Spring Forward Campers Embark on a Five Week River Adventure

This week, Spring Forward welcomed 575 children to enrichment camps at eight elementary schools in Rock Island, Milan, Moline, East Moline and Bettendorf. The five-week camps are for students first through sixth grade. Camps are led by a team of teachers, camp counselors and social workers, with enrichment powered by over 30 community-based organizations.

This year’s camp theme, "Our River," is set to provide an unforgettable experience. Centered around the iconic Mississippi River, the camp offers a variety of river-themed activities designed to educate and inspire children about the natural world and the importance of river ecosystems. Spring Forward believes all children should have meaningful connections to the Mississippi. "Our River" aims to create a connection between children and the natural environment, encouraging them to become stewards of their surroundings.

Spring Forward’s “River Captain” Alannah Alexander, a teacher in the Rock Island-Milan School District, engaged the community in planning the camp and went out to school locations to survey families and have community conversations.

"We are excited to offer this unique and engaging experience to our campers," said Alannah Alexander. "The Mississippi River is a vital part of our region's heritage and ecosystem, and we believe that by educating our youth about its importance, we can inspire the next generation of environmental advocates."

Spring Forward has offered summer enrichment camps since 2016 and understands that a combination of academics with fun and engaging activities is the foundation of any effective summer learning program. Camp days consist of academic support with enrichment activities that keep students excited to come back. The Monday – Thursday schedule includes math and reading in the morning led by teachers and afternoons are filled with river-related activities, games and other programs led by more than thirty community-based organizations. A goal of Spring Forward Summer Camp has always been to fill in the learning gap and equip children with new skills before they head back to school in late summer.

This year each camper will have more than 15 hours of experiential learning directly tied to the Mississippi River. Partners offering river related activities at camp include WQPT, Figge and Putnam Museums, Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, Iowa State Extension, and Ballet Quad Cities. Field Trips will include the QCCA Wetlands, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Celebration Belle, and the National River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque.

Spring Forward Executive Director Robbie McIntyre has been working with the camp planning committee since January. "We planned all elements of “Our River” carefully,” said McIntyre. “We asked the questions - Is it safe? Is it fun? Will the activities engage campers to think critically and creatively? We think the answer to all three questions is YES and we're proud of what we have planned." 

Funding for “Our River” activities was provided through a Quad Cities Community Foundation grant. Camps are funded by partner school districts, a lead gift from the Doris and Victor Day Foundation and other private support. Breakfast and lunch are provided by Two Rivers YMCA’s Nourish program.