River Bend Nature Center

Moth Surveys
2026-07-23 20:00 - 22:00 (America/Chicago) | MINNESOTA
Thursday, July 23, 8:00pm-10:00pm
Join Minnesota Moth’er Ryan Tomazin for an evening program to explore some of the local moth life. The night will start with a short, indoor presentation to highlight some south metro species and to explain the methodology for setting up your own light for mothing. The night will proceed outside with a nighttime moth light to see what we can attract.
Please dress for mosquitoes, and bring a small flashlight and a camera or cell phone to capture your own moth photos if you would like.

Explorers K-2nd Grade
2026-07-27 09:00 - 2026-07-28 16:00 | River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd., Faribault, MN, 55021
Explorers K-2nd Grade
Monday & Tuesday, July 27th & 28th
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Are you ready to explore River Bend? Discover the different habitats around the nature center and try to catch a glimpse of the animals that live there.
Drop-off and pick-up at the main interpretive center
If you have questions, you can call 507-332-7151 or email camp@rbnc.org
Register Here

Animal Camp K-2nd Grade
2026-07-29 09:00 - 2026-07-30 16:00 | River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd., Faribault, MN, 55021
Animal Camp K-2nd Grade
Wednesday & Thursday, July 29th, & 30th
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Are you ready to explore River Bend? Discover the different habitats around the nature center and try to catch a glimpse of the animals that live there.
Drop-off and pick-up at the main interpretive center
If you have questions, you can call 507-332-7151 or email camp@rbnc.org
Register Here

Bagels & Birds
2026-08-01 10:00 - 11:00 | River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd., Faribault, MN, 55021
Bagels & Birds
All ages. Cost: Free
Saturday, August 1, 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.
Register Here

Story Time Pollinators
2026-08-01 11:00 - 12:00 | River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd., Faribault, MN, 55021
Story time with a Naturalist: Pollinators
All ages. Cost: Free
Saturday, August 1, 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Join a Naturalist for a fun and interactive story time all about pollinators!
Register Here

Rotary Camp Turtle Treasure
2026-08-07 10:00 - 16:00 | Rotary Camp Holt Trail, Faribault, MN 55021, Holt Trail, Faribault, MN, 55021, United States
Rotary Family Camp is designed for youth and their adults to participate in camp activities together! Camp participants will meet River Bend staff at Rotary Camp Holt Trail Faribault, MN.Please dress for the weather, including tennis shoes and pack your own lunches. All activities are subject to change based on weather. Camp runs 10am-4pm. Pre-registration required.
Turtle Treasure Camp is a full-day outdoor adventure where participants build teamwork through games, geocaching, and orienteering challenges to uncover hidden puzzle pieces. The day continues on the water with canoeing and kayaking, and wraps up with a creative turtle-themed craft before heading home.

Ramble Fundraising Dinner
2026-08-08 16:30 - 19:00 | MINNESOTA
River Bend Nature Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Your donations support our efforts to bring environmental education to all people, restore our natural habitats and be a community resource for outdoor recreation. Thank you.
Ramble Revitalized! Join us for Fun & Entertainment:
Silent Auction
Spin to Win Gift Card Game
Buffet Dinner & Fund-A-Need Program
Location: The Hub at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School . 1000 Shumway Ave . Faribault, MN 55021

Rotary Camp Survival Camp
2026-08-14 10:00 - 16:00 | Rotary Camp Holt Trail, Faribault, MN 55021, Holt Trail, Faribault, MN, 55021, United States
Rotary Family Camp is designed for youth and their adults to participate in camp activities together! Camp participants will meet River Bend staff at Rotary Camp Holt Trail Faribault, MN. Please dress for the weather, including tennis shoes and pack your own lunches. All activities are subject to change based on weather. Camp runs 10am-4pm. Pre-registration required.
Survival Camp
Join River Bend Naturalists at Rotary Camp for Family Camp Survival Camp! Survival Camp challenges participants to build essential outdoor skills, including shelter building, navigating the forest, and fire-starting techniques. The day wraps up with hands-on crafts and a campfire complete with s’mores, celebrating a full day of wilderness adventure.

Lunch & Learn: Minnesota's Mussels
2026-08-19 12:00 - 14:00 | River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd., Faribault, MN, 55021
Lunch & Learn: Minnesota’s Mussels with Andy Wendt, Nerstrand State Park Naturalist
Cost: $5/member, $10/non-member
Adult Learning, 18+
Wednesday, August 19, 12:00-2:00pm
Join Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Naturalist Andy Wendt to explore the fascinating world of Minnesota’s mussels. Discover their importance to our waters and some of the unique ways they complete their lifecycle. You will also have an opportunity to learn how you can help protect these ecosystem superstars!
Guest Speaker begins at 12:30 pm. Bring your own lunch and enjoy!
Register Here

Rotary Camp Survival Camp Extreme!
2026-08-21 10:00 - 16:00 | Rotary Camp Holt Trail, Faribault, MN 55021, Holt Trail, Faribault, MN, 55021, United States
Rotary Family Camp is designed for youth and their adults to participate in camp activities together! Camp participants will meet River Bend staff at Rotary Camp Holt Trail Faribault, MN. Please dress for the weather, including tennis shoes and pack your own lunches. All activities are subject to change based on weather. Camp runs 10am-4pm. Pre-registration required.
Join River Bend Naturalists at Rotary Camp for Family Camp Survival Camp Extreme! Survival Camp Extreme takes the challenges to a new level! Learn advanced navigation, water safety, and more. The day wraps up with hands-on crafts, celebrating a full day of wilderness adventure.

Rotary Family Camp Sword Camp
2026-08-28 10:00 - 16:00 | Rotary Camp Holt Trail, Faribault, MN 55021, Holt Trail, Faribault, MN, 55021, United States
Rotary Family Camp is designed for youth and their adults to participate in camp activities together! Camp participants will meet River Bend staff at Rotary Camp Holt Trail Faribault, MN. Please dress for the weather, including tennis shoes and pack your own lunches. All activities are subject to change based on weather. Camp runs 10am-4pm.
Join River Bend Naturalists at Rotary Camp for Family Sword Camp! Sword Camp invites participants to craft their own noodle swords and learn the rules of safe, friendly combat through guided games and skill-building sessions. The day features plenty of action-packed battles, ending with a full battle to celebrate the fun.
Pre-registration required.

Rotary Family Camp Game Camp
2026-09-04 10:00 - 16:00 | Rotary Camp Holt Trail, Faribault, MN 55021, Holt Trail, Faribault, MN, 55021, United States
Rotary Family Camp is designed for youth and their adults to participate in camp activities together! Camp participants will meet River Bend staff at Rotary Camp Holt Trail, Faribault, MN. Please dress for the weather, including tennis shoes, and pack your own lunches. All activities are subject to change based on weather. Camp runs 10am-4pm. Pre-registration required.
This camp day combines teamwork and outdoor fun with group games, water-based challenges like canoeing and kayaking races, and hands-on activities throughout the day. Participants will wrap up with classic lawn games, building friendships, and enjoying a full day of active play.

Interpretive Center Closed for Holiday
2026-09-05 08:00 - 2026-09-07 17:00 | MINNESOTA
The trails are still open to the public.

Biochar Volunteer Lead Training
2026-09-12 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-12 13:00 - 15:00 | MINNESOTA
Biochar Volunteer Lead Training
Saturday, September 12 from 10am-12pm or 1pm-3pm
Learn and help in the biochar efforts at River Bend! Learn the skills and knowledge needed to lead other volunteers in the biochar process. After training, you will lead other volunteers during biochar days. Lead volunteers are available weekdays and/or Saturdays. Dress in pants, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes. Training will take place outside; please bring a water bottle.

Lunch & Learn: The National Wild Turkey Federation
2026-09-16 12:00 - 14:00 | River Bend Nature Center, 1000 Rustad Rd., Faribault, MN, 55021
Lunch & Learn: The National Wild Turkey Federation and Restoring Wild Turkeys in Minnesota
Cost: $5/member, $10/non-member
Adult Learning, 18+
Wednesday, September 16, 12:00-2:00pm
Steve Misvaer, Regional Director NWTF and Linden Anderson, Minnesota DNR and NWTF Volunteer, will be discussing the NWTF’s past, present and future turkey restoration efforts as well as a discussion on the efforts to reintroduce wild turkeys to Minnesota over the past century. This presentation will cover both the challenges and successes, as well as the lessons learned throughout the restoration process. It will feature insights and stories from one of the individuals involved in Minnesota’s trap-and-transplant program.
Guest Speaker begins at 12:30 pm. Bring your own lunch and enjoy!
Register Here

Watershed Wide Cleanup Day
2026-09-19 09:00 - 12:00 | MINNESOTA
With Clean River Partners!
Saturday, September 19, 9am-12pm
Join Clean River Partners for their largest volunteer event of the year – a fun morning connecting with neighbors and cleaning up our parks and natural areas. When they say “watershed-wide”, they mean it. You can find cleanup sites in the following places: Cannon Falls, Faribault, Lonsdale, Northfield, Owatonna, Red Wing, and Waterville.

Little Sprouts: Pond Life
2026-09-21 09:30 - 11:00 | MINNESOTA
September 21, 9:30am-11am
birth-5 years old, with an adult
$5member/$10 non-member; (adult is free)
Explore what lives in the ponds at River Bend through sensory play, observation, and story time! Dress to be outside.
Little Sprouts is an educational exploration class filled with activities of a different theme each week. Dress for the weather, as most of the class will be outside.

Homeschool: Rad Reptiles
2026-09-21 13:00 - 15:00 | MINNESOTA
Monday, September 21, 1pm-3pm
K-5th Grade students
$5/member, $10/non-member
Help us round up some reptiles! Students will get a chance to explore all of River Bend’s cold-blooded scaly friends.

Bagels & Birds
2026-10-03 10:00 - 11:00 | MINNESOTA
All ages, Free!
Free program on the first Saturday of the month. Join us for bagels while watching birds through the windows on the wild viewing area.

Story time with a Naturalist: Autumn Time!
2026-10-03 11:00 - 12:00 | MINNESOTA
Saturday, October 3, 11am-12pm
Free, all ages
Come listen to stories about the changing of the seasons. Then partake in a free craft.

Little Sprouts: Colorful Leaves
2026-10-05 09:30 - 11:00 | MINNESOTA
Monday, October 5, 9:30am-11am
birth-5 year olds, with an adult
$5/member, $10/nonmember, adult is free.
Explore the different colors of fall at River Bend through sensory play, observation, and storytime! Dress to be outside.

Homeschool All About Trees
2026-10-05 13:00 - 15:00 | MINNESOTA
Monday, October 5, 1pm-3pm
Kinder-5th grade
$5/member, $10/non-member
This program will have students learning what makes trees so special. From roots to leaves, there is so much to cover! Please dress for the weather.

Stewardship Saturday: Tree Planting
2026-10-10 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-10-10 13:00 - 15:00 | MINNESOTA
Saturday, October 10, from 10am-12pm and/or 1pm-3pm
free, all ages with an adult are welcome
Help River Bend’s forests thrive for another 50+ years! We will be tree planting in a designated area to help complete resource work for a grant. Please wear close-toed shoes, and dress for the weather.

MEA Break Camp- Minnesota Animals
2026-10-15 09:00 - 16:00 | MINNESOTA
October 15, 9am-4pm
K-5th grade
$15 members & MN educators; $30 nonmembers
Turtles, salamanders, and snakes, oh my! Meet these animal friends and learn about more Minnesota Animals while exploring River Bend. Please pack a lunch and dress to be outside.

MEA Break Camp- Forts and Fires
2026-10-16 09:00 - 16:00 | MINNESOTA
Friday, October 16, 9am-4pm
K-5th Grade
$15 members & MN Educators; $30 nonmembers
One of the Summer camp favorites is back this fall! Your kids will have a blast with friends learning survival skills such as fort-making, fire-building, and navigation.

Family Nature Art
2026-10-17 10:00 - 12:00 | MINNESOTA
Saturday, October 17, 10am-12pm
all ages
$5 members, $10 non-members
Learn about fun ways to make art with things found in nature! Staff will guide you on a short walk to collect items, then return to the nature center and let your imagination run wild!

Little Sprouts: Creepy Crawlies
2026-10-19 09:30 - 11:00 | MINNESOTA
Monday, October 19, 9:30am-11am
Birth to 5-year-olds, with an adult
$5 members /$10 nonmembers; adults are free
Explore what creepy crawlies live at River Bend through sensory play, observation, and story time! Dress to be outside.

Homeschool: Fall Leaves
2026-10-19 13:00 - 15:00 | MINNESOTA
Homeschool Fall Leaves
Monday, October 19, 1pm-3pm
K-5th Grade
$5 member, $10 non-member
Just as the fall colors peak, students will get a chance to explore this colorful phenomenon. Learn why some trees turn yellow, orange and red, while enjoying the autumn scenes.
