Get Involved
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Become an Eco-Warrior
Whether you’re looking to get your hands dirty or help plan special events, Friends has a way for you to get involved! Become a volunteer with Friends and join the Eco-Warriors today.
Find out more about the Eco-Warriors.
Other ways to get involved
Become a Gully Walker
Join the Calumet Eco-Warriors
Get your Business Involved
Become a Member
Jobs and Internships
In the Field
Join us for hands on restoration workdays and help to physically improve the health of the Chicago River. Workdays are led by Friends’ staff and interns and may include activities such as removing non-native plants, collecting native seeds, monitoring projects, and more. All you have to do is show up - we’ll provide tools, gloves, and training. Contact Meshawn for more information and to RSVP. All workdays are 10am - 1pm.
Saturday, June 22
Saturday, July 13
Saturday, August 3
Introducing the Gullywalkers
In 2012 Friends launched a new Gully Identification Project to locate gullies along the Chicago River - and we’re looking for volunteers to help us out.
Here’s the quick scoop: Poorly managed rainwater causes a huge problem for the Chicago River because, among other issues, when rain falls on impervious surfaces like streets and parking lots, in lots of places it is directed to pipes which empty directly into the Cook County Forest Preserves where it washes away the soil and causing, you guessed it, gullies. This unmanaged dumping destroys our natural landscape and damages the river.
The good news is you can play a big part in the solution by joining the Gullywalker Program. With your help we can find and assess gullies in the Chicago River watershed so that we can fix them. The data you collect as a Gullywalker will help determine future restoration projects to address the destructive properties of gullies and help in our efforts to preserve and improve the Chicago River. The best is once you are trained you can do it whenever you want and as often as you want.
Not too shabby for a lovely stroll along the river in the woods! Ready to get started? Here’s how:
*Contact Meshawn at mayala@chicagoriver.org or (312) 939-0490, ext. 18, to sign up or for more information.
*Attend a Gullywalker training and learn how to identify, categorize, and GPS gullies.
*Start walkin’!
We’ll provide training, Gully assessment maps, all materials needed - along with a world of thanks for taking part in this important effort.
Training
Join us in the field for training! Please RSVP to Meshawn Ayala at mayala@chicagoriver.org or by calling (312) 939-0490, ext. 18.
All trainings are 10am - 1pm. Locations will vary and will be updated as we confirm.
June 1
June 13
June 29
July 8
July 27
August 10
August 22
Get your Business Involved
These days, more and more companies are looking for ways to give back to the local community - and Friends of the Chicago River is the perfect place to do that. Friends offers multiple ways your business can get involved. From joining hundreds of prominent civic and business leaders at our Big Fish Ball to getting your employees engaged and dirty with a Corporate Volunteer Day.
Find out more about our business opportunities, click here
Become a Member
Join now. Because of donations from people like you, Friends can take a stand and take action that protects the river for the wildlife (and people!) who call it home. Thank you, and enjoy the river!
As a community-based organization, it is important for Friends of the Chicago River to have a large group of members who support our efforts. Beyond your financial contribution, membership shows that you support our work to improve the Chicago River for humans, plants, and animals. Learn about membership and planned giving through Friends’ endowment fund here.
Jobs and Internships
Thank you for your interest in Friends. In the spring and summer, we provide a number of interesting internships that support our mission. If you are interested, please send a cover letter and resume to Friends. We may have positions in development, education, policy and planning, and conservation.
Development Intern
Policy Intern
Friends is committed to training future conservation professionals by providing college interns real-world experience in a supportive environment.
Become a Friend