Storytime with a Naturalist
2023-11-04 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd., Faribault, MN, 55021
Storytime with a Naturalist – Join us for nature story time and free play!

Saturday, November 4 , 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Cost: FREE!, All Ages

Trash to Art
2023-11-18 10:30 - 13:30
Trash to Art – Turn trash into art! Use materials that would otherwise be disposed of (cleaned) to create beautiful works of art.

Saturday, November 18, 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
Cost: FREE!, All Ages

Storytime with a Naturalist
2023-12-02 11:00 - 12:00
Storytime with a Naturalist – Join us for nature story time and free play!

Saturday, December 2 , 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Cost: FREE!, All Ages

Storytime with a Naturalist: The Mitten by Jan Brett
2023-12-16 10:00 - 11:00
Storytime with a Naturalist: The Mitten by Jan Brett – Join a River Bend Naturalist as they read “The Mitten” by Jan Brett, then make your own “mitten” with animals to stuff inside!

Saturday, December 16 , 10:00 – 11:00 am & 12:30-1:30 pm
Cost: FREE!, All Ages

"Hoppy New Year!" Storytime with Harry Hopper
2024-01-06 11:00 - 12:00
“Hoppy New Year!” Storytime with Harry Hopper
Celebrate the new year with animal ambassador, Harry Hopper. Learn what makes the Grey Tree Frog a cool animal!
Free for all ages . Saturday, January 6 . 11:00-12:00 pm

Homeschool: Kitchen Science
2024-01-08 13:00 - 15:00
Homeschool: Kitchen Science
Kitchen science will be filled full of fun experiments using safe ingredients found in your kitchen. Prepare to get a little messy and have lots of fun!
Monday, January 8, 2024
1pm-3pm, K-5th Grade
Cost: $10/person, $5/member

Turtley Awesome Storytime with Orwin!
2024-01-20 11:00 - 12:00
Turtley Awesome Storytime with Orwin!
Have a turtley awesome day with animal ambassador, Orwin. Learn what makes the Painted Turtle a cool animal!
Free for all ages . Saturday, January 20 . 11:00-12:00 pm

Drop-In Papermaking
2024-02-03 11:30 - 13:30
Drop-In Papermaking
Saturday, February 3, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Cost: FREE!, All Ages

Create upcycled greeting cards as you learn how to make homemade paper from a River Bend Naturalist.

Sweet Reads Book Club
2024-02-03 14:30 - 15:00
Sweet Reads Book Club
February Topic: Earth Eras
Saturday, February 3, 2024
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Teens and Adults
Cost: Free!
Book 1: Here Be Dragons: How the Study of Animal and Plant Distributions Revolutionized Our Views of Life and Earth
Book 2: The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being: Evolution and the Making of Us
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.

Homeschool: Maple Syruping & Survival Skills
2024-02-12 13:00 - 15:00
Homeschool: Maple Syruping & Survival Skills
Learn about how real maple syrup is made, and how to survive in the wild!
Monday, February 12, 2024
1pm-3pm, K-5th Grade
Cost: $10/person, $5/member

Luminary Hike
2024-02-15 18:00 - 20:00
Luminary Hike
Thursday, February 15 6:00 – 8:00 pm
All ages, 5 & under free
Cost: $10/member, $15/member with snowshoe rental;
$15/non-members, $20/non-members with snowshoe rental
Must pre-register for this event with a specific entry time

With or without snow, come on out to River Bend and enjoy an illuminated evening hike! Hot cocoa will be provided! Participants are welcome to bring their own snowshoes.

Growling Good Storytime with Sammy!
2024-02-17 11:00 - 12:00
Growling Good Storytime with Sammy!
Have a growling good time with animal ambassador, Sammy. Learn what makes the Tiger Salamander a cool animal!
Free for all ages . Saturday, February 17 . 11:00-12:00 pm

Lunch & Learn: In depth look at Woodpeckers
2024-02-21 12:00 - 14:00
Lunch & Learn: In depth look at Woodpeckers
Cost: $10; $5 for River Bend members.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024, 12:00-2:00pm
Topic: In depth look at Woodpeckers with guest speaker Andy Wendt from Nerstrand State Park
Bring your own lunch and join us as we learn about a new topic each month.

Little Sprouts: Rocks Rock!
2024-02-26 09:30 - 11:00
Little Sprouts: Rocks Rock!
Cost: $10/child, $5/member
Monday, February 26, 2024, 9:30am-11am
Rocks rock because they come in so many different types of colors, textures and can be dull or crystals! Come and explore how fascinating rocks can be! Dress for the weather, as most of the course will be outside.

Sweet Reads Book Club
2024-03-02 14:00 - 15:00
Sweet Reads Book Club
March Theme: Climate Change
Saturday, March 2, 2024
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Teens and Adults
Cost: Free!
Book 1: A Guide on Climate Optimism and Environmental Sustainability
Book 2: Memory of Water by Emmi Itäranta
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: Maple Trees & Sap
2024-03-11 09:30 - 11:00
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
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.

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.
