Summer Education: Register now for Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks

Learn from experience. Theirs.

When they are not working at their interesting jobs, they are teaching them. You can take one-of-a-kind classes with distinguished professionals of the Quad Cities on the Channel Cat Talks and along the river on Riverine Walks through River Action’s Summer Education Series. Give yourself an education.

• To download a brochure with registration form, CLICK HERE.
• Pre-registration for all sessions is required. If you prefer to pay at the event please call 563-322-2969 to reserve your space.
• To register online for Channel Cat Talks, CLICK HERE.
• To register online for Riverine Walks, CLICK HERE. (If you are a River Action member, you qualify for free admission to Riverine Walks. Rather than fill out the online shopping cart, simply call the River Action office at 563-322-2969 to reserve your Riverine Walk date and time.)

All Riverine Walk sessions meet at different locations - be sure to see program details for specific information. Make registration checks payable to River Action, 822 E. River Drive, Davenport, IA 52803. All sessions are RAIN OR SHINE, no refunds. If you have questions or comments, call 563.322.2969 or send an email to riveraction@riveraction.org.

View River Action's Summer Education Series - Explore the River in a larger map

Channel Cat Talks

Tuesdays and/or Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. All sessions aboard the Channel Cat Water Taxi near the Celebration Belle Landing on River Drive, Moline. Sessions are $12 each, and all sessions are individual, but offered more than once throughout the summer.

• May 31 & Jun 2, Birds of the Mississippi River - QC Audubon Society: Visit birding spots on the river, learn how to identify different species, and effective birding strategies.
• Jun 7 & 9, River Navigation - Capt. John Deluhery, RiverStone Group: Discuss the efficient transportation role of Mississippi River barging and its positive impact on fuel savings and traffic. View a typical barge unloading facility, its process, and reading the new Corps navigation chart.
• Jun 14 & 16, River Landscape Mosaic - Dr. Norm Moline & Dr. Reuben Heine, Augustana College: Study the variations in channel characteristics, shoreline conditions, and river uses from Arsenal Island to Campbell's Island.
• Jun 21 & 23, Campbell’s Island - Gena Schantz, Historian: The War of 1812, Black Hawk's attack on Campbell, and the factors that contributed to Campbell's defeat.
• Jun 28 & 30, Investigate Arsenal Island History - Sam Heilig, Corps of Engineers: Arsenal history from past to present. Includes backwater tour of Upper Sylvan Slough.
• Jul 5 & 7, Mississippi River Photography* - Ange Glade, The A.K. Glade Collection: Photo opportunities with one of the QCs best photographers and Mississippi River advocates - shooting R.I. & Davenport: cityscapes and wildlife. Materials to bring: Camera [film or digital]; optional items are zoom, wide angle, telephoto lenses, & tri-pod.
• Jul 12 & 14, Mississippi River Locks & Dams* - Bill Gretten, Corps of Engineers: Experience locking through Lock & Dam 15. A brief history of navigation on the Mississippi. Discuss water level control and dam operation.
• Jul 19 & 21, QCs Railroad History* - Bill Riebe, Train Historian: Discover the history of rail in the Quad Cities including the famed Rock Island Lines and the first railroad bridge to cross the Mississippi River.
• Jul 26 & 28, Mississippi River Flooding* - Eric Schallert, City of Davenport: Historic stories & pictures of Davenport floods. Learn how those floods affected city development & how we currently manage floodplains.
• Aug 2 & 4, Jazzing it up on the Mississippi River - Josh Duffee, Bix Historical Society: Experience Bix’s history through the bands he played with, his music, and stories about his life.
• Aug 9 & 11, Historic Bridges of the Quad Cities - Dr. Curt Roseman, Geographer: Examine the history of the first railroad bridge to cross the Mississippi, plus the Government, Centennial, I-74, and the Moline Arsenal bridges.
• Aug 16 & 18, River Folk Tales & Music - Joe Nobiling, Folk Musician: Storyteller, folk musician, & folklorist will talk, sing, and play music of the times relating to life on the river, a potpourri of lore and custom from the early days
• Aug 23 & 25, Rafting Logs to QC Mills - Gayle Rein, Historian: In the 19th century, the Mississippi was filled with rafts of pine logs cut in WI & MN. Explore the history of QC lumber industry. Listen to stories about mill owners, lumber camps, and the rafting crews.

*Denotes sessions that will lock through L&D 15 to access the lower pool

Riverine Walks

Wednesdays 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and/or Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Be sure to dress for the weather and for walking!All sessions are outside. Sessions are individual, but offered more than once throughout the summer.The cost is $5 each unless you are a River Action member, in which case the sessions are free. To become a member of River Action, see the order form below and complete the appropriate information.