Riverbend in Action
Riverbend on the Road Expands Access to Hands-On Nature Learning in Philadelphia Schools
Jan 26, 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.
Riverbend Partners with National Geographic to Inspire Philadelphia-area Middle and High School Students to Learn What it Means to be an Explorer, and Tackle Local Environmental Issues
Jan 20, 2026
In fall 2024, Riverbend partnered with the nonprofit National Geographic to drive engagement from underrepresented student groups to their Slingshot Challenge– an annual competition that asks students 13-18 years old to identify a local environmental issue, and develop a possible solution.
Celebrating Earth Day with Drexel Hill Students: Learning Where Our Drinking Water Comes From
On Earth Day 2024, Drexel Hill students embarked on a hands-on learning journey that brought environmental education to life. As part of a local initiative, the students explored a critical but often overlooked question: “Where does our drinking water come from?”
East Norriton Students Take Action for the Environment with Local Cleanup Event
In a heartwarming Earth Day celebration, students from East Norriton School stepped up to make a difference in their local community by organizing a cleanup event aimed at protecting the environment. This initiative, led by enthusiastic young environmentalists whose teachers participated in the Riverbend Community of Practice Program, showed how impactful community-driven actions can be in fostering a healthier planet. This project was created as an end-of-program project created by teachers taking part in our COP Program.
Fox29 Moment of the Day: Riverbend Summer Camp Fun!
The 2024 Summer at Riverbend has been an absolute blast! Our campers have definitely made memories that will last a lifetime. Every day was filled with laughter and excitement, from epic nature discoveries in the stream to competitive scavenger hunts. Campers explored the great outdoors, learned about local wildlife, and even got their hands dirty with some fun science experiments. Whether they're building forts in the woods or playing classic campfire games, there's never a dull moment at Riverbend.
Riverbend Wins State-Wide Award
Riverbend Environmental Education Center is honored to announce its recent receipt of the prestigious MWEE Partner of Excellence Award presented by the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators (PAEE). This accolade underscores Riverbend's commitment to enhancing environmental education through inquiry-based and nature-focused STEM curricula. Additionally, Riverbend proudly celebrates the success of its collaborative partner, Aqua, in winning the 2024 Business Partner Award for their educational initiative.
Aqua Pennsylvania, Riverbend, and Upper Darby School District Collaborate to Bring Environmental STEM Program to Nearly 1,000 Fifth Graders
Mar 6, 2024
Riverbend Environmental Education Center, in partnership with Aqua Pennsylvania and the Upper Darby School District, is proud to announce a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at enhancing environmental education for nearly 1,000 fifth-grade students in the Upper Darby School District. Aqua's generous donation of $12,000 will fund the implementation of the "Where Does My Water Come From?" Environmental STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Program during the Spring of 2024.
Riverbend Impacts: Camp Scholarships
Riverbend is proud to have increased camp scholarships from two in 2022 to twenty-six in 2023! Thanks to a dozen generous families whose gifts allowed these children to benefit from a scholarship of 80% or more, we have worked together to increase access to free play in nature this summer. Riverbend is committed to fostering children’s connection to their local environment and enriching education between school years, regardless of families’ socioeconomic status.
A Message from Riverbend About Air Quality
Due to Canadian wildfire smoke blowing our way, today’s “Code Red” low air quality alert for all of Pennsylvania means that outdoor summer camps across the state have pivoted to indoor activities. Meteorologists tell us that recurring low air quality days will unfortunately be the new norm for much of the United States this summer.
How to talk to your kids about Climate Change During Low Air Quality days, hurricanes, & storms
The increase in extreme heat, wildfire and floods caused by climate change is impacting families across our region. Here are some tips from Riverbend's professional environmental educators about how grownups can best speak to young children about severe weather events:
An Earth Day Message from Erin Reilly
Parenting in an era of climate change brings a special urgency to the task of connecting our children to nature. Luckily, something as simple as stepping into the woods with our kids — whether at Riverbend or your nearest green space—is a step towards saving the planet. That’s because securing our children’s future on earth begins with role modeling a love for Mother Nature.
Welcome to Riverbend's new Executive Director!
Erin joins us following her tenure as the founder and Executive leader of Theatre Horizon in Norristown. Under Erin’s tenure, Theatre Horizon became a highly valuable contributor to the Philadelphia region, presenting an annual slate of compelling and award-winning theater productions. In addition, Theatre Horizon developed theater education programs that supported hundreds of children each year, including programming geared specifically to autistic students.
