Looking for an Outing Idea for your

Children's Group?

Upcoming 2012-2013 Program Dates

Earth Day Work and Learn

Saturday, April 21, 9 am – 12 pm

Join the Riveredge staff in activities that promote the health of our community and planet. You can help prepare the beds and plant cool weather crops in the organic garden, participate in a prairie burn (weather dependent) and/or work as a habitat healer and conduct grounds clean up and invasive species eradication. There are opportunities for groups, families and individuals of all ages to get involved. Check the website for more information. Please call Volunteer Director Pat Fox-Schindler if you plan to help. FREE

Maple Sugarin’ Events 2013

Family Tapping

Saturday, February 23, 1 - 2:30pm

Help us prepare for the sugarin’ season by tapping the maple tress in Riveredge’s sugar bush. We need help drilling holes, tapping in the spiles, and hanging buckets. When it’s maple sugarin’ time, can spring be far behind?

Fee: Adults $3.00, Children $1.00

Member: Free

Maple Sugarin’ for Scouts and Youth Groups

Saturday, March 16, 12:00-1:45pm and 2:15-4pm

The sap is running and sugarin’ time is here. Join a naturalist to tap a tree, gather sap and crowd around the evaporator to see how boiling sap becomes syrup. Enjoy the final product on a pancake before heading for home. Preregistration and payment is required. Space is limited.

Fee: Adult $6, 12 & under $4

Maple Syrup Magic Open House

Saturday, March 23, 10am–2pm

Riveredge's Open House will take you back in time, showing through live demonstrations how the Native Americans made maple syrup. There will be plenty of hands-on activities for all ages. Experience life at a sugar camp, stir the syrup cooking over an open fire, participate in Native American crafts and games and much more. When you reach the evaporator, you’ll see how sap becomes syrup and enjoy our famous pancakes and maple syrup. Refreshments are available for purchase. Pre-registration suggested for groups.

Fee: Adult $10, 10 & under $5

Members: Adult $5, 10 & under $4

Children's group programs arranged to fit your schedule:

If you don’t see a program that fits your needs, please contact us to design a program just for you.

Winter Survivors

Quick—you are a mammal living at Riveredge in late winter—will you survive until the spring? How much food would you need to gather to feed your mouse-sized-self for a day? As a squirrel, what kind of shelter would you need to keep yourself warm and dry? Join us on the trails for some wintry experiments to discover all of this and more!

Winter Hike with or without Snowshoes

Put on your warm boots or strap on a pair of snowshoes and embark on a fun-filled winter hike across the Riveredge landscape. After a brief introduction to snowshoes, we’ll head out and explore all the wonders of winter as we search for animal signs in the winter landscape. Use our snowshoes or bring your own. No experience necessary. Please dress for the weather and wear insulated boots.

Maple Magic - late Feb. thru March

Join us for a hike into the sugarbush to celebrate the maple sugarin’ season! Beneath the bark of the sugar maple trees, the sap is rising. Come tap a tree and enjoy a tasty maple syrup treat!

Vernal Pond Exploration – spring program

If you want to investigate a place that is absolutely teeming with life, then this is the exploration for you! Imagine gazing into the water and seeing it come to life in an aquatic ballet. Participants will collect animals from the pond and learn how they fit into the larger picture of life in a pond.

Fees for the above programs are:

Adult $6, 12 & under $4

Programs are 1.5 hours.

Geocaching (can be done with snowshoes in winter, snowshoes provided)

Come out to Riveredge for a high-tech scavenger hunt and learn to use a hand-held GPS unit. We’ll also make this geocaching experience something you’ll never forget by adding snowshoes to our hike. This program is designed for beginners, but all skill levels are welcome. Hand-held GPS units will be provided or bring your own. This program is geared to those who are 9 years old and up.

Adult $7, 12 & under $5

2-hour program

Pre-registration is required for all scout programs. Also, please note a deposit for one-half the total amount due is required at least two weeks prior to your program. The balance of the payment is due the day of the event

If your deposit is not received, we can’t guarantee that your group’s space will be reserved. We do not refund the deposit if the group cancels within one week of the scheduled program date.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR GROUP/TROOP ONLINE.

A STAFF MEMBER WILL CONTACT YOU FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Self-Guided Adventure Packs

Looking for something fun to do while you hike the trails at Riveredge? Want to learn more about the land, plants and animals around you? Stop in at the front desk to pick up a Self-Guided Adventure Pack! Click HERE for a description of each of the different backpacks.

We currently have Adventure Packs for the following topics:

Discover Your Senses (activities change seasonally)
Winter Wildlife
Photography
Trees: Follow the tree trail and enjoy activities for all ages
Nutrient Cycles
Glaciers, Geology, and the Oscar Grady Ruins
Birds

Trail fee: Adults $4, Children, $2, children under 3, free, and all Riveredge members are free.

Coming soon!

Riveredge Nature Center is in the process of developing

programming specially designed to help Scout troops earn awards and other

badges. Our programs will help Scouts make valuable connections between the natural and human world and encourage them to take leadership in protecting the environment for future generations.

Registration

To express interest or register for scout programs, contact Lauren Wendland at Riveredge Nature Center by email: lauren@riveredge.us, online or phone: (262) 375-2715 / 1-800-287-8098.

When registering, please be prepared to provide the following information:

Scout leader's name, address, phone number, and email address
Name of program
Date and time availability for desired program
Number of participants and age level

If your deposit is not received, we can’t guarantee that your group’s space will be reserved. We do not refund the deposit if the group cancels within one week of the scheduled program date.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR GROUP/TROOP ONLINE.

A STAFF MEMBER WILL CONTACT YOU FOR MORE INFORMATION.

For volunteer opportunities, contact Pat Fox-Schindler at volunteers@riveredge.us