Islands, Islands, Everywhere
The Urban Rivers team has been hard at work piloting programs and planning the install of our third location! Read all about it in this August update, and scroll to the bottom for a Bubba feature!
Join Us For River Wellness Weekend!
Six unique events, healthy snacks, prizes, and more!
Join Urban Rivers and local community partners for a weekend full of fun wellness activities! Kayak the Chicago river, enjoy a yoga class, enter a drawing to win outdoorsy prizes, and so much more! Saturday and Sunday will be filled with exciting activities, entirely free and open to everyone. See the full schedule and RSVP using the button below. We can't wait to see you there!
Weeding at Work: Corporate Experiences at the Wild Mile
Everything you need for a unique team bonding experience!
Tired of stuffy office pizza parties? Get your whole team out on the Wild Mile for a volunteer day or team event! Whether you’re looking to contribute staff hours to a good cause, encourage team bonding, or just hang out at the coolest floating eco-park in the world, we’ve got you covered. Email team@urbanriv.orgto learn more.
River Park Islands Are On Their Way!
… International shipping gods permitting
Our newest project, installing islands at River Park, is scheduled for mid to late September. We’re incredibly excited to share this new location with the public. If the forces of international shipping are kind to us and allow us to maintain a reasonable timeline, we’ll be needing lots of enthusiastic volunteers to help get everything up and running once it arrives. Keep an eye out for updates!
Bubbly Creek Programming Has Bubbled Over!
Don’t worry, this is a good thing.
We recently piloted free community kayaking out of Park 571, giving local communities the chance to explore our Bubbly Creek islands by water. The program has been almost TOO successful, with around 100 interested participants showing up within the first two weeks of the program. To help give everyone the chance to paddle, we’re now using a reservation system in addition to taking walk-ups. Reserve your spot using the link below!
Chris Needs Help!
With weeding and whatnot
As we approach the middle of August, the vegetation is thick on the Wild Mile, and heavy use means the space is in constant need of maintenance. Our wonderful field operations manager Chris is up to his neck in weeds (literally), and is looking for enthusiastic volunteers willing to be contacted for garden maintenance requests on relatively short notice. This could be weeding, boardwalk troubleshooting, or something else entirely. Text Chris at +1 (872) 314-4414 if you’d like to be included!
Bubba Pupdate: Q&A With Our Head of Goose Relations
He is beauty, he is grace, he can’t keep his tongue inside his face
If you’ve ever stopped by the Urban Rivers office, you’ve probably met our fearless Head of Goose Relations, Bubba Tucker. Bubba has a rich internal life, just as complex and valuable as that of any other team member. We held a Q&A with Bubba himself to give his fans the chance to learn a bit more.
Q: What’s the best part of your job?
A: That’s a tough one. Probably chasing the geese away to stop them from eating our plants, then eating the plants myself. To really rub it in their smug faces.
Q: What’s your dream job?
A: Head of Goose and Muskrat relations at Urban Rivers. There’s a title promotion around the corner, I can feel it.
Q: What’s your favorite weekday lunch?
A: Dead bird. Preferably pigeon, but house finches will do in a pinch.
Q: Why is your tongue hanging out all the time?
A: I don’t have all my teeth, so I can’t hold it in properly.
Q: Why don’t you have all your teeth?
A: I eat rocks.
Q: Why do you eat rocks?
A: Helps me digest the birds. Duh.
Q: Why did you steal a whole tamale off my desk last week?
A: No comment. I’d prefer not to continue this conversation without my lawyer present.
Q: Fine, fine. One more question. What’s your hidden talent?
A: Convincing people I’m starving to death so they’ll give me human food. I honestly prefer a nice 3-day vintage pigeon, so I mostly do it for sport at this point. It’s the thrill of the chase, the art of the deal… you know?
Thanks for your time, Bubba. Always a pleasure to have you in the office.