What do all living things need to survive? Students will explore some of Riverbend’s habitats to find the answers to these and other questions about local wildlife. Habitats to explore: pond, stream, meadow, or forest.
Students will practice science skills including drawing, observations, and group discussion.

WANT TO CUSTOMIZE THIS TRIP? Riverbend field trips typically include four stations. You can select one of these stations to substitute in your Habitats field trip. Once you register, you will have the option to customize your program.

ANIMAL ENCOUNTER (all ages) - Meet one of Riverbend's animal ambassadors.
AQUAPONICS GREENHOUSE TOUR (all ages) - Learn how we are using fish waste to grow food.
NATURE JOURNALING (Grades 2-12)- Learn how to effectively use a nature journal to improve observation skills.
INVASIVE SPECIES (Grades 2-12) - What are they? What's the problem? Learn to identify some of the invasive plants in the Philadelphia region and then help Riverbend remove them from the preserve.
BIRDING & BINOCULARS (Grades 3-12) - Learn the basics of binocular use and then put them to use spotting and identifying local birds.

An ecosystem is a community of living (biotic) things interacting with the nonliving (abiotic) things in their environment. Bring this lesson to life by exploring the interrelationship of living and nonliving things at Riverbend’s forest, stream, meadow and/or pond!

Science skills include observations, collecting data, creating models, discussion with peers.

WANT TO CUSTOMIZE THIS TRIP?
Riverbend field trips typically include four stations. You can select one of these stations to substitute in your ecosystems field trip. Once you register, you will have the option to customize your program.

ANIMAL ENCOUNTER (all ages) - Meet one of Riverbend's animal ambassadors.
AQUAPONICS GREENHOUSE TOUR (all ages) - Learn how we are using fish waste to grow food.
NATURE JOURNALING (Grades 2-12)- Learn how to effectively use a nature journal to improve observation skills.
INVASIVE SPECIES (Grades 2-12) - What are they? What's the problem? Learn to identify some of the invasive plants in the Philadelphia region and then help Riverbend remove them from the preserve.
BIRDING & BINOCULARS (Grades 3-12) - Learn the basics of binocular use and then put them to use spotting and identifying local birds.

Earth has been called the "water planet" because 2/3 of its surface is covered in water. All living things need water to survive and life exists everywhere there is water. This program focuses on the movement of water in a watershed (or drainage basin) and helps students understand what a watershed is by looking at the land at Riverbend and thinking about how water flows. Students will learn about pervious and impervious surfaces and how human impacts on the environment change water flow and quality. They will also explore some of the wildlife that depend on clean water for survival. Students will conduct a stream investigation, sample water, and hike a watershed trail to learn how water connects us all on the water planet.

WANT TO CUSTOMIZE THIS TRIP?
Riverbend field trips typically include four stations. You can select one of these stations to substitute in your Watersheds field trip. Once you register, you will have the option to customize your program.

ANIMAL ENCOUNTER (all ages) - Meet one of Riverbend's animal ambassadors.
AQUAPONICS GREENHOUSE TOUR (all ages) - Learn how we are using fish waste to grow food.
NATURE JOURNALING (Grades 2-12)- Learn how to effectively use a nature journal to improve observation skills.
INVASIVE SPECIES (Grades 2-12) - What are they? What's the problem? Learn to identify some of the invasive plants in the Philadelphia region and then help Riverbend remove them from the preserve.
BIRDING & BINOCULARS (Grades 3-12) - Learn the basics of binocular use and then put them to use spotting and identifying local birds.

Where does your food come from? If you answered the supermarket, this program is for you! There was a time when humans lived off the natural resources available to them. They settled near waterways, foraged for plants and hunted animals. Then came agriculture. Agriculture allowed humans to develop permanent settlements with reliable food sources. This program looks at the history and current state of agriculture in the United States and looks at some sustainable growing solutions for the future. Students will tour the Riverbend Aquaponics Greenhouse and see how fish waste is used to grow vegetables. Students will discuss the food web which includes humans, and then plant their own vegetable seeds to take back to school and watch grow into food they can eat!

Plants need sun and water to grow, but many also need pollinators to help them reproduce! In this hands-on program students will learn how plants grow and the important role of pollinators in transporting pollen from flower to flower so that fruit can grow and spread seeds. Students will explore the many phases of plant growth in Riverbend’s Aquaponics greenhouse and learn all about this environmentally friendly farming method (which uses fish waste as a nutrient source for plants). Students also have the option of planting seeds that they will take back to school with them to be planted in a pollinator garden in the spring!

What trees live at Riverbend? Practice observation and categorization skills in our field trip all about winter tree ID. Students will receive nature journals, record observations, and become familiar with plant terminology to get to know the trees of Riverbend.

Students will rotate through three stations: an outdoor winter hike, a tour of our APX greenhouse, and one custom station (see below).

ANIMAL ENCOUNTER (all ages) - Meet one of Riverbend's animal ambassadors.
NATURE JOURNALING (Grades 2-12)- Learn how to effectively use a nature journal to improve observation skills.
BIRDING & BINOCULARS (Grades 3-12) - Learn the basics of binocular use and then put them to use spotting and identifying local birds.

This extended field trip experience has been designed for middle school and high school students. Students spend the morning doing a traditional educational field trip that includes outdoor exploration, an introduction to naturalist skills and a tour of our Aquaponics Greenhouse. Then students break for lunch and meet with Riverbend's Director of Conservation to get the service learning assignments. The service projects will vary depending on the time of the year and the needs of the preserve. This field trip runs from 9am-2pm, but can be customized to suit the needs of your group. The cost for this trip is $1250 for up to 50 students and $20 per additional student up to 72 students.

Challenge your students with a team building race that happens all over Riverbend's 30 acre preserve. In small teams, students will compete to find and finish six challenges that are led by our educators. Challenges involve grade appropriate science concepts such as water quality testing, aquatic macroinvertebrate surveys, cycles of matter, aquaponics, and plant identification.

Due to the staffing requirements of this program, this unique experience is $21/student for up to 50 students, additional students up to our capacity are $15/student. Use our Amazing Race to review science concepts or start your year with a collaborative, hands on experience to get students excited to learn.

Students will work in teams to investigate real environmental challenges happening at Riverbend and prepare a solution for one of the problems to present to their peers. Challenges include soil erosion, invasive species, and water runoff. During the program students will use science skills such as evaluating evidence, modeling phenomena, and peer discussion. This program is designed for students in grades 6 and up.

Riverbend educators will visit your school, daycare center, preserve, library or community center with a nature-based program that supports your curriculum and learning goals. Our programs are designed to deliver engaging experiences while deepening students’ curiosity for and connection to the natural world. For a full list of program descriptions, visit our web site. Programs are $300 and $50 for each additional program the same day. There is a $30 travel fee for schools located more than 10 miles from Riverbend. We travel a maximum of 25 miles from Riverbend.