Field Trips Overview
A Riverbend field trip gets students out of the classroom and into the natural world. On our 30-acre preserve, they build the foundational science skills of observation and inquiry at stations around our pond, stream, meadow, and forest. Our environmental educators design every program to be developmentally appropriate and relevant to children from all backgrounds and abilities.
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We book one group per date, so your students have the preserve to themselves.
What's Included
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Riverbend educators who welcome your group, introduce the day, and guide you at every station
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Free bus parking
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Space to eat lunch, plus indoor space for backpacks and belongings
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Restrooms
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Standards-aligned programming (NGSS) that builds critical thinking and observation skills
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Programs by Grade Level
Standards-aligned programming built for every age group, PreK through high school.
Habitat Exploration
PreK-2nd Grade
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What do living things need to survive? Students rotate through habitat stations — pond, stream, meadow, or forest — to find out, practicing observation, drawing, and group discussion along the way.
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PreK–2nd Grade
Water on the Move: Watersheds
Students investigate how water moves through a watershed, learn the difference between pervious and impervious surfaces, and see how human activity affects water flow and quality. The program includes a stream investigation, water sampling, and a hike along a watershed trail.
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3rd-5th Grade
Ecosystem Interactions
Students explore how living and nonliving things interact across Riverbend's forest, stream, meadow, and pond, building observation, data collection, modeling, and discussion skills.
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Riverbend's Amazing Race
Small teams compete across the preserve to complete six educator-led challenges built around grade-appropriate science: water quality testing, aquatic macroinvertebrate surveys, cycles of matter, aquaponics, and plant identification. A high-energy way to kick off the year or review key concepts. Want a custom station added to the day? See custom station options.
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6th-8th Grade
Service Learning Field Trip
Students spend the morning on a traditional field trip, then break for lunch before meeting with Riverbend's Habitat Manager for a hands-on service project. Projects change with the season and the needs of the preserve. Runs 9am–2pm and can be adjusted to fit your group.
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Service Learning Field Trip
Meet with Riverbend's Habitat Manager to learn about the ecological restoration work happening at Riverbend and then get your service learning assignments. The service projects will vary depending on the time of the year and the needs of the preserve. This field trip runs from 10am-1pm, but can be customized to suit the needs of your group.
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High School
A Winter Walk in the Woods
Students rotate through three stations: an outdoor winter hike, winter tree identification, and one custom station of your choice.
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Winter Field Trips
Available December through Mid-March
Add a Custom Station
Add one custom station to any PreK–5 program or winter field trip.
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Animal Encounter (all ages) — Meet one of Riverbend's animal ambassadors
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Nature Journaling (grades 2–12) — Build observation skills through guided journaling
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Invasive Species (grades 2–12) — Identify invasive plants in the Philadelphia region and help remove them
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Geology (grades 2–12) — Explore erosion and weathering in the stream
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Birding & Binoculars (grades 3–12) — Learn binocular basics, then spot and identify local birds
Pricing
Program | Base Price | Number of Students |
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Fall & Spring field trips | $16 per student | 50 minimum, 100 maximum |
Winter field trips | $550 flat rate | Up to 50 students |
Amazing Race | $20 per student | 50 students minimum |
Service Learning Field Trip | $1,250 for flat rate | Up to 50 students |
Service Learning Add On | $20 per student | Up to 50 students |
Have a smaller group? We may be able to host you at our partner site, Natural Lands Trust's Saunders Woods Preserve. Contact Suzanne Safran at ssafran@riverbendeec.org.
Getting Ready for Your Field Trip
A Day at Riverbend​
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Station-based field trips run 10am–1pm, with a 30-minute lunch break at the midpoint. Winter field trips run two hours, with the option to stay for lunch. Every group is welcome to stay an extra 30 minutes for independent exploration; we'll send suggested activities ahead of time.
How to Register
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Visit Explorable Places, our registration platform, to check available dates and book your trip. Questions about programs or the registration process? Email Suzanne Safran at ssafran@riverbendeec.org or call 610.527.5234 ext. 112.
Weather & Cancellations​
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Riverbend programs run rain or shine. As an outdoor education facility, student safety always comes first: if conditions turn unsafe, our staff will make the call and notify schools of a cancellation by 7:30am the day of the program. We'll work with you to reschedule within the same calendar year.
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For any other cancellation or reschedule, we need written notice at least three weeks before your scheduled date. Riverbend isn't able to offer refunds for canceled programs.
Get Ready for Your Visit​
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Download these guides to help prepare your group:
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Field Trip Guide — everything you need to know before you arrive
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Riverbend's Guide to Outdoor Learning (optional) — tips for outdoor learning at school and at Riverbend
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BEETLES Guide for Chaperones (optional) — a 3–5 minute read to get chaperones ready to help
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Riverbend Accessibility Guide — terrain, bathrooms, and accessibility info with photos
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Spanish Language Guide — help preparing Spanish-speaking students for their visit
Leave No Trace
Riverbend is a proud partner of Leave No Trace, a nonprofit providing education, training, and outreach in more than 100 countries around the globe. Every one of our scout programs includes instruction in the Leave No Trace Seven Principles, practices that guide sustainable, respectful, and responsible outdoor experiences. These principles are used by major forces in environmental education, including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, and US Fish and Wildlife Service.
For more information
Suzanne Safran
Director of Education
ssafran@riverbendeec.org
610.527.5234
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