A CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY AND CONSERVATION 

Rivers are Life is proud to be a dedicated member of the River Rats Committee and a sponsor of the River Days Cleanup, an impactful annual event focused on restoring the health and beauty of the Tittabawassee River in Midland, Michigan. This vital cleanup effort serves as the official kick-off for the Midland Area River Days Festival, a beloved three-day community celebration held near the iconic Tridge in downtown Midland. More than just a celebration, the festival is a chance for the community to learn, connect, and take action for rivers through hands-on education and family-friendly activities. 

Each year, the festival brings together passionate volunteers, local organizations, and conservation advocates who share a common goal—to improve the health of the local watershed while fostering a strong connection between people and their environment. For Rivers are Life, the event represents a perfect alignment of our mission to protect, preserve, and explore rivers around the world, starting right here in our own backyard. The event ensures that participants leave with cleaner rivers and knowledge they can carry into everyday life. 

RIVER RATS CLEANUP 

The 2025 River Rats Cleanup engaged volunteers in hands-on action to protect the Tittabawassee River and Saginaw River watershed. Volunteers were divided into:

• Water Team: canoe-based cleanup led by Chippewa Nature Center 
• Land Team: riverbank and green-space cleanup coordinated by Rivers are Life 

Over three hours, participants removed litter and debris, making a meaningful impact on local waterways. The cleanup also doubled as a real-world classroom, preparing volunteers for the educational activities at the Midland Area River Days Festival that highlight why these efforts matter and how everyday choices affect water quality. 

As the cleanup unfolded, a variety of waste materials were recovered, highlighting the persistent challenge of non-point source pollution (pollution that originates from many different sources across the landscape). Items recovered ranged from everyday litter to unique finds like rusted model trains, antique glass cars, and medicine bottles. 

Each piece collected served as a reminder of the importance of maintaining clean waterways and preventing future pollution through responsible waste management and community action. This lesson was carried directly into the festival, where our team showcased educational demonstrations on how pollution enters rivers and how the community can help stop it at the source. 

TOOLS OF THE TRADE 

To support volunteers and promote sustainability, Rivers are Life provided customized, reusable cleanup bags, reducing the need for single-use plastic bags and minimizing our environmental footprint. These sturdy, washable bags are ideal for river cleanups and can be used repeatedly for future events.  

Volunteers were also provided with protective gloves, thanks to the Chippewa Nature Center, ensuring that everyone could work safely and effectively. 

FESTIVAL FUN AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 

Following the cleanup event, the Midland Area River Days Festival transformed downtown Midland with three days of food, music, games, and nightly hot air balloon glows.  

On Saturday, we had the opportunity to connect directly with the community in the popular Kids Zone, where we engaged children and families in learning about river conservation and environmental stewardship. Our team was thrilled to share an interactive educational model on non-point source pollution, provided by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Environmental Lending Station.  

This model visually demonstrated how pollution can enter rivers from various everyday sources such as urban runoff, agricultural fields, and residential areas. As rainwater, snowmelt, or irrigation flows over the land, it can pick up harmful substances like fertilizers, pesticides, oil, and sediment, ultimately carrying them into rivers, lakes, wetlands, and groundwater. Due to the fact that this type of pollution doesn’t come from a single, identifiable source, it is much harder to control, but events like the Midland Area River Days Festival provide critical opportunities to raise awareness and drive collective action. 

Our team offered hands-on demonstrations and face-to-face interpretation, helping children and their families understand not only the challenges posed by pollution but also the simple, everyday actions they can take to protect their local waterways. From picking up litter to using eco-friendly products and supporting clean-up initiatives, participants walked away with a renewed sense of empowerment and purpose.