P'unk Ave

Scouts

“Scouting rises within you and inspires you to put forth your best.”- Juliette Gordon Low Riverbend helps scouts develop an active appreciation for nature through our many tailored programs. From badge programs to service days to overnights spent at our center, Riverbend offers plenty of options to help scouts along their path!

 

Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts emphasizes problem solving, healthy relationships, tackling challenges, and developing a strong sense of self.  Riverbend is committed to offering hands-on, nature-based STEM programs designed to help Girl Scouts have fun while completing badge requirements from Daisies up through Cadettes.

Badge Projects

Daisies and Brownies

Programs are geared toward helping Daisies and Brownies have a positive experience in nature. Whether it's through making a s'more, learning recycling basics, or spying a frog at our pond, Brownies will experience the delight of being outside!

  • Popular Daisy and Brownie programs include Trail Adventure and Eco Learner (Daisies) and Trail Adventure, Eco Friend and Hiker (Brownies) — but your options are not limited to these! Reach out to discuss how Riverbend can support your troop’s next badge adventure. 

Juniors and Cadettes

Confidence-building through exploration is a key part of being a Junior Girl Scout. Cadettes are growing as environmental and community leaders. Riverbend's badge programs will help Juniors develop their knowledge of the outdoors through wildlife study and identification, outdoor exploration, and nature crafts, and Cadettes sharpen their skills in outdoor leadership.

  • Trail Adventure and Flowers (Juniors) and Trail Adventure and Night Owl  (Cadettes) are great choices, but if you have other badges you’d like to work on with Riverbend as a partner, please let us know!
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Night Hike & Campfire Social

Riverbend staff will lead your scouts on a safe and educational night hike that may include wildlife observation and sensory experiences. Afterward, you can lead your group in skits, storytelling and songs while toasting marshmallows over the fire.

Big Red Barn Overnight

Spend the night in our fully refurbished 1923 Snider Barn! Your troop can enjoy roasting marshmallows outside around a campfire, and can opt to participate in a night hike for badge work. For the especially adventurous, we offer the option of tent-camping in our field. Note: Riverbend does not provide food or camping equipment.

Service Days

Our Service Day option offers troops the opportunity to give back to nature. Plantings, vine removal and trail maintenance are a few ways you and your scouts can pitch in toward our ongoing preservation effort.

Girl Scout Program Pricing

Daytime Badge Workshops:

  • Program runs 2 hours

  • Cost $300 for up to 20 scouts

Badge Workshop, Night Hike and Campfire Social: $350

  • Program runs 2.5 hours
  • Cost $350 for up to 20 scouts

Big Red Barn Overnight:

  • Program runs from 6pm-9am

  • Cost $600 for up to 20 scouts

Service Days:

  • Please Inquire

Contact Suzanne Safran to schedule your Scout Program today!

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Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards

Riverbend welcomes the opportunity to discuss service projects with troops and individual scouts working on Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. 

Interested scouts should contact Emma Schad, Habitat and Volunteer Manager to learn more and discuss potential projects.

Volunteer Opportunities

Cub Scouts / Scouts BSA

Through Riverbend’s exciting programs, Cub Scouts not only learn about the wonders of nature, but also about themselves. Team-building exercises, games, hands-on field studies, and nature crafts are a few of the fun ways we help scouts reach their adventure goals. We can assist with core requirements or elective adventures. For older scouts in the Scouts BSA program working on merit badges, please contact us to discuss opportunities for collaboration.

Badge Work

Lion Cubs

The Mountain Lion adventure teaches foundational hiking safety and preparedness skills as scouts have a blast exploring the preserve on a nature hike. Dens might also consider visiting our Aquaponics Greenhouse as part of the “Ready, Set, Grow” elective adventure.

Tiger Cubs

Rolling over logs and examining pond life will peak your Tiger Cubs’ interests in the natural world. A Riverbend visit can fulfill adventures such as “My Tiger Jungle” as well as “Tigers in the Wild.” 

Wolf Cubs

The “Paws on the Path” adventure is a perfect fit for a visit to Riverbend. We’d be thrilled to team up for an elective adventure as well, such as “Finding Your Way.” Contact us to discuss potential programs. 

Bear Cubs

Working toward their “Fur, Feathers, and Ferns” adventure, scouts will investigate the habitats of local wildlife, study plants under a magnifying lens, hike around our preserve, and observe wild animals that call our preserve home.

Just for Webelos!

Consider Riverbend as your destination as your Webelos earn their rank requirements. Choose from the following or contact us to discuss other possibilities:

  • Webelos Walkabout: Riverbend is a fantastic setting for this core Webelos hiking adventure.

  • Into the Woods: Webelos engage in an exploration of trees, including identifying tree species, linking plants to the ecosystems they help sustain, and learning strategies for caring for trees in our neighborhoods.

  • Into the Wild: This program focuses on studying wildlife. From watching for birds to identifying local reptiles, Webelos will enjoy meeting and learning about wild animals in our region.
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Night Hike and Campfire Social

Bring your pack for some after-hours fun! Riverbend staff will lead your scouts in a safe and educational night hike that may include wildlife observation and sensory experiences. Afterward, you can lead your group in skits, storytelling and songs while toasting marshmallows over the fire.

Big Red Barn Overnight

Spend the night in our fully refurbished 1923 Snider Barn! Your pack can enjoy roasting marshmallows outside around a campfire and can opt to participate in a night hike or badge work. For the especially adventurous, we also offer the option of tent-camping in our field. Note: Riverbend does not provide food or camping equipment

Boy Scout Program Pricing

Daytime Badge Workshops:

  • Program runs 2 hours

  • Cost $300 for up to 20 scouts

Night Hike and Campfire Social: $350

  • Program runs 2.5 hours
  • Cost $350 for up to 20 scouts

Big Red Barn Overnight:

  • Program runs from 6pm-9am

  • Cost $600 for up to 20 scouts

Service Days:

  • Please Inquire

Contact Suzanne Safran to schedule your Scout Program today!

assembling the chest

Eagle Scout Projects

Riverbend welcomes the opportunity to discuss service projects with Boy Scouts seeking to achieve Eagle Scout rank.

Interested scouts should contact Emma Schad, Habitat and Volunteer Manager to learn more and discuss potential projects.

 

Volunteer Opportunities

Riverbend is a proud partner of Leave No Trace, a non-profit organization providing education, training, and outreach nationwide and in more than 100 countries around the globe. Each of our scouts programs includes instruction in the Leave No Trace Seven Principles, practices that guide us to have sustainable, respectful, and responsible outdoor experiences. These principles are utilized by many important forces in environmental education, including the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, USDA Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and more.

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For more information please contact

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Jill Shashaty

Education Specialist