River Bend Nature Center

Little Sprouts: Maple Trees & Sap
2024-03-11 09:30 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd., Faribault, MN, 55021
Little Sprouts: Maple Trees and Sap
Cost: $10/child, $5/member
Monday, March 11, 2024, 9:30am-11am
Where do we get tasty Maple Syrup from? Maple trees! In this class, we’ll learn about maple sap and what it’s used for. Dress for the weather, as a portion of the class will be outside.

Homeschool: Geology
2024-03-11 13:00 - 15:00
Homeschool: Geology
ages 5-12. Cost: $10/person, $5/member
Monday, March 11, 2024, 1-3pm
Geology rocks! Learn all about rocks and minerals and how scientists learn about what happened millions of years ago.

Maple Syruping
2024-03-16 10:30 - 11:30, 2024-03-16 12:30 - 13:30, 2024-03-26 10:30 - 11:30, 2024-03-26 12:30 - 13:30, 2024-03-28 10:30 - 11:30, 2024-03-28 12:30 - 13:30
Maple Syruping
All Ages. Cost: (FREE for members) $5/person, $15/family * a family is 2 adults and 4 kids under 18
Saturday, March 16, 2024, 10:30-11:30am & 12:30-1:30pm
Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 10:30-11:30am & 12:30-1:30pm
Thursday, March 28, 2024, 10:30-11:30am & 12:30-1:30pm
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.

Lunch & Learn: Twin Cities Coyote & Fox Project
2024-03-20 12:00 - 14:00
Lunch & Learn: Twin Cities Coyote & Fox Project
Cost: $10; $5 for River Bend members.

Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 12:00-2:00pm
Topic: Twin Cities Coyote & Fox Project with guest speaker Geoff Miller
Bring your own lunch and join us as we learn about a new topic each month.

Bagels & Birds
2024-04-06 10:00 - 11:00
Bagels & Birds
10:00 am – 11:00 am
All Ages
Cost: Free!
Join us for bagels from The Inn at Shattuck on the first Saturday each month Fall through Spring.

Sweet Reads Book Club
2024-04-06 14:00 - 15:00
Sweet Reads Book Club
April Theme: Sustainability
Saturday, March 2, 2024
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Teens and Adults
Cost: Free!
Book 1: Rooted: Stories of Life, Land and a Farming Revolution, by Sarah Langford
Book 2: The Conscious Closet: The Revolutionary Guide to Looking Good While Doing Good
We’ll meet the 1st Saturday of each month to have a one group discussion on a book. Refreshments provided. Please register by filling out this form.

Little Sprouts: Spiders
2024-04-08 09:30 - 11:00
Little Sprouts: Spiders
Cost: $10/child, $5/member
Monday, April 8, 2024, 9:30am-11am
Come learn all about spiders and how beneficial they are in nature. Dress for the weather, as a portion of the class will be outside.

Homeschool: Water Cycle
2024-04-08 13:00 - 15:00
Homeschool: Water Cycle
ages 5-12. Cost: $10/person, $5/member
Monday, April 8, 2024, 1-3pm
Water, water everywhere! Learn about the importance of the water cycle through games and activities!

Lunch & Learn: Dakota County's New Bison Herd
2024-04-17 12:00 - 14:00
Lunch & Learn: Dakota County’s New Bison Herd
Cost: $10 ($5 for River Bend members).

Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 12:00-2:00pm
Topic: Dakota County’s New Bison Herd: Guest speaker Dakota County Naturalist
Bring your own lunch and join us as we learn about a new topic each month.

Earth Day Celebration!
2024-04-20 10:00 - 14:00
Earth Day Celebration!
All ages. Cost: Free
Saturday, April 20, 2024, 10:00 am-2:00 pm
The Schedule of Events are as follows:
10:30-11:30 am
11:30-12:30 pm
Break for Lunch – a lite lunch will be provided
1:00 – 2:00 pm
The activities are

Invasive species removal
How to make a DIY compost bin demonstration
Upcycling plastic bags into jump ropes

Participants can choose what activity they would like to do. Each activity will run for an hour and will be offered three different times.

Little Sprouts: Earth Day
2024-04-22 09:30 - 11:00
Little Sprouts: Earth Day
Cost: $10/child, $5/member
Monday, April 22, 2024, 9:30am-11am
Get inspired for earth day with fun, hands-on activities! Dress for the weather, as a portion of the class will be outside.

Maple Syrup Fun Run & Pancake Brunch
2024-05-04 06:30 - 15:30
Maple Syrup Fun Run & Pancake Brunch

Maple Syrup Fun Run
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Pre-register by March 31 for discounted fee
Registration fee includes a race t-shirt and an admission to our Pancake Brunch. Race t-shirts are only guaranteed to participants that pre-register by 4pm on Monday, April 15. Additional shirts will be available first come first serve on race day.
Complete race details are on our Maple Syrup Fun Run website.
Online registration closes at 4:30pm on May 2nd. Entrants may also register on the day of the race starting at 6:00 am.
Race registrations are non-refundable.

Little Sprouts: Baby birds, bunnies & other animals
2024-05-06 09:30 - 11:00
Little Sprouts: Baby birds, bunnies & other animals
Cost: $10/child, $5/member
Monday, May 6, 2024, 9:30am-11am
It’s spring time and babies are here! We’ll learn all about baby birds, bunnies and other animals. Dress for the weather, as a portion of the class will be outside.

Little Sprouts: Colors, shapes & textures in nature
2024-05-13 09:30 - 11:00
Little Sprouts: Colors, shapes & textures in nature
Cost: $10/child, $5/member
Monday, May13, 2024, 9:30am-11am
Nature is beautiful in so many ways. Become inspired by nature through colors, shapes & textures! Dress for the weather, as a portion of the class will be outside.

Homeschool: Aquatic Ecosystems
2024-05-13 13:00 - 15:00
Homeschool: Aquatic Ecosystems
ages 5-12. Cost: $10/person, $5/member
Monday, May 13, 2024, 1-3pm
Explore the ponds and river while learning what an aquatic ecosystem is, why it’s important, and how we can help protect them.

Lunch & Learn: Wildflowers (Dwarf Trout Lily)
2024-05-15 12:00 - 14:00
Lunch & Learn: Wildflowers (Dwarf Trout Lily)
Cost: $10 ($5 for River Bend members).

Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 12:00-2:00pm
Topic: Wildflowers (Dwarf Trout Lily), Guest speaker Andy Wendt from Nerstrand State Park
Bring your own lunch and join us as we learn about a new topic each month.

Woodland Flowers Walk
2024-05-18 13:00 - 14:00
Woodland Flowers Walk
All Ages
Cost: $10 ($5 for River Bend members).
Saturday, May 18, 2024, 1:00-2:00pm
Take a walk with a naturalist and learn tips and tricks for identifying different woodland flowers.

Little Sprouts: Mud & Worms
2024-05-20 09:30 - 11:00
Little Sprouts: Mud & Worms
Cost: $10/child, $5/member
Monday, May 20, 2024, 9:30am-11am
Dive into the world of mud and get a bit dirty while having fun learning about worms! Dress for the weather, as a portion of the class will be outside.

Bagels & Birds
2024-06-01 10:00 - 11:00
Bagels & Birds
All ages. Cost: Free
Saturday, June 1, 2024, 10:00 am-11:00 am
Join us on the first Saturday each month. Enjoy coffee and bagels in a relaxed atmosphere while watching wildlife from the comfort of the Interpretive Center through our Windows on the Wild viewing area. Bagels provided by The Inn at Shattuck.

National River's Month Celebration!
2024-06-01 10:30 - 13:30
National River’s Month Celebration!
Ages 12+. Cost: Free
Saturday, June 1, 2024
10:30 am- 12:00 pm – River Cleanup
We’re celebrating National River Month! Join us June 1st to help clean up the Straight River that runs through River Bend. There will be a half hour of education about the river followed by river clean up for the Straight River. There will be two teams, starting at two locations- at Teepee Tonka and Trout Lily Trails.
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm – Stream Table Activity
What happens to the land when water flows through it? What happens when the amount of water changes or the speed at which it flows? Explore these questions and more through interactive hands-on activities using the stream table at River Bend. Make land formations out of sand, design a river channel, then add water and see what happens! Fun for all ages!

Sweet Reads Book Club
2024-06-01 14:00 - 15:00
Sweet Reads Book Club
Teens and Adults. Cost: Free
Saturday, June 1, 2024, 2:00 pm-3:00 pm
Join us on the 1st Saturday of each month for a one group discussion on topics that include Environmentalism, Forestry, Wellness, Sustainability, Climate Change, Etc…
June Theme: Restoration
Book 1: Saving Tarboo Creek by Scott Freeman

Little Sprouts: What's in the Water?
2024-06-03 09:30 - 11:00
Little Sprouts: What’s in the Water?
Cost: $10/child, $5/member
Monday, June 3, 2024, 9:30am-11am
Splish, splash, what’s in the water? Come and learn what lives in the river and ponds at River Bend. Dress for the weather, as a portion of the class will be outside.

Big Woods Biome Hike
2024-06-08 10:00 - 12:00
Big Woods Biome Hike
Ages 12+
Cost: Free
Saturday, June 8, 2024, 10:00-12:00pm
The Big Woods is one of the major biomes found in Minnesota. Come learn about what makes this biome unique and explore the Big Woods at River Bend Nature Center. Program consists of a short presentation followed by a naturalist-led hike.

Dinosaurs Summer Camp
2024-06-10 09:00 - 16:00
Dinosaurs – Meadowlarks (K-2)
June 10 & 11, Mon-Tue, 9am – 4pm
$55 ($30 for members)
Take a trip back in time as we explore dinosaurs! Come learn all about the prehistoric world as we play games, make art, and look for fossils.
Register Here
