Mornings at the River
Activities at the River for You and Your Little Ones
Parents and caregivers are the key to establishing a child’s early love of nature. Designed for children ages 0 to 5-year-olds, our Mornings at the River series creates opportunities for little ones and their parents, grandparents, or caregivers to spend one-on-one time exploring, discovering, and making memories together at the Missouri River. For more information, check out these stories from previous program years by The Columbia Missourian, The Columbia Daily Tribune, KRCG-13 News, and Como Magazine. You can also check out our reflections and photos from past years here.
Mornings at the River Details
- Tuesdays and Thursdays in June
- 9:30 – 11:30AM
- 0-5-year-olds
- Cooper's Landing: 11505 Smith Hatchery Rd, Columbia, MO
- Includes an activity or craft, a special fun guest, story time, and (of course) a snack!
- Registration Opens April 2027
Activity Schedule
Each week's sessions will take place at Cooper's Landing Campgrounds & Marina and are designed around a fun river theme. Every event includes an activity or craft, a fun special guest, Nature Sensory Tables and a pretend play zone. (And, of course, a snack!) The themed sessions are offered on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Register for one session or one for each week.
Fabulous River Fish
June 2nd and June 4th, 2026
We're kicking off the first week of Mornings at the River with fishy fun! Get creative with local artist Adrienne Luther and a fish print craft, then play the morning away along the Missouri River. Your little one will love these fabulous fish and frog-themed activities!
Our friends from the Missouri Department of Conservation will have some live aquatic guests and the Daniel Boone Regional Library Bookmobile will bring library magic to the River.
Wonderful River Turtles
June 9th and June 11th, 2026
What could be better than turtles and tunes by the River? This year we're excited to welcome Ms. Tess and her musical storytelling to Mornings at the River! We'll also meet some live turtle friends that call the Missouri River watershed their home.
This week, your little one can take their time (like a turtle!) exploring all of the turtle-themed play, craft, and learning happening along the river.
Beautiful River Birds
June 16th and June 18th, 2026
There are so many beautiful birds at the River! We love the excitement of a little one jumping up and down when they spot a new bird friend in the wild. Come meet our special feathered friends and enjoy the wonders of birding at the River!
Special guests from the Columbia Audubon Society, and Raptor Rehab will help us get to know the birds that call the Missouri River home while we enjoy all the bird-themed fun.
Child Carrier Checkout
At Mornings at the River, there will be several Osprey Poco child carrier backpacks for you to try with your little ones. If you like it, you can borrow one for an adventure of your own! Everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy time outdoors, but outdoor equipment can be expensive, and we know kids outgrow things quickly. That's why we've partnered with First Chance for Children to offer these child carriers through their Lend & Learn Library in Columbia, MO.
Learn more about checking out a child carrier from the Lend & Learn library -->.
Program Location
This series is hosted at Cooper's Landing Campgrounds & Marina.
Our program will be set up a safe distance from the banks of the river under the cottonwood trees near the Katy Trail in the North Campgrounds.
Mornings at the River Registration
Everyone must pre-register in order to attend Mornings at the River. Walk-ins are not allowed. Parking and event space is very limited, so please respect the registration process. There is no waitlist for this program.
Registration for Mornings at the River opens April 2027.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Kristen Schulte, Education Director at kristen@riverrelief.org.
Sponsors & Partners
Missouri River Relief has partnered with First Chance for Children to bring Mornings at the River to Columbia. We would also like to thank our sponsors Carol Grove, Downtown Optimist Club of Columbia, MO, Community Foundation of Central Missouri, EquipmentShare, Sunrise Optimist Club of Columbia, MO, and Central Bank of Boone County, MO.
Mornings at the River is a community event—for our community, supported by our community. Are you a local business that values family, fun, and big muddy adventure?
Connect with thousands of local families and show your support for outdoor education and river stewardship! Reach out to becca@riverrelief.org to discuss sponsorship opportunities.
Carol Grove
