Plan Your Company’s River Action Day Now

Friends of the Chicago River’s customized River Action Days offer companies a meaningful, hands-on way to give back to the Chicago-Calumet River system while strengthening teamwork, morale, and connections to the outdoors. Designed for corporate groups of all sizes, these experiences put employees directly to work improving river-edge habitats that benefit people, water, and wildlife.

Each River Action Day is fully turnkey. Our expert staff handle the planning and provide safety briefings, tools, and on-site leadership; ensuring projects are organized well, impactful, and enjoyable. Teams don’t need prior experience or special skills, participants simply show up ready to work, learn, and make a visible difference in a single day. Along the way, volunteers gain a deeper appreciation for the river system and their role in protecting it.

In 2025, participation in River Action Days increased by more than a quarter, with nearly 600 employee volunteers—representing a 26% increase from 2024—rolling up their sleeves to steward riverbanks, remove invasive species, plant native vegetation, and improve access to nature along the water’s edge. The growth reflects a rising desire among companies to pair environmental responsibility with opportunities for staff to collaborate in a tangible, rewarding way.

Companies interested in planning a River Action Day in 2026 can learn more, or schedule an event, by contacting Becky Lyons at (312) 939-0490, ext. 23, or email blyons@chicagoriver.org.