Saturday, May 11, 2019, is the 27th Chicago River Day!   Stay tuned for more information.

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Information from Chicago River Day 2018: This beloved annual volunteer day has an immediate impact and collectively brings about long-term improvements in the health of the Chicago River. Spanning the river’s 156-mile system with over 60 locations to choose from, there are many ways for people of all ages to get involved.

Registration is not yet open, but save the date. Here's a map of locations from 2018.

The event will be held rain or shine.

It's remarkable to think about how far we've come since the first "Chicago River Rescue Day" in 1992. That day, Friends hosted a small, feisty group of 25 dedicated volunteers who wanted to rescue the river by pulling shopping carts, mattresses, and plastic bags from its banks. Twenty-five years and more than 60,000 volunteers later, the Chicago River system is no longer a forgotten wildlife corridor filled with sewage and trash. Today the river system is vibrant, accessible, and alive with people, 70 species of fish, countless species of birds, and many native animals including beavers, mink, and turtles. 

Over the last two and a half decades, we have witnessed an incredible shift in the health of the river and how people care for it; our volunteers and sponsors help make this happen.

Chicago River Day volunteers include company teams, community organizations, school groups, families, and individuals of various skill and ability levels throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Join us to help remove unsightly and harmful litter, restore miles of river-side trails, plant beautiful native plants, and much more. 

Every year we choose an animal to highlight, one of the many who call the river and surrounding habitat home. In this way, we can focus on how the health of the river affects so many living creatures and our important role as stewards of the Earth we share.    

The 2018 Chicago River Day Featured Creature was
the Monarch Butterfly!

Ok, so not every Featured Creature is an animal - insects are just as reliant on the habitat provided by the river, especially the monarch, as it is the only butterfly known to make a two-way migration. They travel from Canada to Mexico, some nearly 3,000 miles, many following the Mississippi River, with the Illinois and Chicago Rivers important extensions of this essential flyway.

Recently, a landmark decision was made by Illinois lawmakers to allow for the protection and proliferation of milkweed, a vital plant for monarch butterflies. Learn more cool facts about the monarch here.

2018 Sponsors

Thanks to all the amazing sponsors who have committed to supporting Chicago River Day 2018. We could not do it without their financial support and belief in the river. Want to be a sponsor in 2019? Find out more information here.

Presented by

Lead Sponsor

            

Stream Sponsors

 

Marsh Sponsors

     

Tributary Sponsors

    

     

   

 

     

   

Our partners include American Rivers, Chicago Park District, EarthEcho International, East Bank Club, Field Museum, Forest Preserves of Cook County, Friends of the Forest Preserves, Kayak Chicago, Lake County Openlands, Lincoln Park Boat Club, Metropolitan Brewing, REI, Riverbank Neighbors, SouthBranch PAC, Trader Joe's, Wateriders, Wendella Sightseeing Company, and Xylem. 

Volunteers from Exelon at Gompers Park in 2017.