Rivers Alive

GWF has sponsored Rivers Alive events since 1993.  Each fall, over 300 volunteers gather to clean up waterways in Newton and Gwinnett counties. Tons of trash and debris have been removed through the years, including old tires, windows, toilets, and countless drink containers.

Newton County Rivers Alive
September TBD, 2025
Covington, GA

Visit Keep Newton Beautiful for more details as they become available.

GWF partners each year with Keep Covington/Newton Beautiful for Rivers Alive. Join volunteers from across Newton County and help clean up local lakes, rivers, and streams.  Individuals and groups of all sizes are welcome. Children should be at least 12 years old to participate unless their parents will be there to closely supervise them. Choose where you would like to go or ask for an assignment.

Participants typically meet at Longhorn Steakhouse of Covington at 9am on the day of the event to receive a free breakfast and t-shirt (while supplies last) and cleaning supplies. Volunteers are dispersed throughout the county either at a site of their choosing or Then go out into the community to clean up litter.

Visit the Keep Covington/Newton Beautiful website for registration materials.

Rivers Alive at Mill Creek Nature Center
October 12, 2024
9am – 11am
Buford, GA

Rivers Alive is a rain or shine event. If you would like to participate, please come to our gravel parking lot at 9am to sign in at the registration table.

We will do a Chinese privet (invasive non-native plant) pull. Please bring gloves, a small tool such as a bow saw, clippers, loppers, pruning saw, or pruning shears to use in pulling/cutting the Chinses privet. We will be removing small plants only.

It is suggested that everyone dress appropriately for the weather and the elements of the greenspace we will be working in. Please consider long pants, close-toed shoes, and a head cover. Also you may want to bring your own bottled water, insect repellent, and/or sunscreen. Since we are working outdoors, be aware that there is a possibility to see or come into contact with mosquitos, ticks, poison ivy, yellow jackets, snakes, etc.

There are no restrooms at MCNC. The closest restrooms will be at the Food Court at the Mall of Georgia (across the street). Please plan your restroom stops accordingly.

Limited parking is available between two strip malls near MCNC. The strip malls are at 1999 Mall of Georgia Blvd and 2101 Mall of Georgia Blvd. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not park in front of any retail store as that may hurt their business on a busy Saturday morning. Overflow parking, if needed, can be found across the street in the Mall of Georgia parking lots.

Look for our MCNC banner at the intersection of Mall of Georgia Blvd. at Nature Center Parkway. That will be at the edge of our gravel parking lot. Hope to see you there!

For more information, contact Hank Ohme at hohme@gwf.org