Register now to volunteer for the 2026 Red Clay Valley Clean Up on Saturday, March 28. Each year, more than 800 volunteers come together to remove litter and debris from local roadsides and waterways—and in just four hours, they make a massive impact. Whether you’re an individual, or joining with a group, everyone is welcome and no experience is needed. Organizers provide all supplies, including trash bags, gloves, and safety vests.
Community Members pose for a picture at the annual BRCA Clean Up
Alex Rush & her sister, Ashley helping with the Annual BRCA Clean Up
My family has turned the BRCA Clean Up into an annual tradition. We start the morning with coffee at my in-laws’ house, and then split off in pairs for the 8:00 a.m. kickoff. Along the way, I’m always surprised by how many steps I log while picking up what feels like endless trash on roads I drive every day. The most rewarding part is seeing what we accomplish together as a community.
Over the winter, it was disheartening to see a mattress and other large debris dumped into the Red Clay Creek—an eyesore in a place we call home. That’s why we’re especially looking forward to the spring cleanup, when we can finally pull it out and have it hauled away. Sometimes we balance across fallen tree branches or get creative to reach the hard-to-reach trash, but the morning always goes by quickly.
After we finish our assigned stretch we celebrate as a group with Sam’s Subs, sharing stories about the treasures, trash, and interesting finds we each picked up along the way. Over the years, this has become a meaningful family tradition—and we hope more members of the community will join us!
Jim Jordan, Executive Director of the Brandywine Red Clay Alliance, shared, “The Red Clay Valley Clean Up has become an annual rite of spring for many. While we’re grateful for strong support from the local business community, our volunteers truly make this effort possible. This year, we will cover 109 miles of roads and waterways, and we need 700–800 volunteers to get the job done. In just four hours, we can make a tremendous difference in the watershed. Even better, in the days and weeks that follow, you can see the lasting impact our community created together.”
Alex Rush helping with the BRCA Clean Up – March 2023
What is the BRCA? BRCA is an acronym for Brandywine Red Clay Alliance, an organization that has been dedicated to promoting restoration, conservation, and enjoyment of the natural resources of the Brandywine and Ready Clay watersheds. The organization offers summer programs for kids to foster a love of nature from an early age through community programs and also leads one of the region’s largest volunteer efforts where volunteers remove thousands of pounds of trash from more than 100 miles of roadsides and waterways—improving water quality, supporting wildlife, and helping keep Kennett Square and surrounding communities beautiful places to live, work, and play.
Volunteer info: Only one registration per group is required. Volunteers will be assigned to meet at 8:00 a.m. at one of three locations: Ashland Nature Center in Hockessin, DE; Anson B. Nixon Park; or the Kennett Area YMCA outdoor pool in Kennett Square.
Registration is now open—all you need is the willingness to make a difference.
Students help at the BRCA Clean Up
