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Volunteer Opportunities > Junior Litter League

Junior Litter League logo depicting a trash can with NYC Parks logo on it in front of criss-crossed trash grabber tools

Jr. Litter League

Does your team have what it takes to keep our city clean? Sign up today for the Jr. Litter League, a new citywide competition and youth service program. Your team will help care for local parks, learn about the importance of the environment, and win fun prizes!

How to Join

Through the Jr. Litter League, teams of up to 15 students and three adult leaders volunteer to pick up litter in a local park. Submit the amount of litter you collect each week—and see how your team is doing compared to others across the city!  There is no limit to the number of clean-ups teams can run.

Show your local pride—come up with a creative team name to get in the community spirit! Every Litter Leaguer gets a gift for joining!

Schedule

Litter League season officially kicks off April 1 and runs through June 1. Registration is open through May 1.

Eligibility

The Jr. Litter League is open to teams of school classes, afterschool clubs, and youth organizations. Teams should have a minimum of seven participants, and all children on the team must be age 10 or older. Volunteer hours can be counted towards service-learning requirements.

Students place cardboard trash into a bag while on a volunteer cleanup at a City beach.

Sign Up

Visit our registration page to sign up today!

Once you sign up for the program, we will work with your group to find the right park and set up a schedule that’s right for you. We’ll also give you everything you need to make sure that your project is fun and educational.

Supplies

You’ll receive a free set of supplies, which will include all the items necessary to complete volunteer projects throughout the program. (This offer is available while supplies last.)

You will also receive a Jr. Litter League toolkit that includes suggested pre- and post-volunteer activities that explain the importance of maintaining clean spaces for all New Yorkers – including wildlife! It also includes a guide on how to make your clean-up event a success.

Prizes

All teams can earn baseball cards throughout the program as specific targets are reached. Prizes will be awarded to winning teams at the Elementary, Middle and High School levels by borough. Citywide winners will also be crowned in each level.  Teams must complete at least four hours of volunteering to be considered for the competition.

Potential prizes include:

  • A canoe trip with the Urban Park Rangers
  • A career panel with NYC Parks staff
  • A fishing program with the Urban Park Rangers
  • A visit by the Urban Park Rangers with live animals
  • Dedicated bench with your plaque in a local park

We’ll announce the winners at the end of the program.

Learn More

Want even more ways to get your team involved in our Parks? Here’s how you can help.

Become a Volunteer

Check out our Volunteer page to sign up for more projects, or to suggest your own!

Visit Parks@Home Jr.

With crafts, games, and virtual tours, visit our Parks@Home Jr. page to bring our parks to your home.

Visit Partnerships for Parks

Visit Partnerships for Parks' website to connect with an outreach coordinator to find out how to advocate for your local park

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