2025 Mornings at the River
River Memories That Last A Lifetime
Picture this: parents and caregivers arrive with babies on hips, toddlers leading the way—ready to transform the riverfront into a space filled with wonder, joy, and connection. Throughout three weeks in June, this magical scene came to life during our early childhood program, Mornings at the River.
Over the course of six events at Cooper's Landing Riverside Resort & Marina, we welcomed a record-breaking 1,758 people—including 973 children aged 0-5 and 785 parents and caregivers—to the Missouri River. That’s 1,758 moments of curiosity sparked, fears soothed, and riverside joy shared.
And we made an even bigger splash—Mornings at the River was on the front page of the Columbia Missourian! The story captured the true magic of this program: "A good Disney movie" unfolds as children discover Missouri River »
“We loved bonding with one another at the river while making a connection with so many likeminded humans and their littles...Both my granddaughter Lily and I will cherish the time there forever!”
Weekly Recap
For three weeks in June families spent their mornings gathering down at Cooper's Landing Riverside Resort & Marina. Each of the three weeks featured a different river theme that encouraged different modes of exploration and connection. Each event included a themed nature craft, a fun special guest, sensory tables, a scavenger hunt, story time, and our pretend play area.
Week One: Beautiful River Birds
- Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025
- Thursday, June 5th, 2025
Week one took flight with live raptors from The University of Missouri's Raptor Rehabilitation Project and birding walks led by the Columbia Audubon Society.
Little explorers created their own binoculars and ventured out onto the Katy Trail to spot feathered stuffed animal friends—many little ones joined in while riding in child carriers from the Lend and Learn Library to make the journey even more memorable.
This year, we added a new Wildlife Rehab Station, where young caretakers gently examined stuffed animal birds, listened to their heartbeats with stethoscopes, and wrapped them in soft blankets—practicing empathy and care through imaginative play.
Photos: To view more photos from Week One, click for Tuesday and Thursday.
“The most valuable thing about this program is how it can connect little ones with nature in a safe, sensory-rich way. He loved the free-to-roam sensory exploration, the time to slow down with mom and dad, learning new things and the snacks!”
Week Two: Shell-ebrate Turtles & Tunes
- Tuesday, June 10th, 2025
- Thursday, June 12th, 2025
Week two was all about slowing down and soaking it all in--just like a turtle! Local musician Violet Vonder Haar filled the air with beautiful tunes and our live turtle guests sparked so much wonder.
Families cozied up for nature stories and shared snacks beneath the cottonwoods, while First Chance for Children wowed everyone with their interactive sensory tables.
The Daniel Boone Regional Library Bookmobile joined us for a riverfront book checkout and helped lots of young readers find their next pick!
Week Three: Fabulous Fish and Frogs
- Tuesday, June 17th, 2025
- Wednesday, June 18th, 2025
This week we loved getting to know some live aquatic critters with the help of guests from the Missouri Department of Conservation. Families played percussion frogs along the Katy Trail and made their very own fish print.
Future chefs stirred up camp meals, little anglers cast their lines in the fishing zone, and pint-sized campers scrambled through tents in our pretend play camping area.
We couldn't have asked for a better way to wrap up this year's Mornings at the River!
Photos: To view more photos from Week Three, click for Tuesday and Wednesday.
To Our Mornings at the River Families...
We’re building something special together—week by week, moment by moment. Thank you to every family who shows up with open hearts and a spirit of play. You're what makes this program so meaningful.
This year, we met a family who’s been coming to Mornings at the River since it first began five years ago. This was their final year, as their kiddo starts kindergarten this fall. They told us how much it’s meant to them, and wow... what a bittersweet reminder of how meaningful this space has become. Watching your children grow, watching your families grow, has been the greatest gift.
We are so grateful to have spent these mornings with you—starting traditions along the river, learning its rhythm, and creating memories that will ripple far beyond these banks.
We’re going to miss seeing each of you, but always remember: the river is still here. It’s waiting for you and your little ones, whenever you need it.
Together, we are writing a new story about the Missouri River—one where children learn on its banks, where wonder flows freely, and where community is built one muddy footprint at a time.
How Can I Sign-up for Next Year?
Registration for next year will open in April of 2026. The online registration form will be available on the updated Mornings at the River webpage.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Kristen Schulte, Education Director at kristen@riverrelief.org.
Thank You To Our Sponsors, Partners, and Volunteers
This program would not be possible without the help of our amazing crew of volunteers, partners, and sponsors. To our volunteers, thank you for donating 500+ hours of volunteer time to help families create river memories that will last a lifetime.
Missouri River Relief has partnered with First Chance for Children to bring Mornings at the River to Columbia. We would like to thank our sponsors Central Bank of Boone County, Downtown Optimist Club of Columbia, Sunrise Optimist Club of Columbia, Boone Electric Community Trust, Carol Grove, Boone County ARPA Funding, and Mike Holder Injury Law. A special thank you to Cooper's Landing Riverside Resort & Marina for letting us host Mornings at the River in their beautiful, riverside space.
Carol Grove
