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.
GEOLOGY (Grades 2-12) - Learn how erosion and weathering can shape an environment by exploring rock and soil weathering in the stream.
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.
GEOLOGY (Grades 2-12) - Learn how erosion and weathering can shape an environment by exploring rock and soil weathering in the stream.
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.
GEOLOGY (Grades 2-12) - Learn how erosion and weathering can shape an environment by exploring rock and soil weathering in the stream.
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 (minimum of 50 students required), additional students up to our capacity (approximately 75 students) 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.

Birds can be found anywhere and it's exciting to spot them in your daily life. This trip is designed to introduce students to birding, which uses important science skills and can become a lifelong hobby. Stations break down how to use binoculars, how to identify birds by their calls and their colors, and ends with a hike around Riverbend’s preserve to see what birds we can find that day.

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.

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!

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!

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 our Nature's 5 Senses program. Students practice using their five senses as their “science tools” to make observations about natural objects. Riverbend Educators lead the students through a variety of investigations engaging their senses and curiosity. This lesson can be done alone or as the first in a series of Riverbend programs.

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.

This program teaches students where the water in their tap comes from. Students will review why freshwater is such an important resource and how water moves around the earth. Then they will work in small groups to map the path water takes to be treated and sent to their school. The groups also learn the steps to treat water in a drinking water treatment plant with hands on kits. The lesson ends with a special animal guest.
This is perfect for any class learning about water, the water cycle, or natural resource use.
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. If you are booking for more than one program in a day, you will have an opportunity to provide details after you make the booking. We can do up to four programs in a day.

Explore the unique and amazing relationship between plants and pollinators! Using hands-on activities and role playing, Riverbend educators will help students explore the life cycle of plants, learn about different kinds of pollinators, and understand how plants and pollinators help each other.

Riverbend educators will visit your school, daycare center, preserve, library or community center with our How Your Garden Grows program. Every spring new life begins in our gardens. Tiny seeds turn into beautiful flowers and give us tasty fruits and vegetables to eat. With a Riverbend educator, students learn about the parts of a seed, what a seed needs to grow, and do some plantings of their own. We'll use Riverbend's worm farm as a hands-on learning tool for students to explore all the ways that worms help our gardens grow.
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. If you are booking for more than one program in a day, you will have an opportunity to provide details after you make the booking. We can do up to four programs in a day.

Riverbend educators will visit your school, daycare center, preserve, library or community center with our Insect Exploration program. What makes an insect an insect? Through hands-on exploration, movement and pretend play, students learn about the characteristics of insects, their life cycle, and what makes our creepy crawly friends so unique. The lesson concludes with an encounter with some of Riverbend's Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches.
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. If you are booking for more than one program in a day, you will have an opportunity to provide details after you make the booking. We can do up to four programs in a day.

Riverbend educators will visit your school, daycare center, preserve, library or community center with our Where Should Turtle Be? program. Turtles live all over the world. This lesson teaches students how different types of turtles are uniquely suited to living in different habitats. Learn about the characteristics of turtles, their habitats and adaptations. This program includes hands-on exploration of nature artifacts and the opportunity to meet one of Riverbend’s Eastern Box turtles. 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. If you are booking for more than one program in a day, you will have an opportunity to provide details after you make the booking. We can do up to four programs in a day.

Riverbend educators will visit your school, daycare center, preserve, library or community center with our Animal Investigators program. Join a Riverbend educator to become an animal detective. What can we learn about animals from the clues that they leave behind? Explore natural objects like feathers, antlers, nests, snakeskin and foot prints to learn about animal characteristics and behaviors. The lesson concludes with a chance to meet one of Riverbend’s snakes.
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. If you are booking for more than one program in a day, you will have an opportunity to provide details after you make the booking. We can do up to four programs in a day.

Riverbend educators will visit your school, daycare center, preserve, library or community center with our Animal Homes program. Students explore what makes a habitat a good home through storytelling and a hands-on landscape activity. Featuring the story “Welcome Home, Bear,” students learn why a forest is a good home for a bear. Using the lessons from the story, educators provide students with a variety of animal figurines and guide the class through choosing the best habitat for each from a variety of options. The lesson concludes with a visit from one of Riverbend’s guinea pigs.

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. If you are booking for more than one program in a day, you will have an opportunity to provide details after you make the booking. We can do up to four programs in a day.

Riverbend educators will visit your school, daycare center, preserve, library or community center with our Outstanding Owls program. Learn about these amazing birds: characteristics, adaptations and their part in the food chain. Riverbend educators lead the group through a dissection of owl pellets and use of a dichotomous key to identify the owl’s prey. Use of a digital microscope to closely examine the owl pellets is also available for spaces with projection. This program is scalable from Kindergarten through 5th grade.
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. If you are booking for more than one program in a day, you will have an opportunity to provide details after you make the booking. We can do up to four programs in a day.

Riverbend educators will visit your school, daycare center, preserve, library or community center with our Junior Naturalist program. What is a Naturalist anyway? This program is designed for 3rd - 5th grade students to introduce them to the study and appreciation of nature through the use of nature journals, binoculars, hand lenses and other guided observation 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. If you are booking for more than one program in a day, you will have an opportunity to provide details after you make the booking. We can do up to four programs in a day.

Riverbend educators will visit your school, daycare center, preserve, library or community center with our Animal Classification program. What do a guinea pig and a turtle have in common? What makes them different? Students explore these questions and more in a guided observation with Riverbend educators that includes the use of nature journaling and two of Riverbend’s live animals. This program is designed for 3rd through 5th grade students.

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. If you are booking for more than one program in a day, you will have an opportunity to provide details after you make the booking. We can do up to four programs in a day.

This learning experience is only open to teachers currently enrolled in Riverbend's Year Round Nature-Based STEM Community of Practice. Please also select dates for visits 2, 3 and 4. These visits can be four in one week or one per week for four weeks. Visits can be scheduled between 2/24/25 and 4/11/25. Once you book this program you will be prompted to tell us how many classes we will be visiting in a day and you can provide a proposed schedule.

This learning experience is only open to teachers currently enrolled in Riverbend's Year Round Nature-Based STEM Community of Practice. Please also select dates for visits 1, 3 and 4. These visits can be four in one week or one per week for four weeks. Visits can be scheduled between 2/24/25 and 4/11/25. Once you book this program you will be prompted to tell us how many classes we will be visiting in a day and you can provide a proposed schedule.

This learning experience is only open to teachers currently enrolled in Riverbend's Year Round Nature-Based STEM Community of Practice. Please also select dates for visits 1, 2 and 4. These visits can be four in one week or one per week for four weeks. Visits can be scheduled between 2/24/25 and 4/11/25. Once you book this program you will be prompted to tell us how many classes we will be visiting in a day and you can provide a proposed schedule.

This learning experience is only open to teachers currently enrolled in Riverbend's Year Round Nature-Based STEM Community of Practice. Please also select dates for visits 1, 2 and 3. These visits can be four in one week or one per week for four weeks. Visits can be scheduled between 2/24/25 and 4/11/25. Once you book this program you will be prompted to tell us how many classes we will be visiting in a day and you can provide a proposed schedule.