James RiverRats Raft-Up

During the weekend of October 17^th thirty of our most dedicated volunteers, our River Rats, met for the 5th annual RiverRats Raft-Up. This year’s Raft-Up was held in Scottsville, VA at the James River Inn on a 300-foot bluff overlooking the James and the vast watershed that RiverRats have been patrolling and protecting since 2011.

Our keynote speaker, Dr. Sarah Milov professor of History at the University of Virginia, kicked off the day with an inspiring talk about the power of grassroots activism, specifically drawing parallels between the non-smoker campaign for clean public air and our fight for a pristine natural resource and clean drinking water. Next, during a two-hour workshop on Patrols and Action Project planning, James River Association staff and RiverRats worked to calibrate our efforts and define strategies which will be implemented over the next year.

Two major strategies, and several minor adjustments, will be immediately undertaken. First, data from patrols, of which there are approximately 20 per month, will be more consistently reported, publicly and to other RiverRats, via monthly email updates and an interactive GoogleMap. Secondly, we will work to leverage existing technologies to streamline reporting and to expand patrols. We are working to utilize a GPS-enabled smartphone app called WaterReporter and we are considering the development of online RiverRat trainings to accommodate conservationists who may not be able to attend one of our four trainings held throughout the watershed each year.

After the strategy session, it was time to enjoy our world-class natural resource by paddling the Mighty James, award our outstanding RiverRats of the year, and finally to relax to the soothing, mountain sounds of the Rockfish Gap Band.

If you are interested in becoming a River Rat to keep watch over the James, the Raft-Up is one of many perks. You also have an opportunity to spend time paddling and protecting the river you love. Consider attending one of our upcoming trainings. If you are already a River Rat, we sincerely thank you for your commitment to protecting the James River now and for future generations. 

Volunteering for the James

James River Association volunteers come in all shapes and sizes. They live all over the watershed, have many different skills and can be any age.

Meet our October Volunteer of the Month, Kiersten Hines. She’s a 13 year old Richmonder who has a passion for learning new things, playing the saxophone, volunteering and of course spending time on the James. She likes to hike the trails along the river with her dogs and go swimming with her family. Kiersten took on a research project related to the Our River at Risk advocacy campaign. Here’s what she had to say about her experience:

My task was to research and inventory all of the Surface Water Discharges in the James River from 1988 to 2003 using data from the Environmental Protection Agency. I chose to volunteer because I think that the environment has provided us with so much – like food, shelter and peace – so it is only fair to give back. Saving the James is a cause I believe in, and I’m not surprised that so many other people do too.

I would encourage other people to volunteer because there is nothing more rewarding than putting time and effort into a cause you care deeply for. You could climb the highest mountain or swim the deepest sea and still not feel the happiness that you could experience working with your community to make this giant mass of dirt, water, minerals and organisms a more enjoyable place to live.

Everyone should give volunteering a chance!

Are you interested in volunteering for the James? There are all sorts of opportunities for you to get involved from planting trees, to research projects, to event volunteers and more. Sign up here to get involved today!