Family Nature Art
2026-10-17 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | 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
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
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.

Lunch & Learn: Motus Wildlife Tracking System
2026-10-21 12:00 - 14:00
Wednesday, October 21, 12pm-2pm
Adults
$5 members, $10 Non-members
The Motus Wildlife Tracking System (Motus) is a global network of researchers that uses radio telemetry to track hundreds of species of migratory wildlife to understand their movements across the landscape. The Minnesota Zoo and Audubon are working together to expand the Motus network in Minnesota. With funds from the State’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, we are installing a dozen new Motus stations along important corridors such as the Minnesota River Valley and north shore of Lake Superior- including a new station just installed at River Bend Nature Center! Join us to learn more about this important initiative and how the technology is being used for the conservation of imperiled wildlife.

Bats, Bones, & Bonfires
2026-10-24 14:00 - 17:00
Saturday, October 24, 2pm-5pm
all ages, costumes encouraged!
$10 per member car/ $20 per non-member car
Bring your family for an afternoon of fun! There will be: horse-drawn wagon rides, live animals, a bonfire with s’mores, games, trick-or-treat bags and more! Costumes are encouraged!

Little Sprouts: Rocks Rock!
2026-11-02 09:30 - 11:00
Monday, November 2, 9:30am-11am
birth-5 years old, with an adult
$5member/$10 non-member; (adult is free)
Explore the magic of rocks at River Bend through sensory play, observation, and story time! 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.

Storytime with a Naturalist
2026-11-02 11:00 - 12:00
Saturday, November 7, 11am-12pm – Rocks Rock!
all ages, free.
Listen to children’s stories about MN geology/rocks and then partake in a free activity!

Homeschool: Geology Study
2026-11-02 13:00 - 15:00
Monday, November 2, 1pm-3pm
K-5th Grade
$5 members, $10 non-members
Come study the earth! We will take a look at the history of the earth and how rocks and minerals are formed.

Bagels & Birds
2026-11-07 10:00 - 11:00
Free program on the first Saturday of the month. Join us for bagels while watching birds through the windows on the wild viewing area.

Biochar Volunteer Lead Training
2026-11-14 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-11-14 13:00 - 15:00
Biochar Volunteer Lead Training
Saturday, November 14 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.

Homeschool: Fossil Exploration
2026-11-16 13:00 - 15:00
K-5th Grade students
$5/member, $10/non-member
Help us uncover River Bend’s history by looking for fossils! Learn all about the ancient creatures that used to call this area home.

Lunch & Learn: Lichen Love- Learning Minnesota's Lichens
2026-11-19 12:00 - 14:00
Wednesday, November 19, 12pm-2pm
adults
$5 members, $10 non-members
Learn the fundamentals of lichen biology, ecology, and identification with published lichen author Tanner Barnharst. In this interactive session, you will get hands-on time with dozens of Minnesota lichen samples and learn how humans have been using lichens for thousands of years! In this two-hour session, you will spend 30 minutes eating lunch and conversing with Tanner and fellow lichen-curious folks, participate in an hour-long active learning session, and finish with 30 minutes for questions and free time with the lichens.

Winter at River Bend
2026-11-21 10:00 - 11:30
Saturday, November 21, 10am-11:30am
all ages
$5 member, $10 non-member
As winter settles in, there is still plenty to discover at River Bend Nature Center! We’ll begin our adventure by meeting River Bend’s ambassador animals and learning more about the amazing wildlife that calls our area home. Then, we’ll head out on the trails for a winter hike to explore the landscape and search for animal tracks, scat, and other signs. Bundle up and join us as we discover how animals adapt to winter and uncover the hidden stories they leave behind in the woods. The hike portion will be about an hour on unpaved trails with mixed terrain.

Interpretive Center Closed for Holiday
2026-11-26 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-11-27 08:00 - 17:00
Trails are still open to the public.

Interpretive Center Closed for Holiday
2026-11-28 08:00 - 17:00
The trails are still open to the public.

Bagels & Birds
2026-12-05 10:00 - 11:00
December 5, 10am-11am
free, all ages
Free program on the first Saturday of the month. Join us for bagels while watching birds through the windows on the wild viewing area.

Storytime with a Naturalist
2026-12-05 11:00 - 12:00
Saturday, December 5, 11am-12pm
Free, all ages
Winter Weather!
Come listen to stories about winter weather. Then partake in a free craft.

Little Sprouts Winter Weather
2026-12-07 09:30 - 11:00
December 7, 9:30am-11am
birth-5 year olds, with an adult
$5/member, $10/nonmember, adult is free.
Explore winter at River Bend through sensory play, observation, and storytime! Dress to be outside.

Homeschool: Amazing Astronomy
2026-12-07 13:00 - 15:00
Kinder-5th grade
$5/member, $10/non-member
While we won’t get a chance to look into the real night sky, there is still so much to explore about space. We’ll cover the planets and stars as we learn all about astronomy.

Stewardship Saturday Buckthorn and Biochar
2026-12-12 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-12-12 13:00 - 15:00
Saturday, December 12; 10am-12pm or 1pm-3pm
Free, all ages with an adult
Help River Bend manage buckthorn by burning it to create biochar, a nutrient and carbon-rich soil amendment. Please dress for the weather.

Lunch & Learn: Aquatic Plants of Minnesota Lakes
2026-12-17 12:00 - 14:00
Adults
$5 members, $10 Non-members
Courtney Schirmers, DNR Aquatic Botanist, will join us virtually for the program. She will provide a glimpse beneath the waves at the diversity of aquatic plants found in Minnesota lakes, including common, rare, and unique species. Learn about why aquatic plants are important, how to identify common species and groups, and hear about what plants have been documented in lakes in the Faribault area.

Recycled Holiday Card Making
2026-12-19 10:00 - 12:00
Saturday, December 19, 10am-12pm
$5 member/ $10 non-member
all ages
Come enjoy a relaxing Saturday making cards for your loved ones from recycled materials!

Homeschool: Winter Solstice
2026-12-21 13:00 - 15:00
Monday, December 21, 1pm-3pm
K-5th grade
$5 member, $10 non-member
Come celebrate the shortest day of the year! We will discuss why the winter solstice occurs and how it affects all living things.
