charlottesville Middle School 7th Grade Watershed Field Trip (Day 2)
2025-10-08 09:15 - 13:15 | Camp Albemarle, 1675 4-H Way, Charlottesville, VA
Join us at Camp Albemarle for Charlottesville Middle School’s (formerly Buford Middle School) 7th grade watershed exploration field trips! We will be running stream macroinvertebrate sampling, a forest walk, and various ecology-related games with each group. You do not need to have any experience, and we will provide an orientation for new volunteers. Thank you so much for your help!
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SRHm

Charlottesville Middle School 7th Grade Watershed Field Trip (Day 3)
2025-10-09 09:15 - 13:15 | Camp Albemarle, 1675 4-H Way, Charlottesville, VA
Join us at Camp Albemarle for Charlottesville Middle School’s (formerly Buford Middle School) 7th grade watershed exploration field trips! We will be running stream macroinvertebrate sampling, a forest walk, and various ecology-related games with each group. You do not need to have any experience, and we will provide an orientation for new volunteers. Thank you so much for your help!
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SRHB

Watershed Moments: A Mini River Film Festival
2025-10-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Light House Studio at Vinegar Hill Theatre, 220 Market St, Charlottesville, VA
The Rivanna Conservation Alliance invites you to Light House Studio at Vinegar Hill Theatre for Watershed Moments, a free mini film festival celebrating the ways people connect to and are transformed by our local waterways.
We will screen four films, “Headwaters Down,” “Reclaiming the River,” and two short student films. These films — created by storytellers of different ages, backgrounds, and languages — capture moments of discovery, reflection, and connection with our rivers. After the screenings, enjoy conversations with the filmmakers through a Q&A panel.
Admission is free, but RSVPs are required. Snack bar will be open with popcorn, candy, soft drinks, beer, and wine available for purchase. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
RSVP at tinyurl.com/RCAFilmFest

Infamous Stringdusters: Beer and Seltzer Trailer
2025-10-11 18:45 - 22:45 | Ting Pavilion, 700 E Main Street, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Help RCA run the draft beer and seltzer trailer at the Infamous Stringdusters show at Ting Pavilion! Volunteers will be responsible for serving draft beer and canned hard seltzers, as well as charging credit card payments through Square point of sale terminals.
Volunteers must be 21 or older. All volunteers will receive a free ticket for a non-alcoholic drink during the show and a free beer at the end of the shift.
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SRqQ

Invasive Workday at Darden Towe Park (Shift 1)
2025-10-14 13:00 - 14:30 | Darden Towe Park, 1445 Darden Towe Park Road, Charlottesville, VA
Join RCA and members of the Rivanna Forest Restoration Partnership for a shorter, 90-minute volunteer workday at Darden Towe Park. We will be managing invasive plants that are threatening recently planted native trees and shrubs.
RCA will provide needed tools like loppers, pruners, gloves, and safety glasses, but feel free to bring your own. Volunteers should wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Please bring a water bottle. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
This event is subject to change due to weather. If you have any questions, or sign-ups are closed, please contact RCA’s Watershed Coordinator Bailey Pleasant at bs********@**********er.org
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SRLm

Invasive Workday at Darden Towe Park (Shift 2)
2025-10-14 14:30 - 16:00 | Darden Towe Park, 1445 Darden Towe Park Road, Charlottesville, VA
Join RCA and members of the Rivanna Forest Restoration Partnership for a shorter, 90-minute volunteer workday at Darden Towe Park. We will be managing invasive plants that are threatening recently planted native trees and shrubs.
RCA will provide needed tools like loppers, pruners, gloves, and safety glasses, but feel free to bring your own. Volunteers should wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Please bring a water bottle. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
This event is subject to change due to weather. If you have any questions, or sign-ups are closed, please contact RCA’s Watershed Coordinator Bailey Pleasant at bs********@**********er.org
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SRLn

Invasive Workday at Riverview Park (Shift 1)
2025-10-18 13:00 - 14:30 | Riverview Park, 298 Riverside Drive, Charlottesville, VA
Join RCA and members of the Rivanna Forest Restoration Partnership for a shorter, 90-minute volunteer workday at Riverview Park. We will be managing invasive plants that are threatening recently planted native trees and shrubs.
RCA will provide needed tools like loppers, pruners, gloves, and safety glasses, but feel free to bring your own. Volunteers should wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Please bring a water bottle. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
This event is subject to change due to weather. If you have any questions, or sign-ups are closed, please contact RCA’s Watershed Coordinator Bailey Pleasant at bs********@**********er.org
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SRLo

Invasive Workday at Riverview Park (Shift 2)
2025-10-18 14:30 - 16:00 | Riverview Park, 298 Riverside Drive, Charlottesville, VA
Join RCA and members of the Rivanna Forest Restoration Partnership for a shorter, 90-minute volunteer workday at Riverview Park. We will be managing invasive plants that are threatening recently planted native trees and shrubs.
RCA will provide needed tools like loppers, pruners, gloves, and safety glasses, but feel free to bring your own. Volunteers should wear long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes. Please bring a water bottle. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
This event is subject to change due to weather. If you have any questions, or sign-ups are closed, please contact RCA’s Watershed Coordinator Bailey Pleasant at bs********@**********er.org
SIGN UP HERE: https://htru.io/SRLp

Riverview Park Walk-and-Talk - CANCELLED
2025-10-19 17:00 - 18:00 | Riverview Park, 298 Riverside Drive, Charlottesville, VA
**THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED**
Join us for our next scheduled Rivanna Restoration Project walk-and-talk on Sunday, October 19th. The theme for this month is a general overview of the project. This is a good opportunity for anyone who is new to the project to learn more. Meet at the RCA kiosk near the top of the boat launch stairs at 5:00 PM. RSVP to in**@**********er.org.

James River Consortium Annual Buffer Summit
2025-10-21 09:00 - 16:00 | 442 Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA 23229, 442 Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA
This year’s James River Consortium Annual Buffer Summit is hosted by the Upper & Middle James Riparian Consortium in partnership with the Rappahannock Roundtable, Shenandoah Valley Conservation Collaborative, and the Virginia Department of Forestry. RCA’s Director of Monitoring Claire Sanderson will be one of the speakers during the event.
Register here: https://jamesriverconsortium.org/news-events/annual-buffer-summit/
