Not many people would volunteer their weekends to pick up trash, but for a few hours every month, members of Shenango River Watchers Inc. do just that.

The mission of the organization, which was started in January 2001, is to "clean up, preserve and protect the Shenango River watershed," said Jennifer Barborak, president of the organization.

The watershed covers a 1,029 square mile area in three Pennsylvania and two Ohio counties.

Mrs. Barborak and her husband, Rick, vice president, who are both registered nurses, started the organization after hearing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. talk about River Keepers, a national conservation group.

Rick said they canoed all the time and would see a lot of garbage in the river. Kennedy's talk sparked them to get started. The couple also does wildlife rehabilitation and could see the effect water pollution had on animals first hand.

Once formed, the group decided to put its focus toward clean up at first, so people in the area could see the organization being active.

According to Mrs. Barborak, last year the group held one clean-up day a month from March to October, excluding August. So far, they have cleaned up more than 34,000 pounds of illegal dumping and littering. They have also pulled 200 tires out of the river.

On clean-up days, a tent is set up in the Sharon City Centre Plaza where people can sign up. On average about 15-30 people attend the clean-up days.

On Earth Day last year, about 70 people attended. Food is provided to the volunteers after the cleanup.

Mrs. Barborak said the work can be a lot of fun and it's a good way to meet new people.

The cleanups are making a difference. "Each time we have a clean-up day, we're picking up less and less," she said of the places they have cleaned multiple times.

The next cleanup will be held on May 25. Others are set for June 22, July 27 and Aug. 24.

The River Watchers also restored a bench by the dam at Shenango River Lake in Sharpsville and put garbage cans at popular fishing spots, which Mrs. Barborak said has actually decreased the amount of litter in those areas.

The group has a can drop-off outside of its office, the proceeds of which are used to pay for things like postage for the newsletter.

This year the Shenango River Watchers has hired interns to help map out the watershed using Geographic Information Systems with Arc View GIS software.

The organization received a grant for the software. It also received a state Growing Greener grant which is used mostly for office equipment. The League of Women Voters gave a grant for training on the Arc View Software.

In addition to hands-on activities, the organization has also focused on education. Members have given talks about their organization as well as water pollution to schools and colleges in the area.

On May 18, members will be hosting a Macroinvertibrate testing class. Macroinvertibrate testing is a method of testing water quality. The class will be held at 9:30 a.m. at the Army Corps of Engineers Office in Sharpsville.

Mrs. Barborak said this method is cheap, easy and anyone can do it, adding, "It creates a nice base layer for us to start working with."

The organization does not have the funds to do chemical monitoring yet.

Overall, Mrs. Barborak said she is pleased with where the organization is today. She said it would be nice to expand the clean-up area to Greenville and New Castle and eventually have smaller chapters in the area.

"It would be really nice eventually to have that," she added.

The organization is planning bigger projects for the future. Mrs. Barborak said the group hopes to eventually do sedimentation projects.

The organization also sponsors fun activities such as the annual canoe trip scheduled for July 14.

This year the trip will start at the dam in Sharpsville and go to Dufuerco Steel in Farrell. Mrs. Barborak said members will be taking an educational look at the river.

The trip will stop at the water company plant in Sharon and at Dufuerco where someone will talk about the effects their companies have on the water.

Membership in the Shenango River Watchers is $10 a year. Members have a say in board member elections, are able to attend classes free of charge and receive the newsletter.

The group has also drawn up a wish list of needed items. It includes: 5 or more life vests; 10 or more paddles; canoes; Scotch tape; waders; color printing for newsletter; brooms, shovels, rakes; paper; envelopes; a rolodex; environmental books and videos