We first reported Oliver's story two years ago and now his quest for clean beaches has become a movement. This Saturday is the 3rd Annual "Litter Rodeo" which takes place at the Fort Morgan historic site. Young litter grabbers can even win prizes for collecting trash.

The Cavers are a family dedicated to raising awareness about trash in environmentally sensitive areas. “Before we had kids, it was just something Ryan always did,” Maggie Caver said of her husband, Ryan. “Anywhere we’d go he’d always pick up trash. It’s just something he likes doing.”

It has turned into a family effort with the face of the project being the adorable, towheaded, 5 -year-old Oliver. Equally adorable 15-month-old Charlie-Kate is as enthusiastic about the effort as her big brother.

“When we had Oliver, he kind of picked up on that,” Maggie said. “Little boys want to be like their dads.”

“We’re raising two budding environmentalists,” Ryan added.

Oliver’s efforts get publicized on Facebook and Instagram and his dad says that is inspiring others to participate.

“To see an adult picking up trash that’s expected,” Ryan said. “When you see Oliver do it and you make it cute with the social media, make it where it’s a fun adventure people are going to respond. We get emails all the time. ‘We went and picked up some trash.’”

With the pandemic sapping many businesses, including the two the Cavers run, the cleanup turned into a mission.

“When COVID hit it shuttered our businesses,” Ryan said. “We run a charter boat and we’ve been doing professional family beach photography for 20 years down here. So, we decided not to run the charter boat. Just turn the keys off and weather the storm. I would go on two- and three-mile walks with Oliver and he really got into picking up the trash.”

This event is sponsored by local companies such as; Cosmo's, GTs, The Lodge at State Park, Amelia's and more.

Oliver has a children's book about his adventures. “In our children’s book, Oliver says ‘tell your friends to clean this place, pick it up and let’s have a race,’” Ryan said. “Whoever grabs the most will be winner, we’ll give them a prize of a chicken dinner.’ That came about because on my birthday (June 7) last year Oliver was like ‘hey, let’s have a race.’ We’d been picking up trash for a couple of months by then.

“It was so much fun we said instead of having a cleanup let’s have a litter rodeo.”

The business community is stepping up to help with the rodeo by supplying the prizes.

“Why not let the kids weigh their trash, they can get one bag that they can weigh?” Ryan said. “For the first one, we’ve got about $500 in prizes. For the second one at Fort Morgan on June 25 somebody’s giving a condo stay away. Nick Cantrell is giving a piece of art.”

The children’s book, “Litter, Litter Come Here,” is inspired by the rhymes Ryan makes up when he and Oliver are out combing the shoreline for trash to pick up. You can order a copy of the book at cleanhorizons.org. 

“I’m always trying to make up little rhymes and be cute with him and I looked over at him and said, ‘Oliver, litter, litter please come here, jump in my bucket you’ve nothing to fear,’” Ryan said. “I went home and told Maggie about it and she said that’s kind of neat. Maybe we should write a children’s book about it. Next thing you know we’ve got a children’s book.”

To date, Oliver & his family have captured 8,428 LBS of trash and litter off our local beaches and waterways...

Clean Horizons has also hosted/sponsored 16 Community Cleanups and captured 29,937 LBS.