Riverbend on the Road Expands Access to Hands-On Nature Learning in Philadelphia Schools

Riverbend on the Road Expands Access to Hands-On Nature Learning in Philadelphia Schools

January 20th, 2026

Riverbend’s traveling programs (Riverbend on the Road or ROR) have grown steadily over the past several years, building strong partnerships between educators and schools while bringing hands-on nature learning to hundreds of students across the Philadelphia region. When outdoor field trips at Riverbend become less frequent during the winter, the emphasis switches to bringing nature indoors to classrooms. Riverbend’s partnership with the School District of Philadelphia has spawned a multi-visit program that now reaches dozens of schools each year.

The foundation for this work was laid in fall of 2023, when Riverbend educators met with the School District of Philadelphia’s Office of Early Childhood Development to discuss opportunities for preschool programming. A proposal was submitted outlining both single-visit experiences and a multi-visit series designed to integrate nature-based learning directly into classroom curricula.

By the end of the year, sixteen preschool teachers opted into a four visit Riverbend  ROR series program, while three additional teachers chose to bring their students to Riverbend for a fall 2024 field trip. Funding for these programs came through federal Head Start and State PreK Counts allocations, underscoring the value of experiential environmental education for young learners.

Riverbend’s ROR series programs feature Riverbend’s Animal Ambassadors and provide engaging, inquiry-based experiences. Teachers selected from six themed programs, including Nature’s 5 Senses, Animal Homes (Guinea Pigs), Animal Investigators (Honduran Milk Snake or Corn Snake), Insect Exploration (Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches and Vietnamese Walking Sticks), Where Should Turtle Be? (Box Turtle), and How Your Garden Grows (Worm Farm).

A major milestone came in January 2025, when the SDP Office of Early Childhood Education approved funding for Riverbend to visit 49 preK classrooms across 20 schools. This grant was able to support Riverbend’s mission by offering a discounted bulk rate for Title I schools. For the first time, transportation costs were included to ensure access for schools located farther from Riverbend. Through this program, Riverbend educators reached approximately 950 students, providing four visits per classroom for a total of 3,800 program visits.

In the 2025-2026 school year, the program continues to expand. Riverbend will visit 47 schools, serving 103 classrooms, each receiving three educator led visits.

From early conversations to a wide-reaching educational partnership, Riverbend’s school programs reflect a shared commitment to hands-on learning, environmental curiosity, and equitable access to nature education. Each visit strengthens the connection between students and the natural world no matter how old!