Clean Your Streams Challenges have been an exciting part of our waterway clean-up for decades. Whether you’re coordinating a youth group, collegiate group, a business or nonprofit, or just an individual who enjoys friendly competition, we’ve got a challenge for you. When you register for Clean Your Streams, you’ll get more information about our updated challenges, but read on for a sneak peek.

Youth Challenges

Youth Challenges are open to all groups where the majority of participants are under 18. Youth Challenges are a good fit if you’re bringing a scout troop, an after-school club, youth sports team, or religious youth group.

To participate in Youth Challenges, make sure a group picks up a challenge entry from your Kickoff Coordinator on the morning of Clean Your Streams Day. Submit your results at the volunteer appreciation picnic, and we’ll tally and announce winners at the picnic itself.

• Most Volunteers: Awarded to the groups with the most CYS participants.
• Battle of the Bags: Awarded to the groups who fill the greatest number of trash bags.
• Awesome Effort: For youth groups, awarded to the groups with the largest average number of bags per person.

Collegiate Challenges

Collegiate challenges are a good fit if you’re part of a service organization, Greek life, school club, or just a group of friends wanting to do some good.

To participate in Collegiate Challenges, make sure when you fill out your data card(s) during Clean Your Streams Day, you put the name of your group clearly on the card. We will use the data you submit to determine challenge winners, and we’ll acknowledge your group by contacting you after CYS Day. Two challenges (Best Before-And-After and Strangest Find) should be submitted as photos via tagging us on social media or by email.

• Most Volunteers: Awarded to the groups with the most CYS participants.
• Battle of the Bags: Awarded to the groups who fill the greatest number of trash bags.
• Awesome Effort: Awarded to the groups that find the most food wrappers, which have surpassed cigarette butts as the #1 removed trash on CYS Day.
• Best Before-and-After Collegiate: Awarded to the biggest before-and-after impact captured via photo.
• Strangest Find Collegiate: Awarded to the most unusual items removed and documented via photo.

To send us photos, find us on Twitter and Instagram @PCSMaumee, and on Facebook by searching Partners for Clean Streams. Use #CleanYourStreams419. You can also email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your submissions. PCS staff will vote for the winners.

General Challenges

These challenges are open to individuals or groups. Submit a photo either via social media or email in the following categories -

• Best Before-And-After: Show us you’re proud of the difference you made by taking a beautiful before-and-after photo.
• Strangest Find: Think you’ve found something during CYS that nobody else has found? Snap a picture to prove it!

Find us on Twitter and Instagram @PCSMaumee, and on Facebook by searching Partners for Clean Streams. Use #CleanYourStreams419. You can also email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your submissions. PCS staff will vote for the winners.

Recognition for Businesses, Nonprofits, and Other Organizations

When you check-in at your kickoff, let your Kickoff Coordinator know your group name and how many members are participating. Your group will be recognized with a River Partner Certification after CYS Day, as well as featured on the PCS webpage and other materials. Groups are recognized in the following categories:

• Watershed Warrior: 50+ volunteers
• River Guardian: 30-49 volunteers
• Stream Protector: 10-29 volunteers
• Creek Crusader: 1-9 volunteers