Spring Forward sees an advantage to using student interns to help staff programs at the schools and also give students a chance to explore a career in education in an after-school program setting.

For the last three years, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) and Spring Forward have partnered to bring students individual violin instruction. The QCSO provides instruments and instructors. Spring Forward helps recruit students and provides after school staff on site.

As Spring Forward campers embark on their river journey, lessons learned and experiences gained at Summer Camp will guide them like a steady current, shaping their values, passions, and perspectives for years to come.

Through this simple yet profound act of volunteering, the volunteers from Grace Church inspire a love for reading and a community that transcends generations.

Together, Spring Forward and NEST Cafe are not only nourishing bodies but also nurturing futures, one healthy snack at a time.

Jae’s journey is an inspiring testament to resilience, creativity, and a deep-rooted commitment to making a difference.

This morning Spring Forward welcomed more than 600 children to summer enrichment camps at eleven elementary schools in Rock Island, Milan and East Moline.

Tera McCormick-Skinner, a fifth grade teacher at Rock Island Center for Math and Science, helps year-round with the after school, intercession and summer programs

Summer is right around the corner and that means staff from Spring Forward and the Martin Luther King Center are busy planning to welcome hundreds of Rock Island-Milan School District students for summer camp. Together, the two organizations have built the largest summer enrichment camp program in the region.

Beth brings positivity, light and energy to our after school and intersession programs at Earl Hanson Elementary.

At Spring Forward we are lucky to have an incredible collaboration with the Rock Island Public Library to bring our students a wealth of opportunities!

The Putnam Museum provides hands-on STEM enrichment activities for Spring Forward students after school and during the summer.

In 2021, a new collaboration formed where the kids are receiving swim lessons at Rock Island Parks & Recreation and are participating in sports programs such as Rugby in the upcoming Spring Intersession.

Our program thrives from the dynamic staff that are the life-blood of our after-school and summer programs. We would like to introduce you to Vickie Duling. Vickie is one of our educators at Rock Island Academy. As a life-long Quad citizen, Vickie states “The people here are wonderful and working here has given me friendships I will cherish forever.” We are grateful for the fun-filled love for learning that Vickie brings to our programs.

Let’s catch up with Eh H’Too who started Spring Forward in 1st grade and is now a senior!

Nahant Marsh Education Center provides opportunities for kids to walk in prairies, fish for macroinvertebrates on the docks, explore trails and participate in hands-on activities in the education center.

The inaugural year first graders at Frances Willard Elementary School are now Seniors! Let’s catch up with one of those seniors, Ywa Hay Paw!