Shedd Aquarium Action Days
Looking to make a difference in your own backyard? Shedd Aquarium Action Days provide hands-on opportunities to restore and protect nearby beaches, waterways and forest preserves. Litter cleanups, river planting and coastal and woodland habitat restoration ensure that our natural spaces are thriving while also safeguarding the wildlife that call them home.
Cost
Free
Ages
All ages
Activities
Litter Cleanups
Comb the shorelines for litter and record data on your findings to support science-based litter prevention strategies. With your help, we can prevent plastic pollution from entering our waterways, endangering wildlife and contaminating our drinking water.
Shedd hosts cleanups along the Chicago River as well as the shoreline of Lake Michigan through the Alliance for the Great Lakes Adopt-a-Beach™ program.
Coastal Habitat Restoration
Take action for Great Lakes habitats by pulling weeds, planting native species or seed collecting.
Along with the Chicago Park District, help us restore natural spaces and beautify our city parks.
Native plant species help support pollinators such as bees and butterflies and migratory birds like piping plovers.
Woodland Habitat Restoration
Help make room for native flora and fauna by using hand tools to cut and burn invasive brush like buckthorn. In partnership with the Forest Preserves of Cook County, restoring these habitats makes a positive difference for amphibians and other wildlife.
Buckthorn outcompetes native plant species for important nutrients needed to thrive.
River Planting
Wear waders and travel via canoe to plant native aquatic plant species along the banks of the North Shore Channel. Shedd has teamed up with the Friends of the Chicago River to help reestablish these crucial habitats.
Community Action Day Locations
Please email [email protected] with questions or group volunteer inquiries.
Woodland Habitat Restoration
- Wednesday, April 16, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 21, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 18, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Thursday, April 17, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Thursday, May 15, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Thursday, June 26, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Litter Cleanup and Coastal Habitat Restoration
- Saturday, April 12, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Saturday, June 14, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Saturday, June 21, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Saturday, June 28, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 2, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
- Wednesday, May 7, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
- Wednesday, June 4, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Group Action Days
Have a class, scout group or community organization that would like to attend a Shedd Aquarium Action Day? Please email [email protected] with your group size and preferred location from the list above.
Corporate Action Days
Corporate group Shedd Aquarium Action Day opportunities are reserved for current corporate partners. Email to learn more.
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More Information
Age and Requirements
All ages are welcome! No minimum requirements.
What to Bring
Reusable water bottles, snacks, and weather-appropriate outdoor clothing and shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Based on the time of year, you may want to bring sunscreen or bugspray.
What to Know
• All events are weather-dependent
• Transportation is available for select school and youth groups
• Participant waivers are required
Corporate Opportunities
Corporate group Shedd Aquarium Action Day opportunities are reserved for current corporate partners. Email to learn more.