2026 Channel Cat Talks
Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9-10:45 a.m.
- May 26 & 28 - TBA
- Speaker - TBA
- Details coming soon...
- June 2 & 4 - Twisted Tales of the Quad Cities
- Jeff Adamson, Author and Historian
- This talk will blend history and humor as Adamson explores lesser-known lore of the Quad Cities, such as a missing canal along Campbell's Island, a fire that leveled the East Village, and visits from Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain.
- June 9 & 11 - Raptors Along the River
- Dave Murcia, Director, Wapsi River Environmental Education Center
- See a live raptor up close and personal as you learn from a Scott County Conservation Naturalist as he discusses birds of prey found in Quad Cities habitats. Hear about the local ecology and the impact humans have on these amazing flying predators.
- June 16 & 18 - Title - TBA
- Walt Bassow
- Details to come...
- June 23 & 25 - TBA
- Mary-Beth Schreck, Senior Service Hydrologist, NWS
- Join a National Weather Service hydrologist to learn about hydrology of the Mississippi River, including some notable floods and how the National Weather Service forecasts river stages along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. You'll also learn some fun facts about the river along the way.
- July 8 & 10 - WEDG & Our Mississippi River
- Kathy Wine, Executive Director, River Action
- The goal of WEDG (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) is to create the best possible waterfront through resilience, ecology, and access. Take a cruise, explore, and discuss how the Quad Cities is applying these guidelines and standards to our Mississippi riverfront.
- July 14 & 16 - RiverCurrents Tour
- Ben Schwind, Education Manager, Common Chord
- Learn about the history of American Roots Music up and down the Mississippi River. We'l discuss jazz, blues, gospel, rock & rol, and country and its origins in towns along the river. This presentation wil feature live performances along with recorded examples of some of the legends of American music.
- July 21 & 23 - TBA
- Speaker - TBA
- Details to come...
- July 28 & 30 - Bix & Friends
- Josh Duffee, Musician / Jazz Historian
- Josh Duffee celebrates the music of the 1920s by playing recordings and talking about the music that Bix Beiderbecke and other groups recorded during the Roaring 20s. Sign up for both days, as the music and information will be different for each channel cat event!
- August 4 & 6 - TBA
- Micaela Terronez, Special Collections Librarian, Augustana College
- Learn about the settlement of Mexican migrants to the Quad Cities and the formation of neighborhoods (or barrios) along the Mississippi River valley. Her presentation will include some of the historical reasons for the high influx of Mexican migrants to the Quad Cities in the early 20th century, as well as the personal experiences of individuals and families living in these working-class, segregated communities.
- August 11 & 13 - TBA
- Dr. Norm Moline, Augustana College
- Details to come...
- August 18 & 20 - TBA
- Speaker - TBA
- Details to come...
- August 25 & 27 - TBA
- Anthony Heddlesten, Civil Engineer, USACE & Josh Hendrix, Geotechnical Engineer, USACE
- Details to come...
Go to the 2026 Riverine Walks full schedule and details.
Return to the Explore the River Series home page.
Presenting Sponsor
- MetroLINK
Sponsors
- BITCO Insurance Companies
- IHMVCU
Just for Kids Sponsors
- Crawford Company
- Scott County Regional Authority
- Davenport Four Corners Kiwanis
- Moline, IL Kiwanis (Just for Kids Sponsor)
- Optimist International - Davenport Noon Club
- Moline Rotary
2026 SPONSORS
Click below to make a general donation to River Action via PayPal.
