Volunteer Opportunities
Click on the events and activities listed below for details. Then submit the form at bottom of page with your volunteer preferences. Floatzilla and Taming of the Slough have their own volunteer page and the link is listed under the event details below.
River Action's Earth Day Cleanup at Loud Thunder on Saturday, April 24. We will be meeting at the Deer Haven Shelter at 9 a.m. to clear invasive species and brush until noon. If you have loppers or hand saws, please bring them along. Otherwise, we will have a limited number available. River Action will be providing gloves, water and donuts. Click the link below to sign up.
Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks will be held May 26 through August 29 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 programs. If you're interested in volunteering, please call (563) 322-2969 or email Philip Tunnicliff at ptunnicliff@riveraction.org.
Ride and Seek 2020 did not require any volunteers. We will update here if we require volunteers in 2021. If you'd like to join the Ride and Seek planning committee, send an email to Noah Truesdell at ntruesdell@riveraction.org
Locations include:
- Lake Potter, Sunset Marina, Rock Island
- Bass Street YMCA, Moline
- Credit Island Park, Davenport
- Empire Park, East Moline
- Leach Park, Bettendorf
- Marquette Street boat ramp, Davenport
- Sylvan Island, Moline
Do YOU have good ideas for Floatzilla 2021!? Join the Floatzilla planning committee by emailing Noah Truesdell at ntruesdell@riveraction.org
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, set-up and presentation assistance.
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 half-mile sections of the Mississippi River Trail (Iowa and Ill.) and the Duck Creek Recreational Trail (Iowa).
Nearly 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 email kwine@riveraction.org.
Volunteer duties include:
- Pick up small items of litter 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 community's 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 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. - Victoria Blackmer and Shermiya Thomas
- 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 Novy
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 Hereford Creek – Kathleen Doyle
- Hereford Creek to Cambell's Island - volunteers needed
- Cambell's Island to Hampton border - volunteers needed
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 of Casino – Jennifer D. Collins
- Casino to Bush Scenic Overlook - Dr. Harry Mihm
- Bush Scenic Overlook to Riverdale (Bridge) - Jeff Smith
- Riverdale (Bridge) to Fenno– Amanda Shepherd
Mississippi River Trail, Riverdale
- Bridge to trail's end (S. Bellingham) - Randy Ryan
Mississippi River Trail, Davenport
- Credit Island to Crescent Bridge - Mary Peterson
- Crescent Bridge to Centennial Bridge - Bob Griesenbeck Family
- Centennial Bridge to Government Bridge - Russell Construction
- Government Bridge to Bridge Street - Brian and Angela Burton
- 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 – John Conley's class at Jackson Elementary
- Hickory Grove Road to Silver Creek - Tracy Griffin
- Silver Creek to Division Street - John Noonan
- Division Street to Marquette Street – Jerry Skalak
- Marquette Street to Harrison Street - Keosha Westphal and Genna R.
- 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 - Jack Hermie
- Fairhaven Road to under I-74 - Jack Hermie
- 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 Glen Road - Navigator Scouting Group Chapter 74
- Devils Glen Road to US-67 - Arconic Inc.
Crow Creek Trail, Bettendorf
- Devils Glen Road to Middle Road- Girl Scout Troop 1178
River Action's annual adventure triathlon involving paddling, mountain biking and running. We require volunteers for Friday night at packet pick-up and Sunday during the race.
CLICK HERE for more information about Taming of the Slough.
