Join us on the Wild Mile, the world’s first-ever floating eco-park, to document some of the new spring growth! Our floating artificial wetlands are populated with native illinois plants, providing high-quality habitat for a wide range of species. Urban Rivers staff will lead a walking tour of the Wild Mile, introducing some of our favorite native species for you to document on iNaturalist as part of the region-wide City Nature Challenge. You might even get to meet some of the animals that call the Wild Mile home, like muskrats and herons!

This event is part of the Chicagoland City Nature Challenge 2024, a region-wide Bioblitz event using the app iNaturalist. To participate in this aspect of our event, please download iNaturalist here. After making an account, you can navigate to "projects", search "City Nature Challenge 2024: Chicagoland Region", and join the project!

This event is free and we welcome walk-ups, but please RSVP below if possible!

If you're curious about becoming River Ranger, or have just signed up and don’t know where to start, join us to learn more about the volunteer opportunities available through Urban Rivers! We'll discuss our various projects, requirements for participation, and the many perks of being a River Ranger.

Please note that if you are interested in our kayak cleanup opportunity, you will need to complete a safety training, which we schedule to immediately follow these informational sessions. If interested, please register for the safety training at the link below: 

https://urban-rivers.ticketleap.com/kayak-safety-training/

Additionally, if you plan to volunteer with us but have not yet made a volunteer account, please do so at the following link: 

https://urbanrivers.galaxydigital.com/agency/detail/?agency_id=148372

Join Edward Warden of Chicago Ornithological Society for a birding event on the Wild Mile! As we enter migration season, hundreds of species of brids will be passing through the midwest, or returning to the area for the summer. Come see the feathered friends that frequent the Wild Mile! No equiptment is needed, but we reccomend bringing binoculars or a camera if you have them.  

Our newest addition to the Wild Mile is a cozy fire pit! Bundle up and join us on the Wild Mile to celebrate winter and enjoy a sweet snack.

This event is free and open to everyone. Walk-ups are welcome, but if possible, please RSVP using the link below.

River Ranger Socials are monthly appreciation events for our volunteers. If you're a new/prospective volunteer, feel free to join us - this is a great space to meet our staff and connect with fellow River Rangers! Depending on the month, we might play some trivia or some board games, hold a potluck, or enjoy some pizza. Stay tuned to our volunteer newsletter for more information! 

If you're curious about becoming River Ranger, or have just signed up and don’t know where to start, join us to learn more about the volunteer opportunities available through Urban Rivers! We'll discuss our various projects, requirements for participation, and the many perks of being a River Ranger.

Please note that if you are interested in our kayak cleanup opportunity, you will need to complete a safety training, which we schedule to immediately follow these informational sessions. If interested, please register for the safety training at the link below: 

https://urban-rivers.ticketleap.com/kayak-safety-training/

Additionally, if you plan to volunteer with us but have not yet made a volunteer account, please do so at the following link: 

https://urbanrivers.galaxydigital.com/agency/detail/?agency_id=148372

If you've ever had burning questions about the Wild Mile or Urban Rivers, look no further. One of our knowledgable team members will take you on a tour of the Wild Mile, explaining the project's history, architecture, ecology, and more. The tour will take 20-30 minutes, with plenty of time for questions. We'll meet at the entrance to the Wild Mile, behind REI. 

This event will repeat on a monthly basis, though the date and time may change according to seasonal needs. If you'd like a tour but can't make it to any available tour dates, email team@urbanriv.org, and we'd be happy to set up a time to show you around! 

This event is free and open to everyone. Walk-ups are welcome, but if possible, please RSVP using the link below.

Our newest addition to the Wild Mile is a cozy fire pit! Bundle up and join us on the Wild Mile to celebrate winter and enjoy a sweet snack.

This event is free and open to everyone. Walk-ups are welcome, but if possible, please RSVP using the link below.

River Ranger Socials are monthly appreciation events for our volunteers. If you're a new/prospective volunteer, feel free to join us - this is a great space to meet our staff and connect with fellow River Rangers! Depending on the month, we might play some trivia or some board games, hold a potluck, or enjoy some pizza. Stay tuned to our volunteer newsletter for more information! 

If you've ever had burning questions about the Wild Mile or Urban Rivers, look no further. One of our knowledgable team members will take you on a tour of the Wild Mile, explaining the project's history, architecture, ecology, and more. The tour will take 20-30 minutes, with plenty of time for questions. We'll meet at the entrance to the Wild Mile, behind REI. 

This event will repeat on a monthly basis, though the date and time may change according to seasonal needs. If you'd like a tour but can't make it to any available tour dates, email team@urbanriv.org, and we'd be happy to set up a time to show you around! 

This event is free and open to everyone. Walk-ups are welcome, but if possible, please RSVP using the link below.

Our newest addition to the Wild Mile is a cozy fire pit! Bundle up and join us on the Wild Mile to celebrate winter and enjoy a sweet snack.

This event is free and open to everyone. Walk-ups are welcome, but if possible, please RSVP using the link below.

River Ranger Socials are monthly appreciation events for our volunteers. If you're a new/prospective volunteer, feel free to join us - this is a great space to meet our staff and connect with fellow River Rangers! Depending on the month, we might play some trivia or some board games, hold a potluck, or enjoy some pizza. Stay tuned to our volunteer newsletter for more information! 

If you've ever had burning questions about the Wild Mile or Urban Rivers, look no further. One of our knowledgable team members will take you on a tour of the Wild Mile, explaining the project's history, architecture, ecology, and more. The tour will take 20-30 minutes, with plenty of time for questions. We'll meet at the entrance to the Wild Mile, behind REI. 

This event will repeat on a monthly basis, though the date and time may change according to seasonal needs. If you'd like a tour but can't make it to any available tour dates, email team@urbanriv.org, and we'd be happy to set up a time to show you around! 

This event is free and open to everyone. Walk-ups are welcome, but if possible, please RSVP using the link below.

Our newest addition to the Wild Mile is a cozy fire pit! Bundle up and join us on the Wild Mile to celebrate winter and enjoy a sweet snack.

This event is free and open to everyone. Walk-ups are welcome, but if possible, please RSVP using the link below.

If you've ever had burning questions about the Wild Mile or Urban Rivers, look no further. One of our knowledgable team members will take you on a tour of the Wild Mile, explaining the project's history, architecture, ecology, and more. The tour will take 20-30 minutes, with plenty of time for questions. We'll meet at the entrance to the Wild Mile, behind REI. 

This event will repeat on a monthly basis, though the date and time may change according to seasonal needs. If you'd like a tour but can't make it to any available tour dates, email team@urbanriv.org, and we'd be happy to set up a time to show you around! 

This event is free and open to everyone. Walk-ups are welcome, but if possible, please RSVP using the link below.

Our newest addition to the Wild Mile is a cozy fire pit! Bundle up and join us on the Wild Mile to welcome in winter and enjoy a sweet snack.

Join Urban Rivers staff, volunteers, and partners for a festive end-of-year celebration at Off Color Brewing! We’ll enjoy beer and (free) snacks, play some board games, and reflect on our favorite river-centric memories of 2023. Plus, certain beers purchased will donated $1 per pour to our mission!

All are welcome - come ready to make some new friends in the river-loving community!

Candy! Cider! Nature education! Crafts! Dogs!

Come meet the marvelous dogs of the Wild Mile, and bring your own furry friend in their Sunday (or Saturday) best to compete in our Wild Mile Pet Costume Contest! The winning pet, as judged completely subjectively by our staff, will win a prize!

No pet? No worries! Bring your whole family out to sip warm cider while learning about urban coyotes and native seeds! Kid-friendly crafts and candy will be offered on the boardwalk, and our knowledgable staff and volunteers will be around to answer all your nature-y questions!

Event: 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Costume Contest: 3:00pm

Nature speaks loudly, Ever wonder how to listen? Join Lillian Holden, Openlands Water Trail Specialist, to learn the power birds, mussels, and fish have in helping scientists determine the water quality of Illinois Waterways. 

Participants will learn: 

(1) The definition of water quality.

(2) The definition of indicator species.

(3) How birds, fish, and mussels aid in identifying water quality.

(4) And will try their skill at identifying mussel shells. 

Jokingly coined the "Animal House" by distant relatives, Lillian Holden's care and intrigue for nature started at home at a very young age. Her father's desire to make sure Lillian and her siblings weren't afraid of nature, resulted in her braving through helping to feed and care for her dad's reptiles, arachnids, birds, fish, and more! Lillian Holden is a student, the Water Trail Specialist for Openlands, Black Birders Week Planning Committee Member, Chicago Audubon Board Member, and an Aspen Ideas Fellow 2023.  

Join CatJam Chicago for an acoustic jam session on the Wild Mile every Tuesday evening! This dynamic group of local musicians welcomes any passerby to join the jam. Come relax on the Wild Mile and sip some free beer from Off Color Brewing while enjoying the music, or bring your instrument and play with some of Chicago’s coolest cats!

Come enjoy a lovely sunset on the water and explore the floating islands, bridges, and riverside wildlife of Bubbly Creek!

When? 4pm-7pm, every Monday through the end of September. Rain or shine, with the exception of active thunderstorms or other hazardous conditions.
Where? Park 571
Who? You, your friends, and your family! No experience required. This program is targeted at the communities directly surrounding Bubbly Creek, but all are welcome. Children under 10 years old must share a kayak with a parent or guardian, and must be able to provide their own properly-fitting life jacket. All participants must sign a waiver before kayaking.

We are able to provide 9 kayaks in shifts of 30 minutes. Due to constraints on storage space and staff bandwidth, we are unfortunately unable to guarantee all walk-up attendees the chance to kayak.

Click the link below to reserve spots for one of our future dates. The remaining spots will be reserved for walk-ups, and filled on a first-come first-serve basis. If you reserve a spot and are not present at the beginning of your scheduled time slot, we will give away your spot to a walk-up participant.

Doing Good While Doing Well

How capitalism works, what it means for environmentalism, and how to build successful products that help people.

Kevin Tao is the co-founder of NeuEve, a natural health company that solves life-changing underserved women's health issues. He also founded the Chicago Brandstarters, which mentors young founders in Chicago, and the Litter Caterpillars, a trash pickup club. In his lecture on the Wild Mile, Kevin will discuss how to listen to the silent, solve their problems, how to launch the solutions as products. He’ll delve into how this model of capitalism works, and the implications it has for environmentalism.

Catch us on the Chicago River - at the Wild Mile - for a plant identification walk, guided by Jah of Brown People Foundation! Come join us as we stroll and discover amongst the plants & trees. Learn how to spot native & invasive plants - and about their uses! Following the plant walk, we will use what we learn to create some healing plant medicine. BRING YOUR OWN JAR OR CONTAINER, as you will be able to take home your own plant medicine sample! Yay recycling!

Jah is a Black & Indigenous, queer, non-binary, proud Southside Chicago native. They are a neurodivergent advocate and multi-hyphenate creative and community organizer - with an extensive background in education, food justice, earth stewardship, spiritual hygiene, and community development. As an herbalist and educator, Jah is often hosting Plant Medicine Workshops across the south and west sides of the city through her own non-profit Brown People Foundation.

Moved to the Insect Asylum (2870 N Milwaukee Ave) due to bad weather!

Check back next week for the last Wild Mile CatJam of the season!

Come enjoy a lovely sunset on the water and explore the floating islands, bridges, and riverside wildlife of Bubbly Creek!

When? 4pm-7pm, every Monday through the end of September. Rain or shine, with the exception of active thunderstorms or other hazardous conditions.
Where? Park 571
Who? You, your friends, and your family! No experience required. This program is targeted at the communities directly surrounding Bubbly Creek, but all are welcome. Children under 10 years old must share a kayak with a parent or guardian, and must be able to provide their own properly-fitting life jacket. All participants must sign a waiver before kayaking.

We are able to provide 9 kayaks in shifts of 30 minutes. Due to constraints on storage space and staff bandwidth, we are unfortunately unable to guarantee all walk-up attendees the chance to kayak.

Click the link below to reserve spots for one of our future dates. The remaining spots will be reserved for walk-ups, and filled on a first-come first-serve basis. If you reserve a spot and are not present at the beginning of your scheduled time slot, we will give away your spot to a walk-up participant.

Bronwyn Nichols Lodato, PhD, is President of the Midway Plaisance Advisory Council (MPAC), an award-winning citizen-run organization that advocates for the protection and maintenance of the Frederick Law Olmsted landscape on the South Side, situated in the Mississippi Flyway.  She has worked diligently to educate the public about the park's historic and ecological resources while fighting to protect its endangered ecosystem, which boasts a sprawling tree canopy and wetland, currently slated for drainage.  More broadly, she has pushed for transparency and equity in park planning, highlighting issues of environmental justice and climate change that disproportionately impact under resourced Black and Brown communities. Bronwyn will give a primer on Chicago park history, with an emphasis on environmental justice and park equity, with specific reference to Olmsted Parks on Chicago’s South Side.

Join CatJam Chicago for an acoustic jam session on the Wild Mile every Tuesday evening! This dynamic group of local musicians welcomes any passerby to join the jam. Come relax on the Wild Mile and sip some free beer from Off Color Brewing while enjoying the music, or bring your instrument and play with some of Chicago’s coolest cats!

This week’s kayaking has been cancelled due to unpleasant and potentially dangerous weather!

Come enjoy a lovely sunset on the water and explore the floating islands, bridges, and riverside wildlife of Bubbly Creek!

When? 4pm-7pm, every Monday through the end of September. Rain or shine, with the exception of active thunderstorms or other hazardous conditions.
Where? Park 571
Who? You, your friends, and your family! No experience required. This program is targeted at the communities directly surrounding Bubbly Creek, but all are welcome. Children under 10 years old must share a kayak with a parent or guardian, and must be able to provide their own properly-fitting life jacket. All participants must sign a waiver before kayaking.

We are able to provide 9 kayaks in shifts of 30 minutes. Due to constraints on storage space and staff bandwidth, we are unfortunately unable to guarantee all walk-up attendees the chance to kayak.

Click the link below to reserve spots for one of our future dates. The remaining spots will be reserved for walk-ups, and filled on a first-come first-serve basis. If you reserve a spot and are not present at the beginning of your scheduled time slot, we will give away your spot to a walk-up participant.

Learn how volunteer-based citizen science can play a role in understanding and caring for the Chicago River! This workshop showcases "Gregory the Goose", a floating, goose-shaped art piece and plastics collector, designed by the principles of citizen science. Attendees will also learn how to make their own plastic collectors from common household objects to participate in citizen science on the Chicago River themselves.

Sarah Rosengard is an oceanographer and Assistant Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), where she researches the local geochemistry of the Chicago River and teaches environmental chemistry to art and design students. Passionate about what the combination of art and science can do for the environment and climate change, she has collaborated with SAIC artist Val Thompson on the creation of a sculptural artwork that collects plastic particles from the Chicago River.

Join CatJam Chicago for an acoustic jam session on the Wild Mile every Tuesday evening! This dynamic group of local musicians welcomes any passerby to join the jam. Come relax on the Wild Mile and sip some free beer from Off Color Brewing while enjoying the music, or bring your instrument and play with some of Chicago’s coolest cats!