Get Involved

Get Involved Today!

Please support the Willimantic Whitewater Partnership, it is the opportunity of a lifetime and, without your valuable input and energy, this dream will not be realized. Please contribute your talents, knowledge and love of the area and become a member of Willimantic Whitewater Partnership. For more information on how you can help email willimanticwhitewater@charter.net.

There are many ways that you can get involved with the Willimantic Whitewater Partnership. Here are just a few suggestions to get you started...

Become a Member!

Click here to learn more about becoming a WWP member.

Volunteers removing a tree from the Willimantic River

ATTEND A WWP EVENT!

The WWP is works hard to organize exciting activities for members and fundraising events throughout the year. Membership is not required to participate in WWP activities. However, by becoming a member you will help ensure that we are able to offer these events in the future as well as continue with our mission of restoring the Willimantic River and the Bridge Street Property. If you would like more information about upcoming events or are interested in organizing a WWP event of your own please email willimanticwhitewater@charter.net. (Also, if you are a Facebook user, check out our page!)

Upcoming River Cleanup, Storm Drain Marking, & Stream Monitoring Days!

Past 2009 Events:

June: WWP Annual Meeting & Partners Summit

On June 29th, the WWP held its annual meeting and partners summit at the Main Street Cafe and Brewery in Willimantic, CT. The Partners Summit is a chance for us to discuss our collective vision of the natural, cultural, historic and economic value of the river. Thank you to all of the WWP members, friends and family who were able to attend the event.

A special thanks to Steve Gephard from the CT Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Natural Resources Inland Fisheries Division, who provided attendees with an exciting and enlightening presentation about the fish of the Willimantic River. Thank you also to the Main Street Cafe for hosting the event and for their continued support of the Partnership.

May: Riverfest 2009

Riverfest is an annual event sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, Windham Region to promote the Willimantic River as a natural resource and vital part of the economy by encouraging tourism into our region. This year's event was co-sponsored by the Willimantic Whitewater Partnership and featured a seven-mile kayak and/canoe trip from Eagleville Dam, Mansfield to Bridge Street, Willimantic, various vendors, entertainment, and more.

April: WWP Celebrates Earth Day 2009

On April 18th the WWP participated as both a UConn Community Service Day site and an ECSU Town Pride, Town Wide site. The result was fantastic! Volunteers of all ages came down to the Bridge Street property to assist with park and river bank landscaping and trash removal. In addition, approximately 20 volunteers were involved in a stormwater education project led by local high school seniors Celia Guillard and Hannah McMerriman, with assistance from Lori Guillard and Jean Pillo (Thames River Basin Coordinator). Volunteers walked around town in teams, marking local storm drains to educate others about local stormwater runoff and river pollution issues. Thank you to everyone who turned out for this event!

March: National Paddling Film Festival 2009

WWP sponsored showings of the National Paddling Film Festival 'Road Show' during the month of March. Three films were shown in total, with a new film shown each night. Members and kayak enthusiasts joined us at the Willimantic Brewery/Main Street Cafe in downtown Willimantic to watch these incredible films - thank you for your support!

Thank you to our sponsors! The Main Street Cafe; Design Center East; AKRF; Tapestry Rose; The Shoe Smith; Mike Pallein, CPA; DougalArt; Naubesatuck Watershed Association; The Savings Institute; Scott's Cyclery; Fred's Brickhouse Cafe; Signs Plus; Janet Zito