Two weekend events in Carpentersville offer a ton of family fun on the Fox River — and a chance to learn a little something about the environment along the way.

“The Fox River Watershed is fortunate to have a number of environmental agencies and nonprofit organizations working hard to manage and protect this valuable resource,” said Cecilia Govrik, resource management coordinator for Kane County’s Environmental and Water Resources Division. “Sometimes the message of why protecting the river is so important gets lost in a jumble of water quality terminology, scientific data, and way too many acronymns — from MS4s to BMPs to TMDLs. How is the general public supposed to get the main point?”

Perhaps the best method, Govrik said, is to get people outside to see and enjoy the river’s natural beauty and all of the fun it can provide.

Walk the Fox! Family Fun Walk

Bring your family and friends to participate in a 2.2 mile walk along the scenic Fox River. Friends of the Fox will share information on flora and fauna, points of interest and fun river facts. Every registrant will receive a goodie bag and a chance to win a family canoe trip on the Fox River.

The event takes place at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 16, at OTTO Engineering, 2 E. Main St. in Carpentersville

The cost to participate in the walk is $10 per person or $25 for a family of four. All proceeds from the walk benefit the Friends of the Fox River.

Northern Kane Fest on the Fox

Spend the day along the Fox River at the 2nd Annual Northern Kane Fest on the Fox! Enjoy local bands, food, artists and children activities at this family-friendly event. Whether you’re in the mood for a pony ride, live music or a stop at the beer garden, there’s plenty of fun to go around in Carpentersville this Saturday.

The Northern Kane Fest on the Fox goes from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 16, in the OTTO Engineering parking lot, 2 E. Main St. in Carpentersville.

For more information on either of these events, call the Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce at 847-426-8565. For other upcoming events and volunteer opportunities on the Fox River, please visit the Friends of the Fox events calendar.

Judges at the 2015 Fest on the Fox.

About the Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce

The Northern Kane County Chamber of Commerce is an advocate for commerce, industry and development in the northern Fox Valley villages of Carpentersville, East Dundee, Gilberts, Sleepy Hollow and West Dundee. The Northern Kane County Chamber’s mission is identifying and fulfilling the needs of the business community through leadership, education, support and promotion.

About the Friends of the Fox River

The mission of the Friends of the Fox River is to preserve, restore and protect the Fox River watershed’s resources by connecting people with nature through education, research, restoration and advocacy. Friends of the Fox River is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization made up of citizens and organizations taking action to protect and maintain the quality of the Fox River and its tributaries. Through our programs and activities, we encourage both adults and students to become involved in protecting the river and its watershed.