3. Board Member Spotlight: Penelope Hillemann
Thank you Fran!
A
t the December Board of Directors meeting,
Fran Minnick tendered his resignation as a Board
member. Fran’s resignation from the board is a
big change for the group as Fran has been a member
since 1997.
Fran first joined our Board as the City Council
Representative, a position currently filled by City
Councilman Steve Underdahl. Fran served as the City
Council Representative until 2004. Fran has served River
Bend for the past 16 years with unswerving enthusiasm
and a endless trove of ideas to make the Nature Center
the best place it can be.
Board president Linda Olson said about Fran: “Fran’s
dedication to River Bend is evidenced by his long period
of service on the Board of Directors, his participation
in all River Bend has to offer, and his high level of
volunteerism. He has also done a great job as gambling
manager. As a board member, Fran was always able to
stimulate and/or initiate discussion about many issues
and topics, thus encouraging the Board to look at and
consider varied aspects of an issue or decision.”
Thank you, Fran, for your many years of volunteer
service on River Bend’s Board of Directors!
P
enny Hillemann, one of River Bend’s
newest board members, was born in
Kenya and grew up in San Francisco,
but she’s been settled in the Midwest since the
early 1980s. Her mother’s love for the East
African wildlife set the stage for Penny’s lasting
appreciation for wildlife, she says. She and her
husband are birders, and this growing interest
led her to start her blog, Penelopedia, where
she’s been writing about birds and nature and
sharing her photos since 2007.
Last spring Penny took the Minnesota
Master Naturalist course at Carleton
College’s Cowling Arboretum, and she’s
been involved in volunteer projects there,
like the spring bird count, seed-collecting
and buckthorn removal. She looks forward
to getting hands-on at River Bend too, and
has been enjoying exploring our trails. She
says, “I’m passionate about the value of both
getting out into nature and preserving our
natural lands, so I’m really excited to get
more involved at River Bend and do my part
to ensure that this great community resource
remains healthy and strong.”
Penny is a Vice President and Senior
Communications Counselor at Neuger
Communications Group in Northfield, where
she lives with her husband, Dave Keyes, and
son, Henry, who is in the 8th grade. She has
two adult daughters, Phoebe and Hallie, who
both attended Nerstrand Elementary School
and spent many hours at River Bend.
River Bend Nature Center’s Mission
To help all people discover, enjoy,
understand, and preserve the incredible
natural world that surrounds us.
Volume 34, Issue 4 www.rbnc.org 3
4. River Bend’s
Wish List
New Laptop
Digital cameras (new or newer)
New industrial blender
New industrial vacuum
New compasses (up to 100)
New kids hats & gloves
TerraFauna Reptofilter 125 gph
Patio furniture for intern house
Dehumidifier for intern house
Six Canoes
Canoe Trailer
20 Personal Flotation Devices
20 Canoe Paddles
Question? Please give us a call
507.332.7151 or an
email education@rbnc.org.
T
he history of River Bend Nature Center began with the
creation of the Faribault Area Committee for Environmental
Quality (FACE-Q), which was organized to “preserve and
protect the natural resources of the Faribault area.” In 1973, FACE-Q
was reorganized as the Faribault Naturalist Club, members of which
became the core River Bend Nature Center membership.
Orwin Rustad, a teacher at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School, had a dream of
establishing a nature center. This dream began to seem like a possibility
when it was suggested that the creation of a nature center could serve
as part of the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration. On December 23, 1975
the Faribault City Council passed a resolution endorsing the idea of a
“Nature and Agricultural Interpretive Center.”
The Land Acquisition
C o m m i t t e e
recommended that steps
be taken to acquire 487
acres of the Faribault
Regional Center land.
After two and a half years
of effort, the Land Bill
waspassed,whichdeeded
to the City of Faribault
the state lands to be
sold for a nature center
for $1. After permanent
corner markers were
set in August of 1978,
Rustad and others began staking the nature trails.
The name River Bend Nature Center was decided upon in 1979 in
part to recognize the Great Bend of the Straight River as the early
Wahpekutey band of Dakota described it. The Grand Opening and
Dedication of River Bend Nature Center and the completion of the
Trailside Center occurred in 1980. Over time River Bend accumulated
more land until about 743 acres were owned. The groundbreaking
ceremony for the new interpretive center came on July 2, 1991, and
the first day of business
in the new Interpretive
Center occurred on
December 2, 1991.
River Bend’s close
collaboration with the
Faribault school district
toprovideenvironmental
education for children
was designed from
the beginning. River
Bend Nature Center is
committed to helping people discover, enjoy, understand, and
preserve the natural world.
An Early History of
River Bend Nature Center
September 21, 1980. River Bend Nature Center
founder Orwin Rustad (right) and Faribault Mayor
Gary Kindseth cutting the ribbon to open Rustad
Road, making the Nature Center accessible to all.
The new Interpretive Center under construction
in the summer of 1991.
1858
Shattuck-St. Mary’s
A Proud Part of
Faribault History
College Preparatory • Boarding & Day
Grades 6-12 + Postgraduate
As a school community, Shattuck-St. Mary’s guides young people to be strong
in character, mind, body, and spirit for a life of learning and service.
Faribault, Minnesota
www.s-sm.org
4 River Bend Nature Center Newsletter Winter 2014
5. Director’s DeskBen Van Gundy, Executive Director
T
here is a secret out here at River
Bend Nature Center. It’s a secret
of something so rare that the only
places in the world that it occurs in the
wild are River Bend Nature Center and a
few other places in Rice, Goodhue, and
Steele counties in Minnesota. It’s the state’s
only endangered plant species. This species
usually blooms from mid-April to the first
part of May. It has a small white flower
and leaves that look a little like the side of
a trout. Do you know what this exceeding
rare plant is yet? By now, you may have
guessed that I am writing about the dwarf
trout lily or Erythronium propullans.
The dwarf trout lily was first discovered by
a botany instructor at St. Mary’s School in
Faribault by the name of Mary B. Hedges in
1870. The school’s principal then promptly
sent the new species to Asa Gray at Harvard
University who published a description of
the lily in 1871.
River Bend Nature Center actively protects
the dwarf trout lily by removing common
buckthorn and working to control the
white-tailed deer population. Outside
River Bend there are several protected areas
that contain populations of dwarf trout lily.
It also occurs in private woodlands that we
hope will not be disturbed.
The Nature Center works to increase public
awareness of our natural world in hopes
that people in the future will protect our
natural resources and rare species like the
dwarf trout lily. The next time you renew
your support of River Bend Nature Center
with a donation, you are not only helping
to improve the quality of life in the area,
but you are also helping to protect one of
the rarest plant species in the world.
There are many secrets awaiting you at
River Bend Nature Center. Why not come
out today and discover some of nature’s
secrets?
Platinum Level
1st United Bank
Brushwork Signs
Faribault Foods
Paddington’s Seed & Feed
State Bank of Faribault
Gold Level
Cable Connection & Supply Co., Inc.
Federated Insurance
Plus Level
Community Resource Bank
Countryside Animal Hospital
Harry Brown’s Family Automotive, Inc.
Jennie-O Turkey Store
Mercury Minnesota
Milltown Cycles
Steele Waseca Coop Electric
Teske Manufacturing, Inc.
Basic Level
A&W Restaurant
Anderka Construction
Arnold Law & Mediation
Belwin Conservancy
Boldt Funeral Home
Brite-Way Window Service
Cenneidigh, Inc.
Community Co-op Oil Assoc.
Donahue’s Greenhouse
Faribault Rotary Youth Services, Inc.
Faribo Insurance
Faribo Sno-Go Club, Inc.
Fette’s Electronics
Historic Hutchinson House B&B
Home Town Federal Credit Union
Humphrey Manlift Company, Inc.
Hy-Vee
Jill’s Pet Sitting
JP Hoffman Law Offices
Landscape Restoration, Inc.
MRG Tool & Die Company
Parker-Kohl Funeral Home
Potter Chiropractic
Reese, Winter & Associates, Ltd.
Reliance Bank
Reynolds Services, Inc. Seal Coating
Sunset Salon
Tom’s Lock & Key, LLC
River Bend Nature Center
Business Members
Volume 34, Issue 4 www.rbnc.org 5
6. W
e are excited to announce our
new nature programming
initiative called the In Nature
Series. The In Nature Series is designed to
provide opportunities for local audiences
to connect with the great outdoors. The
following is a brief description of the new
line of programming that will take place in
2014.
Women in Nature
Just for women looking to lead a fun and
active lifestyle. Monthly programs include
outdoor skills, arts, and nature appreciation.
Child care with nature activities available
for children ages five to 12 during the times
of the class for participants who wish to
bring them.
Singles in Nature
Our goal is to provide a casual environment
where single men and women in their 20s
and 30s can join together to develop new
friendships and foster new relationships.
All are welcome regardless of orientation,
religion, or type of relationship sought.
Grandkids in Nature
Inviting grandparents and grandfriends
to come spend quality time with their
grandkids at River Bend Nature Center.
Activities and projects will focus on
bridging the generational gap by enjoying
time together.
Lectures in Nature
Programs designed to bring environmental
and historical topics to light with guest
speakers from around the state. Learn more
about Minnesota and other interesting
subjects by attending one of several hour-
long lectures. Beginning in February.
O.W.L.S. (Older, Wiser, Livelier,
Seniors)
River Bend hosts an already vibrant series
for seniors that begins with a conservation-
minded reading, followed by lunch, and a
30-minute long program on a fascinating
natural history topic. Lunch included.
S
tarting in January, WIN with River
Bend! River Bend is excited to
announce that starting in January,
we will offer monthly outdoor skill and
natural history-based programs specifically
for women. Women in Nature (WIN)
programs will take place the second Friday
of the month and will vary in lengths,
times, and prices according to the activities
planned. River Bend will also have activities
for children ages five to 12 during the time
of the class for participants who wish to
bring them.
Our first program on January 10th from
5-7pm will include a Leave No Trace
Awareness course, refreshments, and a
naturalist-ledsnowshoehikeforparticipants
and their families. Leave No Trace (LNT)
is the leading organization in minimum
impact outdoor recreation. The awareness
course at River Bend will introduce the
seven principles and each participant will
be awarded a certificate. The course will last
about an hour and is a fun and engaging
way to learn more about how to enjoy the
outdoors responsibly. After the LNT class
we will break for light refreshments and
then go outside for a guided snowshoe
hike open to WIN participants and their
families. Snowshoes will be provided. This
program is $10 for non-members and $8
for River Bend members.
In February, we will be either cross-country
skiing (weather permitting) or trying our
hand at leatherworking. If we’re skiing,
limited skis and boots will be provided or
feel free to bring your own. Please indicate
your height and shoe size when registering
if using River Bend skis. If we’re doing
leatherworking, all the materials will be
provided. March’s program will introduce
participants to the basics of maple syruping.
We’ll explore the history of maple syruping,
then go out and practice identifying and
tapping sugar trees. Afterwards, we’ll come
inside to warm up and sample some syrup
from River Bend’s own sugarbush.
Other programs throughout the year
will include: seed starting & hydroponic
gardening, fly fishing, rock climbing,
campfire building & cooking, campcraft
& overnight camping trip, archery, nature
writing, and hunter education & fire arms
safety. All programs are geared towards
beginner to intermediate skill levels.
New In Nature Series
Spotlight on Women in Nature
Sarah Shimek, Director of Education
Visit our website, rbnc.org, for In NatureSeries schedules, more info, or to register.
Program Updates
6 River Bend Nature Center Newsletter Winter 2014
7. I
n response to the growing deer herd
that threatened the center’s biodiversity,
River Bend Nature Center completed
a successful deer management hunt on
Friday, November 15th through Tuesday,
November 19th, 2013. Archery hunters
took 27 deer while the Nature Center was
closed for those five days, including 24
antlerless deer. The hunters were asked to
focus on taking antlerless deer for purposes
of herd reduction.
The deer herd that inhabits the River Bend
area has grown significantly over the last few
decades. The board and staff of River Bend
Nature Center, with the recommendation
of the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources, staged the hunt as part of its
overall habitat management plan that also
includes invasive species removal and native
plant restoration. Similar hunts were held in
1999, 2000, 2005, and 2006. The decision
whether or not to hold a hunt in a given
year is made each spring.
The number of deer taken in 2013 is
slightly lower than the number of deer
taken in previous hunts, however this was
expected since this year was archery only
and previous hunts had also used firearms.
Despite taking fewer total deer, it was the
type of deer that we took that made our hunt
such a success. If you take a look at the chart
above, the two middle age groupings, the
1-3 and 3-5 year old females, are the most
important numbers. Females that are from
1 to 5 years old are of prime breeding age.
The more deer taken in these two categories
means fewer deer in the spring, which was
the goal of our hunt. Comparing those two
categories in 2013 to previous years’ hunts
we did just as good if not better!
By reducing the deer population, we will
have greater diversity in our plant species
here at the nature center.
Garrett Genereux, Former Director of Outdoor Adventures
Deer Hunt Results
1999 2000 2005 2006 2013
1
0 0 0 0
7
13
4
6
2
5 5
7 7
8
3 3
4
8
7
4
5
2
5
3
Female DeerTaken by age
Lessthan1year
Lessthan1year
<1year
<1yr
Lessthan1year
1-3years
1-3years
1-3years
1-3years
1-3years
3-5years
3-5years
3-5years
3-5years
3-5years
5+years
5+years
5+yrs
5+years
5+years
Unknown age
Nature Notes
“Every winter the liquid and trembling surface of the pond, which was so sensitive to every breath, and
reflected every light and shadow, becomes solid to the depth of a foot or a foot and a half, so that it will support
the heaviest teams, and perchance the snow covers it to an equal depth, and it is not to be distinguished from
any level field. Like the marmots in the surrounding hills, it closes its
eyelids and becomes dormant for three months or more.”
-Henry David Thoreau
Volume 34, Issue 4 www.rbnc.org 7
8. R
iver Bend Nature Center has been providing environmental/
outdoor education to thousands children and adults for over
33 years. River Bend was just a dream back in the 1970s and
today it is a great legacy to those folks who pioneered the Nature
Center.
Each of us possesses the power to leave a legacy by remembering
River Bend Nature Center in our estate plans. Your gift through your
estate, whether it be big or small, will help insure River Bend provides
healthy, wholesome environmental/outdoor education programming
far into the future.
Please consider leaving River Bend a bequest in your will or other
means such as gifts of securities, life insurance, or charitable remainder
trust.
If you have questions please call Ben Van Gundy, Executive Director,
River Bend Nature Center at 507.332.7151 or email him at
vangundy@rbnc.org.
Create a Legacy
at River Bend Nature Center
Individual & Family Membership
Benefits
Free & discounted events and•
programs, including Summer
Camp registration
Free snowshoe rentals on•
Snowshoe Days
Our quarterly newsletter•
A 10% discount on everything•
in the wild bird department
at Paddington’s Seed & Feed
when you present your member
card.
Business Membership Benefits
Listing in our quarterly•
newsletter at your membership
level
River Bend window cling to•
display at your business
Discount on four-hour facility•
rental
Receive a 10% discount on•
everything in the wild bird
department at Paddington’s
Seed & Feed when you present
your member card.
Free River Bend family•
membership(s) for you or
for you to give to employees,
family, or friends.
Become a Member
of River Bend Nature Center
Support the work of River Bend Nature Center by becoming a member
today! Visit our website for complete details and to become a member at
rbnc.org/membership.
8 River Bend Nature Center Newsletter Winter 2014
9. “Are the Northern Lights visible from
River Bend Nature Center?”
Josh Sweet, Director of Public Programs
T
he northern lights, also commonly
known as the aurora borealis, can
be seen from River Bend Nature
Center should the conditions be right. On
average, on a handful of nights each year
we are lucky enough to live in a place where
we can view this great phenomenon.
The aurora occurs due to solar storms that
take place on the sun. When the effects of
these solar storms reach our planet, charged
particles will interact with our atmosphere.
The green and white colors are
produced when these particles
interact with oxygen, whereas
the red and blue colors are
produced when these particles
interact with nitrogen.
Northern lights are rated on
the Kp index which is a scale
from 1 to 10. Based on our
latitude the best chance we
have to view the lights is when
the Kp rating is at least a 6. However, a
number of different factors come into
play to determine whether or not they are
visible.
Little light pollution and a clear sky are the
two most important beneficial factors when
it comes to viewing the aurora. Fortunately,
traveling down Rustad Road here at River
Bend can be enough distance to eliminate
most light pollution, but one should also
be aware of the moon phases as a full moon
could ruin perfectly decent auroral activity.
Checking the current status of the northern
lights can be done simply by using one
of many aurora forecast websites. Some
websites even offer a text messaging service
that will alert your phone should the
activity be significant. In addition, don’t
forget to “Like” River Bend Nature Center
on Facebook, as we will post an update
should the aurora forecast be at a high level.
Happy Aurora Hunting!
To submit a question to ‘Ask the Naturalist’
simply send an email to askthenaturalist@
rbnc.org.
Ask the Naturalist
Fast Fact: The Stars in Cottonwood Trees
O
ne thing about being in the nature business is that you
learn new things all the time. I recently learned that
cottonwood trees contain a multitude of stars in their
branches. Yes, that’s right... stars! Perfect stars.
The American plains Indians say all things come from mother
earth and stars are no exception. According to legend, stars
form secretly in the earth and drift along just below the surface
until they find the roots of the cottonwood tree. They then
work their way slowly up the tree and finally come to the small
twigs at the end of the branches. The stars then wait at these
small branches until they are needed. When the “Spirit of the
Night Sky” decides she needs more stars to light up the heavens
she calls on the “Wind-Spirit” to help. The “Wind-Spirit” then
sends gusts of wind to blow around the magical cottonwood
tree and break off the twigs. When the twigs break off stars are
released into the sky.
So, yes, there REALLY are stars in cottonwood twigs. To see
them just find a large cottonwood tree. Under the tree will
be twigs that were blown off by the “Wind-Spirit.” Gather a
twig or two and take a sharp knife and cut across the growth
wrinkles and look at the end of the twig where it is cut. You will
see perfect stars every time! –BVG
Volume 34, Issue 4 www.rbnc.org 9
10. Volunteers Needed!
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
at River Bend
WinterFest
This year’s day of winter family fun will take place on January
26th from 12-4pm. We need many volunteers to help with
games, races, storytelling, admission, cooking, parking,
and crafts. Shifts are available from 12-2pm and/or 2-4pm.
Volunteers receive free admission to the event for themselves
and one guest, free food, and an invitation to our annual
Volunteer Appreciation Event.
To sign up to help with this year’s event email Josh Sweet at
sweet@rbnc.org.
Weekend Volunteers
To help with staffing at River Bend we are looking for a few
motivated volunteers to staff the front desk at the Interpretive
Center from 10am-1pm or from 1pm-4pm on Saturdays
and 12-4pm on Sundays. Volunteers will be responsible for
opening/closing the building, answering the phone, and
greeting visitors who enter the Interpretive Center.
If interested contact Leslie Kennedy at kennedy@rbnc.org.
Volunteer Naturalists
Help make a difference in the lives of local students by
spending time teaching them about the natural environment.
Volunteers meet once a month for training and then sign up to
help with school programs on days that they are available.
Contact Sarah Shimek at shimek@rbnc.org for more
information.
River Bend Rangers 2014
Beginningthisspring,wewillbereintroducingtheRiverBend
Rangers program. One adult and one child each weekend
will team together to work on projects meant to improve the
quality of the nature center’s buildings and grounds.
Interested teams of two can email Josh Sweet at
sweet@rbnc.org.
Big play yard with room to roam, lots of playmates and heated floors!
www.countrysideanimalhospital.com • 507.645.5051 • 35W & Hwy 19
DOGGY DAYCARE & KENNEL
A very fun and friendly
vacation get-away for your pet!
Thank you to all of our current and upcoming volunteers for their
hard work and dedication. Without these amazing individuals
our nature center would not be as great as it has come to be.
Committees
Lynette Dickson
Anne Dienst
Linda Gamble
Board of Directors
Matt Carlander
Greg Carlson
Rev. Eva Cavaleri
Lynette Dickson
Kurt Fischer
Marsha Fortney
Dave Green
Penelope Hillemann
Anne Marie Leland
Catherine McBride
Jan Mitchell
Linda Olson
Dustin Simpson
Steve Underdahl
Debra White
Ramble
Jillian Bjorklund
Lynette Dickson
Anne Dienst
Glenn Holman
Kathleen Holman
Rebecca Johnson
Christine Krejci
Bob Koehler
Dave Lee
Fran Minnick
Linda Olson
Mary Steil
Maintenance
Glenn Holman
Dave Lee
Ralph Meehan
Larry Mensing
Lyle Olson
Bats, Bones &
Bonfires
Chris/Dave Angell
B.A. Key Club
Lynn Babcock
Delores Barta
Jillian Bjorklund
Kathy/Duke
Bjorklund
Eva Cavaleri
Gloria Carter
Leo Charlton
CRSS 4th Grade
Cec DeGrood
Anne Dienst
Kenn Dubbels
Myron Engle
Ron Engle
FMS Drama Club
Linda Gamble
Patty Gavin
Sandy Hagel
Dave/Diana Hering
Glenn Holman
Leah Inman
Bob Koehler
Gary Lazarz
Dave Lee
Tim Madigan
Maxwell/Catherine
McBride
Alera/Mersadies
Moreno
Jolene Mostrom
Bob Nesvold
Patti/John Nowacki
Linda Olson
Jerry Paschke
Rene Perrance
Joni/Larry Pierce
Jim/Carol Rist
Deb Scheil
Shattuck-St. Mary’s
Students
Bob Speckhals
STOPS
Marv Trandem
Deb White
Willing Wells 4-H
Interpretive
Center Painting
Maggie Gale
Laura Shimek
Diane Sommers
Nancy Sommers
The Volunteer Page
10 River Bend Nature Center Newsletter Winter 2014
11. Naturalist Notebook
By Sonya Hernandez, Intern Naturalist
Shooting star is a perennial found in southeastern Minnesota in Mower
County. In 1996 after extensive research it was listed on Minnesota’s
endangered species list.
The shooting star naturally occurs in original tall grass prairies. The
challenge is that less than 1% of these prairies remain. Threats to these
areas include salt pollution from near by highways, unauthorized
mowing, and poaching. Conservation practices include prescribed burns
to maintain the habitat but timing is critical. For best results, only in the
early spring before plants emerge.
The blooms range from pink to white standing out in April and May. The flower resembles its name:
a shooting star. The plant stands 8 to 24 inches tall. The stem is leafless with a basal clump. The
seedpods are egg shaped, thick walled and almost woody. The leaves have red markings at the base.
The seeds do not have adaptations for dispersal by birds or large animals. The capsules simply dry out
and when shaken by the wind or brushed by an animal the seeds fall out. This species flowers early in
the spring and is pollinated by insects. The shooting star grows best in full sun.
Shooting Star
(Dodecatheon meadia )
To Do:
Go Snowshoeing!
Snowshoeing has not always been a form of winter recreation,
it was once means of survival. It is believed to have originated
4,000 to 6,000 years ago in Central Asia. Snowshoes are
thought to have contributed to human migration over the Bering
Straight and into North & South America. Evolution of design
and trial and error over those thousands of years, led to many different types of snowshoes
that are able to compensate for the many different landscapes humans inhabit.
Large open flat areas work best with longer snowshoes such as Ojibwa, Alaskan, or Michigan
style. Hilly areas with large amounts of vegetation resulted in the design of such snowshoes
as Huron, Beavertail or Bearpaw style. These styles are typically shorter and wider to make
moving through densely forested areas easier.
Today, snowshoeing is popular at many nature centers and state parks as well as being a
popular sport in the Arctic Winter Games. Ideally, you should snowshoe in areas with more than
eight inches of snow. Snowshoe rental is available at many state parks and at River Bend
Nature Center. Although there is a slight adjustment to walking when wearing snowshoes, most
snowshoers will tell you that if you can walk, you can snowshoe.
By Amber Brossard,
Intern Naturalist
Volume 34, Issue 4 www.rbnc.org 11
12. New Ski Groomer Donated
The Faribault Flyers Bike & Ski Club,
along with other generous supporters, have
donated a new Ginzu 60-inch cross-country
ski groomer to River Bend Nature Center.
The new groomer will set a ski track in all
conditions including if the trail is icy.
River Bend Nature Center has about six
miles of cross-country ski trails. Cross-
country skiing is one of the best ways to
experience the outdoors in winter and one
of the best aerobic exercises.
Give to the Max Day A Huge Success!
Give to the Max Day 2013 was a resounding
success for River Bend Nature Center with
over $27,500 raised! We credit much
of our success to the $10,000 matching
grant we received from the State Bank
of Faribault. The grant challenged our
supporters to take their own Give to the
Max Day giving to new heights, knowing
that their dollars would be doubled by the
matching grant. Our donors more than
tripled the total donations from 2012 and a
surprise $10,000 gift from Bruce & Helen
Halverson ensured we were able to claim
the entire State Bank of Faribault matching
grant. It was a great day of giving! Thank
you to all who participated.
WinterFest is Back!
Celebrate the winter season with River
Bend at WinterFest on January 26th from
noon to 4pm! We’ll have family fun for
all ages including horse-drawn sleigh rides
($2/person), kick sled races, live animal
shows, games, mini golf, an obstacle course,
nature crafts, marshmallow roasting over
the bonfire, and much more. Hot chili,
fresh-popped popcorn, and warm cider and
cocoa will be available for purchase at the
event.
Interpretive Center Renovations
If you have visited the Interpretive Center
recently, you may have noticed some
changes taking place. We are in the midst
of a renovation to showcase some of our
most interesting natural history collections
and to make the center more interactive
for visitors. We are organizing our natural
history collections around four habitat-
themed walls: the river wall, the woodland
wall, the prairie wall, and a pre-history
wall. River Bend is unique in its diversity of
habitats and in its prehistoric legacy found
in our many ancient sea-life fossils. The
renovations should be complete by the end
of January, please stop in and check on our
progress!
River Bend Recycling Programs End
River Bend Nature Center has decided to
end its various recycling programs in which
our supporters donated selected recyclable
materials to help us raise money to support
ourprograms.Weappreciateallthematerials
you have collected for us over the years
which contributed about $2,000 in total
to our operating fund. We have decided to
concentrate our fundraising efforts in other
areas that are less staff-time intensive. For
more information regarding how you can
recycle in Rice County, please visit our Go
Green page at rbnc.org/gogreen.
New Nature at Night Youth Programs
When the sun goes down, the night
creatures come out and so can you! Come
join River Bend’s naturalists for a youth-
only lock-in and explore nature at night!
Let Mom and Dad do grown-up stuff while
we have lots of fun exploring the Nature
Center after dark and learning more about
the animals that come out once the sun has
gone down.
It’s the full moon, so weather-dependent
activities may include: snowshoe &
kicksledding (February 14) or tent camping
(May 16), night hike, arts & crafts, movie
watching, and more.
We’ll have pizza for dinner and s’mores
over the campfire for desert. Breakfast also
provided on Saturday morning. See our
website for all the details!
Nature at Night programs are also available
for private birthday parties and groups!
ContactSarahShimekformoreinformation
at 507.332.7151 or shimek@rbnc.org.
12 River Bend Nature Center Newsletter Winter 2014
News & Notes
13. Bats, Bones & Bonfires Fun For All
Bats, Bones & Bonfires was a success this
year and lots of fun for all the families and
individuals who attended. The event, which
took place October 26th, was able to raise
fund to support our future programs. A big
thank you goes out to all of the volunteers
who gave of their time and talents and to
Frandsen Bank & Trust who sponsored the
event, you helped make this a great event
for the local community and for River Bend
Nature Center.
Summer Camp at River Bend & Beyond
We’re already excitedly making plans for
Summer Camp 2014! Returning this
year will be three sessions of our extremely
popular “Adventure is Out There!” day
camp which has been expanded to four days
and including many outdoor adventure
activities like canoeing, rock climbing,
archery, geocaching and more. Sessions
will be divided up by age with ages 6-8 in
August, ages 8-10 in June, and ages 10-12
in July.
We’re also bringing back our away camps
with trips to Blue Mounds State Park in
southwestern MN (for ages 12-14), to the
North Shore and the Superior Hiking Trail
(ages 14-16), and to the Boundary Waters
Canoe Area Wilderness (ages 16-18).
Our half-day and full-day camp sessions
for children ages three to 10 also return,
more details will be available soon. Camp
brochures will hit mailboxes in late February
or early March!
Special Guest Animal Ambassadors
For the next few months River Bend
will have some special guest animal
ambassadors. The visiting animals include a
blue-tongued skink (yes, his tongue is really
blue), a Chinese water dragon, a Russian
tortoise, two eastern tiger salamanders, and
a rose-haired tarantula. These animals come
from all over the world including Chile,
Australia, Asia, and right here at River
Bend. All of the guest animal ambassadors
have been used for teaching for years and
LOVE to meet new people. You can meet
them in the Interpretive Center where they
spend most of their time eating, sleeping,
people watching, and exploring.
Waste Education Update
Waste Education is River Bend’s
collaboration with Rice County Solid Waste
Management to get everybody on the same
page about what goes into the big blue
recycling bins. In Waste Ed we emphasize
“closing the loop”, or keeping resources in
a recycling rotation, rather than tossing any
old thing into the garbage. Through fun,
hands-on programming students learn
how recycling works, and that disposable
products and packaging tax our planet and
our wallet. Students start to think critically
about choices they can make to reduce
waste, and we hope that they will influence
the adults they live with to make sustainable
choices, too.
School Programs in Full Swing
ManyoftheplantsandanimalsinMinnesota
may have hunkered down for the winter
but here at River Bend our education and
program staff are busy as squirrels all winter
long! In January & February, we are busy
with Kinders, third grade Winter Wildlife
&Fun,andsnowshoe/kicksledprograms.In
March we begin maple syruping programs.
The first three months of last year we had
407 Kinders, 629 students for snowshoe/
kicksled/winter wildlife programs, & 140
students for maple syruping programs.
Maple Syrup Open House
Our annual Maple Syrup Open House is
scheduled for Saturday, March 22nd from
1 until 3pm. Come out to the Nature
Center for a trip through the sugarbush.
Participants can help tap trees, collect sap,
observe the evaporating station, and taste
the delicious final product: maple syrup!
Mark your calendars now so you don’t miss
this fun spring-welcoming program.
Maple Syrup Fun Run
& Pancake Brunch
Sunday, April 27th, 2014
Volume 34, Issue 4 www.rbnc.org 13
14. Bon Voyage Garrett!
River Bend said goodbye to Director of Outdoor Adventures
Garrett Genereux at the end of December. He and his wife Erin
are off to enjoy new adventures in South America! Read on for
Garrett’s personal goodbye to all of you.
“
It is with a heavy heart that I resigned from my position
effective Friday, December 20th. The time I have spent here
at River Bend has been invaluable. It has been an incredible
experience from starting as an intern to becoming the Director of
Outdoor Adventures and having been given the opportunity to
start an outdoor education program from scratch.
“By far my favorite part of my job was working with youth
outside. Whether it was seeing how excited first graders were
about catching a tadpole at Turtle Pond or hearing a cheer from a
camper who hit the target with an arrow, it was all so much fun!
“The part I will miss the most about River Bend is working with
our dedicated volunteers. It is amazing to witness from a staff
point of view the amount of work our volunteers do for us and
how truly instrumental they are to what the nature center does. I
will be sure to visit in the coming years and am excited to see how
the land and programs will change.
“Starting in January, Erin and I will be traveling in South America.
We will be visiting Chile, Argentina, and Peru. While there, we
will be doing a mix of sightseeing, mountaineering, backpacking,
and volunteering. When we get back in mid-May, we will be
relocating to western Washington state.
“Thank you to River Bend staff, the Board of Directors, volunteers,
students, campers, program participants, and everyone else who
made my experience here meaningful and useful for the rest of
my career!”
Josh Sweet Promoted
In related news, Josh Sweet, who
was filling the part-time, temporary
position of Program Specialist at River
Bend throughout the fall, has been
promoted to the full-time, permanent
positionofDirectorofPublicPrograms.
Josh’s new job duties include directing
public programs and special events,
land and facilities, community service
projects, and co-intern supervisor. Josh
is the person to contact for Scout, 4-H,
or other group programs at the nature
center. He will continue to operate the Outdoor Adventures
Program including classes and gear rental. You can find him
in the Outdoor Adventures office (formerly the library) in the
Interpretive Center.
Josh has a bachelor’s degree in Parks & Recreation Management
from Arizona State University. He is also a certified Wilderness
First Responder and a Leave No Trace Master Educator. Josh
says about his promotion: “River Bend is an amazing site and I
am very lucky to be here. Thanks to everyone who has welcomed
me to the Nature Center and volunteered their time to help
with our events. I am looking forward to a great year filled with
fantastic programming and grand adventures.”
“Josh brings a wealth of knowledge and experiences to our
outdoor programs at River Bend Nature Center,” said Ben Van
Gundy executive director of River Bend Nature Center. “He
has worked seasonal outdoor education positions around the
country and will bring new ideas to our programs.”
To contact Josh, call him at 507.332.7151 or email him at
sweet@rbnc.org.
Welcome Leslie!
We are pleased to welcome Leslie Kennedy to the office
staff at River Bend! Leslie has been hired in the position of
Administrative Assistant and began her stay at River Bend
on November 18th. Leslie comes to us from the Cannon
River Watershed Partnership in Northfield where she
worked for the past 17 years. Leslie and her husband Scott
live in Faribault and have two grown sons. As part of her
job duties, Leslie will serve as our volunteer coordinator,
something she has done before in her previous position.
We are excited to have Leslie and her great experience
and expertise at River Bend. Please stop by the office and
introduce yourself to Leslie when you’re at the Nature
Center.
To contact Leslie, please call 507.332.7151 or email her at kennedy@rbnc.org.
Staff Updates
14 River Bend Nature Center Newsletter Winter 2014
15. Thanks Adam
& Erika!
Two words: “the children.” Working with
the Faribault children has been a pleasure.
Their curiosity is inspiring and their smiles
make my hard work worthwhile. There is
nothing comparable to the moment a child
discovers something new. I cherish these
discoveries because it reminds me there’s
still so much to learn in this world. My
sense of curiosity has been refreshed.
The mornings before a group comes, a
sense of excitement fills the building; we
run around doing last minute set up. As
soon as the yellow bus turns the corner we
know it’s go time!
IlookforwardtolearningwiththeFaribault
children during our winter programs and
adding to my cherished moments here at
River Bend.
So far some of my favorite moments at
River Bend have been the result of goals
that I had never dreamt I would create.
For example, it had never crossed my mind
that one of my goals for an entire week
would be to prevent kindergartners from
falling into Turtle Pond or that I would feel
proud to get elementary students in winter
apparel in less than 10 minutes.
My time here is the most adventurous,
unpredictable, and rewarding I’ve ever
experienced. Watching the look of shock,
amazement, and “yuck!” on the student’s
faces as you explain things like how
turtles breath through their butts or how
buckthorn affects the intestinal tract of
deer has been one of the things I look
forward to each day.
I’m excited for snowshoeing, maple
syruping, WinterFest, and of course setting
more unpredictable, bizarre goals that can
only be created and accomplished with
the help of several hundred elementary
students.
What have been your favorite River Bend experiences so far?
We said early goodbyes to two of our
interns in January. Adam Tait’s last day
was January 17th and he is leaving to
return to his home state of Illinois to
support his family. Erika Almskaar will
depart on January 28th and will move on
to work for Northwest Youth Corps in
the Pacific Northwest.
We appreciate all that Adam and
Erika contributed to our educational
programming at River Bend during their
months here and we send them off with
our best wishes in their next ventures.
Where Are They Now?
Catching up with Mary Morris
Former intern naturalist Mary Morris is the subject of our
first “Where Are They Now?” newsletter column in which we
catch up with our former interns and find out what life is
like after River Bend. Mary, a St. Olaf College graduate,
worked at River Bend Nature Center during the school year
of 2011-2012.
M
y year as a Naturalist Intern at River Bend was the perfect way to get going
as a naturalist in Minnesota. It provided the practice and experiences
to feel comfortable and confident in leading so many different types of
programs and groups.
After leaving River Bend in May 2012, I participated in the Naturalist Fellowship at
Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center. Eagle Bluff is a residential ELC where
school groups come for three days to enjoy a wide variety of classes and activities
from Wildlife Ecology to the high ropes course to Pioneer Life.
Currently, I work as an Interpretive Naturalist at Wargo Nature Center in Lino
Lakes. There, I work with a group of naturalists to offer many types of environmental
education opportunities. One of my main focuses is teaching Wargo’s nature-
centered preschool run in conjunction with Forest Lake School District. I often
look back fondly on my time at River Bend and look forward to seeing what River
Bend’s future holds.
The Intern Page
Volume 34, Issue 4 www.rbnc.org 15
Sonya Hernandez Amber Brossard
16. PO Box 186
1000 Rustad Rd
Faribault, MN 55021
507.332.7151
www.rbnc.org
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New members, welcome!
Members who’ve been away, welcome back!
September to December Membership
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Kirsten Coons/Michael Goeing
Jason Cortez
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James Dell
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Lesley Donahue
Peter/Stacy Dupont
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Mike Ernste/Anna Sheridan
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Dave/Dianne Frye
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Tim/Anne Hyland
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John/Cheryl Keller & Family
Scott/Leslie Kennedy
Kylie/Peter Kuhlman
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Deborah/Thomas Lowndes
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River Bend
NATURE CENTER
Creating Customers for Life
SBFSTATE BANK
OF FARIBAULT
Serving Faribault since 1919
Member FDIC NMLS 638054
Online Banking
Mobile Banking
Text Banking
507-332-7401 www.tsbf.com
428 Central Avenue
Sunday, January 26th, 1-4 pm
$5 per person, Free for members
www.rbnc.org
Winter fun for the whole family!
Horse-drawn Sleigh Rides - Mini Golf - Hot Food
WinterFestWinterFest
17. January
26 WinterFest
12:00-4:00pm
Cost: $5 (Free for members)
WinterFest is back! Join us for outdoor winter fun with
sledding (B.Y.O.Sled), horse-drawn sleigh rides, our blizzard
mini golf course, games, a snowshoe hike, live animals in
Trailside Center, marshmallow roasting at the Kay Janky
Amphitheater, and much more! After you’ve enjoyed all our
outdoor activities and need to warm up, come inside for some
delicious chili or fresh-popped popcorn.
28 Anything to Say or Sing About Book Group
7:00-8:00pm
Cost: $2 (Free for members)
A Sand County Almanac, by Aldo Leopold
Join us for a reading and discussion group. Whether you will
be re-reading a tattered first edition of our selected book or
checking it out from the library, please bring your voice to this
casual conversation inspired by an important contribution to
conservation literature.
Open to adults.
February
1 Bagels & Birds
9:30-10:30am
Cost: Free
Join a naturalist in the comfort of the building to observe
bird (and other) visitors to our backyard habitat feeding
area. Enjoy coffee and bagels in a relaxed atmosphere while
watching the antics of wildlife.
7 Women In Nature
5:00-7:00pm
Cost: $10 ($8 for members)
Topic:Cross-country Skiing
Join us for our all new Women in Nature series, a monthly
outdoor skills and natural history-based program specifically
for women. Includes activities for children ages 5 to 12 during
the times of the class for participants who wish to bring them.
February’s program will be cross-country skiing. Limited skis
and boots will be provided or feel free to bring your own.
Please indicate your height and shoe size when registering if
using RBNC skis.
Open to adult women. Pre-registration required.
8 Winter Family Movie Night: Hoot
6:00-8:30pm
Cost: Free, donation suggested.
Join us for the movie Hoot. Family movie night includes
hands-on activities related to the movie’s themes and time
for socializing and discussion. Feel free to bring your favorite
movie snacks and bring quarters too because River Bend will
be selling fresh movie theater popcorn for 25 cents.
Open to all ages.
February
13 Grandkids in Nature
3:30-5:00pm
Cost: $5/family group ($4/member group)
Topic: Snowshoeing
Inviting grandparents and grandfriends to come spend quality
time with their grandkids at River Bend Nature Center.
Activities and projects will focus on bridging the generational
gap by enjoying time together.
Open to children ages 5-12 & their grandparents.
Pre-registration is required.
14-
15
Nature at Night Youth Lock-In
6:00pm to 10:00am
Cost: $15/child ($12/member child)
Come join River Bend’s naturalists for a youth-only lock-in and
explore nature at night! We’ll have lots of fun exploring the
Nature Center after dark and learning more about the animals
that come out once the sun has gone down. Activities may
include: snowshoe and kicksledding, night hike, arts & crafts,
movie, etc. We’ll have pizza for dinner and s’mores over the
campfire for desert; breakfast also provided. Participants
should bring their own sleeping pad, bag & pillow or rent
sleeping bag/pad from River Bend.
Open to ages 8-12. Pre-registration required. Limit 15.
16 Singles in Nature
1:00-3:00pm
Cost: $5 ($3 for members)
Topic: Cross-country Skiing
Our goal is to provide a casual environment where single men
and women in their 20s and 30s can join together to develop
new friendships and foster new relationships. All are welcome
regardless of orientation, religion, or type of relationship
sought.
Open to adults in their 20s & 30s. Pre-registration
required.
19 O.W.L.S. - Older, Wiser, Livelier, Seniors
12:00-2:00pm
Cost: $10 ($8 for members)
Topic: Conservation Issues with DNR Conservation Officer
Lucas Belgard
Join us for O.W.L.S., a program for seniors that begins with
a brief reading, followed by lunch, and then a program on a
natural history topic. This indoor program will be hosted in
the Interpretive Center.
Open to seniors. Pre-registration required by Feb. 14.
20 Lectures in Nature
6:30-7:30pm
Cost: $5 ($3 for members)
Topic: Aquatic Invasive Species
Lectures in Nature series is designed to bring environmental
and historical topics to light with guest speakers from around
the state. February’s guest speaker will be Aquatic Invasive
Species Specialist Allison Gamble of Sakatah Lake State Park
who will speak on aquatic invasive species. Snacks included.
Open to all ages. Pre-registration is required.
River Bend Nature Center
Winter Program & Event Schedule 2014
18. March
1 Bagels & Birds
9:30-10:30am
Cost: Free
Join a naturalist in the comfort of the building to observe
bird (and other) visitors to our backyard habitat feeding
area. Enjoy coffee and bagels in a relaxed atmosphere while
watching the antics of wildlife.
Open to all ages.
1 Seed Starting & Hydroponics
9:30-11:00am
Cost: $4/person or $8/family ($2 for members)
We’ve finally made it through the toughest parts of winter
and now it’s time to start thinking about vegetable gardening!
We will be discussing and learning some of the basic set-ups
for hydroponic or soilless gardening as well as learning and
making containers for patio vegetable gardening. Means for
starting tomatoes, peppers, & cucumbers will be provided.
Open to all ages. Pre-registration encouraged, but not
required.
3 Lectures in Nature
6:30-7:30pm
Cost: $5 ($3 for members)
Topic: Bird Nests: How Do They Do That? With Author Clay
Christensen
How does a Baltimore oriole make that graceful hanging nest
so high up in the cottonwood tree? What is a woodpecker
cavity nest like inside? Are there really birds that nest in
tunnels? Join us for a talk by author Clay Christensen about
all manner of birds’ nests, illustrated by photos and diagrams
so you can see for yourself just how these avian architects
construct their nests. Snacks included.
Open to all ages. Pre-registration required.
13 Grandkids in Nature
3:30-5:00pm
Cost: $5/family ($4/member group)
Topic: Forest Tales
Inviting Grandpa and Grandma to come spend quality time
with their grandkids at River Bend. Activities and projects
will focus on bridging the generational gap by enjoying time
together. Pick up your grandchild from school or meet at River
Bend.
For children ages 5-12 and their grandparents. Pre-
registration required.
14 Women in Nature
5:00-7:00pm
Cost: $5 ($3 for members)
Topic: Maple Syruping
Women in Nature is just for women looking to lead a fun and
active lifestyle. Childcare provided for children ages 5-12
during the times of the class for participants who wish to
bring them. March’s program will introduce participants to
the basics of maple syruping. We’ll explore the history of
maple syruping, then go out and practice identifying and
tapping sugar trees.
Open to adult women. Pre-registration is required. Please
indicate ages and number of children that will be coming
when you register. Register by Mar. 12 if you’ll need child
care.
16 Singles in Nature
1:00-3:00pm
Cost: $5 ($3 for members)
Topic: Maple Syruping
Our goal is to provide a casual environment where single men
and women in their 20s and 30s can join together to develop
new friendships and foster new relationships. All are welcome
regardless of orientation, religion, or type of relationship
sought.
Open to adults in their 20s & 30s. Pre-registration is
required.
19 O.W.L.S. - Older, Wiser, Livelier, Seniors
12:00-2:00pm
Cost: $10 ($8 for members)
Topic: Maple Syruping
On the third Wednesday of every month, we’ll host a program
for seniors that will start with a brief conservation-minded
reading, followed by lunch, and then there will be a 30-minute
program on a natural history topic. The lunch will consist of a
hot dish, side, roll, and dessert. This indoor program will be
hosted in the Interpretive Center.
Open to seniors. Pre-registration required by Mar. 14.
22 Maple Syrup Open House
1:00-3:00pm
Cost: TBD
Join the Nature Center’s sugar bush
workers in the great spring tradition of
maple syrupin’. Help tap trees, collect sap,
observe the evaporation station, & taste
the final product: maple syrup! Bring the
whole family for a fun afternoon.
Open to all ages.
Pre-Registration Information
To pre-register for our programs you have four
options, choose what works best for you.
Call us
507.332.7151
Email us
rbncinfo@rbnc.org
Go online
shop.rbnc.org
Or stop in to see us
1000 Rustad Rd, Faribault
Programs are subject to change. Please check
our web site for complete details and updates.
www.rbnc.org
River Bend Nature Center
Winter Program & Event Schedule 2014
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