Upcoming Programs - River Bend Nature Center

River Bend members receive a discount on classes and events.

If you are not a member, become a member today to get your perks, further our mission and show your support for River Bend.

Face masks and social distancing are encouraged at RBNC events.

As always, if the participant is feeling sick in any way, they must stay home

River Bend reserves the right to change or modify these rules as needed to comply with state regulations and recommendations.

Public Programs Little Sprouts Homeschool Scout Badges Annual Events

Public Programs

Lunch & Learn Series - New topic each month

Wednesdays, 12:00 - 2:00 pm (Eat your lunch at 12:00, Guest Speakers begin at 12:30)

Cost: $10/person, $5/member, Adults

January 15: History of Faribault: The city of Faribault has a rich history. Join guest speaker, Jenna Nelson with the Rice County Historical Society as she tells the tale of Faribault, Minnesota.

February 19: Lake Superior by Nick Smoczyk Ampact member serving at River Bend. We will discuss the origins, characteristics, and long-term changes of Lake Superior--how a tectonic rift valley carved out a spot that glaciers, one billion years later, filled. Eventually these glaciers melted and formed pro-glacial Lake Duluth, then later Gichigami or Lake Superior. Learn how one of Minnesota's iconic features has changed over its past and continues to change into the future.

March 19: Alexander Faribault by Sam Temple. Join us and guest speaker, Sam Temple, as he tells the tale of city founder, Alexander Faribault. Learn about his life as a fur trader, befriending the local Native American tribes, and the influence he had on this area we now call Faribault.

April 16: Randy Strobel with Geological Society of Minnesota. Join us and guest speaker, Randy Strobel, as he discusses the geological formations of Minnesota. Minnesota has a fascinating geological history. We hope you'll be able to join us.

Bagels and Birds

Saturdays, 10:00 - 11:00 am

Cost: FREE!, All ages

January 4, February 1, March 1, April 5, June 7

Come and enjoy coffee and a free bagel, provided by The Inn at Shattuck, and watch for birds at Windows on the Wild.

Sweet Reads Book Club

Saturdays, 2:00 - 3:00 pm

Cost: FREE!, Teens and Adults

Open group discussion on topics that include environmentalism, forestry, wellness, sustainability, climate change, and more. Refreshments provided. Book Club attendees can use the code RBNC on milkweed.org to get 15% off the books Braiding Sweetgrass, A Year in the Wilderness, and The Seed Keeper for upcoming Sweet Read book club sessions.

January 4

Book The Quickening by Elizabeth Rush

February 1

Book The Darkness Manifesto: On Light Pollution, Night Ecology, and the Ancient Rhythms That Sustain Life by Johan Eklöf

March 1

Book Creativity a Short and Cheerful Guide by John Cleese

April 5

Book The Wilderness World of John Muir edited by Edwin Way Teale

June 7

Book Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake

Storytime with a Naturalist

Saturdays, 11:00 - 12:00 pm* Time changed

Cost: FREE!, All ages

December 28: Orwin the Painted Turtle

January 4: Wilbur, the Hognose Snake - Time change to 11:00-11:30 am

February 1: Winter Weather

March 1: Maple Syruping

April 5: April Showers bring May Flowers

June 7: Rivers!

Drop-In Family Fun Days

Saturdays, 10:00 - 2:00 pm

Cost: $10/person, $5/member, All ages

January 18: Meet the Animal Ambassadors

February 8: Paper Making

Family Snowshoeing

Saturday, January 25, 10:30-12:00 pm & 12:30-2:00 pm

Ages 7+, Under 16 must be accompanied by an adult

Cost: $15 ($10 for River Bend members).

Come meet River Bend's animal ambassadors and learn all about what it takes to take care of them!

Luminary Snowshoe Hike

Thursday, January 30, 6:00-8:00 pm

All Ages, Under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, Five and under are free

Cost: $10/member, $15/member with rental; $15/non-members, $20/non-members with rental.

Enjoy the quiet of winter with a luminary hike through River Bend. Trails are packed snow, participants are welcome to bring their own snowshoes. Hot chocolate provided.

Please pre-register for an entry time, 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm or 7:30pm.

Date Night Luminary Snowshoe Hike

Thursday, February 13, 6:00-8:00 pm

Ages 18+, Adults only date night!

Cost: $10/member, $15/member with rental; $15/non-members, $20/non-members with rental.

Enjoy the quiet of winter with a luminary hike through River Bend. Trails are packed snow, participants are welcome to bring their own snowshoes. Hot chocolate provided.

Please pre-register for an entry time, 6pm, 6:30pm, 7pm or 7:30pm.

Stewardship Saturdays

Teens +

Volunteer Opportunities!

Invasive Plant Removal Dates: March 8, April 12, May 10

Learn about invasive plants and how River Bend is controlling them. Then help us to remove them! The specific species being mitigated will depend on the seasonality.

Native Plant Communities Info Session: May 31

Come learn about the importance of native plant communities and how River Bend intends to use citizen science to create a database of native plant communities found onsite. Then leave with the knowledge needed to volunteer at future Stewardship Saturdays.

Native Plant Communities Field Days: June 14, June 28

Help River Bend inventory the native plant communities found onsite!

Maple Syruping Programs

Saturday, March 15, 10:00-11:30 am & 12:30-2:00 pm

All Ages

Cost: $5/member, $10/non-member

Maple syruping is a tradition that dates back to the first nations that lived in this area. Learn about the history of maple syruping, what makes the sap flow, and the process of turning sap into syrup through hands-on syruping experience. Register for the session you want to attend.

Maple Syruping Programs

Saturday, March 22, 10:00-11:30 am & 12:30-2:00 pm

All Ages

Cost: $5/member, $10/non-member

Boy Scout Badge Day

Saturday, May 17, 10:00-1:30 pm

Grades 5th-12th

Cost: $10/person

Learn all about Birds while fulfilling your badge requirements at River Bend! *Note some specific requirements are more time-consuming than what can be done during this program, it is up to the scout/scout leader to help fulfill any remaining requirements.*

Little Sprouts

Parent/child class for ages birth-5. ($5/member, $10 for non-members)

There are planned educational exploration activities with a different theme each week. Dress for the weather, as most of the class will be outside.

Classes are held Mondays from 9:30-11 am with pop-up Saturdays 12-2 pm.

Saturday, December 28 - Play Time

Monday, January 6 - Animals Around the World

Monday, January 20 - Animal Tracks & Signs

Monday, February 3 - Icy Weather

Saturday, February 15 - Animals Around the World

Monday, February 17 - Rocks Rock!

Monday, March 10 - Maple Syruping

Monday, April 7 - Animal Homes

Monday, April 14 - Weather

Saturday, April 19 - Play Time Weather!

Monday, April 28 - Baby Animals

Monday, May 12 - Mud & Worms

Monday, May 19 - What's in the Water?

Saturday, June 21 - Play Time

Homeschool

River Bend Nature Center invites all learners, grades K-5th, the opportunity to experience all of the seasons at River Bend!

Classes are held on the second Monday of the month from 1pm-3pm.

Please dress for the weather.

Monday, January 13: Winter Birding, Learn all about birds! First learn the key ways to identify birds and how to use binoculars and bird ID books before going out on an adventure looking for birds. Then start your annual bird list!

Monday, February 10: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle & Snowshoeing, Learn about the importance of the 3R's while creating some fun take-home projects. Then head outside on snowshoes!

Monday, March 10: Maple Syruping and Nature Play!, Learn all about the science of Maple Syruping, and help River Bend collect sap. Then let your imagination run wild as you play with other participants in River Bend's Nature Play area! *Note: Depending on the weather conditions, students may get muddy during play.

Monday, April 14: Reptiles and Amphibians, Learn all about Reptiles and Amphibians from their unique characteristics to how they survive our cold winters. Then meet River Bend's live animal ambassadors!

Monday, May 12: Water Cycle and Spring Ephemerals, Water is vital to surviving. In this class we'll learn about how water cycles through the planet and the different forms it can take. Then, we'll get outside and discover what Spring Ephemerals are and where they live at River Bend.

Scout Badges

River Bend Nature Center provides your scouts with opportunities to connect with nature vital to their learning and development with badge programs led by professional naturalist staff and volunteers. Students will see science come alive and experience the benefits of outdoor learning through hands-on activities to observe and understand the natural world around us.

All classes are 1.5 hours long. Most are year-round, seasonal programs April-November indicated by (*). Email education@rbnc.org to book your class.

Girl Scout Badges

Brownie Badges

*Bugs - Experience a bug's life at River Bend. Have a story time as we learn about bugs, then go outside to observe them up close. Count how many types of bugs you can find and see where they live. Then make a bug craft to take home.

EcoFriend - Adventure outside at River Bend Nature Center and become nature's best friend. Learn about and practice the Leave No Trace rule, safely make a campfire, visit animal homes, and more! Finally, leave River Bend a nice place for animals by picking up trash along the trail.

Outdoor Adventurer - Become a fearless outdoor adventurer as we play and explore nature at River Bend! We will hike down to the Straight River and explore the shoreline, play some water games, learn how to tie knots for camping, and male recycled bird feeders.

Hiker - Come earn your hiking badge at River Bend Nature Center! Learn about River Bend's trails, how to read a map, what to pack, and what you might find on your hike. Then hit the trails with a naturalist to play some trail games and learn about plants and animals you see.

*Outdoor Art Creator - Use nature as your inspiration as we create art! Create a nature journal with pictures, colors, or written descriptions of what you find. Create leaf rubbings, drawings, and play nature games outside.

Junior Badges

*Geocacher - Learn all about Geocaching and how this sport is used world-wide! With instruction of a naturalist, learn how to use a GPS, make an item to trade, and go on geocaching adventure! Girl Scouts will explore River Bend Nature Center's 743 acres of land on and off the trails. Long sleeves, long pants, and close-toed shoes are recommended.

*Flowers - Join the River Bend Naturalists on a spring flower hike. Learn about the parts of a flower, their importance to the plants, and how flowers are used by humans. Go on a flower hike, make a flower journal, and learn about a super special flower that only grows in this small area of the world!

Animal Habitats - Learn all about wild animals and their homes as you explore River Bend. Investigate animal homes and make one on your own. Learn how scientists classify animals and why some animals are endangered. See and learn about a Minnesota native endangered habitat.

Outdoor Art Explorer - Head out on an inspirational hike to find art in nature. Make a nature imprint to take home, create a human-made "rainstorm", test out nature photography, and draw plans for your own birdhouse.

Cadette Badges

*Archery - Come shoot some archery at River Bend! Learn all about the parts of a bow and arrow, range commands, then take to the range for some practice. Finally, play some archery games in a friendly competition.

Trees - Come explore the wonderful world of trees at River Bend! Explore the forest at River Bend and identify the trees in the forest by making a booklet of tree rubbings to take home. Learn about tree parts, how they grow, and who uses them. See the steps of the oldest tradition in the area, maple syruping. Finally, learn about some issues facing our forests today and what you can do to help protect them.

EcoTrekker - Talk with a Naturalist and learn about the important Leave No Trace Principals. See first hand how recreational hiking and biking can negatively impact the environment. Help remove an invasive species from the area, and make art from trash.

Senior & Ambassador Badges

EcoExplorer - Learn about biodiversity of River Bend Nature Center, and see different species of plants and animals. Find out which ones are invasive and harmful to the biodiversity of River Bend. Then put what you have learned into action by helping to remove an invasive species. (Invasive species removal can only be done May-November).

*Water - Explore the waterway River Bend Nature Center is named after! Hike down to the Straight River and explore the creatures and rocks along the shoreline. Listen to the sound of the water and have water craft time by the river. Then get your geek on by conducting water quality tests and learning what they mean for the river. Finally, become an engineer as you devise a way to help clean polluted water.

Cub Scout Badges

Tiger Badges

My Tiger Jungle

Go for a hike and pick out two or more sights or sounds of "nature" around you. Discuss with a partner or den
Take a 1-foot hike and make a list of living things you find on your hike
Point out two different kinds of birds that live in your area
Preparation for planting a plant, shrub or tree
Preparation for building a bird house

Tigers in the Wild

Learn about the Cub Scout Six Essential items needed for a hike
Prepare for and go on a nature hike
Discuss the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace principles
Find three different kinds of plants, animals, or signs of animals on the trail
Find two different trees and two different types of plants
Find out about the animals that live on River Bend grounds
Participate in a pack meeting or pack campout campfire

Sky is the Limit

Go outside to observe the night sky
Look at a distant object through a telescope or binoculars
Observe in the sky or select from a book or chart two constellations
Create and name your own constellation
Create a homemade constellation
Find out about two different jobs related to astronomy
Find out about two astronauts who were Scouts when they were younger

Wolf Badges

Call of the Wild

Preparation for requirement 1 (attend a campout) and requirement 7 (present a skit at campfire)
Learn to tie an overhand knot and a square knot
Identify four different types of animals at River Bend
Learn about possible weather changes
Show or demonstrate what to do:
1. When a stranger approaches you, your family, or your belongings
2. In case of a natural disaster such as an earthquake or flood
3. To keep from spreading your germs
Recite the Outdoor Code and discuss the Leave No Trace principle

Paws On The Path

Prepare the Cub Scout Six Essentials
Explain and use the buddy system
Describe what you should do if you get separated from your group while hiking
Choose the appropriate clothing to wear on your hike based on the expected weather
Read the Outdoor Code, discuss Leave No Trace principles, show respect for wildlife
Go on a 1-mile hike with your den or family
Name two birds, two insects, and two other animals on River Bend grounds
Draw a map of an area using common map symbols

Finding Your Way

Draw a map to show somewhere special to you on a map
Learn how to use a compass rose
Pick a nutritious snack and find out where it came from. Show this area on a map
Go on a scavenger hunt using a compass, and locate an object with a compass
Using a map and compass, go on a hike

Bear Badge

Fur, Feather and Ferns

Hike for one mile and spot animal signs
Learn about extinct animals
Describe what you learned at River Bend about wildlife with your pack or family
Observe wildlife from a distance. Describe what you saw
Use a magnifying glass to examine plants more closely
Learn about composting and how vegetable waste can be turned into fertilizer for plants

Webelos Badges

Webelos Walkabout

Create a hike plan
Assemble a hiking first-aid kit
Describe and identify poisonous plants and dangerous animals and insects
Learn about planning nutritious lunches for hikes
Recite the Outdoor Code and the Leave No Trace Principles for kids from memory
Preparation for requirement 6 (a 3-mile hike)
Preparation for requirement 7 (service project)
Lead one aspect of the hike

Into the Woods

Identify two different groups of trees and the parts of a tree
Identify six trees commonly found at River Bend
Identify six plants commonly found at River Bend
Learn about native trees and River Bend
Prepare for requirement 5 (plant a tree)
Think about what wood products are important in your life
Explain how the growth rings of a tree trunk tell its life story

Into the Wild

Learn to be a birdwatcher
Learn about the bird flyways closest to your home. Find out which birds use these flyways
Watch at least four wild creatures in the wild
Identify an insect, reptile, bird, or other wild animal that is found only in your area of the country
Learn about food chains and how we can help them
Visit a River Bend aquatic ecosystem
Share your experiences

Annual Events

Earth Day Celebration

Stay tuned for 2025 activities.

Maple Syrup Fun Run and Pancake Breakfast

Saturday, May 3, 2025 - Registration opens in the fall of 2024

River Bend Ramble

August 10, 2024

Join us for a night of celebrating and connecting people through nature at River Bend with the annual River Bend Ramble fundraising dinner. For more information and to buy fundraiser tickets, visit rbnc.org/ramble

National Public Lands Day of Volunteering

National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands, held annually on the fourth Saturday in September. The next day is September 28, 2024 from 9am-12pm. Free, all ages. Register Here

Bats, Bones, & Bonfires

Saturday, October 26, 2024 - Stay tuned for event details

Archery Only Deer Hunt

We are not hosting a hunt this year. Visit our events page for more information.