Military Veteran Lower Salt River Water-Based Cleanup

What to expect: We are meeting at Goldfield Recreation Area to figure out shuttles for everyone & sign-in. We will have our truck & 4Runner to help with the shuttle and any volunteers who can help shuttle volunteers would be greatly appreciated. We'll shuttle up to Pebble Beach at 7:30am to launch by 8am. We'll float the river picking up trash & get out at Goldfield where we will weigh the trash removed & take it up to the dumpsters.

Sign-in/Meet-up at Goldfield: 7am | Head to Pebble Beach: 7:30 am | Launch at Pebble Beach: 8am | Get off the river at Goldfield: ~11am | Wrap Up: once we weigh trash & get it up to the dumpsters.

Please arrive at Goldfield Recreation Area at 7am so you sign-in with us & we can figure out your shuttle ride up to Pebble Beach. Temperatures are heating up so we will keep to our schedule to ensure we can get on the water early & off before it gets too hot. If you are not checked in by 7:30, our group will head up to Pebble Beach to launch.

Veterans may bring a plus 1 if their plus 1 is 18+ years old & has their own paddle board or kayak or rents it. Otherwise, this event is not open to anyone who is not a military veteran, it is part of a Veteran's Grant we received from the U.S. Forest Service and is specifically for veterans. If you are bringing someone who needs quipment, you can rent it through NoSnow: https://nosnowsup.com/rent-a-board-or-kayak.html

Volunteer Paperwork: You will sign-in at the event, look for a Natural Restorations Volunteer Event sign next to our charcoal gray 4Runner. If you want to read it ahead of time, contact us using the info below & we'll send you a copy.

7AM Event Staging Location: Goldfield Recreation Area, Mesa, AZ 85215. If everyone checks in before 7:30, we can head up to Pebble Beach early.

Directions: Everyone is meeting at Goldfield Recreation Area for sign-in & figuring out a shuttle for everyone. Safety briefing & game plan for the morning will take place before we launch. When you arrive at Goldfield, park, and look for our charcoal gray 4Runner a Natura Restorations Volunteer Event sign. Everyone will gather around us so that we can get you signed in and figure out shuttles.

GPS Coordinates: 33.553915, -111.621692

***Do not use the EventBrite map to get there, it could send you to the wrong location. Use the GPS coordinates above to get to the event staging location***

Plug the GPS coordinates above into your phone or mapping system, or search Goldfield Recreation Area, Mesa, Arizona.

This is a Water-Based Event! You need a kayak or paddle board! No equipment, No problem!

Volunteers WITH their own kayaks & SUP’s: Bring your kayak or SUP along with your personal flotation device (*pfd's required, it's the law to at least have it on your SUP or kayak!). We will make sure everyone has a shuttle up to Pebble Beach. If you can help with shuttling, please let us know! Our email is below.

Veteran Volunteers WITHOUT their own kayaks & SUP’s: No equipment? No Problem! Our friends at No Snow Standup Paddleboard are donating equipment rentals for veterans who do not have their own equipment, including 2 of their giant 4-person boards our team loves taking down the river. Must reserve equipment with Natural Restorations no later than 09/11! Please do not reserve equipment unless you 're 100% sure you can make it; no showing puts us in a bind with extra equipment that could get stolen while we're on the river.

To reserve equipment, please email Nicole at [email protected]

***If you are a veteran bringing a plus 1, they must have their own kayak or SUP or rent it. They can rent & pick up equipment through No Snow: https://nosnowsup.com/index.html

Shuttles: We are going to work together to ensure everyone has a shuttle to Goldfield. We'll have two trucks & a trailer to shuttle people & equipment. If you are willing to help shuttle volunteers, please email Nicole at [email protected]

What to wear: Check the forecast before you head out so you can be prepared & dress accordingly. Please wear comfortable clothing for being out on the river & shoes that can get dirty, wet, and possibly muddy if you choose to get off your board & get in muddy areas. Wear a hat, sunglasses for eye protection, and sunscreen. If you have water shoes or an old pair of shoes, this would be a great time to use them.

What to bring: Bring all of the water you will need to be on the river for 3-4 hours; please take this very seriously & do not arrive unprepared! Bring sunscreen for reapplication throughout the morning. We strongly recommend you have a dry bag for your cell phone & car keys! A bag will be helpful to store your water & snacks. Carabiners are great to bring to help you clip water bottles & dry bags to your board. We will provide gloves, bags, & trash grabbers.

Want to dive for trash in key spots? Bring a snorkle & goggles! This is meant to be a fun event, you can jump in the water at any time!

*If you have any allergies that you carry an epi-pen and antihistamines for, please do not forget to bring them with you. This is a wilderness area along the Lower Salt River so it’s best to prepare for anything.

Snacks: We will have light snacks for volunteers to grab before we launch. Have a way to store snacks in a pocket or bag. If you have any dietary restrictions, you may want to bring your own snacks. You could bring a small cooler to attach to your board if you want cold beverages and snacks.

Tonto Recreation Pass: You do NOT need one to participate in our event! We will give you something to put on your windshield if you don't already have a pass through your service.

Bathrooms: There are vault toilets open to the public at Goldfield, Pebble Beach, & other rec sites along the river.

If you have any other questions, please email Nicole at [email protected]

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