Volunteers help nonprofit clean up Boulder Beach at Lake Mead
Equipped with trash bags, buckets and gloves, dozens of volunteers enjoyed a sunny January day while cleaning up Boulder Beach at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Almendra Johnson, volunteer program director for Get Outdoors Nevada, hoped Saturday’s edition of the nonprofit’s weekly cleanup would be an opportunity for residents to learn more about Southern Nevada’s national parks.
“It’s a great way to stay outside and learn about the activities Lake Mead has to offer,” she said as volunteers signed up and grabbed supplies.
Chris Cherney, owner of Evolution Expeditions Kayak Tours, said his team often spends the slow season doing beach cleanups. The kayak tours are most popular out of Willow Beach but occasionally use Boulder Beach as well.
“This time of year we’re slow, so the people I have on staff do it as a group for team building,” he said. “The people that we employ, the guides are very passionate about outdoors and conservation.”
Nancy Bernard, volunteer program manager at Lake Mead, thanked the volunteers and encouraged them to stay all day, enjoying the beaches and trails.
“Thank you for coming out here and giving probably the best gift that you could ever give the federal government, or even the National Park Service, and that’s the gift of your time and your talents to help us with this project,” she said.
Henderson residents Jennifer LeBarron and Jerry Norton said they had never done a cleanup at Lake Mead, but they often use the nearby trails. Norton said he was most enjoying the fresh air Saturday.
“It feels good to give back to the community, and it’s a beautiful area,” LeBarron said.
Carolyn Mason lives nomadically in her van since moving out of Hartford, Connecticut, 18 months ago. She said she likes to give back in each new place she visits, but it typically involves building trails.
“Anytime I travel somewhere new I try to do something community-ish,” she said.
“This is my first dedicated trash cleanup.”
A schedule of upcoming cleanup events and locations is available at getoutdoorsnevada.org.
Contact Sabrina Schnur at sschnur@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0278. Follow @sabrina_schnur on Twitter.
