It's a field trip for students from Chicago's Young Women's Leadership Charter School, 2641 S. Calumet Ave.

Folks interested in enjoying the Chicago River system and the city's beaches now have a one-stop website covering ways to have safe water fun. ChicagoWaterFun.com, launched by the non-profit Friends of the Chicago River just in time for the summer season, covers: Water quality, swimming, fishing, hiking, and paddling.

Friends of the Chicago River executive director Margaret Frisbie appeared with Mayor Rahm Emanuel as he talked about the latest successes with his Building on Burnham plan that aims to create a "two waterfront" city.

Nearly four dozen Chicago River Day captains met to prepare for our annual cleanup event ahead of its May 12 date. Check out who came and how you can join them for this rewarding and fun project.

Friends of the Chicago River care for a number of local bat maternity colonies. Friends Conservationist Programs Specialist Maggie Jones explains the effort and shows us, via video, one such colony.

The Chicago River Blue Awards honor the best in river-sensitive efforts.

If it’s spring, we’re out in the field – and we could use your help. Recently, our conservation programs specialist Maggie Jones checked in on a few of our South Side projects to do a post-winter look.

Among them were osprey nesting platforms.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel signals support for U.S. Army Corps of Engineering plan; A new idea for fighting Asian carp?

When it comes to the Chicago River, parks yes, "ChiDisney" no.

A new 24-acre park on the east bank of the North Branch near the Lincoln Yards project is a bold plan that provides "everything urban open space should,” said Friends of the Chicago River Executive Director Margaret Frisbie. The Chicago Sun-Times agreed, calling the idea "a golden opportunity."

The other proposal is an aerial tram that would link the Riverwalk to Navy Pier. We predict pylons obstructing river views and crowding pedestrian traffic along the Riverwalk. A number of our Facebook friends agree.

Today's coverage by the Chicago Tribune highlighted Friends' position again the proposed Skyline, a gondola ride that would pass over the Chicago River from Navy Pier and then the Chicago Riverwalk. 

"We appreciate the promoters desire to make Chicago an even better place to visit,"  said Margaret Frisbie, Friends' executive director. "But as a city and a region we spent too many years looking down on the Chicago River literally and figuratively and we don’t want that to happen again.”