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There is a particularly cheerful kind of teamwork that starts with a paddle, a pair of gloves, and a river worth caring for. On September 26, volunteers are invited to bring that energy to Nebraska’s Niobrara National Scenic River for a Fall Clean-Up Day that pairs a river float with a community potluck.
The National Park Service says the group will meet at 9 a.m. at Smith Falls State Park, then paddle the stretch from Smith Falls to Rocky Ford while collecting litter. The plan also includes an orientation, a shuttle back to the meeting point, and time to share food together afterward.
That combination makes the day feel usefully local: participants can help keep a scenic river corridor welcoming for the people who enjoy it, then connect with fellow volunteers over a meal. The river route follows a landscape where much of the adjoining land is privately owned, and the park asks participants to respect property boundaries and landowners along the way.
Volunteers must register in advance through the National Park Service and University of Nebraska–Lincoln registration form. The park recommends preparing for changing weather, and its event notice lists a valid park permit for vehicle entry.
The date falls on National Public Lands Day, an annual volunteer-focused occasion whose 2026 theme is “Caring for Our Shared America.” The National Park Service describes the day as a chance for people to join volunteer projects at parks and public lands around the country.
For anyone near Valentine, the invitation is straightforward: spend a September morning on the water, lend a hand, and celebrate the people who make room for one another and for the landscapes they share.
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