Earth Day Action with Friends

Every day is Earth Day at Friends of the Chicago River and Friends offers numerous ways to help you plan for Earth Day action starting on April 22, and continuing through the year.

Learn About the River on Earth Day

Join us virtually on Earth Day at 12 noon, to learn more about rebounding health of the Chicago-Calumet River system, its history, and to explore how each can be an advocate for its continued revitalization. Annette Anderson, Friends' Volunteer, Events and Canoe Program Manager, will share how the Chicago-Calumet River system is vital for a healthy future across the Chicago Region. Anderson will provide essential information on what Friends is doing to protect and restore the river system and share how you can get involved in its care as we work together towards a biodiverse and climate-resilient ecosystem with equitable, open access to the river for generations to come. Register here to join the virtual event.

Litter Free Supply Stations

Tap our network of Litter Free Supply Stations to host a community cleanup. Supply stations contain all the tools and information you need to run a cleanup including 10 litter grabbers, five buckets, plenty of bags and gloves, and our Litter Free Toolkit for guidance on safety, planning, and executing a cleanup.

Join us for Chciago River Day

Sign up for the 32nd Annual Chicago River Day on Saturday, May 11. Our annual spring litter cleanup and restoration event draws thousands of individuals, families, community groups, and corporate teams to work at more than 80 locations throughout the watershed – from Lake County to the Calumet region and southwest to Summit, Palos, Lemont, and beyond.