Friends of the Chicago River
About
Friends of the Chicago River works on the health of the 156-mile Chicago-Calumet River system and is based at 121 W. Wacker Drive in the Loop. Its largest volunteer event is Chicago-Calumet River Day, held since 1992; the 2026 edition brought more than 2,800 volunteers to 88 locations in the city and suburbs to pick up litter, mulch trails and pull invasive plants. Through the rest of the year, members of its Chicago River Eco-Warriors, or CREW, volunteer at plantings, cleanups, wildlife monitoring and canoe trips.
What to know
- The next Chicago-Calumet River Day is scheduled for Saturday, May 8, 2027.
- CREW members receive a monthly email listing upcoming volunteer opportunities.
- Wildlife monitoring covers ospreys, bats and turtles.
- The group also recruits volunteers for the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
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