Earth Month In Southern Oregon: Volunteer Events Invite Community Action (Photo) - 04/09/26

Portland, Ore., April 8, 2026 – Earth Month is bringing volunteers together across Southern Oregon for hands-on cleanup and restoration projects throughout April. From community cleanups in the Illinois Valley to large-scale restoration efforts along Bear Creek, these events offer meaningful ways to care for local landscapes and waterways.

As part of SOLVE’s Earth Month celebrations, more than 200 volunteer projects are taking place across Oregon and Southwest Washington throughout April. In Southern Oregon, volunteers can join recurring community cleanups, restore pollinator habitat, remove invasive species, and help protect the Bear Creek watershed.

Featured Earth Month Events in Southern Oregon

The Clean Sweep Community Cleanup
WHEN: Saturday, April 11, 9 am – 11 am
WHERE: Selma
Join the ongoing Clean Sweep Community Cleanup, part of the Illinois Valley Rural ReciProsperity Project. Volunteers will help remove trash and beautify shared spaces, with coffee, snacks, and lunch provided. Link to register

Pick It Up, Medford!
WHEN: Wednesday, April 22 (Earth Day)
WHERE: Pear Blossom Park, Medford
Join SOLVE, Lithia & Driveway, and the Downtown Medford Association for the inaugural Pick It Up, Medford! community cleanup. Volunteers will spread out across downtown streets and nearby green spaces to remove litter and refresh shared spaces, celebrating Earth Day with a hands-on day of community action.

Bear Creek Stewardship Day (Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Medford, Central Point)
WHEN: Saturday, April 25, 8:30 am – 12 pm
WHERE: Multiple locations along Bear Creek and the Bear Creek Greenway
Join a region-wide stewardship effort along Bear Creek with projects from Ashland to Central Point. Volunteers will help with invasive plant removal, pollinator planting, graffiti removal, tree maintenance, and litter cleanup to support the health of this important watershed.

Wranglers Arena, Ashland
Help support restoration along the Bear Creek corridor with litter removal, habitat improvement, and stewardship activities designed to protect this important waterway. Link to register

Lynn Newbry Park (Talent) and Blue Heron Park (Phoenix)
Volunteers will remove invasive blackberries, maintain pollinator gardens, plant native species, and pick up litter to improve habitat and support wildlife along Bear Creek.
Link to register (Talent) / Link to register (Phoenix)

Central Point
Bear Creek/Rogue River Confluence & Pine Street
Help remove trash along riverbanks and improve habitat at the confluence of Bear Creek and the Rogue River. Volunteers will support cleanup efforts in this important watershed area.

Multiple Medford locations along the Bear Creek Greenway
Join cleanup and restoration efforts, including trash removal, pollinator garden maintenance, and invasive plant removal along this heavily used urban greenway.

How to Get Involved

• Volunteer: Browse the event calendar for more events and register yourself or a group at volunteer.solve.org/oregon-spring
• Encourage participation: Invite schools, workplaces, and community groups to take part in Earth Month action
• Spread the Word: Share local events with friends, neighbors, and your community

The Oregon Spring Cleanup 2026 is made possible through the partnership with Portland General Electric and generous support of Clean Water Services, Fred Meyer, Metro, Oregon State Park & Recreation, The Standard, AAA Oregon/Idaho, Intel, Kaiser Permanente, KOIN6, LAM Research, Lithia & Driveway, National Parks Recreation & Parks Association, and PepsiCo.

For more information or to register, visit solve.org/oregon-spring

About SOLVE 

SOLVE brings communities together to take care of our environment and enhance our waterways. Since 1969, the organization has grown from a small, grassroots initiative to a national model of volunteer action. Today, SOLVE mobilizes and trains thousands of volunteers of all ages across Oregon, and SW Washington, to clean and restore our neighborhoods and natural areas, while empowering a community of environmental stewards for our state. Visit solve.org for more information or follow SOLVEPNW on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.   

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