Joel Sheesley, artist, poet, emeritus professor of art at Wheaton College, in collaboration with The Conservation Foundation set out to paint the Fox River Valley using a plein air approach. His book "A Fox River Legacy" is the culmination of his journey. He says "We must learn to see our river before we can love ... Read more
Wheaton artist Joel Sheesley has painted the beauty of the Fox River in all its moods, and is sharing his artwork and experiences with us as he presents A Fox River Testimony - a book encapsulating his 73 remarkable paintings of the Fox River. Join Friends of the Fox River (FOTFR) on Sunday, August 14th, ... Read more
Join Friends of the Fox River for "Be an Environmentalist" day at the Market. Join us as we staff the booth, and watch the entry gates to assist, while being able to hand out flyers and promote our organization.
Join retired Executive Director at Forest Preserve District of Kane County, Jon Duerr at Jon Duerr Forest Preserve for stories of the land. 10-11 main talk, 11-12 various small group interpretive stops followed by a provided lunch. Registration is opening soon. It is pretty rare to have the opportunity to have a dedicated property’s namesake ... Read more
The dams on the Fox River were constructed to provide mechanical power for local industry. In some cases. The impoundment created by the dams were a source of ice cut for refrigeration. Power is no longer generated by these dams, nor are ice blocks harvested. The dams have been found to significantly degrade habitat and ... Read more
The program will begin with a short walk to the Fox River. There the natural and cultural history will be presented by Gary Swick, and the basics of river restoration by Art Malm. The group will reconvene inside to take a deeper dive into the research and facts associated with dam removal.The dams on the ... Read more
The Fox River was the main reason James Gifford started a community here in 1835. How did people use the flowing water? How did they change the river? This exhibit developed in partnership with the Friends of the Fox River and the Elgin Public Museum explores manufacturing, drinking water, river islands and river recreation!