Ring in the New Year with a Paddle Trip down the North Branch of the Chicago River Happy Canoe Year! On January 1, 2013, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County will host the annual New Year’s Day Canoe Paddle down the North Branch of the Chicago River. Experienced paddlers are invited to participate in this free event, which begins below the Skokie Lagoons and finishes approximately 4 miles later in Linne Woods. Last year, more than 300 people participated.

Help Clean Up the Little Calumet River and Learn How to Enjoy and Care for Local Waterways!  Help clean up of the Little Calumet River and enjoy a day of paddling or visiting Cook County’s forest preserves.  This event will include an on-the-water clean up of the Little Calumet from canoes and kayaks and a land based cleanup in the forest preserves along the river.  We will host a gathering at the Forest Preserve District of Cook County’s Little Calumet Boat Launch Forest Preserve after the cleanup event (in unincorporated Riverdale, see below for directions).  Everyone is invited to participate! Paddlers with canoes and kayaks are encouraged to bring them and assist in the cleanup of the river. Those without boats are encouraged to help on land.  We will also have a limited number of canoes and kayaks to lend to those without their own boat. Sign up early if you are interested in this option.  This event is completely free, but participants must register in advance. To register, please visit www.calumetwaterwaystewards.com. Hope to see you there!

Fun, free family fishing in Busse Woods sponsored by Forest Preserve District of Cook County Commissioner Timothy O. Schneider. Link to Commissioner Timothy O. Schneider’s Fishing Derby flyer.

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County is pleased to be a partner with Fishin' Buddies on the 2012 Youth Fishing League.  Youth of all ages are invited to participate on five weekends at five different lakes throughout the county. Sign up at the Fishin' Buddies' web site:  http://www.fishin-buddies.net/fishing-league/.

Des Plaines River Canoe and Kayak Marathon   Sunday, May 20, 2012   Where: Euclid & Des Plaines River Rd., Prospect Heights   Join us in the 55th Annual running from Libertyville to Prospect Heights, IL. The course is just over 18 miles. It’s all downstream and can be completed in a couple hours by competitors or in several hours by casual parties.   Click here for more details.