See My Octopus Teacher at St. Ambrose's Galvin Fine Arts Center
Join us for a FREE preview event on Sunday, November 2 at St. Ambrose University's Galvin Fine Arts Center for a special screening ofMy Octopus Teacherat 3:00 p.m.
Come early for ENVIRO Connect starting at 2:00 PM in the lobby—visit with and learn from local environmental partners including the Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Partners of Scott County Watersheds, River Action, and Niabi Zoo.
After the film, stay for a Q&A session with Callie Boatright, Aquarist II (Octopus Handler) and Megan Hahn, Education Manager from the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium.
2026 QC Environmental Film Series Lineup Announced!
The QC Environmental Film Series is back and making a splash with compelling and inspiring documentary films that will challenge, move, and motivate you to take action for the care of our planet and waterways. Kicking off January 18, Out There begins as a summer road trip unfolds into a seven-year journey, capturing untold stories of those who protect, visit, and find healing in the parks.
On January 25, Out of Plain Sight follows investigative reporter Rosanna Xia and scientist David Valentine as they uncover the shocking truth of hundreds of thousands of barrels of toxic waste secretly dumped off the Southern California coast — a scandal hidden just out of view.
Also on the docket:
Beaver Fever — exploring how beaver reintroduction is changing watersheds (and sometimes sparking conflict with landowners)
The Cigarette Surfboard — following an engineer-turned-ocean-activist traveling the globe with surfboards made from recycled materials
Kelp! / Green Buffalo (double feature) — one film dives into sustainable kelp farming, the other explores hemp-based building from the Lower Sioux Community
Reef Builders — spotlighting urgent coral restoration efforts in Hawaii, Kenya, Indonesia, and beyond
We'd love for you to be part of these conversations. For season passes, tickets, and to watch trailers, visit qcenvironmentalfilmseries.org.
This year’s Upper Mississippi River Conference, themed “A Piece of a Larger Puzzle,” brought together experts, students, and community leaders to explore collaborative solutions for a resilient river future. Highlights included the Next Gen Summit, where North High School students Donovan Rubenacker Howard and Drew Leibold took first place with their project on solar-powered streetlights—a cost-saving and sustainable lighting solution for cities like Davenport.
Keynote presenter Maiya May, climate communicator and TV host of PBS's Weathered: Earth's Extremes, inspired attendees to find hope and take action amid the climate crisis, reminding us that every effort contributes to a brighter, more sustainable world.
The conference also spotlighted the Moline Riverfront Revitalization Plan, an ambitious effort to reconnect the city with the Mississippi through inclusive design, community engagement, and sustainable development certified under the Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines (WEDG).
Together, these stories reflect how innovation, education, and collaboration can illuminate the path toward a cleaner, more resilient river community.
Connecting the Corridor: Restoring Nature in the Quad Cities
Attend the November RiverWay Steering Committee meeting to connect with local leaders striving to improve the Mississippi River and our riverfront communities. This month's meeting will feature updates on the Quad Cities Ecological Corridor Network from Nina Struss, River Health and Resiliency Organizer at Prairie Rivers Network.
Prairie Rivers Network is working in collaboration with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Discover Partners Institute to develop a mapping initiative that aims to identify natural corridors and conservation opportunities throughout the greater Quad Cities area. This initiative will help inform environmental restoration efforts and reconnect natural areas throughout our river communities that have been split and isolated by development.
You’ve seen mushrooms at the store or along the sidewalk, but did you know that they can look like they are from an alien planet or even glow in the dark? Mushrooms are in the Fungi Kingdom and share this kingdom with molds, yeasts, and lichens. Mushrooms come in a variety of colors, sizes, shapes, textures, habitats, and toxicities.
Many universities in the US study these fascinating organisms. One of those schools is Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. At their College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, they did a project called Specialty Mushroom that focused on being a resource for small farms to grow their own mushrooms. There are an estimated 1.5 – 5 million species of mushrooms on Earth and not all of them have been documented yet.
On Saturday November 22 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Wapsi River Environmental Education Center you’ll learn about the mushroom lifecycle, how to identify native mushrooms, which seasons mushrooms grow, and go on a fall hike to ID mushrooms typically found at this time. To register, CLICK HERE.
Winter Outdoor Nature Photo Contest
Show off your best shots of the season! River Action and Camera Corner invite you to enter the 2025 Winter Eagle, Outdoor, and Nature Photo Contest, open to photographers of all levels. Capture the beauty of winter along the Mississippi and submit your top shots of bald eagles, river landscapes, and seasonal wildlife between December 1 and January 12 for a chance to win Camera Corner gift cards, canvas prints, and even a feature in Eddy Magazine. Judging takes place mid-January, with winners announced later that month. Stay tuned for more details at riveraction.org/photocontest.
Reflecting on a Year of Riverfront Action
As another remarkable year draws to a close, we’re reflecting on all we’ve accomplished together—and the vital role your support plays in protecting and celebrating the Mississippi River and our riverfront communities.
Educating and Inspiring
This summer, nearly 1,000 people explored the Mississippi through our Explore the River Series, learning about the river’s ecology, culture, and history. At our Next Gen Summit, 90 students tackled real-world environmental challenges, while Getting Back to Our Rootsbrought native prairies back to life across 15 Quad Cities Wild Places. The Upper Mississippi River Conference continued to inspire collaboration on the river’s most important challenges.
Celebrating Together
Our community came together for traditions like the QC Environmental Film Series, Ride the Island, Floatzilla, Senior Golf Cart Tours, and Taming of the Slough—events that unite thousands of people who value clean water, healthy ecosystems, and outdoor connection. Your generous support made these experiences possible and accessible to all.
Protecting Our Riverfront
With your help, we’ve strengthened the riverfront’s environmental infrastructure through prairie restoration, stormwater retention, trail improvements, and cleanups. In 2026, we’ll launch maintenance workshops with USFWS to train local crews in native landscape care—investments that sustain the Mississippi Valley for generations.
As we look to 2026, your generosity ensures that River Action remains a force for collaboration, conservation, and community along the Mississippi River. Every gift—large or small—helps preserve the river’s beauty, inspire stewardship, and keep our waters clean and accessible. Please consider making a year-end contribution to keep this vital work flowing.
Volume 15, Issue 4 | Nov/Dec/Jan coming to your doorstep soon!
CLICK HERE to read previous editions of River Action's quarterly magazine.
GivingTuesday is a time to reflect on the role the Mississippi River plays in our lives. Every contribution helps us continue our mission of ensuring the river remains a vibrant and vital resource for our community, from its natural beauty to its economic and cultural significance. Learn more HERE.
CLICK HEREto let us know what projects, programs, or other endeavors you find most important and wish us to focus on in the coming year.
CLICK HERE to support River Action's mission of creating a more vibrant river community.
IN OTHER NEWS...
CLICK HERE to plan a Mississippi River Adventure! CLICK HERE to find your Next Trail Adventure! CLICK HERE for our favorite Live Music Calendar! CLICK HERE to purchase a Rain Barrel CLICK HERE for QC Area Flood Resources
