Volunteer Opportunities
Friends’ welcomes help from individuals, groups and schools who want to improve the Chicago River. There are a number of ways to get involved, from assisting with an event to volunteering on a regular basis. Friends uses the talents of volunteers to:
- Lead Friends’ canoe trips
- Serve as docents at the McCormick Tribune Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum
- Register paddlers at our annual Chicago River Flatwater Classic Paddle & Pedal
- Help at our office
- Lead classroom field trips to the river
It is important to know that some volunteer opportunities involve special training and necessitate a long term commitment. If you are interested in learning more about how you can get involved, contact Cynthia Fox at cfox@chicagoriver.org, or by calling (312) 939-0490, ext. 13.
- Individuals - All of Friends’ programs, from corporate events to field trips, depend on the generosity of individual volunteers who are willing to pitch in to make the Chicago River a better place. Thousands of people volunteer for Friends every year, by stuffing letters for mailings, supervising children on a field trip, or taking people out on canoe tours.
- Community Groups - Some of Friends’ biggest accomplishments have been reached with the help dedicated community groups, from girl scout troops to retirement centers. Friends can assist community groups in cleaning up and restoring a section of riverbank on a river work day, or even in adopting a section of the river to care for long-term.
- Schools - Through the Chicago River Schools Network, Friends plans river work days for students that are both fun and rewarding, as students enjoy their contact with nature while cleaning up the river and learning about it. Click here for more information about school volunteering opportunities.
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