Friends of the Fox River ’s Spring Fox Rescue River Cleanup is set for Saturday, May 21. Join us at a river cleanup in the Fox River watershed, on the Fox River itself or one of its tributaries. Volunteers should wear long pants and sturdy shoes, boots if available.  

Cleanup sites planned to date include: Boone Creek in the City of McHenry and location on the Fox River include Fox River Shores Forest Preserve in Carpentersville; Voyagers Landing Forest Preserve in Elgin; Jon J. Duerr (formerly Blackhawk) Forest Preserve in South Elgin; Fox River Bluff Forest Preserve in St. Charles; Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve in St. Charles; Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva; Gunnar Anderson Forest Preserve in Geneva; Clark Island in Batavia;Glenwood Forest Preserve in Batavia; Red Oak Nature Center in North Aurora; Les Arends Forest Preserve between Batavia & Mooseheart; and at Yorkville City Park in Yorkville.

Spring 2005 Fox Rescue Cleanup Sites - Saturday, May 21

A Boone Creek Clean Up will run from 2-4 PM near the Jewel store on Rt. 120 in the City of McHenry .  To register, contact Cindy Skrukrud at 815-675-2594 or Mary Kozub at 815-479-5779.  Sponsored by City of McHenry , Defenders Water Resources Protection Committee, McHenry County Conservation District and Friends of the Fox River .

The Carpentersville Area Fox River Cleanup will be centered at the Fox River Shores Forest Preserve, located along the east side of the river on Williams Rd. between Lake Marian Rd. and Bolz Rd.  A cleanup crew working from canoes will travel from Buffalo Park Forest Preserve in Algonquin to Fox River Shores Forest Preserve. Others will work from Fox River Shores along the river and bike path.  The clean up will run from 9 a.m.-noon with Bandito Barney's of East Dundee providing lunch afterwards at the Fox River Shores Preserve.  If you plan to canoe or have questions, contact Gary Swick at Dundee-Crown High School at 847-426-1322 or Angelique Dunning at Kane County Forest Preserve District at 847-741-9798.  Sponsored by Dundee-Crown High School Outdoor Club, Kane County Forest Preserve District, Fox Path and Friends of the Fox River .

Visit Voyager's Landing in Elgin from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and help clean up the Fox River shoreline. Boat launches and docks allow you to view the shore from a river perspective. Volunteer Mary Alice Masonick will orient you to the preserve, provide maps and garbage bags. Please bring work gloves. Voyager's Landing Forest Preserve is located at 50 Airport Road in Elgin . For more information contact Angelique Dunning, Volunteer Coordinator, Forest Preserve District of Kane County, (847) 741-9798.

Take the Fox River Trolley out to Jon J. Duerr (formerly Blackhawk) Forest Preserve at 35W003 Rt. 31 South Elgin and help clean up the shoreline along this picturesque riverside preserve from 9-11 a.m. Bring a pair of work gloves and meet Volunteer Judy Boehmer who will provide maps and garbage bags. After your clean-up treat yourself to the 8 ft. natural waterfall found along the River Bend Trail. For more information contact Angelique Dunning, Volunteer Coordinator at (847) 741-9798. Sponsored by Kane County Forest Preserve District and Friends of the Fox River .

A Fox River Rescue at Fox River Bluff Forest Preserve will be held in St. Charles from 9-11 a.m. Canine companions welcome! Bring work gloves and meet at Fox River Bluff Forest Preserve, Rt. 31 and Red Gate Rd. Garbage bags plus treats for four-legged helpers will be provided. For more information contact Angelique Dunning, Volunteer Coordinator at (847) 741-9798. Sponsored by Kane County Forest Preserve District and Friends of the Fox River .

Rescue the River at Tekakwitha Woods Forest Preserve in St. Charles ! Check in with Naturalist Brian Carroll at the Nature Center anytime from 12 - 2 p.m. You will receive garbage bags and a map. Bring a pair of work gloves. Prizes will be available for the most number of bags hauled up to the Nature Center by 2 p.m.! For more information contact Angelique Dunning, Volunteer Coordinator at (847) 741-9798. Sponsored by Kane County Forest Preserve District and Friends of the Fox River .

Fabyan Forest Preserve East located in Geneva is one of the most heavily used preserves along the river. Join Volunteer Jennifer Howard on the East side off of Rt. 31 (near the Dutch Windmill) from 9-11 a.m. and pitch in to keep the shoreline clean. Garbage bags and maps provided. Please bring a pair of work gloves. For more information contact Angelique Dunning, Volunteer Coordinator at (847) 741-9798. Sponsored by Kane County Forest Preserve District and Friends of the Fox River .

Stop by the Gunnar Anderson Forest Preserve located behind the Government Center in Geneva and help clean up the shoreline. Located on Rt. 31 and 3rd St. this preserve offers a great view of the river. Garbage bags and directions will be provided. Please bring work gloves. For more information, contact Angelique Dunning, Volunteer Coordinator at (847) 741-9798.

The Batavia Fox Rescue cleanup on the Fox River will meet at the parking lot on Rt. 25 by Clark Island and the Skate Park in Batavia at 9 a.m. till noon. Most of the cleanup will be focused on trails and banks with minimal wading into water. But if you have waders, please bring them. Families, scout troops, and school clubs are all welcome to participate. Trash bags and refreshments will be supplied. Assistance and trash removal will be generously provided by the City of Batavia and the Park District.  For more information, contact Jessi DeMartini at megwich5@aol.com or 630-879-0740.  Co-sponsored by Batavians for a Healthy River and Friends of the Fox River .

Glenwood Park Forest Preserve located in Batavia is a favorite spot for fisherman, nature lovers and wildlife. Donate some of your time to help the river along this beautiful oak woodland from 9 - 11 a.m. Volunteer Jackie Coffey will provide directions and garbage bags. Please bring a pair of work gloves. For more information contact Angelique Dunning, Volunteer Coordinator at (847) 741-9798. Sponsored by Kane County Forest Preserve District and Friends of the Fox River .

Come on out to Red Oak Nature Center in North Aurora for Fox Rescue ’05! Our 40 acres have several ravines with water that flows directly into the river—provided they’re not clogged with debris left over from the long winter. Help us remove refuse so the Fox’s tributaries can again run free. Wear boots and bring work gloves; stop by the nature center anytime between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. for trash bags and directions. Call Pam Otto, Red Oak naturalist at 630/897-1808 for more info. Sponsored by the Fox Valley Park District and Friends of the Fox River .

Take the family out to Les Arends Forest Preserve and help improve the habitat along the shoreline between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Located between Batavia and Moosehart this preserves offers a playground for the younger set. A Kane County Forest Preserve District Volunteer will be available to orient you to the preserve and supply garbage bags. Don't forget to bring a pair of work gloves. For more information contact Angelique Dunning, Volunteer Coordinator at (847) 741-9798. Sponsored by Kane County Forest Preserve District and Friends of the Fox River .

The Yorkville Fox Rescue team will meet at the Park & Recreation Administration Building at 301 E. Hydraulic Drive in Yorkville (just above the dam on the south side of the river).  Sign-in will begin at 8:30 AM, and the clean up will run from 9-11 AM.   To volunteer, contact Chuck Roberts at 630-553-1912.  Sponsored by Friends of the Fox River, City of Yorkville , & Nicor Gas.

If you wish to sponsor a cleanup at another site in the Fox River watershed, contact us so we can help arrange trash pick up, provide publicity of your event and supply you with gloves and trash bags.  You can contact us at 815-356-6605 or via email to info@friendsofthefoxriver.org.