For those who think the perfect Saturday involves getting their hands a bit dirty, a local group of Civitans wants to offer you the chance.

On April 18, the Alabama Central District of Civitans International plans to gather with volunteers at Buck Creek in Helena to clean up a portion of the Cahaba River.

“It’s just a neat way to do community service and have fun with your family, your kids,” said co–chair Tom Richeson. “Everybody needs to get outdoors and get a little nature on them.”

The Civitans provide the canoes, paddles and lifejackets and volunteers provide the man-hours. The event begins with registration at 7 a.m. Canoes go in the water by 8:30 a.m. Richeson said the cleanup lasts four hours, with volunteers floating down the river from Buck Creek Park toward the Highway 52 takeout by Alabama Small Boats. A van will take volunteers back to the park at the end of the day for a hot dog lunch.

Richeson said the event does a twofold service.

“It helps raise funds for the Civitan Resource Center downtown and other clubs that sought out sponsors,” Richeson said. “But it also cleans the river up, which is the main reason we do this.”

In years past, the group rid the river of everything from tires to an ATM machine. Richeson said they might not find anything quite that unusual this year, but promises the event would be worthwhile for any nature lover.

The organization continues to look for sponsors for the event. For more information, call Richeson at 837–1856.