Our Chicago River Action-Adventure Pocket Guides are booklets that have basic information about the Chicago River, including how to get to the river, how to appreciate and enjoy the river, and how to protect the river. The educational activities are designed to be done as a family before, during, and after a river trip.

Pocket guides are available upon request through the generous support of the Wrigley Company Foundation.

Thet are FREE and may be downloaded and printed on 8.5 x 11 inch paper.

K-4th Grade
5th-8th Grade
9th-12th Grade

Answer Pages:

K-4th Grade

Getting to the Chicago River pp.3-4
Canoe the Chicago River p.4
Track Matching p.6
Stick Race p.13
Get to Know a Tree p.15
Make An Animal Mask p.16
Vote for your Favorite Animal pp.19-20
McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum p.22

5th-8th Grade

Getting to the Chicago River pp.3-4
Canoe the Chicago River p.4
Detailed History and Climate p.5
Chicago River Map/Puzzle p.6
Track and Scat Matching pp.7-8
Tree Identification p.11
Arbor Day Tree Identification p.11
Downtown Landmark Hunt p.15
Chicago River Day p.17
Vote for your Favorite Animal pp.19-20
McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum p.22

9th-12th Grade

Getting to the Chicago River pp.3-4
Canoe the Chicago River p.5
What is Your Watershed Address? p.6
Illinois Watersheds Map p.6
Invasive Species p.7
Threatened & Endangered Species p.7
Downtown Landmark Hunt p.12
River Journal p.14
Calculate Your Eco-footprint p.15
Chicago Home Composting p.15
Chicago River Day p.17
Vote for your Favorite Animal pp.19-20
McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum p.22

“The river program offers hands on opportunities for students and a way for them to feel success in non-conventional ways.”

Gail Slowinski, Schurz High School