It’s Time to Become a River Ranger
The 2025 Annual Report is here - and we need your help for 2026!
The 2025 Annual Report is HERE!!!
Our 2025 Annual Report is HERE!!! 2025 was a year of innovation and expansion. Exciting new research showed the impact of our restoration techniques, and new ideas, outreach initiatives, and volunteer opportunities garnered attention locally, nationally, and globally. Check it out!
Legos Galore
Volunteer shoutout! A few weeks ago, River Rangers Joe, Claire, and Ben brought Joe’s AWESOME Lego-Wild-Mile activity to the Chicago Architecture Center engineering fest. Kids built their own floating eco parks using Lego native plants, garden modules, and even 3D-printed river critters!!
This activity has been iteratively improved upon after being painstakingly crafted by Joe over a year ago. It debuted at last year’s engineering fest, and we’re so pumped to have been able to bring it back, better than ever!! If you want to get involved with our educational work (legos included), register for our upcoming trainings here, or learn more about our education work here!
Partner Event Feature - Save Our Seas
Cool event alert! On April 11th, join artist Ana Teresa Fernández on Ohio Street Beach for a performance that YOU can participate in! In conjunction with the exhibit “Under Pressure” at the National Museum of Mexican Art, “SOS: Save Our Seas" will help the public speak for the Great Lakes and their ecological wellbeing.
April Events Calendar
The usual schedule! Event descriptions and RSVP links can always be found on the events page of our website. Remember, the walking tour and s’mores night are subject to cancellation in the case of very poor weather - make sure to RVSP so we can keep you posted!
Wild Mile Walking Tour: April 4th, 1 - 2:00pm
Beaver Celebration on the Wild Mile: April 7th, 5 - 7:00pm
South Side River Ranger Social: April 8th, 6 - 7:30pm (Marz)
River Ranger Social: April 15th, 6 - 7:30pm (Off Color)
Fishing on the Wild Mile: April 18th, 10:00am - 2:00pm
Wild Mile S’mores Night: April 29th, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Office Insights
At this point in your scroll-through of our newsletter, you’ve certainly already taken a look at our beautiful, professional, outstandingly impressive annual report. What DIDN’T make the cut for the annual report is all the wonderful cornucopia of ridiculous junk we fished out of the river in 2025, including but not limited to:
Ankle monitor
Message in a bottle (a love letter, kinda)
Harmony the mannequin head
Pig with sunglasses
Plushy duck
Red duck
Many coconuts
Religious paraphernalia, seemingly of many faiths
A friend for Harmony!
Swing by the office to explore these (and more) epic finds - but do not touch! They are likely haunted :)