Chicago River Schools Network
The Chicago River provides a fascinating real-world setting for learning and service. Our Chicago River education program provides for scientific experimentation, water quality monitoring, historical investigation, art projects and ecological restoration.
Take your students on an adventure into the turbulent history, evolving ecology and improving health of the Chicago River - contact us to set up a school visit.
Friends of the Chicago River’s dynamic education program, the Chicago River Schools Network, provides K-12 teachers the training and personalized assistance they need to immerse their students in the turbulent history, evolving ecology and improving health of the Chicago River. Except for our workshops and curricula, all services are FREE. We offer:
Lesson Plans and Curricula
Lending Library
Classroom River Programs
Field Trip Assistance
Equipment Loan for Water Quality Monitoring
Workshops
River Adoption Program
Annual Chicago River Student Congress
We also provide ongoing and individualized assistance for educators. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, always feel free to call or email our education staff.
To get started, fill out a pre-meeting questionnaire (16k PDF) and fax it to us at (312)939-0931, and then call or email our education staff to set up a school visit. We will schedule a 1.5 hour training/planning session at your school for you and any other interested teachers. We will spend some time sharing the story of the Chicago River, exploring some of our free materials and help you begin planning your students’ exploration of their local river and community.
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