Rivanna Conservation Alliance

Beer Tent at the War on Drugs Concert
2022-05-28 17:30 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Ting Pavilion, 700 E Main Street, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Calling all fans of the alt rock group, The War On Drugs! They will be playing the Ting Pavilion on May 28 and RCA will be working the beer tent at the event. All volunteers must be over 21. All volunteers will receive a ticket for a non-alcoholic drink during the show and then a free beer at the end of the shift (if wanted).
Sign up here!

KidVention Table Volunteering: Afternoon Shift
2022-04-16 11:00 - 13:30 | Ting Pavilion, 700 E Main Street, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join RCA for an afternoon of tabling at this year’s KidVention, an event put on by the Virginia Discovery Museum! We will be hosting some interactive activities for kids and their families to enjoy.
This shift is responsible for the last 2 hours of tabling and break down. Please wear comfortable shoes and come ready to have fun!

KidVention Table Volunteering: Morning Shift
2022-04-16 09:00 - 11:00 | Ting Pavilion, 700 E Main Street, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join RCA for a morning of tabling at this year’s KidVention, an event put on by the Virginia Discovery Museum! We will be hosting some interactive activities for kids and their families to enjoy.
This shift is responsible for the setup of the table and the first 1.5 hours of tabling. Please wear comfortable shoes and come ready to have fun!

An Evening with Frogs, Toads, and Other Pond Critters
2022-04-08 18:30 - 20:30 | Scheier Natural Area, 917 Long Acre Rd, Palmyra, VA, 22963, United States
Join Rivanna Conservation Alliance for an evening of frog, toad, and other pond critter identification at Scheier Natural Area in Fluvanna County. This is a drop-in event where we will have knowledgeable volunteers stationed around the ponds to teach visitors a bit about pond ecology, all while listening to our choir of frogs!
No flip flops! Closed-toe shoes that are okay to get muddy are recommended. A headlamp or flashlight, a camera, and curiosity are necessary. We highly recommend that you arrive before the sun sets 7:37pm to get a lay of the land before it is dark.
We will end the evening with s’mores around the campfire near the Education Pavillion at Scheier Natural Area.
This is a free event, though donations to the Scheier Natural Area will be gratefully accepted.

Riparian Buffer Planting Workday
2022-03-20 12:00 - 15:00 | VA
Join us to help protect clean water! Riparian buffers are essential to clean, healthy streams. Vegetated stream banks filter pollutants, provide habitat, and prevent erosion.
During this workday, we will work to plant bare root seedlings along a stream corridor in Free Union. All tools and instruction will be provided by RCA. Please bring water, your favorite work gloves if you have them, and wear closed-toe shoes. Participants should be comfortable being outside for several hours.

Invasive Vine Cutting Workday
2022-02-12 12:00 - 14:00 | VA
Join RCA for a day of removing invasive plants from one of our recent tree planting projects in the Dunlora community. We will begin the day with a brief session teaching volunteers how to ID the invasive plants we are after followed by a removal effort.
RCA will provide loppers and smaller hand tools, but if you have any preferred invasive cutting tools, please bring them! Volunteers should also plan to bring water and wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.
Sign up here: https://htru.io/RZYn

Green Belt Marathon Volunteering
2021-12-05 | VA
This year, RCA is the beneficiary of the Rivanna Greenbelt Marathon in Charlottesville. To show our thanks, we want to provide the event with volunteers to help put on the race! Volunteers are being recruited to help between 5:30am-12:30pm over three different shifts.
Sign up here!

Dunlora Buffer Planting Day!
2021-12-04 10:00 - 13:00 | VA
RCA is partnering with the James River Association for an exciting project in the Dunlora neighborhood. We will be installing over 9 acres of trees to create a riparian buffer around the Rivanna River, Town Branch and its tributaries. Join us on December 4 to plant 3/4 acre of this overall buffer plan!
Volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes and anything they are comfortable getting dirty. Long pants are recommended. Please also plan to bring any water and snacks you need for the day.
Sign up here!

Buffer Maintenance Workday at Crozet Elementary
2021-11-01 10:00 - 13:00 | VA
Crozet Elementary is home to one of RCA’s largest buffer planting projects to date. On Monday, November 1, we are seeking volunteers to help maintain these beautiful trees. We will be weeding, replacing tubes and stakes where needed and marking trees that will need to be replaced during the spring planting season.
We will likely finish the work between 12pm-1pm, so please plan to bring all the snacks and water you will need. Volunteers should also wear close-toed shoes and anything they feel comfortable getting dirty. Long pants are recommended. Sign up here!

Water Quality Testing Kit Stuffing for Jack Jouett Middle School
2021-09-28 10:00 - 12:00 | RCA Office, 1150 River Rd, Suite 1, Charlottesville, VA, 22901-4110, United States
We need your help to pack water quality testing kits for 140 Jack Jouett Middle School students! As part of their science curriculum, these students will be learning about the Rivanna watershed and different water quality standards. We will be stuffing these kits with supplies to test for phosphates, nitrates, dissolved oxygen and more.

The kit packing will happen at the RCA office at 1150 River Rd, so masks are required. Sign up here!

2021 Rivanna River Round-Up
2021-09-25 | VA
The Rivanna River Round-Up is an annual watershed-wide cleanup event hosted by the Rivanna Conservation Alliance. Join us in taking a stand for clean water by volunteering on September 25th.

Our goal this year is to combat the ever-growing plastic pollution problem we see in our local waterways and around the world. From single-use items like plastic bags and straws to less obvious culprits like tires, plastics can harm wildlife, release harmful chemicals into the water, damage habitat, and make waterways less safe.
Whether you are interested in cleaning up along a trail, collecting trash while wading through a stream, or paddling the Rivanna to pull out tires, we have many options available. You can even register your own cleanup as part of the event and we’ll provide supplies and guidance. Sign up here!
*Please note, the rain date for the walking/wading cleanups is October 2nd. Rain date for the paddling cleanups is TBD.

Introductory Benthic Training Workshop
2021-09-18 10:00 - 13:00 | Camp Albemarle, 1675 4-H Way, Charlottesville, VA
Have you ever been interested in learning more about how RCA volunteers monitor the health of local waterways? Are you interested in becoming a stream monitor? Now’s your chance!
During this outdoor training workshop, we will talk about RCA’s long-term biological monitoring program, the organisms we monitor, the sampling protocol, and how to become a stream monitor with RCA. We’ll collect benthic macroinvertebrates from the stream and work together to identify them! No prior experience is required, but space is limited. Sign up here!
WHAT TO BRING: mask, glasses if you wear them, waders or boots (we will have pairs for you to borrow if needed), water and snacks, sunscreen, hat, and any other clothing to keep you comfortable outdoors.

Introductory Benthic Training Workshop
2021-09-11 10:00 - 13:00 | TBD

Fridays After Five
2021-09-10 17:00 - 20:30 | Ting Pavilion, 700 E Main Street, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Help RCA celebrate one of the final events of the Fridays After Five Concert Series by joining us in running the draft beer truck during the show. We will be slinging beers while listening to excellent live music and raising funds for RCA! 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 (if wanted).

Register here to join us!

Planting Maintenance Workday
2021-09-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Wool Factory, 1837 Broadway St, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
We are recruiting a small team of volunteers to weed a recent planting near the new Rivanna Trail pedestrian bridge at the Wool Factory. Japanese Stiltgrass has erupted around our recent planting as a result of the recent rain. Our goal will be to help eradicate non-native invasive plants and create space for our native plants to thrive. RCA will provide materials, but volunteers should plan to wear close-toed shoes and comfortable clothes that can get dirty.
Sign up here!

Clean Stream Tuesday
2021-08-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Rivanna River Company, Rivanna River Company, Charlottesville, 22902, United States
Volunteers will collect trash as we paddle along a popular 1.5-mile stretch of the Rivanna River. You can complete your registration up to the start of the event each week.
We will launch at 6pm from the Rivanna River Company and wrap up by 8pm at Riverview Park.
The paddle is self-supported. Volunteers will need to transport themselves and their boat to and from the starting and ending locations. You may rent a kayak from the Rivanna River Company ($19); this rental includes a kayak, PFD, paddle, and straps. Participants will need to transport the equipment back to RRC to the conclusion of the paddle.
*Paddles are weather- and flow-dependent; register here to receive the latest updates.
Contact info@rivannariver.org with any questions.

Clean Stream Tuesday
2021-08-03 18:00 - 20:00 | Rivanna River Company, Rivanna River Company, Charlottesville, 22902, United States
Each Tuesday* a Rivanna Conservation Alliance River Steward and volunteers will collect trash as we paddle along a popular stretch of the Rivanna River. You can complete your registration up to an hour before the start of the event each week.
This event will be held most weeks through August 2020. We will plan to launch at 6pm from the Rivanna River Company and wrap up by 8pm at Riverview Park.
This event has changed with low water levels in the River making the paddle to Riverview Park too difficult. We are now starting and ending at the Rivanna River Company, paddling upriver in the slow water to Darden Towe Park and back. No shuttling is needed.
You may rent a kayak from the Rivanna River Company ($19); this rental includes a kayak, PFD, and paddle.
RCA will provide trash bags, trash pickers, gloves, and hand sanitizer/wipes. Participants are advised to wear non-cotton clothing, closed-toed shoes, and bring water/snacks.
*Paddles are weather- and flow-dependent; register to receive the latest updates.

Clean Stream Tuesdays
2021-07-27 18:00 - 20:00, 2021-07-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Rivanna River Company, Rivanna River Company, Charlottesville, 22902, United States
Each Tuesday* a Rivanna Conservation Alliance River Steward and volunteers will collect trash as we paddle along a popular 1.5-mile stretch of the Rivanna River. You can complete your registration up to an hour before the start of the event each week.
This event will be weekly through August 2020. We will plan to launch at 6pm from the Rivanna River Company and wrap up by 8pm at Riverview Park.
The paddle is self-supported. Volunteers will need to transport themselves and their boat to and from the starting and ending locations. You may rent a kayak from the Rivanna River Company ($19); this rental includes a kayak, PFD, paddle, and straps. Participants will need to transport the equipment back to RRC to the conclusion of the paddle.
We will plan to launch at 6pm so participants should plan their shuttle timing accordingly. You can see shuttling suggestions below. The drive between RRC and Riverview Park is 5-10 minutes, and the Rivanna Trail walk is 20-30 minutes.
Trash bags, trash pickers, gloves, and hand sanitizer/wipes will be provided. Participants are advised to wear non-cotton clothing, closed-toed shoes, and bring water/snacks.
*Paddles are weather- and flow-dependent; register to receive the latest updates.
SELF-SUPPORT SHUTTLING SUGGESTIONS
If you have one car and a boat:

Drop your boat at RRC and lock it
Drive to Riverview Park
Walk or bike the shaded and paved Rivanna Trail 1.5 miles (20-30 minutes) back to RRC
Paddle and collect trash 1.5 miles to Riverview Park and load the boat on your car

If you have one car and need to rent a boat:

Reserve your rental boat online or call (434) 218-2052
Drop your car at Riverview Park
Walk the shaded and paved Rivanna Trail 1.5 miles (20 minutes) to RRC
Retrieve your rental boat and paddle and collect trash 1.5 miles to Riverview Park and load the boat on your car
Drop the boat back at RRC

If you have two cars (and two people), you will complete the above-mentioned steps, however, instead of walking the Rivanna Trail, you will drop one car at Riverview Park and drive the other to RRC.

CANCELED: Clean Stream Tuesdays
2021-07-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Rivanna River Company, Rivanna River Company, Charlottesville, 22902, United States

Fridays After Five
2021-06-18 17:00 - 20:30 | Ting Pavilion, 700 E Main Street, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Help RCA celebrate the much anticipated return of Charlottesville’s Fridays After Five Concert Summer Concert Series by joining us in running the draft beer trailer during the show. We will be slinging beers while listening to the tunes of Chamomile and Whiskey and raising funds for RCA! Volunteers must be 21 or older. All volunteers will receive a ticket for a non-alcoholic drink during the show and then a free beer at the end of the shift (if wanted).
Register here to join the fun!

Clean Stream Tuesday
2021-06-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Rivanna River Company, Rivanna River Company, Charlottesville, 22902, United States
Volunteers will collect trash as we paddle along a popular 1.5-mile stretch of the Rivanna River. You can complete your registration up to the start of the event each week.
We will launch at 6pm from the Rivanna River Company and wrap up by 8pm at Riverview Park.
The paddle is self-supported. Volunteers will need to transport themselves and their boat to and from the starting and ending locations. You may rent a kayak from the Rivanna River Company ($19); this rental includes a kayak, PFD, paddle, and straps. Participants will need to transport the equipment back to RRC to the conclusion of the paddle.
*Paddles are weather- and flow-dependent; register here: https://htru.io/Ru0A to receive the latest updates.

Clean the Bay Day 2021 Cleanup
2021-06-05 10:00 - 11:30 | Schenks Branch, Charlottesville, VA, United States
Join RCA staff for a Clean the Bay Day stream cleanup at Schenks Branch in Charlottesville.
We will be working in areas of thick vegetation, so please wear long pants and sturdy shoes that can get wet. We will have all cleanup supplies and gloves available.
Sign up here: https://htru.io/RtkH
Contact info@rivannariver.org with any questions.

Rivanna River Race
2021-05-02 | Brook Hill Park, 2009 Rio Mills Rd, Earlysville, VA, 22936
Join us for the 15th Annual Rivanna River Race: an exciting downriver canoe & kayak race that runs 6.8-miles from the Route 29 Bridge at Rio Mills Road to the Rivanna River Company, just south of Free Bridge.
For more information and to register, visit: https://htru.io/RnDf

Rivanna RiverFest
2021-05-01 - 2021-05-09 | VA
The Rivanna RiverFest started in 2019 as a community celebration of the Rivanna River, hosted by multiple groups. This year, the Rivanna RiverFest will run for more than a week (May 1-9) and include a range of activities. Most require advanced registration and spots are very limited, so sign-up soon. The Rivanna River Race registration is separate (deadline is April 30!). Some activities, like our Pop-up Watershed Education tables, do not require registration. Look for these in City Parks on both weekends!
We look forward to celebrating the Rivanna River with you in 2021!
https://htru.io/RnDk

Rivanna River Cleanup
2021-04-25 13:00 - 17:00 | Brook Hill Park, 2009 Rio Mills Rd, Earlysville, VA, 22936
Sunday, April 25!
In preparation for the Rivanna River Race, we will be conducting a cleanup and safety paddle from Brook Hill River Park to Rivanna River Company.
Participants will need to arrange their own shuttle and provide their own boats.
Kayaks and canoes can be rented through the Rivanna River Company at rivannarivercompany.com/trip-schedule-details-prices

Register here: https://htru.io/RnDe
Email questions to info@rivannariver.org

Tree Planting for Stream Buffer
2021-03-20 09:30 - 12:30 | VA
Join us to help protect clean water! Riparian buffers are essential to clean, healthy streams. Vegetated stream banks filter pollutants, provide habitat, and prevent erosion.
During this workday, we will work individually and distanced to plant bare root saplings along a stream corridor. All tools and instruction will be provided. Please bring water and dress for the weather. Participants should be comfortable being outside for several hours.
Visit the event registration page

Live Staking on the Rivanna
2021-03-14 13:00 - 15:00, 2021-03-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Darden Towe Park, 1445 Darden Towe Park Road, Charlottesville, VA
Live staking is a riverbank stabilization technique which uses dormant tree and shrub cuttings to reduce sediment load in rivers.
We will access the riverbank locations via canoe and wade along unstable and muddy banks. Volunteers should be comfortable navigating the river by boat as well as entering and exiting the canoe from the water. Higher water levels and lower water temperatures are also likely during this event.
– This event is not recommended for new paddlers.
– Please bring your own waders if you have them! RCA has a limited supply.
– It is recommended that you layer up, especially the lower extremities. If possible, avoid wearing cotton.
– RCA will provide canoes, PFDs, gloves (not insulated), waders (limited supply) and staking equipment.
We are planning to paddle from Darden Towe Park to the Rivanna River Company and participants should plan to do a walking shuttle or arrange a shuttle on their own.

Continue to sign up

Albemarle County Stream Health Initiative Community Kickoff
2021-01-21 18:00 - 19:00 | VA
Albemarle County will host a community meeting to introduce the Stream Health Initiative which aims to develop recommended strategies for improving stream health in Albemarle County using a collaborative and inclusive process.
Additional details and meeting links can be found on their project website.
