Volunteers Needed for 30th Annual St. Johns River Cleanup

Posted On: March 2, 2026

The St. Johns River Cleanup will celebrate 30 years of community collaboration and environmental stewardship this year. Volunteers, including boat owners, are needed for the 2026 cleanup from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 18.

Registration is open from March 2 through April 12. To register or learn more, visit http://www.volusia.org/cleanup or contact Sondra McCulloch at smcculloch@volusia.org or 386-736-5927, ext. 12074. Preregistered participants will receive a mug or plush eagle. ReGrow Volusia will also sponsor a free native tree giveaway at select locations.

Planners aim to clean 59 miles of the waterway and river basin with help from the boating community and other volunteers. Scouts, schools and other community groups are encouraged to participate, and all ages are welcome.

Participants should bring water and wear sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, work gloves and comfortable clothing. They may also bring rakes, shovels, trash grabbers, and canoes or boats.

Volunteers can choose from eight sites:

· Nine Mile Point Park, 770 Nine Mile Point Road, Pierson
· Shell Harbor Park, 1800 Shell Harbor Road, Pierson
· DeLeon Springs State Park, 601 Burts Park Road, DeLeon Springs
· Ed Stone Park, 2999 Old New York Ave., DeLand
· Lake Beresford Park, 2100 Fatio Road, DeLand
· Gemini Springs Park, 37 Dirksen Drive, DeBary
· Lake Monroe Park, 975 S. Charles R. Beall Blvd., DeBary
· Lemon Bluff Boat Ramp, 907 Lemon Bluff Road, Osteen

These are not the only collection sites. Participation is encouraged along the St. Johns River from Lake George to Puzzle Lake. Volunteers at other locations should contact the nearest listed site with their estimated trash collected or email Sondra McCulloch at smcculloch@volusia.org.

The 2025 cleanup drew 440 volunteers who contributed 1,320 hours and removed 4,365 pounds of trash from the St. Johns River and surrounding land. Coordinated by Volusia County’s Environmental Management Division, the annual cleanup highlights the river’s environmental importance and helps keep the waterway safe and clean for wildlife and residents who enjoy swimming and water sports.