River Action's Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks -- May 26 through June 25. (pictured: Davenport's Modern Woodmen Park)
Channel Cat Talks: Tuesday, May 26, through Thursday, June 25
Riverbend Commons Dock, 2951 East River Drive, Moline IL
Riverine Walks: Wednesday, May 27, through Saturday, June 27
Various Area Locales
Delivering a blend of local history, environmental issues, education, entertainment, and fresh air, Davenport's River Action will again present a series of outdoor presentations in the first month-plus of the annual Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks: weekly "Explore the River Series" programs that, from May 26 through June 27, will address such topics as raptors, barges, Modern Woodmen Park, and the historically wicked night spot that was Davenport's Bucktown.
Channel Cat Talk participants tour the Mississippi River aboard the Channel Cat Water Taxi, with boarding taking place at Moline's Riverbend Commons Dock. Experts will provide narration on the themed surroundings, with the Channel Cat Talks for late May and June including: "Commanding the Rock Island Arsenal" (May 26 and 28), in which Col. Joe Parker and Patrick Allie - Director, RIA Museum explore the Arsenal’s history, new activities open to the public, and the island's role in national defense; "Twisted Tales of the Quad Cities" (June 2 and 4), with author and historian (and area comedian) Jeff Adamson blending history and humor to explore lesser-known lore, including a local connection between Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain; "Raptors Along the River" (June 9 and 11), a kid-friendly event that finds Wapsi River Environmental Education Center director Dave Murica enabling guests to see live flying predators up close and personal; "Behind the Scenes of a Barge Operation" (June 16 and 18), a cruise with river towboat captain Walt Bassow as he offers insights into the industrial powerhouse of barge transportation; and "River Science with the National Weather Service" (June 23 and 25), with senior service hydrocologist Mary-Beth Schreck, Senior Service offering information on the 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.
Riverine Walk participants explore the Quad Cities through a series of guided strolls through various area locales, with the late-May and June Riverine Walks series featuring: "Schuetzen Park: Davenport's Lost Playground" (May 27 and 30), in which Kory Darnall explores the remnants of Davenport's former 26-acre "amusement park" that boasted a zoo, shooting range, and roller coaster; "A Backstage Tour of America’s Best Minor League Ballpark" (June 3 and 6); with Quad Cities River Bandits owner Dave Heller hosting a kid-friendly exclusive tour of Modern Woodmen Park, including the clubhouses, coaches' offices, batting cage, and trainers’ room; "Preserving our Past at Fairmount Cemetery" (June 10 and 13), an event that finds superintendent Carvel Morgan leading an exclusive tour and providing history on the 2.7 acres of remnant bluff prairie that contains more than 70 native plant species; "What Happens in Bucktown ..." (June 17 and 20); with Berklee College professor Gates Thomas speaking on the onetime Davenport hot spot that featured more than 200 illegal saloons, brothels, theatres, casinos, and dance halls crowded into seven square blocks; and "Behind the Scenes at MetroLINK" (June 24 and 27), a special access-tour in which Jennifer Hirsch, Brad Begyn, and Jacob Sharp explore the state-of- the-art public transit facility that keeps the Quad Cities moving.
Channel Cat Talks take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. and are $20 per person, while Riverine Walks are held on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 9 a.m., with admission $10 per person. For more information on these “Explore the River Series” presentations, call (563)322-2969 and visit RiverAction.org.
