KNOXVILLE - Sign up to volunteer for the 29th Ijams River Rescue and you’ll have some good “clean” fun on Saturday, April 7, from 10am to 2pm.

Family volunteers to help clean up in the Ijams River Rescue. Image courtesy of Ijams

Presented by Dow Chemical Company and TVA, the annual communitywide event hosted by Ijams Nature Center focuses on removing trash, debris and tires from locations along the Tennessee River and its associated creek tributaries from the river’s headwaters in Knoxville to the shores of Loudon County.

“This year, Ijams has launched an interactive site map, making it even easier for volunteers to pick a site that’s convenient for them,” Ijams Volunteer Coordinator Lauren Bird said. “We have a few sites reserved for large groups, but the map has 25 open sites to choose from.”

The online site map can be accessed from the Ijams River Rescue page on Ijams’ website, www.Ijams.org. Bird said slots are filled on a first-come, first served basis, and typically book quickly.

“It’s easy to volunteer as an individual or as a group using the new site map,” Bird said. “One person easily can register for a whole family, scout troop, church, business or nonprofit organization. For example, to register for a scout troop with five scouts and three adults, someone simply reserves eight spots when signing up.”

The deadline to register is March 30 or until all slots have been filled.

In 2017, about 700 volunteers removed 11.5 tons of garbage and 277 tires from 35 sites.

Volunteers will receive a commemorative t-shirt featuring a whooping crane designed by Ijams senior naturalist, artist and author Stephen Lyn Bales.

The 29th annual Ijams River Rescue presented by Dow Chemical Company and TVA is sponsored by City of Knoxville Stormwater Management, First Tennessee Foundation, Knoxville Open Water Swimmers (TNAQ), Grayson Subaru, Keurig Green Mountain, Lowe’s, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, American Rivers, Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union, Thompson Engineering, Wood Realtors, AmeriCorps, and the Water Quality Forum.

Ijams Nature Center is a nonprofit, 315-acre educational nature center for all ages, abilities, and walks of life. Located just three miles from downtown Knoxville, Ijams features 12 miles of hiking and mixed-use trails, a public access river dock, swimming, boating, biking, and more. The Ijams grounds and trails are open every day from 8:00 a.m. until dusk. The Visitor Center is open Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.Ijams.org or call 865-577-4717.