Nature Is Our Classroom
Shiverfest Tickets Now On Sale!
Shiverfest Tickets Now On Sale!
Newsletter
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2023/24 Nature Connect Now Available!
2023/24 Nature Connect Now Available!
Year Round Camp
Register for Year-Round Adventure Camp. Give your adventurers the gift of the great outdoors.
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Riverbend Environmental Education Center connects people to nature, equitably advancing environmental literacy through outdoor STEM education and free play in nature while empowering children and adults to take action to conserve Earth's resources.
What we do
Central to our mission is fostering the appreciation and understanding needed to protect our natural world. Our goal is to get children out of the classroom and into the outdoors to make science come to life.Â
Who we are
Riverbend believes connecting children to nature is a vital component for well being. We’ve built our mission, our vision, our staff, and our space around this core belief.
Events
We offer exciting happenings for families, adults, and schools alike. Check out our calendar to see what’s going on.
How you can help
There are many ways to give back to Riverbend. Find out how!
Programs and Offerings
What people are saying about Riverbend
Since 2006, more than 15,000 students in our district have participated in hands-on, science education programs developed by the extraordinary Riverbend staff. We have watched the transformation of our 3rd and 4th grade students, as well as their teachers, as they have delved into environmental science.
Dr. Janet Samuels,
Former Superintendent, Norristown Area School District>
We were so thrilled to find Riverbend. We value that they can get dirty, play outside all day and learn so much while having fun. Our daughter’s science teacher commented that she has ‘extensive knowledge of the natural world’ which I attribute to her time at camp.
Dr. Laura Tseng & Dr. Trey Katzenbach,
Camp Family & Riverbend Supporters>
An easy way for me to describe my experience is ‘life-changing’ because it truly helped me to solidify my future plans and my love for nature. I found that this environmental education center is one of the most well-rounded, goal-driven organizations I have had the pleasure of working at.
Jenni Lapham,
Habitat Volunteer>
Riverbend Impact Stories
Featured News
Impact at Riverbend by the Numbers
40+
educators received professional development in nature-based STEM learning in 2022-2023.
8,000+
students engaged through our school programs and nature camps in 2023.
68%
percent of Riverbend's program visits benefited low-income students in 2022.
Visit Riverbend
Riverbend’s 30-acre preserve in Gladwyne, PA is an island of green surrounded by a bustling, suburban community not far from Philadelphia. Open and free to the public from dawn to dusk every day of the year, Riverbend invites visitors to walk the trails and explore the grounds. In addition to the trails, the preserve boasts meadow, woodland, stream and pond habitats.