Waterway Cleanup Trip Operations
This page attempts to answer frequently asked questions by volunteers. It also has some items that have been provided by ECO-Action for volunteers to perform a waterway cleanup.
What are Waterway cleanups? A group of volunteers, nature-lovers, wildlife protectors, water shamans, and others based in Orlando, FL. Dedicated to protecting Florida waterways from the flotsam and jetsam of humanity. We meet once a week, on most Sunday afternoons, to clean a lake, river, coastline, or park.
Do I need reservations?
Reservations by Friday, at the latest, are a must to reserve for canoe cleanups and to be notified if any changes occur.
Provide a phone number to call to make a reservation and if no one answers have a voice recorder for volunteers to leave a message.
Provide a phone number to call to finalized locations, times, reservations, carpools, and directions.
Provide a web site to publish the waterway cleanup schedule. For an example, click here.
Provide a web site with an email form for volunteers to reserve canoes in advance. For an example, click here.
What does "Reserved" mean?
Occasionally, reservations from a group of people for a particular waterway cleanup trip is so numerous that it takes up all the canoes in the ECO-Action fleet. When this happens, people not reserved will have to be turned away. If volunteers do NOT have a confirmation of their reservation, consider them NOT reserved.
Provide Options:-
(1) Bring your own canoe. You will never be turned away.
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(2) Call at the last minute to see if any reservations have been cancelled. You can then join in the effort on that date.
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(3) Donate more canoes to ECO-Action!
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(4) Some trips are beachside and/or shoreline only.
What should I expect?
The unexpected!! Some days are a leisurely float down river, others are backbreaking tire collection digs, offshore or beachside. Most locations do not have restrooms. Some trips have three volunteers, others fifteen or more. Trips typically begin at 3 or 4 PM (depending on Day Light Savings Time) and usually last 3-4 hours.
Provide the equipment and gear, and the volunteers will provide the energy and enthusiasm! To each volunteer, provide two cushions (one to sit on and one to use as a back cushion), life vest, paddles, two bags (one for trash, one for recycle materials), boat hook, and grabber. Recommend a dry change of clothes just in case.
If you wear glasses, please get one of those attachments that grips them to your head.
The ECO-Action vessels are small single person canoes, like kayaks, and support roughly 240 lbs. They are a little tippier than the bigger ones.
One must assume that there are alligators in every water body in Florida. We often see them, as well as a variety of wildlife in their native habitat.
*** There is an indemnity agreement every volunteer must sign. It states that you know you are taking a risk and will not hold us responsible or sue us if you get struck by lightning or eaten by an alligator or capsize and drown or get exposed to poisonous materials and any and all other matter of hazards.
In addition to finding the membership form on our site, you should also find a schedule for where we intend to go for clean-ups for the next few months.
You need to call the hotline to make a reservation and have us save a one-person canoe for you, and get directions to the meeting place.
One point to emphasize - we are not out on a paddling competition! The slower we go and the less shoreline we cover, the better job we are doing, because this means we're getting the little stuff which is the most dangerous to wildlife. It's like weeding - you can spend considerable time in one area getting it totally weed-free, and then you look at the same area from a different angle and see all the weeds you missed. This is why we proceed in a line, usually leap-frogging around each other, and proceed slowly. You can't see monofilament speeding by at 5 knots - and you certainly can't see it from offshore. We keep ourselves tight to shore with the bugs.
I think leap-frogging is the best way to describe how we proceed along the shoreline. We go off in a line; the person in front keeps the speeders from racing ahead. Someone gets absorbed in one area which has tangled fishing line or a pocket of trash, and remains there while the people in back of them will pass around him to access the shoreline in front of that person - or will stop and help. The person at the end is supposed to see that if someone has encountered a mess and is spending a lot of time in it, they can receive assistance from the others or the follow-up person will stay and work on it with them.
THIS IS THE LIST OF ITEMS WE REVIEW BEFORE WE LAUNCH:
I know of a waterway or body of water that needs a cleanup. Can I contact ECO-Action to have it put on the list?
Yes! We are always looking for new places to launch, especially in the rivers. As long as there is a public spot where we can launch our canoes and park vehicles, we'll go! Many lakes surrounded by private property require that we are invited by someone who lives on the lake.
What should I bring?
Drinking water, sun protection (sunscreen, hat, long-sleeved shirt), snacks, camera (in waterproof container), change of clothing, and a kind donation of $5.00 for the canoe trip. Also, grippy shoes are recommended. Do not eat a large meal just before canoeing to prevent nausea. Be prepared to accept "I'm going to get wet and grimy, and I'm going to love it." Bring all the enthusiasm you can and be prepared to share it!
I am interested in becoming a Canoe Cleanup Guide. How can I get involved in leadership opportunities?
When we are taking out inexperienced canoeists, it is important to supervise and keep an eye on eleven canoes and more. Two pair of eyes, one in front and one in back, help to ensure that no one gets lost or stuck. There are also occasions when the captain is unable to go and we need someone to substitute so the show may go on! Just let your interest be known, and you'll be given all the on-job-training you can use as well as individual instruction from the captain. All are welcome to canoe regardless whether you desire a leadership role in the group.
Why does a Waterway Cleanup program include cleaning parks?
Because most all litter makes its way to the waterways whether via storm drains, accidental animal or bird conveyance, or wind currents.
