Are you concerned about the environment? Stream monitoring might be one way for you to help make a difference in your community. Attend a Stream Monitoring Training workshop for adults, teachers, home school parents and youth group leaders.
Stream monitoring is easy to learn and fun to do and no prior monitoring experience is required. Friends of the Fox River stream monitors collect physical, chemical, and biological stream data once a year. Friends of the Fox River uses the stream data to assess short- and long-term water quality trends. If a negative trend is identified, Friends of the Fox River can act promptly to protect water quality.
At these free interactive workshops, participants will learn how to measure the health of the Fox River or one of its tributaries. The first half of the workshop will be held indoors and then travel outdoors to a location in the watershed for a stream monitoring demonstration and hands-on practice. Participants are encouraged to wear clothing appropriate for the weather and wading in a stream. Bring knee-high waterproof boots if available.
The May training schedule has three locations accessible to residents throughout the Fox River watershed:
Saturday, May 6 from 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road in Crystal Lake. Sponsored by Friends of the Fox River's Watershed Monitoring Network and McHenry County Conservation District. Please register for this free workshop by Wednesday, April 26. To register - call or e-mail Mary Kozub at Prairieview Education Center at 815-479-5779 or mkozub@mccdistrict.org.
Wednesday, May 10 from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Red Oak Nature Center, 2343 S. River Street in Batavia. Please register for this free workshop by Friday, April 28. To register - call Pam Otto, Naturalist, Red Oak Nature Center @ 630-897-1808 or e-mail at potto@fvpd.net. Sponsored by Friends of the Fox River's Watershed Monitoring Network and the Fox Valley Park District.
Thursday, May 18 from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the Kendall County Natural History Center Forest Preserve District of Kendall County at 110 W. Madison Street in Yorkville. Please register for this free workshop by Wednesday, May 10. To register - call Danielle Ebersole, Administrator/Educator, Kendall County Natural History Center @ 630-553-4111 or e-mail at debersole@co.kendall.il.us.
Stream monitoring sites have been established in all areas of the Fox River Watershed. New monitors will be able to adopt a monitoring site on the day of the workshop.
Friends of the Fox River’s mission is "... to preserve, restore and protect the Fox River Watershed's resources by connecting people with nature through education, research, restoration and advocacy." For more information on Friends of the Fox River visit www.friendsofthefoxriver.org.
