Cumberland River Kayak Cleanup – August 13

Love outdoor adventure and want to make Nashville a more beautiful place? Join the Cumberland River Compact and Cumberland Kayak & Adventure Company for an afternoon of removing trash from the Cumberland River. 

Volunteers will take off from the Shelby Park Boat Ramp in East Nashville and enjoy scenic river recreation while removing litter from the Cumberland River’s banks. No kayak? No problem! The Cumberland River Compact provides a limited number of kayaks, and first-time kayakers are welcome.

If you can bring your own kayak, canoe, paddleboard, or other small watercraft, please email volunteer@cumberlandrivercompact.org and let us know! By bringing your own, you’re opening up a spot for an additional volunteer. Once the event is full, volunteers must provide their own kayak or paddling equipment and notify the Volunteer Coordinator in advance to participate.  

Volunteer Requirements:

• Registration below is required to participate and reserve a free kayak for the event. Every volunteer must complete their own registration. Paddles and life jackets will also be provided to those registered.
• Volunteers must be at least 13 years old and able to operate their own kayak. Volunteers under 18 must have a parent or guardian attend the event with them and ensure a parent or guardian acknowledges the volunteer agreement below.
• No prior kayaking or volunteering experience is required—just a positive attitude and a desire to clean and beautify Middle Tennessee waterways.
• Volunteers must be able to meet the physical demands of a ~3 mile kayak route.
  

What to Bring & Wear:

• Clothing and shoes that can get wet and dirty. No flip flops or backless slides, please!
• A hat and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun
• A reusable water bottle to stay hydrated and a snack to keep your energy up
• A dry bag for any belongings you plan to bring with you on the water

This cleanup is made possible thanks to funding from Metro Water Services and Metro Nashville, as well as the support of Cumberland Kayak & Adventure Company. Thank you to our partners for their dedication to ensuring the Cumberland River and its tributaries are clean. Don’t forget – that’s where 3 million people get their drinking water! 

Looking to volunteer with a group? Please contact Anna at volunteer@cumberlandrivercompact.org to be plugged into this volunteer event or another, depending on availability. Private volunteer events are available through donation-based partnerships with the Compact.

Register Now