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A Message from the Executive Director
One of the joys of working at Riverbend is hearing from visitors what they love about this place. Often people mention how they feel when they arrive and are greeted by the babbling sound of the stream and chirp of the birds when they get out of their car. Senses are stimulated and the stresses of the day begin to melt away. Others think of their children running around and being happy here, mucking in the stream or catching tadpoles in Frog Pond. Still others remember being here as a child and share fond stories of their field trip visit or summer camp adventures here.  Spring is my favorite time of year at Riverbend. Our site is lush with a million shades of green punctuated by the vibrant yellows of native flowers and the purplypink blossoms of Redbud trees. With each passing year there is more to love about Riverbend without losing our unique sense of place. Recently a stone story circle and amazing fire pit was built into the side of hill just beyond the upper play field. This is such a cool new destination to gather and the camp fires will be legendary. This special place is being protected for your enjoyment and for the generations that come after us. Come visit and make some memories here this year! All the best, |
We would love to hear from you - what about Riverbend is etched in your memory? Go to our Facebook page and let us know!
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Story Circle and Fire Pit
We are thrilled to add a beautiful stone story circle as a new destination within Riverbend. Follow Valley View Trail to the top of the hill, head past Bluebird Meadow and just ahead to your left you will find our newest feature. Part of our Master Site Development Plan, this will be enjoyed by hundreds of people participating in one our many programs or special events each year. A huge thank you to everyone who made this addition possible: support from the Ed Snider Foundation, donated boulders from Dr. Alexander Vaccaro, construction and in-kind donation of services from Wick Littleton of Littleton Landscape Contractors, landscape design was creatively developed by Lisa Thomas of Glackin Thomas Panzak and Lisa Pond of Texada Landscaping.
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Save the Date for Summer Solstice!
6:00-8:30pm Join Riverbend, Lower Merion Conservancy, Bridlewild Trails and other Community Partners to celebrate the longest day of the year! This family fun event will include pond exploration, a bee keeping demonstration, hikes, campfire, and more! The event is free to members of Riverbend or any of the community partner organizations. Food will be graciously provided by  New this year!! Music brought to you by our camp educator, Silvio! Fun family games such as a three legged race or a water balloon toss!
Thank you to our sponsors!   
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Applications being accepted for the Kindergarten Enrichment Program
 Riverbend Environmental Education Center is thrilled to provide a brand new science-based, hands-on learning opportunity for Kindergarten-aged children. Participants will spend significant time in outdoor settings, where they can play, learn, explore and experience the natural world around them. This daily program complements a morning or afternoon half-day Kindergarten schedule, with an extended day option. Children will explore our ponds, hike the trails, wade in the stream and discover their love of nature! Application are being accepted now! Please visit our page to learn more about the program and register your child today.
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The Snider Barn Receives A Makeover
When you walk up the hill at Riverbend take a moment to admire our freshly painted barn. Thanks to Nottingham Custom Painting, our center received a fresh coat of paint just in time for the busy season. The Snider Barn, a renovated 1923 Sears, Roebuck Catalog barn, is the hub of all Riverbend activity and a focal point for our constituency. A big thank you to all of the men who spent many days working to keep our iconic building a welcomed sight for visitors!
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Calling all Teens! Summer Volunteer Days Are Open
Do you want to help the environment and learn about working at a nature center? This summer we are organizing a weekly volunteer day for students ages 13 and up. Come spend Wednesdays working on our 30-acre property with other like-minded kids. We'll be doing a variety of projects: planting, weeding & mulching, clearing trails, cleaning the barn, cutting invasive vines, watering the saplings in our woodland restoration area, assisting with our meadow project, feeding the animals, etc.
The program will be offered from 9:30-1:30 on the following Wednesdays: June 19, 26, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 & August 7, 14, 21, 28. Sign up for a few weeks or all of them. If you would like to help out this summer, email your registration formto Jeanne Angell, Volunteer Coordinator at jangell@riverbendeec.org or drop it off in the office.
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Eco-Message and Activity
Get Outside and Explore!
By: Kelly Myers
Summer is quickly approaching and soon the air will be filled with the excited shrieks of children as they leap through the school doors for the last time. Days become long and nights are filled with soft breezes and strange noises.
Cooler nights make for perfect opportunities to explore the "night life." As the sun goes down gather the family and spend the evening catching jars of fireflies. Spend some time learning about owl calls and see if you can call any owls to your back yard. Have them spend a few minutes just listening and recording as many night time sounds as they can. What kind of sounds do they hear? Do they hear any cicadas? Turn off all the lights and experience nature in complete darkness. How long does it take for your eyes to adjust? Can they identify colors or just subtle shades of black and white?
Organize a camping trip to a local state park or in your very own back yard. Cook dinner over a camp fire and let the kids make a mess as they roast sticky marshmallows and smash it in between melted chocolate and graham cracker! Whether you spend your summer nights at one of Riverbend's family camp outs or simply laying in the grass star gazing in your back yard, it's a magical time ripe with possibility and freedom; the perfect time for making lifelong outdoor memories.
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Summer Camp is only a couple weeks away!
 Beginning June 10th through August 30th Riverbend offers a multitude of camps to engage and delight your 4 to 14 year old. There are still spots open throughout the summer so don't miss a chance to let your child enjoy the wonders of nature. Everything you need for registration is available online.
To learn more about our Exploration and Adventure Camp programs, visit our camp page.
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Take a stroll through our Story Walk
Readers young and old will love our new Story Walk Trail! Located in our Alec Williamson Bird Observation area, the story of The Birds Nest and the Magpie can be read page by page as you stroll along the path, past new spring flowers and our frog pond. While you walk, can you hear a Morning Doves coo or a Chickadees chirp? In the story will Magpie make some new friends? Come read the story and enjoy the outdoors!
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Behind the 'Bend
 Meet our new friend, the Blue-Tongued Skink! She just joined the Riverbend family last month and has made a wonderful addition to our programs ever since.
Did you know Blue-tongued skinks spend the majority of their day searching the ground for food and basking in the sun? At night they seek shelter in logs, leaf litter or other ground debris.
An important feature of these lizards (besides their blue tongues!) are their ability to cast off their tail in defense and to later regenerate a new one. The cast- off part continues to move for several minutes, giving the lizard time to escape! We hope you will visit her and our other wonderful animals in our Snider barn.
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A big thanks to all of our 2013 volunteers!
We appreciate the countless hours our volunteer groups have spent improving our site. We would like to highlight the following groups from the 2013 winter and spring season:
*Philadelphia Eagles and the Lincoln Financial Group * Shipley Seniors* Friends Central*
Out there Outfitters * The Haverford School * Harriton High School * De Luge Landen *
The Investment Fund for Foundations * Vanguard * Waldron Mercy Academy Staff * Episcopal Academy * Hersha Hospitality Managers * Ardmore Rotary
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Wish List
We appreciate every donation we receive at Riverbend. Our offices and garden equipment always could use a little TLC. Help us by donating in-kind gifts from our wish list!
* Lego Blocks
* Children's Board Games
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Your gift, of any size, will make a difference!
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Keep up to date with what is new at Riverbend, get exclusive details on programs, behind the scene pictures and more!
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