Earth Month came and went in April, but the work does not stop with the calendar. With no formal company-wide Clean-A-Park Day on the schedule this year, teams across Guest Services took on the OurPlanet Earth Month Challenge instead, heading out into their local communities to clean up parks, beaches, and roadsides through April and into May.
The team at Giants Ridge cleared seven and a half miles of highway during their bi-annual roadside cleanup, pulling out 35 bags of trash, eight tires, and a truckload of items too big to bag. We look forward to seeing what other properties accomplished as more reports come in.
Closer to our Fairfax headquarters, we want to spotlight a very important partner: Potomac Conservancy, the region’s leading clean water advocate.
Why Now
The Potomac River was just named the most endangered river in the United States. For a company headquartered along its banks and running Thompson Boat Center on its waters, that matters. We have partnered with Potomac Conservancy before. They co-hosted the 2025 Potomac Paddle Off with our team at Thompson Boat Center, putting boats in the water and stewardship at the center of the day.
Three Fights Worth Knowing
- Litter and polluted runoff. Polluted runoff is the fastest-growing threat to the river. The Conservancy runs cleanups across the watershed throughout the season. Volunteer at an upcoming event.
- Data center water transparency. The Potomac region holds the largest concentration of data centers in the world, with 200 facilities in Loudoun County alone. The Conservancy is advocating for legislation in Maryland and Virginia to require monthly water-use reporting. Sign on to the advocacy campaigns.
- CLEAR Potomac. In the wake of the 2026 Potomac Interceptor sewage spill, the Conservancy launched the Coalition for Long-term Environmental Accountability and Restoration to push for accountability and long-term restoration of the river.
Take Part
Anyone can pick up the work in their own community by getting outside, cleaning up a local park, beach, or trail, and supporting the groups doing it year-round. To join Potomac Conservancy directly, visit potomac.org or sign up for one of their upcoming cleanup events.
