Great American Cleanup®
SAVE THE DATE:
Great American Cleanup® Saturday, May 2, 2026!
Crew Leader Registration is now closed!
Crew Member Registration is OPEN! Click here to sign up!
How to get involved:
Want to join a cleanup?
Register as a Crew Member to sign up for an existing cleanup—no planning required. Just show up, pitch in, and make a difference! Crew Members are the backbone of this event! We need enthusiastic Crew Members to come out, join our Crew Leaders, and help protect the watershed.
See a list of cleanups needing volunteers here:
Site: COS-NW-09 Garden of the Gods
Site: COS-SE-10 Prospect Lake/Memorial Park
Site: GMF-04 North Catamount Reservoir
Site: AF-01 USAFA Creeks (Note: Don't let access scare you away, your Crew Leader will ensure your access onto the base).
Find a Cleanup Site
View our interactive cleanup map to explore available locations. Unclaimed and available sites are shown in green 🟢
Don’t see your preferred spot listed? No problem!
Email the Watershed Outreach Coordinator at fountaincreekoutreach@gmail.com to request a new site.
🔵 Public vs 🔴 Private Cleanups
- Public Cleanups: Open to all volunteers and listed on the map and registration page.
- Private Cleanups: Organized by specific groups and only visible to invited participants.
Hydration Celebrations!
Join us for a Hydration Celebration after your Great American Cleanup! To redeem your offer, you MUST show your bartender a photo from your cleanup. Cleanup crews are invited to revel in their hard work by enjoying exclusive beer discounts - a token of FCWD’s appreciation - at these local breweries:
- Red Leg Brewing Co. - 1st draft beer free
- Goat Patch Brewing Co. - $1 off beer (all locations)
- Fossil Craft Beer Co. - $1 off beer
- Voodoo Brewing - Free flight with purchase
- Gunslinger Brewing - $1 off beer
- Brues Alehouse - $2 off beer (limited)
- Bristol Brewing Co. - $1 off beer
- Whistle Pig Brewing - $2 off beer
- Mash Mechanix Brewing Co. - $1 off beer
- Walters Taproom - $1 off beer
- 3 Hundred Days of Shine Distilling - $2 off a 4 shot sampler
- Westfax Springs - $1 off beer
- Peaks N Pines - BOGO draft beer with purchase
Want to Host a Cleanup?
Register as a Crew Leader to organize a cleanup at your chosen site. We’ll provide guidance and can supply free cleanup gear if needed.
Crew Leader registration is now closed.
Crew Leaders are responsible for reserving a clean up location, picking up supplies (or appointing someone to do so on their behalf), coordinating with their crew, and attending a safety orientation/training before the cleanup. A cleanup site cannot be selected by a Crew Member until a Crew Leader has claimed that site for a cleanup.
Crew Leader Training Slideshow
2026 Safety Guidelines2026 Crew Leader ChecklistGroup Waiver for Walk-up VolunteersWhether you're ready to lead a cleanup or simply want to lend a hand, there’s a role for everyone.
Bring Your Own Supplies if you can—gloves, trash bags, buckets, and grabbers are all helpful—but gear is also available at no cost through the Fountain Creek Watershed District.
Crew Leaders may schedule through their registration or reach out to the Outreach Coordinator to arrange picking up cleanup materials like trash bags, gloves, swag, and more. If you would like materials provided by FCWD, please arrange to attend a pickup event or send someone on your crew's behalf.
Thank You To Our Sponsores!! This event wouldn't be possible without you!
About the Great American Cleanup®
The Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup is the nation’s largest community improvement program, which takes place annually during the spring in over 15,000 communities nationwide.
The Fountain Creek Watershed District will conduct this 1-day cleanup with local governments, nonprofits, Friends of groups, and neighborhoods. FCWD is dedicated to fostering a sense of environmental responsibility and community pride, and inspiring action to enhance the health and vitality of our local watershed.
Thanks to all the volunteers and sponsors that participated in the Great American Cleanup® on May 3, 2025!
In the meantime:
- Richard's Rubbish Roundup organize weekly cleanups in the region; volunteers are welcome. You can also check out Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful, Keep Pueblo Beautiful, and other local organizations to find more opportunities.
- El Paso County Parks and Recreation hosts dog park cleanups involving volunteers throughout the year.
- Pueblo Friends of the Arkansas (PFAR) hosts a cleanup the first Saturday of each month at various sites along the Arkansas River Trail.
- Take a trash bag with you on your walk or hike and pick up trash anywhere in the watershed. Use caution when dealing with hazardous items.
- Take TOSC's One Bag Challenge! Even small efforts make a difference. Filling one bag – large or small – removes trash and waste from our outdoor spaces. Focused on picking up micro trash, help
- Pick up pet waste.
- Plan to participate in Creek Week this fall!