Ijams River Rescue seeks volunteers for March 21 cleanup.

Ijams Nature Center is organizing its 37th annual River Rescue on Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and aims to fill about 500 volunteer slots to remove shoreline trash; registration is listed as open through March 15 and a rain date is set for March 28.

Ijams Nature Center is inviting volunteers to its 37th annual River Rescue on Saturday, March 21. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and brings together community members to remove trash from the Tennessee River shorelines and its tributary creeks. In 2025, 518 volunteers removed 17.2 tons of trash, 100 tires, large household appliances, and car parts from 34 sites. Ijams plans about 500 volunteer slots across 36 sites in Knox, Anderson, and Blount counties. Key details: - Date and time: Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a rain date on Saturday, March 28. - Participation goal: Ijams aims to fill roughly 500 volunteer slots at 36 sites across three counties. - Recent impact: In 2025, volunteers removed 17.2 tons of trash, 100 tires, large appliances, and car parts from 34 sites. - Supplies and access: Bags and gloves will be provided; sites that require boats ask volunteers to bring their own kayak or canoe, and waders or tall boots are suggested for shoreline work. - Registration timing: Registration is listed on Ijams' website and is open through March 15 or until slots are filled. - Volunteer recognition: Each volunteer will receive a free event t-shirt featuring a frog design by Stephen Lyn Bales. Summary: The River Rescue is a recurring community cleanup that has removed substantial amounts of trash from local waterways in past years and is scheduled for March 21 with a rain date of March 28. Organizers report a goal of about 500 volunteer slots and list March 15 as the registration deadline or until slots are full.