Chicago River Student Congress

Saturday, February 22, 2025

Northeastern Illinois University

5500 N. St. Louis Ave, Chicago 

Free and open to all students, geared towards middle and high school ages.

Download the Save the Date to post on social media, or use as a poster in your clasroom to recruit students.

Download the event Invitation.

Registration will open in December or January - please come back then.

Learn about river issues from peers and professionals, enjoy snacks and giveaways, and view live animals.

The Student Congress is free a student-led environmental conference highlighting student service-learning and leaders in the Chicago-Calumet River system. At this unique forum, students share their knowledge, experiences and enthusiasm about science, nature, and climate resiliency. Students present and attend informative workshops and displays created by their peers from all over the watershed and by professionals from colleges, non-profits and government agencies. All students are welcome, and it is especially geared towards those of middle school and high school ages.

Improving the Chicago-Calumet River system can seem a big task. But all big tasks are made up of smaller problems that we can overcome together. What can you do to improve the river for your community? Learn what students across the watershed are doing to learn, connect with, and care for the river. We should all be part of the discussion as we propose solutions. This year’s Congress will also focus on how students can attend college, volunteer, and train for jobs in environmental fields. During the Congress, students can teach and attend workshops, present and engage with poster displays, and interact with college students and various river professionals and potential employers.

Workshops and exhibits should highlight your experiences with the river in some way. We all play a vital role to safeguard the health of the river’s ecosystems for people, water, and wildlife. Other topics may also be accepted, but we prefer they fit our theme.

Schedule of events, speakers, and workshops will be announced in 2025.

If you have questions about becoming part of the Student Congress, contact Mark Hauser at mhauser@chicagoriver.org.

Sponsor the Student Congress

Your support helps keep this event free and accessible to all students throughout the Chicago-Calumet River watershed as it inspires the next generation of environmental leaders. For sponsorship inquiries, reach out to Becky Lyons, director of equity and engagement, at blyons@chicagoriver.org or (312) 939-0490, ext 23. 

The 2024 Student Congress was held on Saturday, February 24 at Northeastern Illinois University.

261 students from 38 schools were in attendance at the event. Most of the students (64%) and schools (61%) were from Chicago Public Schools (e.g. Lane Tech, Back of the Yards, and Von Steuben MSC), but some suburban public schools (e.g. Fenton Community HS and Maine East HS) and private schools (Chicago City Day School, Fusion Academy, and West Town Academy) were there as well. Some community youth organizations came to the Congress (e.g. Faith in Place, the Refugee Education and Adventure Challenge, and Teens Take on Climate). We also had over 50 college students and professors from NEIU, Truman College, and School of the Art Institute.

Many environmental professionals led workshops and tabled displays. They shared their expertise and inspired so many students. Organizations at the event included the Forest Preserves of Cook County, IL-IN SeaGrant, Urban Rivers, Big Run Wolf Ranch, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, the Illinois Environmental Council, the Master Naturalist Program, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Department of Fisheries. Thank you all.

You are welcome to join us in February 2025 for the next Congress!

“It was definitely an eye-opener for me. It was great to see students' hard work on display, and I can't wait for my students to represent themselves at next year's Student Congress.”

Efunyemi Vertus, Young Women’s Leadership Charter School