The Chicago River has been transformed from the days that is was considered part of our infrastructure and served as a sewage and shipping canal.

Friends of the Chicago River is thrilled to present Kristen Turgeon, a science teacher at Von Steuben Metropolitan Science Center on Chicago’s north side, with Friends’ Educator of the Year award for 2019.

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak and stay at home orders by the state, Friends of the Chicago River has canceled or postponed some of our annual events and programs.

While so many of us are hunkered down waiting out the corona virus, we have an extraordinary opportunity to do something to help the world together: turn out the lights.

There are many river reaches within the city limits including the Chicago River, the North Shore Channel, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, and the Calumet, Little Calumet and Rivers which provide critical habitat for birds of all kinds.

No matter where we are working from, Friends' staff is dedicated to improving and protecting the Chicago River system for people, plants, and animals and we hope you are too.

Friends was dismayed to learn that someone dyed the Upper North Branch a candy-colored green on Chicago’s northwest side on March 14.

Our office may be closed but our staff is still working hard to improve and protect the river for people, plants, and animals. Please be patient while we are working remotely and keep an eye out for information on Friends' events and programs.

Friends of the Chicago River is hiring and we are looking for a communications director, planning specialist, and director of community and strategic initiatives to broaden our outreach and our impact. Join our award-winning team.

Fifty days from now Earth Day turns 50 marking a half century of environmental activism that changed the way Americans treat ourselves and our planet.