River Volunteer Stewardship
How Can You Help the River?
Since 1979 Friends has been working to improve the river for the plants, animals and people who share our watershed and since then the river has improved dramatically with 70 species of fish, 60 species of birds and countless others such as beavers, muskrats, snapping turtles and sometimes river otters calling the river home.
But the work to improve the river isn’t over and real success relies on the efforts and energy of individual, community, and corporate volunteers who help restore habitat along the river banks and practice river-friendly behavior at work and at home.
Friends has several entry points for volunteers who wish to learn about how to help and/or get their hands muddy on the river’s edge.
We invite you to join in the fun, knowing that your work will make a difference.
Chicago River Day
Each spring thousands of volunteers join Friends along the Chicago River to pick up garbage, improve trails, and plant native plants and removing invasive ones. A fun family-friendly activity or corporate outing with 60-70 locations through Lake and Cook County, Chicago River Day is a wonderful way to improve your community and the river at the same time.
Find out about this year’s Rver Day activities…
Get Out and Get Muddy in Edgebrook Woods
In 2008, Friends adopted a river-edge site in Edgebrook Woods along the North Branch of the Chicago River to restore the river bank and stream, while tracking our progress. Since then Friends has organized volunteer work days for families, individuals, community groups, schools and corporate teams who have cumulatively logged thousands of hours to improve the site.
Be a part of the next work day or organize your own.
For more information contact Cynthia Fox at cfox@chicagoriver.org or by phone at (312) 939-0490 ext. 13.
Corporate Workdays
Are you ready to join the responsible corporate involvement parade and empower your employees to make a difference? Friends now offers corporate opportunities with a plethora of engagement opportunities that you can customize to fit your needs. For more information contact Cynthia Fox by email at cfox@chicagoriver.org or by phone at (312) 939-0490 ext. 13.
Riparian Residents
For riverbank neighbors, community groups, or neighborhood associations interested in local long-term riverbank protection and care, Friends offers RVSP Riparian Residents, a river volunteer stewardship program that links active communities with Friends’ professionals who provide expertise, project design and management, tools and cost shares for plants.
Communities that engage through RVSP Riparian Residents reduce flooding and erosion, increase habitat and enhance their own communities. For more information, contact Caitlyn Bolton at cbolton@chicagoriver.org or by phone at (312) 939-0490 ext. 14.
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