Real work, done by hand, on a real river.
From cleanups to guided tours on and along the river, we help care for and teach people about the importance of nature in our lives.
River & public property cleanups
Our signature events. Crews of volunteers work the channel, the banks, and surrounding public land — pulling out everything from bottles to shopping carts to entire abandoned camps. Since 2003 we've removed more than 8,900 tires and hundreds of tons of trash and recyclables from the San Joaquin, its banks, and its tributaries.
- Gloves, grabbers, and bags provided — just bring water and sturdy shoes
- Family-friendly — youth groups and service clubs welcome
- We coordinate with public land owners and agencies
Canoe trips & hikes
Guided paddles and hikes that connect people to the river. For a lot of our paddlers it is the first time they have been on the San Joaquin at all — and it is hard to stay indifferent to a river once you have been out on it.
- Canoes, paddles, and life vests provided
- No paddling experience required
- Space is limited by how many seats are in the boats — sign up early
Habitat & invasive plant removal
Invasive plants crowd out the natives that river wildlife depends on. We remove them at specific project sites and locations along the San Joaquin, so the native plant community has room to come back.
We also lend hands to partner planting projects — native pollinator gardens and tree plantings led by groups like the Resource Conservation District. These days are quieter than cleanups: slower work, and a payoff you measure in seasons rather than truckloads.
Help a habitatTrails & park care
Trails wash out, bridges weather, signs fade, and benches need building. We put in the unglamorous hours that keep river access points open and pleasant to visit — at Wildwood Native Park, Riverbottom Park, and other spots along the corridor.
- Trail edging, resurfacing, and post-and-rail work
- Bridge sanding and refinishing, benches, and signage
- Built the Small Fry Trail at the Friant Fish Hatchery
Adopt-A-Park: Riverbottom Park Trail
Through the Fresno City Adopt-A-Park program, RiverTree helps look after the Riverbottom Park Trail — keeping it clean, safe, and open for walkers, runners, and families year-round.
It's steady, satisfying work with a visible payoff every single visit.
Adopt a SaturdayWeed pulls & graffiti paint-overs
Graffiti makes a public space feel abandoned, and once it appears more follows. We paint over it, and we pull the invasive weeds taking over the same spots — small, focused workdays that change how a stretch of riverbank feels to everyone who walks it.
These are good first-timer days: short, close to the parking lot, and the before-and-after is immediate.
Lend a hand
Youth & service learning
Providing education, service learning, and skill development for youth and young adults is one of the main reasons RiverTree exists. Scout troops, school river clubs, AmeriCorps crews, and university teams work with us on projects that are genuinely needed — not make-work.
- Eagle Scout projects — owl boxes, benches, bug hotels, and trail work, coordinated with the Conservancy and other partners
- Service-learning days for schools, clubs, and youth organizations
- Water safety first — a briefing before anyone gets in a boat
Every one of them needs people.
Cleanup crew, paddler, planter, trail builder — there's a job with your name on it.