Riverbend Environmental Education Center

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Riverbend Environmental Education Center

Growing Greener Children for over fifty years!

Since 1974, Riverbend Environmental Education Center has been enriching the lives of children and families through engaging environmental education. From its beginnings as a quiet nature preserve, Riverbend has evolved to a thriving center for environmental education that touches the lives of nearly 19,000 people annually. Whether it is to participate in a public program or just to wander on our t

rails, a visit to Riverbend offers families a quiet place to relax, unwind and observe the wonders of nature.

06/05/2026

Summer Solstice at Riverbend is Thursday, June 18! Join us for an evening on the preserve with live music, a wine garden, bonfire, s’mores, and the best sunset you’ll experience all year.

At 8:30 we walk to the top of the hill together and watch the last light of the longest day disappear. It never gets old.

Bring a blanket, pack a picnic, and come ready to stay until the stars come out.

Thursday, June 18 | 6 to 9pm | Riverbend Preserve, Gladwyne PA $35 per family or group. Link in bio to register. Spots are still available.

Riverbend connects families with nature through environmental education.

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06/03/2026

Get your tweens off screens.

Nature Strong is a one-night overnight camping experience for ages 10 to 14 on Riverbend's preserve in Gladwyne, PA. Campers hike, build shelter, learn survival skills, and sleep under the stars.

📅 June 6th- June 7th 4:00pm-11:00am

At Riverbend, we connect kids with nature. Spots are limited. Register at the link in bio.

06/02/2026

Summer camp at Riverbend means muddy knees, wet shoes, and the best kind of tired.

Before your camper's first morning, here's what to pack:
- Clothes that can get dirty and wet, with closed-toed shoes with sturdy soles
- A peanut-free lunch and snacks in reusable containers with a cooler bag
- At least one full reusable water bottle
- A change of clothes and a second pair of shoes that can get wet
- A raincoat if rain is forecast. No umbrellas on the trail
- Sunscreen and insect repellent applied before arrival
- Label everything with your child's name.

Questions? Drop them in the comments. See you soon!

Not registered for camp & having Riverbend Summer Camp FOMO? We still have some weeks available! Head to the link in our bio to register now.

05/29/2026

You don't have to be an artist to keep a nature journal. You just have to be curious. 🌿

Swipe for our beginner's guide to starting one this spring. Then go outside and try it, and tag us in what you find. 🍃

05/28/2026

Trailblazers, your summer just got a whole lot more exciting.

This season, our Trailblazer campers (ages 11-13) are heading out every Friday for some of the best outdoor adventures the region has to offer. Here's what's on the schedule:

Kayaking
Outward Bound
Paddleboarding
Archery
Treetop Adventures
Twin Rivers Tubing

This is what a summer at Riverbend looks like: out of the classroom, off the screens, and into nature. We still have spots open for all age groups, so there's still time to be part of the fun. Head to the link in our bio to register.

05/27/2026

Two years ago, retired teacher Peter Grove transformed a corner of our preserve into a native pollinator garden. That one act sparked a movement across the region.

Introducing Peter Grove's Pollinators, a 10-year initiative to plant 50 permanent native gardens across Lower Merion and Narberth. The program will engage 250 volunteers and convert 7,000 square feet of lawn into living habitat for the birds, bees, and butterflies our ecosystem depends on. Fourteen gardens will be in the ground before the end of this month. 🌿🐝

Want to get involved? Follow us here to track the journey.

05/21/2026

On May 7, we gathered at the Pump House in Bala Cynwyd for our annual Farm to Table gala, and the Riverbend community showed up in a big way.

The evening honored Nancy and Peter Grove and AQUA for their incredible generosity and lasting commitment to our mission. We are so grateful for supporters like them.

Funds raised will go directly toward Riverbend's field trip programs, giving more children the chance to step outside, explore, and connect with the natural world. Every dollar moves that mission forward.

Thank you to our Board of Directors, Farm to Table Committee, volunteers, and every single guest who made the night so special. We could not do this work without you.

05/20/2026

Happy Pennsylvania Native Species Day!

Swipe through to meet four PA natives worth planting this season: Wild Blue Phlox, Black-Eyed Susan, Common Milkweed, and Eastern Redbud. Each one feeds wildlife, supports pollinators, and strengthens the ecosystem right in your own backyard.

Native plants are not just pretty. They are the foundation of local food webs, built over thousands of years alongside the birds, bees, and butterflies that depend on them. When we replace even a small patch of lawn or ornamental plantings with native species, we give wildlife a lifeline.

Which native species is already growing in your yard? Tell us in the comments.

🌿 Save this post to reference when you visit a native plant nursery this season.

05/19/2026

The longest day of the year deserves a celebration. 🌅

Join us at Riverbend on Thursday, June 18 for Summer Solstice 2026, an evening on the preserve with live music, a wine garden, pretzels and water ice, a bonfire, s'mores, and all the magic that comes with the season's first long golden evening.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair and pack your own picnic dinner. Kids activities, good company, and open sky included.

At 8:30pm, we'll gather at the top of the hill together to watch the sunset and officially welcome summer.

This is one of our favorite nights of the year. We hope you'll share it with us.

Thursday, June 18 | 6 to 9pm | Riverbend Preserve, Gladwyne PA
Tickets are $35 per family or group. Link in bio to register.

05/18/2026

Riverbend’s Nature Strong Camp Out is an overnight experience for families with tweens and teens, ages 9-18.

June 6 4 PM to June 7 11 AM | Riverbend Environmental Education Center, Gladwyne PA

Activities include nature parkour, forest bathing, yoga and breathwork, fire-building, shelter basics, nature mandalas, and nature crowns. S’mores around the evening campfire and a light breakfast in the morning are included. Families bring a picnic dinner and overnight gear.

$90 per family (1 child + 1 adult) | $25 per additional person

Don’t have gear? Reach out. We have a limited supply available to borrow.

Send this a friend you want to join with. Link in bio to register.

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Address

1950 Spring Mill Road
Gladwyne, PA
19035

Website

http://www.riverbendeec.org/

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