TAKE A BREAK FROM THE CITY?

RUSH?

THE SHEDD AQUARIUM IS OFFERING AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE THE TRANQUIL BEAUTY OF THE CHICAGO RIVER WHILE LEARNING ABOUT EFFORTS TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

CHICAGO TONIGHT, JOANNA HERNANDEZ TELLS US MORE.

WHEN WE LIKE TURN THE CORNER HERE, YOU'LL SEE LIKE SEARS TOWER AND LIKE IS THAT YOUR DOT COM.

SO YOU WANT YOUR POUTY FACE NEW LIKE THIS.

THE WHOLE TIME MEET MAGGIE COOPER, ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE CONSERVATION ACTION DEPARTMENT AT THE SHEDD AQUARIUM AND YOUR HIPS.

JUST MOVE WITH YOUR.

BUT IT'S KIND OF DOING YOUR BEST SECURE.

AND PRESTON TODAY, MAKING SURE THOSE DON'T LIE.

KEEP THE YET TO BE OUTSIDE AND EXPLORE NATURE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

BUT I LOVE THE MOST IS THAT I GET TO TAKE OTHER PEOPLE ITS COOPER'S FIRST PANEL OF THE SEASON AS THE SHEDD AQUARIUM KICKS OFF ITS 5TH YEAR OF KAYAKING FOR CONSERVATION TOURS.

WE TAKE PEOPLE OUT ALL SUMMER LONG TO EXPLORE THE CHICAGO RIVER IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE ARE MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY FAMILIAR WITH.

ALONG THE WAY YOU'LL SPOT DUCKS, BIRDS AND EVEN BEAVERS.

AROUND, LIKE 74 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FISH IN THE RIVER NOW, WHICH IS AWESOME.

AND LIKE 25 OF THOSE ABOUT ARE LIKE RESIDENT SPECIES.

COOPER SAYS IT'S AN INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT THE RIVER WILDLIFE AND HOW THEY'RE BEING CARED FOR.

HERE.

WE'VE JUST KIND FOUND SOME OF THE INVASIVE PLANTS THAT WERE OVERHANGING THE RIVER AND DROP THEM SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS PROVIDES GREAT HABITAT FOR TURTLES.

ONE OF THE STOPS ALONG THE WAY IS THE WETLANDS INSTALLATIONS LOCATED IN THE NORTH BRANCH OF THE RIVER.

THEY ARE WILDLIFE SEANTOR AREAS WITH A VARIETY OF NATIVE PLANTS.

THESE ARE PROVIDING REALLY AMAZING CRITICAL HABITAT RIGHT HERE ON THE CHICAGO RIVER THAT OTHERWISE WE DO HAVE IF WE LOOK BEYOND THESE ISLANDS, WE WILL SEE THE STEEL WAS KIND OF RIGHT ALONG THE WAY HERE.

AND IF YOU CAN KIND OF PICTURE, THIS IS A FISH.

HAVE A FLAT BOTTOM SEAL WAS SORT OF JUST A HIGHWAY COMING THROUGH HERE.

NOWHERE REST.

HANG OUT.

SO IT'S PROVIDING HABITAT BELOW THE WATER'S THESE PLANTS.

THEIR ROOTS ARE COMING RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF IT OF THESE MAPS AND THEIR ROOT SYSTEMS ARE PROVIDING HABITAT FOR FISH AND THE PROVIDING HABITAT FOR BIRDS IN.

AND YES, YOU SURE CAN.

IT'S A COLLABORATION.

STARTED WITH A NON-FOR-PROFIT URBAN RIVERS CALLED THE WILD MILES.

CHICAGO.

IT'S THE CITY'S FIRST FLOATING ECO PARK.

THE PROJECT HAS CREATED FLOATING ISLANDS AIMED AT IMPROVING WATER QUALITY.

YOU KNOW THAT THESE PLANTS WILL DRAFT OPTIONS AND OTHER STUFF OUT OF A LOT OF THAT MAYBE SHOULDN'T BE THERE.

SO THER THEY HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE WAYS THAT THEY'RE HELPING TO IMPROVE EVER.

AND IT'S EASY TO FORGET.

YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY WHEN YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF NATURE.

CHICAGO RIVER IS A SPACE FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY.

IT'S EASY TO JUST GO OVER THE RIVER ON YOUR CAR, WALKING OVER A BRIDGE DOWNTOWN AND LOOKING AT AND T LIKE, YEAH, THAT'S COOL.

THAT'S SOMETHING THERE.

BUT IT'S NOT REALLY FOR ME.

I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN GET OUT TO PROGRAMS LIKE FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.