Rivanna Conservation Alliance

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

Clean the Bay Day 2021 Cleanup
2021-06-05 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | 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 in**@**********er.org with any questions.

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.

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!

CANCELED: Clean Stream Tuesdays
2021-07-06 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.

Clean Stream Tuesdays
2021-07-20 18:00 - 20:00, 2021-07-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Rivanna River Company, Rivanna River Company, Charlottesville, 22902, United States

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 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 in**@**********er.org with any questions.

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!

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!

Introductory Benthic Training Workshop
2021-09-11 10:00 - 13:00 | TBD
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
2021-09-18 10:00 - 13:00 | Camp Albemarle, 1675 4-H Way, Charlottesville, VA

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.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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.

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.

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!

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!

Beer Tent at the War on Drugs Concert
2022-05-28 17:30 - 22:00 | 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!

Meadow Planting
2022-06-02 16:30 - 18:30 | VA
For several years, RCA has been working to restore the meadow that runs underneath the powerlines at Riverview Park. We will be continuing that work by planting over 200 native plants and we need your help!
This is a drop-in event. Please feel free to come any time between 4:30 and 6:30 to help and stay as long as you like.
Please wear anything that you don’t mind getting wet and dirty and please wear closed-toe shoes. RCA will provide all planting materials, but you are more than welcome to bring your favorite trowel or work gloves.
Let us know you’re coming here!

Clean the Bay Day 2022
2022-06-04 09:00 - 12:00 | VA
RCA is joining the effort to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and we need your help! We will be cleaning up along Schenks Branch between the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad and the McIntire Recycling Center.
We will be working in areas with lots of vegetation. Please wear long pants and closed-toed shoes. Waders are recommended. RCA has a limited supply of waders that volunteers may borrow for the event.
Sign up here!

Clean Stream Tuesdays
2022-06-21 18:00 - 20:00 | Rivanna River Company, Rivanna River Company, Charlottesville, 22902, United States
It’s time to get out and paddle for a purpose! Join Rivanna Conservation Alliance for a clean sweep of a short section of the Rivanna River. The paddle will begin at 6pm from the Rivanna River Company and end at Riverview Park. The 1.5-mile paddle can vary in time but is intended to conclude at 8pm or before sunset, whichever is first.

This paddle will be self-supported, meaning that you are responsible for shuttling your boat and yourself. The section is rated as beginner-friendly with one Class I rapid.
Sign up here!

Invasive vine removal
2022-07-07 09:30 - 11:00, 2022-07-09 09:00 - 11:00 | Dunlora Neighborhood, Dunlora farm rd, Charlottesville, VA, 22901, United States
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 gloves, loppers and smaller hand tools, but if you have any preferred invasive cutting tools, please bring them (no chainsaws please)! Volunteers should also plan to bring water and wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.

Clean Stream Tuesday
2022-07-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Rivanna River Company, Rivanna River Company, Charlottesville, 22902, United States
Guided by the Rivanna Conservation Alliance, 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 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. Participants should plan their shuttle timing so that they are ready to launch at 6pm. 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.
