River Action's Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks -- July 9 through August 3.
Channel Cat Talks: Tuesday, July 9, through Thursday, August 1
Riverbend Commons Dock, 2951 East River Drive, Moline IL
Riverine Walks: Wednesday, July 10, through Saturday, August 3
Various Quad Cities Locations
Delivering a blend of local history, environmental issues, education, entertainment, and fresh air, Davenport's River Action will present a series of outdoor presentations in the second month-plus of the annual Channel Cat Talks and Riverine Walks: weekly programs that, from July 9 through August 3, will address such topics as the music of jazz artists Bix Beiderbecke and Louie Bellson, Nahant Marsh, local lock-and-dam systems, and the majestic Quad City pelican.
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 July and early August including: "Quad Cities’ First Residents" (July 9 and 11), with Beth Carvey exploring the many cultures of indigenous people that have occupied this region of the Mississippi River Valley over the last 10,000 years; "Quad City Pelicans" (July 16 and 18), in which the QC Audubon Society's Tim Murphy discusses the big white birds that can be found along the Mississippi River in our Quad Cities region, and why the American White Pelican population has boomed recently; "I-74 Bridge & Its Features" (July 23 and 25), with senior geotechnical engineer Matt Dotson looking into the bridge foundations, structure, maintenance, lighting, and instrumentation items that were incorporated into our signature new bridge; and "The Music of Bix Beiderbecke & Louie Bellson" (July 30 and August 1), which will find local jazz great Josh Duffee playing excerpts from the musicians' repertoires and discussing the music of each artist.
Riverine Walk participants explore the Quad Cities through a series of guided strolls through various area locales, with the July and early August Riverine Walks series featuring: "Hiking Smith’s Island & Lock & Dam 14" (July 10 and 13), with patrons joining Corps of Engineers’ Park Ranger Mike McKean for a guided hike around Smith's Island near Lock & Dam 14 and they local river history and the Corps’ pivotal role in how the Mississippi River looks today; "Helping Monarch Butterflies" (July 17 and 20), in which Janet Moline will offer suggestions on how to raise these butterflies and discuss plants needed for their survival; "Port Byron History" (July 24 and 27), where Dale Hachtel will lead a walk along the riverfront and downtown area of Port Byron and explore geological and cultural history and current events; and "Exploring the Marsh" (July 31 and August 3), which finds Nahant Marsh's director of education Amy Loving heading a hike through the marsh's trails and discussing the unique flora and fauna found in our region’s largest urban wetland.
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.
