Each year thousands of people kayak, canoe, or tube the two rivers (Platte River and Crystal River) in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore to experience the fun of navigating a flowing stream and enjoying the flora and fauna on the river. Downed trees or branches or other strainers and erosion of banks, can make the river trip more difficult or dangerous. River adopters commit to patrolling their river section about once each month to clear small obstructions by hand or with hand tools and to communicate larger obstructions or erosion to Park Trails and Roads Maintenance. Also, even though most people who boat the rivers are very aware of the problem of litter and leave the river in the same or better condition than they found it, having volunteers regularly patrol the rivers assures that they will be clean and in good condition for future visitors.

The Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes in cooperation with Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has developed an Adopt-A-River program to provide regular monitoring and clean-up of the rivers within the Park. To become an Adopt-A-River volunteer, you or your group must commit to patrolling your river segment about once each month during the spring, summer and fall. Review the River Procedures. Still interested?

At this time, the following rivers are in the Adopt-A-River program:

• Crystal River
• Platte River

Here is how you can become an Adopt-A-River Volunteer:

1. Contact the Adopt-A-Trail Coordinator, Al Kasper, by e-mail to indicate your interest. The Coordinator will help you select a river segment and help you through the process of getting signed up and obtain the materials you will need including an Annual Pass to Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
2. Sign up as a Volunteer-in-Park (VIP) at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. If you are already a VIP, we will add this job to your existing VIP profile. If you are not a VIP, fill out the VIP Application Form.
3. After each time you paddle your River, you will send an e-mail to the Park Volunteer Coordinator SusanSanders (susan_sanders@nps.gov)  with a copy to Al Kasper (alanokasper@gmail.com) to report the hours you spent.