River Bend Nature Center

Forest Therapy Walk
2023-06-10 09:30 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd., Faribault, MN, 55021
Cost: $60/person; $50/member
Improved mental health. Lower stress levels. Heightened immune response. Deep gratitude. A renewed connection with creation and Creator. Through a series of invitations designed to boost your senses and evoke discovery, the ANFT-certified Jerad Morey will guide you on a Forest Therapy Walk. Past participants have called their experience “transformative,” “meaningful,” and “spiritual” and reported feelings of refreshment, relaxation, and peace.
A Forest Therapy Walk is not an extended hike – you will not be huffing and puffing or racking up your step count – but you will be invited to traverse unpaved and uneven ground. Please bring a full water bottle and dress appropriately for a few hours in the weather including sunscreen, bug deterrent, a portable chair or clothes in which you can sit on the ground, and shoes in which you can walk off-trail.

Archery for Beginners
2023-06-03 12:30 - 13:30 | River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd., Faribault, MN, 55021
12:30 – 1:30 pm
Cost: $10/child, $5/member, Ages: 8-15
Ever wanted to learn how to shoot a bow and arrow? Now is your chance! Learn the basics of shooting a compound bow and have time to practice your new skill. The NASP archery equipment provided for this program was sponsored by a No Child Left Inside grant through the Minnesota DNR.

Wellness Wednesday: Archery
2023-05-31 16:30 - 17:30 | River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd., Faribault, MN, 55021
Cost: $10 ($5 for River Bend members)
Shoot archery with a naturalist on Wellness Wednesday! We’re getting outside for some fresh air and rejuvenation. Ask any question about nature while the naturalist highlights what’s happening throughout the seasons during this special session of archery.

Lunch & Learn: Prairie Songbird Conservation
2023-05-24 12:00 - 14:00 | River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd., Faribault, MN, 55021
Lunch & Learn: Prairie Songbird Conservation
Cost: $10 ($5 for River Bend members).
Wednesday, May 24, 2023, 12:00-2:00pm
Topic: Prairie Songbird Conservation
Dr. LaReesa Wolfenbarger and Dr. John McCarty will talk about studies of Henslow’s Sparrows and other prairie birds completed by their Lab of Avian Ecology at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Nature Prints with Paradise Center for the Arts
2023-05-20 10:00 - 12:00 | MINNESOTA
Nature Prints with Artist Karen Peters, Paradise Center for the Arts
Saturday, May 20, 10:00 – 12:00pm
Free Program, all ages welcome!- Must pre-register for the event.

Register with the Paradise Center for the Arts at https://www.paradisecenterforthearts.org/education
Or, call the Paradise Center for the Arts 507-332-7372 ext. 1 or 4 or stop in during open hours Wed. – Fri. 12pm – 5pm, Saturday 10am – 2pm

We will meet at River Bend Nature Center 1000 Rustad Rd, Faribault (near the Interpretive Center Building) at 10:00am. All ages are welcome but small children must have supervision and help. In this class artist Karen Peters will bring nature and art together. Students are encouraged to enjoy the outdoors and see the wonder in nature while creating nature prints. Students will create small format monotypes using abstract color fields and plants. We’ll use leaves and other plants to create shapes and textures on our prints. Combining the beauty of art and nature. Students will make two or more prints. Students will be able to take one print home and leave the other print to be included in the collaborative art piece that will be assembled and displayed locally.
The collaborative Nature Print piece will be displayed at the Paradise Center for the Arts (321 Central Ave. N., Faribault) June 30 – August 5, 2023. An artist opening reception will be held Friday, June 30th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, for friends, family, and the public. The Nature Prints Collaborative piece will be on display in the K & M Gallery at the Paradise until August 5th.
Ink does not wash out of clothes. Wear something old, or something black, or bring a paint shirt. We are limited to 20 students for the class. Please register soon. The Nature Prints will bring you in touch with nature and art.

Stewardship Day: Invasive Species
2023-05-20 10:00 - 11:30 | River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd., Faribault, MN, 55021
10:00-11:30am or 12:30-2:00pm
Cost: Free, for all ages
Come learn about what an invasive species is and help to remove it.

Wellness Wednesday
2023-05-17 16:30 - 17:30 | River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd., Faribault, MN, 55021
Cost: $10 ($5 for River Bend members)
Hike with a naturalist on Wellness Wednesday! We’re getting outside for some fresh air and rejuvenation. Ask any question about nature while the naturalist highlights what’s happening throughout the seasons.

Lunch & Learn: Faribault Parks and Rec Department
2023-05-17 12:00 - 14:00 | River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd., Faribault, MN, 55021
Cost: $10 ($5 for River Bend members)
Topic: Faribault Parks and Rec Department
Bring your own lunch and join us as we listen to Paul Peanasky talk about the parks and rec department.

Stewardship Day: Invasive Species
2023-05-16 10:00 - 11:00 | River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd., Faribault, MN, 55021
10:00 am – 11:00 am, meet at the main interpretive center
Cost: Free!
Come learn about what an invasive species is and then help remove it to restore River Bend’s habitats.

Homeschool Reptiles and Amphibians
2023-05-08 13:00 - 15:00 | MINNESOTA
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.
May 8: Reptiles and Amphibians
Come meet River Bend’s animal ambassadors, a painted turtle, gray tree frog, tiger salamander, and corn snake, as we explore the importance of and differences between reptiles and amphibians.

Maple Syrup Fun Run & Pancake Brunch
2023-05-06 | MINNESOTA
Your registration fee supports environmental education, outdoor recreation, and natural resource conservation. River Bend is a 501(c)(3) non-profit nature center that relies on donations, memberships, and fundraising events. Thank You!
All registrations get a free pancake brunch and goodies from race sponsors. Register by Monday, April 17 to get a Free t-shirt. T-shirts are unisex sizes. Registrations after April 17th and same-day registrations can get a t-shirt on a first-come, first serve basis while supplies last. Multiple distances are available: one mile, 5K, 10K, 25K, 50K. Chip timing by Anderson Race Management. Registration prices increase April 1st!

Forest Therapy Walk
2023-04-23 13:00 - 15:30 | MINNESOTA
Forest Therapy Walk
Sunday, April 23, 1:00-3:30pm
Cost: $60/person, $50/member (Guided by Jerad Morey, ANFT-Certified)

Improved mental health. Lower stress levels. Heightened immune response. Deep gratitude. A renewed connection with creation and Creator. Through a series of invitations designed to boost your senses and evoke discovery, the ANFT-certified Jerad Morey will guide you on a Forest Therapy Walk. Past participants have called their experience “transformative,” “meaningful,” and “spiritual” and reported feelings of refreshment, relaxation, and peace.
A Forest Therapy Walk is not an extended hike – you will not be huffing and puffing or racking up your step count – but you will be invited to traverse unpaved and uneven ground. Please bring a full water bottle and dress appropriately for a few hours in the weather including sunscreen, bug deterrent, a portable chair or clothes in which you can sit on the ground, and shoes in which you can walk off-trail.

Earth Day, Family Day!
2023-04-23 11:00 - 14:30 | MINNESOTA
Earth Day Celebration – Family Day!
Sunday, April 23, 11:00-2:30pm
Cost: Free! for all ages

Celebrate Earth Day at River Bend Nature Center and enjoy a fun day of filled with wildflowers and earth friendly activities! Come for all or part of the planned activities.
11:00-12:00 Wildflower Hike with trash clean up (Outside)
12:00-12:30 Lunch break – pack a lunch and enjoy each other’s company!
12:30-1:30 Kids/Family Story with activity (Inside)
1:30-2:30 Take home wildflower project (Inside)

Earth Day Celebration!
2023-04-22 11:00 - 14:30 | MINNESOTA
Earth Day Celebration – Call to Action!
Saturday, April 22, 11:00-2:30pm
Cost: Free! for all ages

Celebrate Earth Day at River Bend Nature Center and enjoy a fun day of filled with wildflowers and earth friendly activities! Come for all or part of the planned activities.
11:00-12:00 Wildflower Hike with trash pick up
12:00-12:30 Lunch break – pack a lunch and enjoy each other’s company!
12:30-1:30 Stewardship Activity Invasive Species Removal (Outside) What can be recycled? (Inside)
1:30-2:30 Stewardship Activity Invasive Species Removal (Outside) What is Composting? (Inside)

Lunch & Learn: Energy Conservation with Xcel Energy
2023-04-19 12:00 - 14:00 | MINNESOTA
Lunch & Learn: Energy Conservation at Home with Anna Thill from Xcel Energy
Wednesday, April 19, 12:00-2:00pm
Cost: $10/person, $5/member
Learn all about ways you can be more eco-conscious by conserving energy (and usually money!) at home.

Live Peregrine Falcons
2023-04-15 10:30 - 11:30 | MINNESOTA
Live Peregrine Falcons with Jackie Fallon from Mayo Clinic
Saturday April 15, Cost: $5/member, $10/non-member
Peregrine Falcons are the fastest bird in the air and nearly went extinct. Jackie Fallon helped bring the population back. Come hear about the amazing recovery story, what is being done right here in Minnesota to help the species and what we have discovered about them after 40 years of research. Please pre-register for this event, as it usually sells out!
Morning Session 10:30 – 11:30 am
Afternoon Session 12:30 – 1:30 pm

Little Sprouts Adult/Child Programs
2023-04-11 09:30 - 11:00 | MINNESOTA
Adult/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 on Tuesdays from 9:30-11 am unless otherwise noted.
Tuesday, April 11 – Birds and Nests
Tuesday, April 25 – Baby Animals
Tuesday, May 9 – Sounds and Shapes in Nature
Tuesday, May 23 – Worms and Mud
Tuesday, June 13 – What’s in the Water?
Tuesday, August 8 – What’s in the Water?

Homeschool Weather and Seasons
2023-04-10 13:00 - 15:00 | MINNESOTA
April 10: Weather and Seasons
As the weather warms, learn all about the seasons we experience in Minnesota and how weather changes. Please pre-register for this event, as they do fill quickly.

Wellness Wednesday
2023-04-05 16:30 - 17:30 | MINNESOTA
Cost: $10/person, $5/member
Hike with a naturalist on Wellness Wednesday! We’re getting outside for some fresh air and rejuvenation. Ask any question about nature while the naturalist highlights what’s happening throughout the seasons.

Maple Syruping
2023-03-28 10:30 - 11:30 | MINNESOTA
Maple Syruping
Cost: $5/person, $15/family (FREE for members) *a family is 2 adults and 4 kids under 18
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. Please pre-register at the links below as maple syruping events tend to fill up.
March 28, 10:30 – 11:30 am, March 28, 12:30 – 1:30 pm,
March 30, 10:30 – 11:30 am, March 30, 12:30 – 1:30 pm

Little Sprouts Sounds In Nature
2023-02-21 09:30 - 11:00 | MINNESOTA
Little Sprouts is a parent/child class for children from birth through 5 years old. There are planned educational exploration activities with a different theme each week. Dress for the weather, as some of the class will be outside.
Cost: $10/child, $5/member child

Drop-in Paper Making
2023-02-18 10:30 - 13:30 | MINNESOTA
Come learn how to make your own paper from paper scraps! A naturalist will guide you through the process to make your own paper to take home.
$10/person, $5/ RBNC Member

Homeschool Nature Study and Journaling
2023-02-13 13:00 - 15:00 | MINNESOTA
Ever wonder how people can notice the smallest details in nature? Learn the art of observation and record-keeping as we explore River Bend Nature Center.
Cost: $10/child. Ages 5-12 years old.

Little Sprouts Animals in Winter
2023-02-07 09:30 - 11:00 | MINNESOTA
Little Sprouts is a parent/child class for children from birth through 5 years old. 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 on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 9:30-11 am unless otherwise noted.
Cost: $10/child, $5/member child

All About Owls
2023-02-04 12:30 - 13:30 | MINNESOTA
All About Owls
all ages. Cost: $10/person, $5/member
Saturday, February 4, 2023, 12:30pm-1:30pm
Learn about owls that live in Minnesota, dissect an owl pellet, and go for a short walk to see where owls might live at River Bend.

Bagels & Birds
2023-02-04 10:00 - 11:00 | MINNESOTA
Bagels and Birds
Free program on the first Saturday of the month. Join us for bagels while watching birds through the windows on the wild viewing area.
February 4

Full Moon Luminary Snowshoe/ Hike
2023-02-03 18:00 - 20:00 | MINNESOTA
Enjoy the full moon with a luminary hike through River Bend. Trails are packed snow, participants are welcome to bring their own snowshoes. Please pre-register for an entry time.
Cost: $10/member, $15/member with rental;
$15/non-members, $20/non-members with rental; 5 & under free.

Little Sprouts Meet the Animal Ambassadors
2023-01-24 09:30 - 11:00 | MINNESOTA
Little Sprouts is a parent/child class for children birth through 5 years old. There are planned educational exploration activities with a different theme each week. Dress for the weather, as some of the class will be outside.
Classes are held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 9:30-11 am unless otherwise noted.

Drop-in Bird Feeder Making
2023-01-21 10:30 - 13:30 | MINNESOTA
Stop in anytime between 10:30 am and 1:30 pm to make your own bird feeder from natural or reused items. Then take it home to put up in your yard or give to a friend.

Lunch & Learn Sustainability at Home by Zach McCarty
2023-01-18 12:00 - 14:00 | MINNESOTA
Lunch & Learn: Sustainability at Home by Zach McCarty, GreenCorps Member at River Bend
Cost: $10 ($5 for River Bend members).
Wednesday, January 18, 2023, 12:00-2:00pm
Topic: Sustainability at Home
Bring your own lunch and join us as we learn about how to create more sustainable habits at home with Zach McCarty, GreenCorps member serving at River Bend Nature Center.
