It is so hard to believe that today is the last day of Summer Camp!  We have had 11 wonderful weeks of fun and learning at Riverbend.  So much time has been spent outside, exploring and discovering in the stream, at the ponds, and in the meadows and woods.

We hope that all of our campers have a great school year, and we  hope that you will come back to Riverbend during the year.  We continue to offer programs, such as weekly Nature Clubs, Year Round Camps on school holidays, family programs on the weekends, and a fabulous Halloween event called Shiverfest on Saturday, October 15th.  So we hope that we will see everyone at Riverbend very soon!

We also want to say a great big thank you to all of our wonderful summer staff!  They worked so hard to make sure that all of our campers had a great time (and learned a little too)!  Summer camp would not have been possible without them

Here are just a few of the great moments from camp this summer!

Roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds are all important parts of plants, and just some of what campers are learning about this week!  We are even learning about the importance of rain to plants, even if we are little bit wet.  From planting seeds to dissecting flowers to going on leaf hikes camp is fun rain or shine.  Here are just a few pictures of our week so far:

We even had a visit on Tuesday by a little pig names Huey (Thanks to Kay, one of our wonderful Camp Junior Volunteers).

Don’t forget, the fun doesn’t stop on September 2nd!  Riverbend hosts programs all year long, including our Year Round Camps on school holidays.  The first day is Thursday, September 29th.

See you ’round the ‘Bend!

Do you know that an invertebrate is an animal without a backbone?  Well kids at camp this week are learning all about the many different invertebrates that we can find at Riverbend, from butterflies to worms to crayfish.  Campers also had the opportunity on Monday to help out some new teachers.  Education students from Arcadia University came to Riverbend to test out what they have been learning about science education.  Campers learned about habitats, levers and pulleys and mirrors.  Here are just a few pictures of the fun we are having this week:

Remember, you can have fun at Riverbend all year long with our Year Round Camps, offered on school holidays, and our weekly Nature Clubs.  Check out our website or call for more information on these program.

See you round the ‘Bend!

Summer is flying by!  We have been having so much fun at Riverbend so far, but we still have almost five more weeks to go.

Over the past few weeks, we have been learning about dinosaurs, reptiles and amphibians and this week all about how to be green.  Here are just a few of the pictures from the past few weeks at camp!

Dinosaurs and More (July 18th to 22nd)

Hooray for Herps (July 25th to 29th)

Going Green (August 1st to 5th)

New this year, and very popular, is our Wilderness Survival Camp.  This week 36 campers are learning how to start a campfire, use a compass, identify edible plants, build shelters in the wild, and much more.  Here campers are learning to use compasses and about local wildlife that they might catch in their traps (Don’t worry the traps are catch and release only).  We will let you know later this week what they caught!

We also have campers this week who are just enjoying the outdoors at Riverbend, with the theme of Nature Detectives.  They have been exploring their senses, making tracks in mud and plaster, and in general just enjoying being in nature.  Check out these pictures:

We still have available spots in many of our upcoming weeks!  Give Nature Dave a call at 610-527-5234 x106 for more information and availability.

See you ‘Round the ‘Bend,

Nature Dave

Last year, we received feedback from parents and campers that our oldest campers wanted something a little different.  So this summer, we are offering two new opportunities for campers ages 11-14, this week was the first and it focused on Environmental Stewardship.   During the week they visited the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education and learned about Wetlands, visited a waste water treatment plant (informative, but a little smelly), and  traveled to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine.  The center staff gave a tour which focused on the importance of marine life, how they are impacted by people (especially their trash), and even had the chance to see some young seals that will soon be release back into the wild.  To help everyone understand the importance of marine life, the center staff also took the camper seining (see pictures).  In all a great time was had by everyone.  The second week of camp for this age group will be August 1st to 5th and will focus on Sustainability.  Space is still available, contact Nature Dave at 610-527-5234 x106 or dlowe@riverbendeec.org.

Of course while our Environmental Stewards were off exploring, our other campers were having a great time at Riverbend.  Check out these pictures:

Happy July 4th to everyone!  Camp start up again on July 11th and many weeks still have room for more campers!

See you ‘Round the ‘Bend,

Nature Dave

Believe it or not Monday started the third week of summer camp at Riverbend!  We have been having so much fun that we wanted to share with all of you some of the things that we have been learning about.

Week #1:  Fly Like a Bird

We learned about everything from feathers to nests to endangered birds!  Did you know that the wing span of a Red-tailed hawk is wider than any of our Rangers (our 4 year-old campers) are tall…how cool!  Check out these great pictures from bird week.

Week #2:  Wonders of the Woods

There was so much to learn about the forest last week that we couldn’t even begin to cover it all, but we sure tried hard!  Campers learned about the layers of the forest, all of the animals that live in our forests (like box turtles, toads, worms, birds and more).  Campers also made tons of cool crafts from the things that they found in the forests, such as sticks, leaves, seeds and nuts.  Check out these great pictures from forest week:

Week #3:  Creature Features

This week at camp is all about the animals and their adaptations!  An adaptation is something about an animal that helps them to survive in their ecosystem.  So campers are learning about camouflage, turtle shells, and much, much more.  Check back later this week for more info on animal adaptations and more pictures, but here are a couple to look at for now:

Remember…Summer camp runs all the way through September 2nd, and there is still room in many of the weeks for campers!  If you want more information call Nature Dave at 610-527-5234 x106.

See you ‘Round the ‘Bend,

Nature Dave

Happy spring, everyone!  I feel like it’s been winter forever, but in a few weeks, it will be time to get outside and enjoy all that spring has to offer.  If you parents out there have a difficult time getting your kids to leave the computer or TV, I have a few tips for you.

- Limit screen time. If the kids are always in front of a computer or TV, try limiting their “face time” with the screen.  Engage them in other activities instead.

- Join them. Children learn by example, so if you want them to spend some time outdoors, go show them how much you enjoy being outside.  Your enthusiasm for nature will be contagious.

- Make it fun. Add a few “tools,” such as magnifying glasses, binoculars, and flashlights for night exploration, and suddenly, nature is a playground to discover!  Put up a tent in the yard, and the kids have an instant “base camp” or overnight accommodations.

- Play games, walk the dog, or fly a kite. Enjoying nature doesn’t have to be complicated.  Games of kickball, capture the flag, or an alphabet scavenger hunt engage kids and get their heart rate up a bit.  Take the dog for a walk around the block or to a local dog park.  Flying kites has come a long way in the last 20 years, and it can be exciting and challenging.

- Become a member of a nature center. As it happens, there is a great nature center nearby that we highly recommend!  Come splash in the stream, take a hike on our trails, or catch tadpoles in the ponds.  Riverbend offers a great space to enjoy nature in a variety of ways, and the grounds are open to the public 365 days/year from dawn til dusk.

Until next time, I’ll see you ‘Round the ‘Bend!

–Nature Dave

Good Wednesday to you!  Nature Dave here.  I was wondering if you’d help me with something.  We’re gearing up for a great summer of camp, and to make sure it’s the best it can be, we need just a few more energetic, qualified educators who want to work with nature-loving kids!  So, I’m going to tell you a little bit about the kind of people we’re looking for, and if you know someone who would be awesome in that role, please tell them to apply.

For this summer, we’re looking for a few Environmental Educators and Camp Interns, as well as an Early Childhood Environmental Educator.  All of these positions run from June 6th – September 2nd.  Our camp takes place right here at Riverbend, and we welcome between 60 – 80 campers, ages 4 – 14, each week.  Our curriculum is driven by weekly themes that engage young explorers and allow time for play and discovery.

A Summer Environmental Educator will help kids discover the natural world Monday through Friday, from 8:00 – 4:00.  Our Camp Interns assist the educators and work primarily with the younger campers, ages 4 – 6 years old.  This is an opportunity for the interns to learn about the environmental education field.  The hours of interns are either from 8:00 – 4:00 or 10:00 – 6:00 Monday through Friday.  The Early Childhood Environmental Educator will guide our youngest campers, our 4-year-olds, through the basic elements of environmental science.  The hours are from 8:00 – 2:00 Monday through Friday for this position.

You can find the complete details and job requirements for these great summer opportunities on Riverbend’s website. Thanks for your help in spreading the word to any great educator who might be interested!  Until next time, I’ll see you ‘round the ‘Bend!

–Nature Dave

Greetings, Riverbend friends!  Can you believe it’s the beginning of March?  Spring is officially 2 ½ weeks away, and that means that Summer Exploration Camp at Riverbend is not far behind!

We’ve got another great summer of camp lined up, and I’m really excited about our new additions for 2011!  This year, we’re offering three new camps: Wilderness Survival, Environmental Stewards, and Sustainability Camp.  Wilderness Survival Camp will teach 7- to 11-year-old campers to live off the land.  From fire starting and shelter building to orienteering with maps and compasses, campers will learn the essentials of surviving in the woods.  For 11- to 14-year-olds, the Environmental Stewards camp will explore the many issues surrounding the protection of our air, land, and water through field trips, guest speakers, and a community service project.  The older campers may also enjoy the Sustainability Camp, where they will be introduced to alternative energy sources, sustainable agriculture, and how to really make an impact by reducing, reusing, and recycling.

Riverbend is hosting a Summer Camp Open House on Sunday, March 13th from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. for those who would like to come out and learn more about what Riverbend has to offer. We will have an animal show, a game, and light snacks.  And we’ll be there to answer all your summer camp questions.  So mark your calendar, and join us on the 13th!

Until then, I’ll see you ‘round the ‘Bend!

– Nature Dave