Snow Sculptures -- CANCELLED

Saturday, February 12, 2012, 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Cancelled due to lack of snow.

Snowshoe Saturday - Postponed from January in hopes of snow!
Snowshoe rental: Free for members, $5 for nonmembers.
Snowshoes available for ages 5 and up.

Saturday, February 18, 2012, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

For this special day, the snowshoe rental price is reduced to be free for members and $5 for nonmembers. There must be at least six inches of snow on the ground to use snowshoes. Dress for the weather and wear warm winter boots. Basic instruction will be provided.

Spring Fling
A special event for ladies only! Cover charge is $8.

Thursday, February 23, 2012, 6:00-9:00pm

We just can't wait until spring so we're throwing a very special Spring Fling event for ladies only and benefitting River Bend Nature Center! We'll have jewelry, fashion, makeup, and home decor products for sale. We'll be taking orders for spring bulbs and herbs. Special guest Chef Jeff LaBeau will give a cooking demo and share some food and beverage samples with us. Your cover charge includes food and refreshments and a chance to win one of our exciting door prizes! Don't miss this chance to get excited and revitalized for spring!

Snow Flea Hike
Open to all ages. Free for members; $2 for nonmember individuals; $6 for nonmember families.

Saturday, February 25, 2012, 2:00 - 3:30 pm

A bug in winter? Join a naturalist on a late winter hike searching for insects on the snow.  Participants will start inside the Interpretive Center to learn about snow fleas and other arthropods that have adaptations to be active in below freezing temperatures. We will even make a model of a snow flea showing how it moves. Then we will venture outside on a quest to locate these small but amazing animals. Dress for the weather and prepare to hike in winter conditions.

Bagels & Birds
Open to all ages. Free.

Saturday, March 3, 2012, 8:30 - 9:30 am

Join a naturalist in the comfort of the building to observe birds (and other) visitors to our backyard habitat feeding area. Help with ID, fun facts, binoculars, guidebooks, and conversation will make this a great way to start the day! Enjoy coffee and bagels in a relaxed atmosphere while watching the antics of wildlife.

Searching for Spring
Open to all ages. $2 per person or $6 per family; Free for members

Saturday, March 10, 2012, 1:00 - 2:30 pm

Although the official start of spring isn’t until March 20 and the snow may have just disappeared there are lots of signs that spring is coming. Join a naturalist to search the nature center to see if buds are swelling, birds are singing, plants are thinking about poking up or whatever else we may find. Dress to be outside and for the conditions.

Preschool Nature Play: Sweet Spring (Maple Syruping)
All preschool ages are welcome if accompanied by an adult.
$10 per child members or $12 per child nonmembers. Registration not required.

Saturday, March 17, 2012, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm

Bring your preschoolers for a morning of fun! There will be activities you can do on your own or join a naturalist for an organized activity. Come and go when it is convenient for you. The specific activities taking place are as follows:

Maple Syrup Open House
Open to all ages. Free.

Sunday, March 18, 2012, 1:00 - 3:00 pm

Join the Nature Center’s sugar bush workers in the great spring tradition of maple syrupin’. Help tap trees, collect sap, observe the evaporating station, & taste the final product! Bring the whole family for a fun afternoon.

Full Moon Night Hike
Open to all ages. $2 per person or $6 per family, Free for members

Friday, April 6, 2012, 8:00 - 9:00pm

Join a naturalist to stroll the forest and prairie just as the full moon is coming out. Be ready to use your senses to find out what else is out and about on an early spring evening. Who knows, we might spot a deer, hear an owl, or smell a skunk! Dress to be outside and for the conditions.

Bagels & Birds
Open to all ages. Free.

Saturday, April 7, 2012, 8:30 - 9:30 am

Join a naturalist in the comfort of the building to observe birds (and other) visitors to our backyard habitat feeding area. Help with ID, fun facts, binoculars, guidebooks, and conversation will make this a great way to start the day! Enjoy coffee and bagels in a relaxed atmosphere while watching the antics of wildlife.

Preschool Nature Play: Time for Turtles
All preschool ages are welcome if accompanied by an adult.
$10 per child members or $12 per child nonmembers. Registration not required.

Saturday, April 14, 2012, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm

Bring your preschoolers for a morning of fun! There will be activities you can do on your own or join a naturalist for an organized activity. Come and go when it is convenient for you. The specific activities taking place are as follows:

Forces of Floods
Open to adults. $2 per person, free for members.

Saturday, April 14, 2012, 2:00 - 3:30 pm

Spring is when melting snow and spring rains can cause rivers to flood. Naturalist Elaine Loranz will lead this exploration of the dynamics of rivers. We’ll spend a little time inside to understand the basics of river hydrology and then head down to the Straight River to examine how the flooding shapes the land in this natural process. This will be a moderate hike with hills. Participants should wear footwear that may get wet. This program is designed for adults.

Sounds of Spring Sunset Stroll
Open to all ages. $2 per person or $6 per family, free for members

Wednesday, April 18, 2012, 7:00 - 8:30pm

Enjoy the wild melodies of a spring evening at River Bend Nature Center.  We’ll spend a little time learning about some of these sounds, then venture out on a hike to hear some of the many animals who are active at dusk. Come ready to spend an hour or more hiking and listening!

Wildflowers in the Woods
Open to all ages. $2 per person or $6 per family, free for members

Saturday, April 21, 2012, 2:00 - 3:30pm

Come check out what’s blooming in River Bend’s woods. We’ll have some fun learning about the folklore behind many of our favorite spring wildflowers, and search the forest floor for their blossoms. If we’re lucky we might even see Minnesota’s endangered Dwarf Trout Lily! Most of the time will be spent outdoors, on and off the forest trails.  Come prepared for an hour or more of hiking and exploring!  Not suitable for strollers.  

Maple Syrup Fun Run 5K Run & 1M Walk
Pancake Brunch

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Fun for runners and pancake eaters of all ages. See our Fun Run/Brunch page for all the details.

Animal Spotlight Hike
Open to all ages. $2 per person or $6 per family, Free for members

Wednesday, May 2, 2012, 8:30 - 9:30pm

Ever wonder what animals do at night? Join a naturalist on a night time adventure to search “hot spots” at the nature center for animals. Learn how to use a flashlight to locate animals by their eye shine. Come ready to use quiet observation skills and to discover new things about the natural world. Bring your own flash light or borrow one of ours. Dress to be outside. 

Bagels & Birds
Open to all ages. Free.

Saturday, May 5, 2012, 8:30 - 9:30 am

Join a naturalist in the comfort of the building to observe birds (and other) visitors to our backyard habitat feeding area. Help with ID, fun facts, binoculars, guidebooks, and conversation will make this a great way to start the day! Enjoy coffee and bagels in a relaxed atmosphere while watching the antics of wildlife.

Muddy Mayhem
Open to all ages. $2 per person or $6 per family, Free for members

Saturday, May 5, 2012, 1:30 - 3:00pm

Embrace the messiness of spring! Come play in the mud of River Bend’s Kids in the Wild area.  We’ll make new riverbeds, dig holes, dine on mud pies, do some mud painting, and lots more. Make sure to wear old clothes and come ready to get messy! This program is ideal for young families.

Morning Spring Bird Hike
Open to all ages. $2 per person or $6 per family, Free for members

Saturday, May 12, 2012, 8:00 - 10:00am

Anyone excited to observe birds during this active time of spring is invited to join a naturalist at River Bend for a relaxing bird hike. We will start at the nature center’s Windows on the Wild backyard habitat and then venture outside to continue the search for resident and migrant birds. If you have your own binoculars and bird book bring it along or borrow some from us. Be prepared to walk several miles. Not suitable for strollers.

Fabulous Frogs
Open to all ages. $2 per person or $6 per family, Free for members

Saturday, May 12, 2012, 2:00 - 3:30pm

Hop on over to River Bend for an afternoon of froggy fun.  We’ll start off with some indoor activities, then head out to wander the wetlands in search of our amphibian friends.  Be sure to dress for the weather and wear clothes that you don’t mind getting a little muddy. 

Preschool Nature Play: Wild Babies
All preschool ages are welcome if accompanied by an adult.
$10 per child members or $12 per child nonmembers. Registration not required.

Saturday, May 19, 2012, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm

Bring your preschoolers for a morning of fun! There will be activities you can do on your own or join a naturalist for an organized activity. Come and go when it is convenient for you. The specific activities taking place are as follows:

Wild and Edible
Open to all ages. $2 per person or $6 per family, Free for members

Saturday, May 19, 2012, 2:00 - 3:30pm

Would you believe there are plenty of things to safely eat around the nature center? Join us to look for and collect those things and prepare our own snack. This will be an easy walk.