FOCR Education Volunteer Training

Friends of the Chicago River is looking for volunteers to assist staff on education field trips for K-12 and college students to a wide variety of sites in the Chicago-Calumet River system. Volunteer your time to inspire curiosity, stewardship, and river protection. Help foster the next generation of environmental leaders to take action towards a healthy, climate-resilient river system for all.

Training will cover how to assist Friends staff member on field trips for K-12 and college students to the Chicago Calumet River—including macroinvertebrate sampling, water quality monitoring, ecology/nature exploration and habitat restoration activities. We start training indoors at Northeastern Illinois University, room number BBH-308. Then move to River Park for the remiander of the training. Lunch will be provided but you need to arrange your own transportation.

View the full Education Volunteer Description here.

After training, prospective volunteers will:

• Officially sign on as an Education Volunteer
• Enroll as a Level II CPS Volunteer
• Pass a background check to work with youth

Founded in 1996, the Chicago-Calumet River Schools Network (CRSN) empowers Chicago-area K-12 teachers in essential science-based curricula. Friends teaches students and trains educators by using our river system as a living classroom to explore STEM topics as well as a range of subjects from history to language arts. It utilizes inquiry and place-based learning to increase empathy and understanding and immerses students in the physical and mental benefits of learning in nature.