Description

River paddling, open-water kayaking, lake swimming, dog beaches – Chicago has an abundance of water to explore and enjoy.

But there's a lot to know about responsible recreation on the water, like what may be harmful to us, how to conserve our city waterways, and native/invasive species to look out for.

At our first in-person event of 2022, Alana Bartolai, a local ambassador for Women Who Explore and Ecological Services Program Coordinator at a regional health department, will share:

• Her favorite places to paddle and swim in Chicagoland
• What's keeping (or not keeping) our waterways clean and clear of invasive species
• How to look out for harmful algae blooms (e.g. certain algae that is very harmful to dogs)
• Ways to steer clear of destructive water recreation

Alana also plans to bring some freshwater mussels you can find in various waterways for a hands-on show-and-tell of the types of invasive/native species we have in our region.

BONUS: One attendee will take home a prize from @arcteryxchicago to be redeemed in-store at 1007 N Rush St. No purchase necessary.

Shout out to Arc'teryx and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. – sponsors of this event and the Chicago chapter of Mappy Hour.