STORY AND PHOTOS BY DEREK SVENNUNGSEN

Every spring, the Environmental Resource Center, aka ERC, organizes the valley-wide “Clean Sweep” to help give the Wood River Valley a much-needed post-winter sprucing up.

After signing in, picking up a trash bag and gloves and choosing an area to focus on, volunteers in Ketchum, Hailey and Bellevue set out into the streets to pick up the vagabond trash and detritus that inevitably accumulates.

Board member Kat Vanden Heuvel said she was happy with last week’s turnout and the dedication that the community consistently demonstrates at this annual event.

Erica Exline and Kat Vanden Heuvel are board members with ERC.

“What I really like is when the kids start looking at little pockets where trash tends to accumulate,” she said. “They start to think of these are their own ‘problem areas’ to take care of. So, hopefully, this event is building life-long habits.”

Erica Exline, lovingly known as the valley’s “Poop Fairy,” was also at Lions Park, educating volunteers about picking up after their dogs.

“I’m happy to say that the valley is getting better about picking up their dogs’ poop,” said Exline, who drives a dedicated poop pickup trailer through the valley. “I’ve collected 70,000 pounds from receptacles over the last six years.”

“Your best isn’t good enough because you’re not perfect. But together, we’re almost perfect,” she said, sharing her favorite motto.

Darby and Caitlin McCarthy picked up litter in Bellevue.

At the Memorial Park meeting site in Bellevue, ERC board members Mike Schlatter and Werner Moravitz were eager to speak about all the good work the ERC does for the valley, highlighting its nearly-complete purchase of the Sun Valley Hut System.

Managing the huts, according to Schlatter, “will be a boon to our educational program and systems, and will change the face of the ERC.” (Learn more about this effort and the huts’ change in ownership at https://ercsv.org/get-involved/support-erc/. And if you’re willing and able, you can make a donation to help them complete the purchase).

Cox Communications picked up the tab for refreshments for the volunteers. Volunteers enjoyed Black Owl coffee at Lions Park and Starbucks in Ketchum. Lunch was on Cox with food vouchers for La Cabanita and Johnny G’s Subshack.

Clear Creek Disposal picked up the bags of trash gathered by the volunteers.

ERC Board members Werner Moravitz and Mike Schlatter are excited about the ERC’s purchase of former Sun Valley trekking huts to conduct classes in.