Friends of the Fox River

Featured Friend: Don Purn is the Bee’s Knees

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By Jenni Schiavone Meet Don Purn, our Featured Friend for this month. Don has spearheaded the Schweitzer Woods Bee Sanctuary, a large native pollinator garden at the Schweitzer Environmental Center, headquarters of the Friends of the Fox River.  He has devoted thousands of personal volunteer hours and funds to support it and the human structures … Read more

There’s a Predatory Insect in the Fox Valley!

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by Tom Schrader September marks the end of both astronomical and meteorological summer and the beginning of fall here in the Northern Hemisphere.  The days get shorter, the nights get a little cooler, and in our fields and prairies of the Fox River Valley area, September also marks the beginning of the breeding season for … Read more

It’s Your River and It’s Your Party

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By Gary Swick, President Who doesn’t like to attend a party? We picked the date for you: Saturday, September 18th. You pick the venue, who is invited, and how to celebrate It’s Our Fox River Day. As conditions continue to change, please follow CDC guidance. Much to Celebrate The residents of the Fox River watershed … Read more

Friends of the Fox River at Summer Camp

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The valuable hands-on outdoor education experience Friends of the Fox River educators had a busy summer partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township for “Outdoor Explorers”, an outdoor education enrichment program as part of the agency’s summer camp.  FOTFR provided hundreds of learning experiences in the local environment: on school campuses, at … Read more

Friend Feature: Maureen and Larry Huey Go Native! 

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By Jenni Schiavone, Friends of the Fox River Lead Educator Batavia residents and Friends of the Fox River members Maureen and Larry Huey recently took a giant leap. These passionate and active environmentalists invested in the conversion of their entire Fox River waterfront property from mowed turf to native plants. Maureen and Larry’s inspiration came from … Read more

Storm Drain

A Storm Drain Is Not a Garbage Disposal

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From our President, Gary Swick ~ That hole in the street with the metal grate that is next to the curb is a “storm drain.” Its intended purpose is to prevent flooding in streets during storm events. It must not be used as a disposal of anything. Most manufactured now are stamped with “Dump No Waste, Drains to … Read more