This July, hundreds of volunteers will pile into canoes to take on seventy-five miles of the Skunk River in Keokuk, Washington, Jefferson, Henry, Lee, and Des Moines Counties, to scrounge out
every tin can, lost shoe, bowling ball, tire, and any other trash they can find from the waterway.
Iowa Project AWARE, an acronym for A Watershed Awareness River Expedition, is a canoeing and educational event where participants paddle down a different river in Iowa every summer, removing trash along the way. This year’s Iowa Project AWARE is scheduled for July 7-12 on the Skunk River from the Keokuk/Washington County border to just before the Mississippi River in Des Moines County.
After a long day of cleaning the river, volunteers gather back in camp to enjoy educational programs that broaden watershed awareness and strengthen community understanding. Topics include geology, ecology, natural resources, local history, and archaeology of the watershed. Along with programs, there are interactive activities where participants can improve their outdoor skills and get hands-on experience with water quality testing and nature identification. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. Registration is required for on-river cleanup, but in-camp programs require no registration.
Registration is now open at www.iowaprojectaware.org, with limited space available!