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Brazos River Cleanup and Campout
May 16 - May 19
Sponsored by the Rio Brazos Master Naturalist Chapter. In person, Free, Registration required. Brazos River Cleanup and Campout May 16-19, 2025, at Little L Ranch south of Glen Rose, Texas.
Learn more about the event and register on the Rio Brazos Chapter website’s river cleanup page here. You must register to participate in the event to enable event organizers planning for canoes, kayaks, food, and camping accommodations.
Preparations begin on Friday, May 16, followed by river cleanup on Saturday, May 17 and a day of volunteer and AT opportunities on Sunday, May 18. The event wraps up with a bird walk and breakfast/brunch on Monday, May 19. You’ll be able to designate your arrival and departure dates, river cleanup preferences, camping/lodging, and more in the registration form. The daily schedule and preliminary list of confirmed speakers and topics (AT-eligible) follows.
Friday, May 16 – Arrival Day
Saturday, May 17 – River Cleanup Day, either by canoe/kayak or on the riverbank
Sunday, May 18 – Advanced Training Day
Monday, May 19 – Bird Walk, Brunch, and Departure
Preliminary confirmed speakers and topics
Ricky Linex, Native Plant Society of Texas: Pollinators and Native Plants – Who are the Real Managers of Wildlife Habitats?
Kristi Kerr: Ned Fritz Legacy.
Leanne Wiley, Extension Program Specialist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Lone Star Healthy Streams Program.
Hannah Pepper, Tarleton University: Animal Trapping for Research Purposes.
Jack Cearley, Texas Land Conservancy, North Texas Program Director, and Robert Walker, Landowner and member of Texas Master Naturalist™, Rio Brazos Chapter: Hayride Conservation Ranch Tour.
Log Speaker Leanne Wiley’s Session as AT in VMS under AT: Texas Waters Certification Training. Log other Speaker sessions under AT: Skills Enhancement Courses. Log river cleanup activity time under Texas Water Specialist Volunteer Opportunities.
Brazos River Clean Up sponsored by the Rio Brazos Chapter
The 2025 Rio Brazos Chapter Brazos River Cleanup and Campout, May 16-19, 2025, is now open for registration. Learn more about the event and register on the chapter website’s dedicated river cleanup page here. You must register to participate in the event (it’s FREE!) to enable event organizers in planning for canoes, kayaks, food, and camping accommodations.
Event headquarters is a privately owned ranch on the Brazos River in southeast Somervell and northeast Bosque Counties south of Glen Rose. Preparations begin on Friday, May 16, followed by river cleanup on Saturday, May 17 and a day of volunteer and AT opportunities on Sunday, May 18. The event wraps up with a bird walk and breakfast/brunch on Monday, May 19. You’ll be able to designate your arrival and departure dates, river cleanup preferences, camping/lodging, and more in the registration form.
What began in 2017 as a Rio Brazos Chapter training class project (in conjunction with the Friends of the Brazos), has grown into a long weekend of work, fun, learning, and camaraderie among river-lovers and trash-haters from other TMN chapters and collaborating organizations. In 2023, this project earned the Texas Master Naturalist TM Exemplary Project First Place Award at the State Meeting! Watch the video presentation shown at the TMN State Meeting here.
We welcome Texas Master Naturalists statewide to assist us with removing all the tires and trash we can float out from a stretch of the Brazos River where John Graves once paddled. Alternatively, you can walk the banks and gravel bars to pick up trash. In addition to earning volunteer hours for the Saturday canoe flotilla cleanup and support tasks, there will be Advanced Training opportunities on Sunday, as well as three nights of camping, cookouts, games, visiting with old friends, and meeting new ones. Examples of Advanced Training offered in the past: Lectures and field sessions on insects (mothing!), reptiles, aquatic and riparian ecology, the night sky (stargazing!); bird, plant, geology walks; bioblitzes; and more. Of note: Food will be plentiful!
For questions about the event, email Bob
For questions about registration, email Melody
Register as soon as you can, and join us for a fun, mission-oriented Texas Master Naturalist™ experience!