Volunteer Canoe Guides Inspire Love for the River
Sare the joy of paddling the river system and introducing people to its natural wonders and stewardship by becoming a volunteer canoe guide. The immersive experience of paddling on the river makes many first-time paddlers become longtime river advocates and stewards after seeing turtles, birds, mink and other wildlife that live in and along the river system.
Submit an application
Canoe guides play a critical role in carrying out our mission by creating equitable opportunities for people to connect to the river, and they help guests understand the river’s vital place in our history as well as its role as an important natural resource for our future. Volunteer canoe guides are critical to making these impactful experiences happen, and they are trained in CPR, First Aid, paddling techniques as well as Chicago area history and river ecology.
Submit an application and return it before our first training date February 8. You can also learn more on our website about volunteer opportunities with our Chicago River Eco-Warriors (CREW) program, or follow CREW on Facebook.
A recent Chicago Tribune story profiled the work of our dedicated volunteer canoe guides who for the past 30 years have helped us immerse tens of thousands of people in the natural beauty of the river system so they could learn to protect and restore it, and relax in the calming and wellness benefits of being on the water. Last year, 70 volunteer canoe guides supported nearly 40 on the water events.
The 2025 canoe season starts in the spring and runs through October. Friends takes out beginner and experienced paddlers throughout the 156-mile river system and hosts educational field trips for schools, birding trips, and on-the-water cleanup events for volunteers who immediately improve river health by removing up litter and planting native aquatic plants to reduce erosion, and improve water quality. Some paddles are focused simply on enjoying the river’s natural beauty like our signature Moonlight Paddles.
Friends is also available for private trips for groups of 10 or more at a variety of locations along the Chicago-Calumet River system. No experience is necessary to paddle — our fun, knowledgeable guides provide safety and paddling instruction plus all of the necessary equipment. To schedule an event contact Annette Anderson at aanderson@chicagoriver.org.
