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River Bend Members Receive a Discount on Classes and Events.
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Check out an Adventure Pack on your next visit!
Visiting River Bend with junior naturalists in tow? Borrow our brand new adventure bags! These backpacks and more information about our park are available to borrow at the front desk inside the Interpretive Center and are filled with tools for your junior naturalist to explore the beautiful ecosystems here at River Bend.
HipHop to Turtle Pond Pack
Want to splish splash in the pond? Borrow our "Hip Hop to Turtle Pond" backpack to catch macroinvertebrates and learn more about their life cycles.
Playing in the Prairie Pack
Interested in discovering our native tall grass prairie? Borrow our Playing in the Prairie backpack with sweep nets and bug jars for finding creepy crawly friends.
Specialty Programs
Oct. 15 from 9am-4pm
k-5th grade
$15/member or MN Educator; $30 non-member
Turtles, salamanders, and snakes, oh my! Meet these animal friends and learn about more Minnesota Animals while exploring River Bend.
Oct. 16 from 9am-4pm
k-5th grade
$15/member or MN Educator; $30 non-member
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.
Nature ArtSaturday, October 17 from 10am-12pmall ages, $5/member, $10/non-memberLearn 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!
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.
Saturday, December 19, 10am-12pm
all ages, $5/member, $10/non-member
Come enjoy a relaxing Saturday making cards for your loved ones from recycled materials!
Lunch & Learn Series - New topic each month
Wednesdays, 12:00 - 2:00 pm (Bring and eat your own lunch at 12:00, Guest Speakers begin at 12:30)
Cost: $10/person, $5/member, Adults
August 19 - Minnesota's Mussels: 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!
September 16 - The National Wild Turkey Federation: 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.
October 21- Motus Wildlife Tracking System with Mary Mallinger:The Motus Wildlife Tracking System (Motus) is a global network of researchers that uses radio telemetry to track hundreds of species of migratory wildlife, including birds and bats, to understand their movements and survival 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.
November 18- Lichen Love- Learning Minnesota's Lichens with Tanner Barnharst:
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 used 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.
This **online** presentation 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 which plants have been documented in lakes in the Faribault area.
Bagels and Birds
Saturdays, 10:00 - 11:00 am
Cost: FREE!, All ages
Come and enjoy coffee and a free bagel, provided by The Inn at Shattuck, and watch for birds at Windows on the Wild.
Storytime with a Naturalist
Saturdays, 11:00 - 12:00 pm
Cost: FREE!, All ages
Listen to children's stories centered around a different theme each month. Then partake in a short activity with a naturalist.
