Friends of the Chicago River
The Chicago River

Red Fox11th Annual Chicago River Student Congress

“The Chicago River: A Bright Future”

Thank you to all for making the 11th annual Chicago River Student Congress, “The Chicago River: A Bright Future” a great success.

A grand total of 388 people, including 294 students from 28 schools, 39 teachers, 23 environmental professionals, and other guests enjoyed a morning of workshops, displays, artwork and music celebrating the Chicago River watershed. Students also made several hundred pieces of origami artwork during a workshop taught by the Chicago Area Origami Society (CHAOS) and Chicago Academy H.S. which will be assembled into a mobile and displayed at the McCormick Tribune Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum this coming season. Come visit the exhibit this summer.

http://chicagoriver.org/upload/100_0236-thumb.jpg http://chicagoriver.org/upload/IMG_1317_JPG-09-thumb.jpg http://chicagoriver.org/upload/IMG_1327_JPG-15-thumb.jpg
http://chicagoriver.org/upload/IMG_1334_JPG-22-thumb.jpg http://chicagoriver.org/upload/IMG_1336_JPG-24-thumb.jpg http://chicagoriver.org/upload/100_0229-thumb.jpg

The opening ceremony featured jazz music by the Life Tones, a flute/guitar combo from Northside College Prep. This was followed by a play about time travel preformed by the River & Conservation Club of Gage Park High School. The play highlighted significant moments in the history of the Chicago River as a vital instrument in the development of the City of Chicago, and our hopes for its bright future.

http://chicagoriver.org/upload/gphs1-thumb.jpg http://chicagoriver.org/upload/gphs2-thumb.jpg
Photo 1: Victor Burks, Princess Dowdy, James Horne and Daniel Teruel.
Photo 2: Brian Vega, Jacqueline Alvarez, Rigoberto Valtierra and Armando Brown.

Mike Mulligan, a science teacher from Taft High School, happily accepted Friends’ “Educator of the Year” award.

John Balaban was the keynote speaker. He gave a rousing talk which both praised the students for the good work that’s been accomplished and charged them with learning from others to continue the fight for habitat improvement.

All attendees were in awe of the closing program when Spring Brook Nature Center brought out live owls, hawks, and falcons on stage. The presentation covered their natural history and their importance within the river ecosystem.

http://chicagoriver.org/upload/raptors-thumb.jpg

Thanks again to all who made this wonderful event possible, especially the staff and faculty of Amundsen High School and the Geographic Society of Chicago.

http://chicagoriver.org/upload/IMG_1312_JPG-04-thumb.jpg