Spring Forward

Spring Forward Community,

Today, we pause to recognize a partnership that has helped shape the future of thousands of children across the Quad Cities.

For the past 15 years, the Doris & Victor Day Foundation has been a steadfast champion of Spring Forward's mission, providing a level of support, trust, and partnership that has been truly transformational.

With their most recent investment, the Foundation's total support of Spring Forward has now exceeded $1.5 million. While that number is remarkable, its true significance lies in what it has made possible. It represents fourteen years of belief in children, families, and the power of high-quality out-of-school time programming.

Because of the Day Foundation's commitment, Spring Forward has grown from a single-site initiative into a regional leader serving 1,118 students annually. More than 700 of those students call Rock Island home, where we continue working to remove barriers and create safe, enriching, and culturally responsive learning opportunities.

Their support has also helped fuel a Nationally recognized Summer Program model that served more than 725 students across eight sites this past year, reaching children from 23 schools and gaining buy-in from four school districts. Along the way, we have built a network of 71 community partners, creating a ripple effect of opportunity that extends far beyond any one organization.

The Foundation’s continued confidence in our mission has inspired us to continually raise the bar for programs to provide greater impact on the children and families we serve.

Simply put, both Spring Forward and this community would not be where it is today without the Doris and Victor Day Foundation. They have done far more than fund programs. They have invested in potential, opened doors to opportunity, and helped create brighter futures for thousands of young people throughout our community.

To the Board, staff, and supporters of the Doris and Victor Day Foundation: thank you for your extraordinary partnership, your visionary leadership, and your unwavering belief in our students.

With profound gratitude,
Robert McIntyre
Executive Director
Spring Forward

https://www.springforwardqca.org/spotlight/an-open-letter-of-gratitude-to-the-doris-and-victor-day-foundation-a-15-year-legacy-of-impact

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 in Review: Exploring Our Environment, A Season of Learning and Connection — Spring Forward 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

❗️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

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!

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!

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

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

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!!

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!!