One person’s trash is another person’s new mission

A few years back, Rock Creek Park became like a second home for Stephen, a software engineer who grew up in Northern Virginia. Losing himself in the sounds, scents, and sights of the urban oasis was a welcome relief from the busy life of the city, but there was an irksome distraction he couldn’t ignore: litter.

Seemingly everywhere that he and his hound Brie traversed, he saw plastic bottles and snack wrappers strewn about the ground and in the creek. Nature wasn’t just calling Stephen to the outdoors. It was calling out for his help. He started by collecting small bags of trash with his fourlegged friend, but soon realized that he’d find the effort more rewarding if he could do it with others. Stephen discovered Potomac Conservancy and became intrigued by our straightforward ways to take action. Volunteering at a shoreline cleanup was an easy sell as Stephen explains, “Potomac Conservancy connects me to both nature and the local community, two of my favorite things in life.”

Stephen witnessed firsthand how local restoration activities serve a greater purpose beyond litter collection. “Cleanups are like small ripples that gain momentum,“ he reflected. “It’s not just the two hours you spend making a tangible difference for clean water and local wildlife. Cleanups help us develop a conservation mindset that stays with us long after the event.”

Inspired to make a big difference with a small group, Stephen joined our Volunteer Leadership Team. In 2023, the program blossomed into a network of over 30 leaders who host community cleanups across the Potomac River region. Our Volunteer Leaders and strategic partnerships are vastly expanding our restoration efforts. In the last three years, Potomac Conservancy has significantly increased the frequency of our cleanups and branched out from 12 locations to 17 regular sites across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. In addition, improving the access and inclusion of our Community Conservation programs has resulted in the engagement of 2,708 volunteers and the removal of 31,255 lbs of plastic trash and debris from our local waterways! As we continue to grow our leadership team, we’re excited to offer new cleanup locations in Prince George’s County.

Thank you for helping Potomac Conservancy build a powerful movement of clean water champions. Everyone has a role to play, and anyone can step up to help – whether that action is big or small – to restore the Potomac River to full health.

Check out the full report