Field Trips
Field trips offer students the opportunity to ask questions, formulate hypotheses, collect data and connect to nature. They can also inspire service.
Friends is here to help you plan and organize your field trip. We can come out with you on the day of your field trip, and provide water quality testing supplies and equipment for your students to use in their studies. Below are answers to some commonly asked questions. If you are new to planning outdoor field trips, consult our guide to Field Trip Organization 101 (43k PDF).
What can my students do at the river?
There are a wide range of activities students can do at the river. For write-ups of all these activities, check out the field trip activities section.
Water quality testing: 5th-12th
Using test kits we have for loan, students can test the waters for pH, turbidity, nitrates, phosphates, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, total solids and fecal colliform.
Bug (macroinvertebrate) Collection: K-12th
Students can collect and identify macroinvertebrates (small, backboneless organisms living in the water) to determine the quality of the river. Younger students, can simply observe and characterize the animals they find. If you don’t have your own equipment, you can borrow what you will need from us.
Ecology Studies: K-12th
Students can investigate the ecology of the riverbanks and land surrounding the river through transects, nature walks and observation activities.
Active Games: K-12th
Students often get very excited on field trips, an educational active game can provide them with a constructive outlet for their extra energy.
Observation: K-12th
Students can hone their observation skills as they take guided nature walks, scavenger hunts and make detailed drawings.
Reflection: K-12th
Take time to let students soak it all in and understand what this visit to nature means to them.
Stewardship Activities and Restoration: K-12th
Students can help improve the natural area they visit by doing stewardship activities that can include trash pick up, invasive species removal, native plantings and native seed collection.
Art, Poetry, Creative Writing: K-12th
Students can explore the river through using their creativity.
Let us help you take your students to the river. Watch your students excel as they work in teams, apply their learning and study the environment
Where can I go?
There are a variety of sites for field trips ranging from city parks to forest preserves. Sites can be found as far south as 135th Street and as far north as Lake Forest. To browse descriptions of the different sites, check out our field trip site location information. If you need help deciding on a site, please contact us.
If you choose a Forest Preserve District of Cook County site you must fill out and turn in a consent form to the Forest Preserve District at least two weeks before your field trip. You should also call (708) 771-1088 to make sure bathrooms are unlocked the day of your field trip.
How do I organize a field trip?
Especially if this is your first or second time taking your student to the Chicago River, we are happy to come out with your on the day of your field trip to help lead part of the field trip. For fall and spring trips, we suggest you contact us at least one month in advance to schedule your field trip.
We suggest you bring no more than 60 students to the river at once, and divide students into groups no larger than 10, each group having its own adult leader (a parent, teacher or teacher’s aide).
There are two main ways to organize students on a field trip.
1. Students rotate through a series of activities, each student having the opportunity to try everything.
2. Students are divided into expert groups. Each group delves deeply into one or two activities. Groups then report back to the entire group.
Field trips usually last two to three hours, including time for lunch.
How do I keep my students safe at the river?
To keep everyone safe at the river there are some simple rules we observe:
1. Field trips will be cancelled if lightning is sighted
2. When water is high (knee to mid thigh or deeper) no students are allowed in the water.
3. Anyone with open cuts should not enter the water.
4. Students are only allowed in the water with adult supervision. We reserve the right to ask any student to exit the water.
5. Students should wear long pants and closed shoes.
6. Students may not eat during the field trip except for during designated lunch times.
7. Everyone MUST wash or sanitize hands before eating. Please remember to bring sanitizer or wipes with you. Bathroom facilities are often ill equipped.
8. Everyone should refrain from touching their eyes and mouth with their hands.
You can also have a printable copy of safety information that you can share with your students.
How do I schedule a fieldtrip with Friends?
1. Decide what you want to do, where you want to go, when you want to go and how many students you are bringing. If you need help, contact us.
2. Fill out the Field Trip Needs Form (73k PDF) and fax it to (312)939-0931. OUR DATABASE CANNOT BOOK YOUR TRIP UNTIL WE HAVE THE INFORMATION ON THE FORM, SO PLEASE FAX IT TO FORMALLY LOCK IN YOUR DATE!
3. Friends will call or email you back to confirm that the date is available.
4. Please note: Friends can provide one staff person per field trip. This person can provide a brief introduction to the river at the beginning of the field trip and lead one of your activities.
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