Join us for our May volunteer club day! Projects on Stewardship Day depend on the season and what the park needs are. Past needs have included picking up trash and tree branches, seedling planting, and foot path maintenance.
Please dress for conditions, wear clothes that can get dirty, closed toed shoes, and bring water and a snack if desired. The park supplies tools and work gloves. More details from the park below!
Hours are 9-12 but if you can only join for part of the fun, that’s ok! We’ll be having a picnic lunch nearby in the park after to keep the fun and fellowship going. Please sign up below if you can come!
Interested but not available this time around? Check out this page regularly - volunteer days will be on the last Saturday of each month.
SPECIAL NOTES FROM THE PARK:
~Special project NOTE: We closely monitor Purple Martins, the largest Swallow in North America, throughout their breeding season (mid-April to mid-August). We have six nesting towers with capacity for 84 nests located along the lake shoreline just east of the Sanctuary. Email me if you are interested in helping with "Chicago's Lakefront Purple Martins Project" in coordination with the Field Museum and Chgo Park District at our Jarvis location. Both the Jarvis Migratory Bird Sanctuary and the Montrose Harbor martin colonies have been established for many years.
Here's a link to see how another Chicago lakefront Purple Martin colony was established just a few years ago.
https://youtu.be/8PSKxOwLOwc?si=ndcqcu0EtnDLEwfv
Tools and Instructions
Team leaders will provide instructions and tools at the beginning of each workday at 9:00 am and provide additional guidance throughout the day.
How to get to Jarvis - bike, walk in or drive
If you bike or walk in from the corner of DuSable Lake Shore Dr & Addison Street, use the underground passageway to cross DLSD into the park area. The underpass entrance is near the CTA bus stop sign for north bound 146 and 151 buses. Once crossed, proceed east on W. Addison Drive located north of the totem pole. Bikes can be parked inside the fenced in work shed area.
Drive in via Recreation Dr. to W. Addison Dr. and proceed east.
Important Note Regarding Parking
Recently, pay for parking gates have been installed on W. Addison Dr. leading to the golf course parking lot and to the Jarvis shed. When you drive in, cameras capture your vehicle license plate #. It starts a parking session. Then when you exit, it detects that your session is ending and charges a fee to a card you provide on your account with Metropolis Parking. Exit gate is activated upon payment.
The park district is aware that we need free parking and said there is a workaround for Jarvis volunteers, but we have not yet been provided the workaround. Currently, if you pay, be sure to screenshot your receipt. Chgo. Park District said they will reimburse but we have no idea how long the reimbursement process may take. Email the screenshot to our Lead Steward, John Swarens, at jwswarens@gmail.com
We are actively working with the Chicago Park District to address this issue.
Temporary Alternative Free Parking but Fewer Available Spaces
Park on Recreation Dr adjacent to and directly west of the Waveland Tennis Courts. The pay boxes are turned off and box signage posts "free through Monday, May 29, 2026." There will be other cars parked there. Space is tight! Then walk all the way east on the W. Addison Dr. service road to our work shed.
Meeting Place Location
We meet in our work shed. It's on W. Addison Drive past the parking lots ALL THE WAY EAST, almost to the lake, as marked with red dots on the attached maps (scroll down). The brown brick shed building to your right is heated, has a single washroom and a mini refrigerator if you need it for your snack. We provide coffee. Consider bringing a coffee mug and a refillable water bottle.
What to Wear
Wear clothing that can get dirty. Wear clothing material that plant matter, such as sticky seeds and spurs, can be removed avoiding knits.
Wear long sleeves and pants. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes which are water and slip proof for wet, muddy conditions. Bring leather work gloves. We do have a limited supply of work gloves. You will need to protect your skin from prickly plants, thorns and dirt. Consider bringing your hat, sunscreen and insect repellent. We work throughout the year in rain, snow or shine. Always dress appropriately for the weather.