Volunteer Opportunities

Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks will be held May 28 through September 3 and volunteers are needed to assist aboard the Channel Cat Water Taxi and at the various Riverine Walk locations. For a complete listing of Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks, CLICK ON THIS LINK.

Volunteers will help with distributing audio equipment and sign-in of attendees at the various RiverStages Education programs.

CLICK HERE to download a copy of the RiverStages Education Series brochure.

River Action and Black Hawk College host Invasive Species Removal events at Green Valley Nature Preserve, Moline, IL. Volunteers cut invasive shrubs using loppers and handsaws.

All volunteers must wear long pants and closed toed shoes. We recommend volunteers bring gloves and loppers or hand-saws, but equipment will be provided for those who need it. Rubber boots are recommended.

Directions to Green Valley Nature Preserve: Enter 60th Street, Moline, from John Deere Road and park in the lot across 60th Street from the ball diamonds.

Floatzilla takes place on the Mississippi River and its backwaters. Volunteers are needed to help with set-up, registration, packet pick-up, unloading vessels, launching boats, parking, sales, and more.
Locations include:

• Lake Potter, Sunset Marina, Rock Island
• Ben Butterworth Parkway, Moline
• Credit Island Park, Davenport
• Empire Park, East Moline
• Main Street boat launch, Davenport
• Marquette Street boat ramp, Davenport
• Sylvan Island, Moline

CLICK HERE to go to the Floatzilla volunteer web page.

The conference is held in the Quad Cities each fall and focuses on issues facing the residents and communities along the Upper Mississippi River. Volunteers are needed for:

• Registration from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 11 a..m. on Thursday and 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday.
• Set up, service and tear down for reception from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m on Wednesday.
• Presentation assistance, helping with laptops and projectors for presentations from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday.

River Action’s Adopt-a-Path program is working to keep the Quad Cities’ recreational trails clean. The volunteer program is an informal agreement whereby citizens, organizations, local businesses and student groups help by picking up trash along trails throughout the year. Volunteers or “Trail Keepers” adopt ½-mile sections of the Mississippi River Trail (IA and IL) and the Duck Creek Recreational Trail (IA).
early 40 of the 50 miles have been adopted. Volunteers are still needed and can get more details by contacting River Action at 563.322.2969 or by email at kwine@riveraction.org.

Volunteer duties include:

• Pick up small items of littler along the path.
• The area to be kept clean would just be the immediate path and buffer areas; don’t go down to the water’s edge – or into ditches.
• If you find large items, don’t feel you have to pick them up. Give River Action a call, or your communities’ parks or public works departments.
• You don’t have to sweep the path or shovel mud or dirt from it. Use your own garbage bags, or come down to the River Action’s office and pick up a supply. We also have gloves.
• Dispose of your collected litter either in a city trash receptacle or at your home. If you have a large number of bags (or extremely heavy ones), give us a call and we can arrange to get them picked up. Try to leave them at a location accessible by motorized vehicles.
• Pick up your section as often as you can. Again, this is subjective. You don’t have to do it weekly or even monthly. Perhaps a guideline would be: at least every two months during the spring to fall season – in other words, four or five times a year.
• Occasionally give us a call, e-mail us or stop into the office and tell us how you or your group are doing.

Any questions? Contact the River Action Office at 563.322.2969 or email us at kwine@riveraction.org.

Adopt-A-Path Locations and Volunteers

Mississippi River Trail, Rock Island

• Trailhead through Sunset Park - Kevin Dodson Family
• Sunset Park to 3rd Ave. - volunteers needed
• 3rd Avenue to Crescent Bridge - Doug McCollum
• Crescent Bridge to Schweibert Park - Margaret Sherwin
• Schweibert Park to railroad bridge - Navarro Canoe Co.
• Railroad bridge to Sylvan Island - Mark Doeckel
• West End of Rock Island Arsenal - Dixon Novey

Mississippi River Trail, Moline

• These sections are cared for through the Moline’s Adopt-a-Park program. For information about volunteer opportunities, contact Moline Park Operations Manager Rodd Schick at 309-524-2410

Mississippi River Trail, East Moline

• Moline Border to 7th Street – Bill and Kathy Storm
• 7th Street to Heirford Creek – Kathleen Doyle
• Hereford Creek to Cambell's Island - Rebellious Runner Entertainment
• Cambells Island to Hampton border - Branson and Alison Rasko Family

Mississippi River Trail, Hampton

• East Moline border to Village Hall – Bob and Peggy Bartells
• Village Hall to north end of Illiniwek Park – Bob and Peggy Bartells
• North end of Illiniwek to driveway - volunteers needed
• Driveway to under I-80 - volunteers needed

Mississippi River Trail, Hampton/Rapids City

• Under I-80 to 18th Street - Christopher M. Macksey
• 18th Street to Schuler's Shady Grove - Adam and Denel Cooper
• Schulers Shady Grove to half-way point - Donald Thompson
• Half-way point to Buchanan Street - Donald Thompson
• Buchanan Street to Walnut Street - volunteers needed
• Walnut Street to Agnes Street - volunteers needed
• Agnes Street to Fairfield Street - volunteers needed

Mississippi River Trail, Cordova

• Fairfield Street to Camp Hauberg - volunteers needed
• Camp Hauberg to end of trail - volunteers needed

Mississippi River Trail, Bettendorf

• West end of path to I-74 Bridge – Tom and Pat Bolton
• Under I-74 to east end to Casino –volunteers needed
• Casino to Bush Scenic Overlook- Harry Mihm
• Bush Scenic Overlook to Riverdale (Bridge) - Jeff Smith

Mississippi River Trail, Riverdale

• Bridge to trail's end (S. Bellingham) - Alcoa

Mississippi River Trail, Davenport

• Credit Island to Crescent Bridge - Kathleen and Andy Lenaghan
• Crescent Bridge to Centennial Bridge - Bob Griesenbeck Family
• Centennial Bridge to Government Bridge - Russell Construction
• Government Bridge to Bridge Street - Laura Morris
• Bridge Street to Mound Street - Tom and Kathy Wine
• Mound Street to east end of path – Tom and Pat Bolton

Duck Creek Recreation Trail, Davenport

• Emeis Park to Fairmount Street - John Bedford Family
• Fairmont Street to Hickory Grove Road – Dan Buck
• Hickory Grove Road to Silver Creek - Tracy Griffin
• Silver Creek to Division Street - John Noonan
• Division Street to Marquette Street –volunteers needed
• Marquette St to Harrison Street - John and Katie Tritt
• Harrision Street to Brady Street - Tyler Guth
• Brady Street to Valle Vista Road - Mike Richmond and Ashley Hoskins
• Valle Vista Rd. to Eastern Avenue - Mike Richmond and Ashley Hoskins and Scott and Karen Schaar
• Eastern Avenue to Jersey Ridge Road - Ryan Less and Marilynn Bartels
• Jersey Ridge Road to Fairhaven Road - Ryan Less and Marilynn Bartels
• Fairhaven Road to under I-74 -volunteers needed
• Fairhaven Road to Duck Creek Park – Bill and Kathy Storm

Duck Creek Recreation Trail, Bettendorf

• Under I-74 to Woodland Drive - Les Pritchard Family
• Woodland Drive to Middle Road - Entwistle/Saetre Family
• Middle Road to 18th Street - Steve Mohr Family
• 18th Street to 23rd Street - Allison Family
• 23rd Street to Hollowview Drive - Oscar Hawley
• Hollowview Drive to Devils Glenn Keith Jordan

River Action's annual adventure triathlon involving paddling, mountain biking and running. Volunteers needed for:

• Traffic cone set-up, Hampton, 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.
• Hampton Park registration set-up, 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
• Starter for boat launch, Hampton Park near Empire Park, 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Unloading boats/bikes at Hampton Park near Empire Park, 6:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.
• Launch and return assistance, Hampton Park near Empire Park, 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Transition security, Hampton Park near Empire Park, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

CLICK HERE for more information about Taming of the Slough.