• "SMARxT DISPOSAL" nationwide medical waste disposal awareness initiative launched by US Fish & Wildlife Service & American Pharmaceutical Association (announced March 17) more info
• Earthportal.org website launched. The Earth Portal is a comprehensive resource for timely, objective, science-based information about the environment. It is a means for the global scientific community to come together to produce the first free, expert-driven, massively scaleable information resource on the environment, and to engage civil society in a public dialogue on the role of environmental issues in human affairs. It contains no commercial advertising and reaches a large global audience. (announced April 27) Earth Portal water link

Workshops/Events back to top

May

• May 13 (Sun.) - Fox River Watershed Monitoring Network 'Monitor With Your Mother' Event - Family event on Mother's Day features conservation-focused educational activities & demonstrations, canoe & kayak paddling, food & music - all free. Time: 10:00AM-2:00PM; Location: Fox River Shores Forest Preserve, Carpentersville; Fee: None. For more info, contact Gary Swick at 847-426-1322 or swick@mc.net. more info
• May 16 (Wed.) - Birding by Boat - Join world traveler and bird watcher Jack Pomatto on a bird watching trip on the Fox River. Board the paddle boat at Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles and cruise for waterfowl, shorebirds and spring migrants. Bring binoculars. Time: 5:30-8:00PM; Location: Pottawatomie Park, St. Charles; Fee: $15. Program #595. For more info, call 630-584-1885. For registration info, call 630-513-6200. more info
• May 19 (Sat.) - Friends of the Fox River's Spring Fox River Rescue - Cleanup events have been set up in Aurora, Algonquin, Batavia, Carpentersville, Elgin, Geneva, Montgomery and Oswego. more info and to sign up
• May 19 (Sat.) - IEPA Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Program - Fox River watershed spring one-day collection date Time: 8:00AM-3:00PM; Location: Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles; Fee: None. (Sponsored by IEPA, Co-sponsored by Kane County Department of Environmental Health.) About the HHW Program    Other Dates/Locations    List of Acceptable/Unacceptable Wastes
• May 24 (Thurs.) - Stream Monitoring Training - Learn how to monitor the water quality of the Fox River or one of its tributaries. Join Friends of the Fox River's Monitoring Network and help Friends of the Fox River keep a watchful eye on water quality within our watershed. Time: 4:00-7:00PM; Location: Old Kendall County Courthouse, Yorkville; Fee: None. more info

June

• June 1 (Fri.) - Kickoff of Friends of the Fox River's Fourth Annual Photo Contest more info
• June 18-20 (Mon.-Wed.) - EarthTales Workshop for Educators - EarthTales: OEDS-6411, 3 credit hours from Aurora University. Time: 8:30AM-4:00PM; Location: Wiedrich Education Center, Glacial Park, Ringwood. Fee: $245. For registration: Call Sue Burke or Barbara Tipton at 815-334-4054. more info, go to page 21 of newsletter
• June 18-27 (3rd & 4th week of June)- Fundamentals of Environmental Education Workshop offered by Northern Illinois University - Event #8509: non-credit on-line workshop provides an introduction to environmental education for classroom teachers and non-formal educators. Fee: $125. Register online by June 1: www.cedu.niu.edu/oep and select "Environmental Education Workshop" or call 800-345-9472, ask for Outreach Services. Questions: Contact Dr. Sabiha Daudi at sdaudi@niu.edu or 815-753-5722.
• June 23 (Sat.) - Lower Fox River Getaway Canoe Trip - Sheridan to Wedron. Organized by Kendall County Forest Preserve District. Time: 8:00AM-3:00PM; Location: Meet in Wedron, be shuttled to canoe put-in in Sheridan. Fee: $35/person, includes canoe rental and lunch. Sign up & questions: 630-553-4131 more info, go to pg. 7 of newsletter