Spring Forward

08/13/2026

This summer, 725 students from four school districts and 23 elementary schools joined Spring Forward’s Summer Enrichment Program across eight program sites for an unforgettable season of discovery themed Exploring Our Environment: Connect, Respect, Protect. Supported by 68 community partners and powered by 120 dedicated summer staff, the program brought hands-on learning to life across the Quad Cities.

Students attending regularly spent more than 42 additional hours with certified teachers strengthening academic skills to avoid the “summer slide” and over 50 hours in enrichment through field trips and community partner outreach.

To engage with this year’s theme, participants returned to the awe-inspiring Maquoketa Caves, caught their first fish at Riverside Park Pond alongside the Illinois DNR and University of Illinois Extension Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark, paddled through adventures with Scott County, Iowa Conservation at Scott County Park, explored the Mississippi River with Living Lands and Waters floating classroom and studied ecology at Nahant Marsh Education Center.

New partnerships included Clinton County Conservation (Rock Creek Marina), Muscatine County Conservation Board (Muscatine Environmental Center), and both U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Rock Island County Conservation who welcomed students to Illiniwek Forest Preserve for immersive outdoor learning. These new collaborations ensured programming remained fresh and offered students access to more opportunities to experience firsts like fishing, canoeing, and kayaking.

Another enhanced and impactful component for Summer 2026 was the increase in social-emotional learning opportunities for both students and staff. While Spring Forward has long recognized the value of summer learning and new experiences, the growing need to support students’ emotional well-being has become central to our mission. Thanks to funding from the 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, Spring Forward expanded both staff training and social-emotional learning opportunities for students, fostering a culture of greater care and connection during the Summer program.

Summer 2026 was a resounding success where students flourished, embraced new experiences, and built confidence along with a deeper respect for the world around them. Through the spirit of connection, our students, staff, and partners extended learning well beyond the classroom and shared experiences that strengthened their foundation for a brighter future ahead!

Summer 2026 was a resounding success where students flourished, embraced new experiences, and built confidence along with a deeper respect for the world around them. Through the spirit of connection, our students, staff, and partners extended learning well beyond the classroom and shared experiences

08/07/2026

❗️NOW HIRING ❗️ We are looking for a Development Director & Development and Program Manager. Read the complete job descriptions on our website and apply today!

https://www.springforwardqca.org/current-openings

08/05/2026

DON'T MISS IT! Tomorrow night Rock Island Parks and Recreation is bringing our community together for "Back to School Game Night" to support Spring Forward programs that help kids learn, grow, and thrive all year long.

All you need to join in the fun is a few school supplies or make a small monetary gift. Plus, NEW! Raffle prizes available too, with raffle ticket sales benefiting Spring Forward.

Your support helps Spring Forward get students ready for a great year, and your presence makes the event even better. Come hang out and be part of something that lifts up Rock Island families!

Thank you Rock Island Parks and Recreation for supporting Spring Forward!

07/29/2026

Rock Island Parks and Recreation is bringing our community together for "Back to School Game Night" to support Spring Forward programs that help kids learn, grow, and thrive all year long.

All you need to join in the fun is a few school supplies or make a small monetary gift. Your support helps Spring Forward get students ready for a great year, and your presence makes the event even better. Come hang out and be part of something that lifts up Rock Island families!

07/10/2026

For some, today was a cloudy, quiet, nothing‑special Friday.
For Spring Forward, July 10, 2026 will go down as one of the most unforgettable, wildly adventurous Field Trip Fridays in our 27‑year history.

In all, 11 different Field Trips were pulled off, with many centering around our Summer theme of Exploring Our Environment: Connect, Respect, Protect."

We explored caves, canoed in lakes and Mississippi backwaters, caught our first fish (again!!), rode boats on the Mississippi River, encountered wildlife and studied ponds, prairies and grasslands.

None of this is possible without our incredible partners at Nahant Marsh Education Center, Figge Art Museum, Wildcat Den State Park, Rock Creek Marina (Clinton County Conservation), Maquoketa Caves (Jackson County Conservation), Scott County, Iowa Conservation, Quad City Botanical Center, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, University of Illinois Extension Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark,, Bettendorf Family Museum, Muscatine Conservation Center.....and MOST OF ALL OUR AMAZING STAFF.

Hard to believe we pulled off such a memorable day for the more than 500 students still going strong as we close out Summer 2026.

For those who need to see it to believe it, here you go!!........

National Summer Learning Association

07/03/2026

A big shoutout to WQAD News 8 and reporter Marshawn Gunn for covering the “fun (not) in the sun” this week. Check out the story in the link below.

Spring Forward QCA is helping elementary students stay active, engaged and cool during a week of high temperatures in the Quad Cities.

07/02/2026

It was a bittersweet week for Spring Forward as our summer programs pivoted away from the heat at the John Deere Classic, a tradition we look forward to invading every July. Keeping students and staff safe always comes first, and while we missed the excitement, our teams know how to stay flexible and still make the week special.

We packed the days with joy in many ways: our friends at Canines visited Hamilton Elementary Students to help kiddos unwind, students from Lincoln‑Irving Elementary enjoyed a shaded (and cooler) ride around town thanks to the QC Channel Cat, and the University of Illinois Extension Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark helped campers sharpen their cooking skills. We also spent time hanging out with Ballet Quad Cities, relaxing and letting our patriotic creativity shine with Fourth‑of‑July‑inspired art projects.

Spring Forward is taking a long weekend break before camp resumes next week. Wishing everyone a happy, safe, and cooler Fourth of July. See you back on Monday for the second half of the fun and learning!!

06/27/2026

Spring Forward's Summer Field Trip Fridays always feel good, but few things beat the joy of catching your very first fish!

Yesterday at Riverside Park Pond in Moline more than 60 students from Hamilton Elementary School took part in the Urban Fishing Program hosted by Illinois Department of Natural Resources....and lucky for us, the fish were biting!!

Students reeled in 36 fish (yes, we counted), and the echoes of "I caught my first fish!" could be heard across the pond all afternoon, with more than a dozen students experiencing that unforgettable "first."

Our friends at University of Illinois Extension Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, Stark added even more fun with hand-on activities for students taking a break from fishing.

At Spring Forward, we're proud to give students access to experiences they might not otherwise have and yesterday was a vivid reminder of why our mission matters!

Huge thanks and flowers to Illinois DNR, University of Illinois Extension and our amazing volunteers from Group O (and Parents!) for keeping the kids safe and the fish flying on this memorable afternoon.

Stay tuned for more moments of Students "Exploring the Environment" (our summer theme) in the coming weeks. Until then, enjoy the smiles!!

06/20/2026

Spring Forward’s Summer 2026 program has officially launched, and we couldn’t be more excited! This year, we are welcoming 725 students across eight program sites, representing 23 different elementary schools and four local community school districts: Rock Island-Milan, East Moline, Moline-Coal Valley, and Bettendorf.

Every great journey begins with a clear roadmap, and our Spring Forward Summer Programs are no exception. We kicked off a week of Staff Training on Monday, June 8, at the Figge Art Museum, bringing together 120 dedicated team members.

It was inspiring to see such a vibrant blend of certified teachers, paraprofessionals, college education students, and high schoolers from our "Grow Your Own Teacher" program all united and ready to make a difference this summer. The room was electric as our team reconnected with old friends, welcomed new faces, and dove into the inspiring plans we have in store for this summer.

The true magic began this past Monday when our students arrived, ready for a Summer they’ll always remember!

Summer learning and fun are already in full swing with our students diving into enriching experiences, from field trips with Living Lands and Waters to special visits from the Quad City Animal Welfare Center, the Putnam Museum, and many others. We are so grateful to our 65+ community partners who help make this program possible! We truly couldn’t do it without you!!

For anyone familiar with Spring Forward, you know we are just getting started! Follow us on Facebook to stay connected and keep up with all the fun, learning, and growth happening all summer long!

04/30/2026

Birdies for Charity is Here!

We’re excited to kick off another season of Birdies for Charity, an easy and impactful way to support Spring Forward! Through this program, every donation you make goes even further thanks to a bonus match, meaning your gift has an even greater impact on the people and programs you care about. Last year was a record breaking 9% bonus match!

This year, your support helps power programs like the 2026 summer enrichment experience, “Exploring Our Environment: Connect, Respect, Protect,” where young learners engage in hands-on outdoor adventures, science, and creative projects to build environmental awareness and stewardship.

Getting involved is simple: make a one-time pledge or donation, and help us turn birdies on the course into meaningful change in the community. Every dollar counts and adds up quickly!

https://birdiesforcharity.com/donate?charity=1574 #/charities