River Bend Nature Center

River Bend
N at u r e C e n t e r
Winter 2014, Vol. 35, Issue 4
Director’s Desk
Ben Van Gundy, Executive Director
L
et’s face it, winters in Minnesota can seem like an eternity. Sunlight is in
short supply, the outside air can be bone chilling, and so many of us just
decide to wait inside until spring. Other people flee Minnesota for the
south’s warmer temperatures. Then, there are the Minnesotans who look forward
to the cold and the snow. These folks think that winter was made just for them.
They think that snow is their playground and something to be relished. They
are the cross-country skiers. Cross-county skiers don’t even notice the cold.
Cross-country skiing has helped get folks through the winter, some say for over
5000 years. First developed in Scandinavia as a way to travel, cross-country
skiing has become a major recreational pursuit in the northern climes. The
word ski comes from the Old Norse word skið which means “stick of wood”.
My first experience with cross-country skiing was when I moved from southern
Iowa to Mason City. Lots of people there were nuts about it. As the new director
of the Cerro County Conservation Board they talked me into the construction
of a trail that could be skied upon. We were able get a grant to hire a Youth
Conservation Corps to blaze the trail. Up until the construction of the trail I
had never strapped on a pair of cross-county skis. In fact, I thought it seemed
a little silly to ski on flat ground. I had skied downhill and that made perfect
sense to me. Once I tried cross-country skiing, I become addicted to the cold,
fresh air, the winter scenery, and the refreshed feeling I had after the ski.
I invite you out to River Bend Nature Center this winter to try out our excellent
ski trails. Volunteers maintain some of the best groomed trails around. If you
don’t have skis, no problem: River Bend Nature Center has skis and boots
available to rent. Check out the winter wonderland at River Bend soon. 
Ben Van Gundy has been Executive Director of River
Bend Nature Center since September 2013. He welcomes
the public’s input on the Nature Center.Contact him at
507.332.7151, at [email protected], or schedule an
appointment to meet in person.
River Bend Nature Center’s Mission
To help all people discover, enjoy, understand, and
preserve the incredible natural world that surrounds us.
2
River Bend Nature Center Newsletter
Winter 2015
Join us as we celebrate
the winter season at
Sunday, January 25th
1:00-4:00 pm
Horse-Drawn
Sleigh Rides
St. Olaf College
Carolers
Snow Games
Kicksleds
to Ride
Indoor
Crafts
Live
Animal
Shows
Blizzard
Mini Golf
S’mores
Popcorn
Cider
Cocoa
Winter Ski & Snowshoe Rental
Volume 35, Issue 4
www.rbnc.org
& More!
© Kudryashka - Fotolia.com
Throughout last winter, over 60 families came out and enjoyed snowshoe
rentals and over 50 families came to rent cross-country skis. River Bend’s
selection of winter sports equipment for rent includes wooden snowshoes,
sports snowshoes, and cross-country skis, poles, and boots. Both the
cross-country skis and wooden snowshoes can be rented for $10 ($5 if a
River Bend member) and the sport snowshoes can be rented for $15 ($10
if a River Bend member). Rentals are available during regular Interpretive
Center hours although equipment is sometimes used in programs. If you
want to be sure rentals are available, call ahead. Snowshoeing and crosscountry skiing are both great ways to be active and enjoy the outdoors
in the winter!
Admission:
$7 per person
($5 per River Bend member)
www.rbnc.org/winterfest
3
The 3 R’s of Waste Ed
Hannah Champeau, Seasonal Environmental Educator
A
s fall school programs ebb, the River Bend educators are still hard at
work. Hannah Champeau, a seasonal environmental educator, is tasked
with the duty of scheduling waste education programs for schools in Rice
County for the 2014-2015 school year. Waste education programs run through
the winter. They are presented by educators at River Bend in collaboration with
the Rice County Solid Waste Department. Our goal is to educate Rice County
students in recycling and waste reduction issues in two different grades in all
public and parochial schools in Rice County. The first programs were presented
in 1994 when the county realized that current methods of reducing, reusing,
and recycling (the 3 R’s) were not adequate in Rice County. In 2013, 1,608
students were reached in 15 schools. If each student went home to tell one adult
what they learned, we reached at least 3,216 Rice County residents last year. The
more students we reach, the better we can spread the message.
Cannon River STEM School fourth graders and River Bend
seasonal educators Hannah Champeau and Emily Pavlovic
show some of the waste that goes into our landfill.
The recycling program is always presented first, between grades 2-4. This program
covers the 3 R’s in depth so students can differentiate between them. After an
introduction to the concepts, they move through three stations, each one with a
focus on an “R.” In the first station they get to practice recycling paper products
by making their own paper! At the reusing station they create a toilet paper
tube bird feeder (stressing the reuse of materials and being an environmental
steward). At the third station, students learn about nature’s recyclers (worms!)
by investigating a vermicomposting bin, and how they can reduce their own
waste. These hands-on activities create a lasting impression on how important
(and “cool”) it is to follow the 3 R’s. Each student is given a brochure that
they can bring home so the learning can be extended to their families. The
following year the same students will have a program focused on reduction, the
hardest and most important way to manage waste. This program is intended to
pose challenging questions regarding the consequences of our wasteful actions.
Students participate in activities
to learn about product packaging,
wants versus needs, and how they
can reduce at home.
A very fun and friendly
vacation get-away for your pet!
As with all River Bend programs, we
thrive on donations from members
like you. If you would like to donate
to Waste Education programs
please contact [email protected].
Items that can be donated include:
vegetable shortening, bird seed,
toilet paper tubes, old (still useable)
blenders, as well as monetary
donations. 
DOGGY DAYCARE & KENNEL
www.countrysideanimalhospital.com • 507.645.5051 • 35W & Hwy 19
Big play yard with room to roam, lots of playmates and heated floors!
4
River Bend Nature Center Newsletter
Winter 2015
Nature’s Almanac
Amber Brossard, Education Coordinator
W
inter is a very drastic change from the other seasons. Just as
humans adapt so does all of our fauna. We typically have a general
idea of what most large animals do over the winter but the
smaller critters are a bit more mysterious. Summer and fall are usually just
teaming with insects that disappear in winter and magically reappear in
spring! So how do they do this? Well, all of our incredible insect species
have developed their own unique adaptations.
Grasshoppers, crickets, and dragonflies use their life cycles to
survive the winter. During the fall, their time is occupied by
finding a mate and laying as many eggs as “insectly” possible.
Grasshoppers and crickets will lay their eggs in the ground
whereas dragonflies will lay their eggs on underwater
vegetation. The eggs will remain dormant until spring time
and the life cycle starts over once more.
The social insects such as honeybees and ants work hard all
summer to hopefully make it through the cold, foodless
winter. All summer you see ants collecting food and bees
pollenating flowers. A lot of what they’re collecting is
stored for winter. Ants will remain underground below
the frost line eating their food reserves. As many of us
know from witnessing bee-keeping, honeybees will remain
in their hives and feed off of the honey they produced. They
are also unique because not all members of the colony need
to survive the winter. As long as the queen is safe their numbers
can quickly be regenerated in the spring time.
Finally I would like to talk about Minnesota’s favorite insect: the
mosquito! I have met several people that prefer winter to summer in
Minnesota simply because there are no mosquitoes, but in actuality,
several species of mosquitoes are still around. Minnesota has at least
64 different species of mosquito. The females will find somewhere
warm to remain dormant throughout the winter, which means they
probably aren’t biting in the winter but it’s not uncommon to see a
mosquito flying around your house in January! 
Volume 35, Issue 4
www.rbnc.org
This goldenrod gall is
actually the home to the
goldenrod gall fly. The
fly larvae will remain in
the gall throughout the
winter. They survive by
producing antifreeze
throughout their body
and having the gall to
protect them from the
harsh winter climate!
5
Land & Facilities Notes
Deer Management Hunt
Results
The purpose of the deer management hunt is to protect the
natural systems of the Nature Center by reducing the size of the
deer herd to create a more natural plant dispersal pattern in the
area. Deer are herbivores capable of impacting the land in which
they inhabit in many ways. They have definite food preferences,
usually native plants and they do not prefer invasive such as
buckthorn. When deer numbers climb to high levels they can
negatively impact the diversity of plants here at River Bend. This
last summer a number of botanists came to River Bend in search
of the dwarf trout lily an endangered species. The dwarf trout
lily plants the botanists did find had been grazed by deer.
A deer management hunt was conducted at River Bend
November 8th through November 11th. While the Interpretive
Center was closed for those four days archery hunters took 14
deer, including seven antlerless (or female) deer. The number of
deer taken in 2014 was significantly lower than the number of
deer taken in previous hunts, however the number taken was
impacted by the limit of only one “any sex” tag imposed by the
MN DNR.
Kids in the Wild Play Area
Improvements
Brett Word, a dedicated River Bend volunteer, has taken on the
project of giving the Kids in the Wild natural play area a bit of
a face lift. Brett has used his imagination and carpentry skills
to make a more intriguing entrance to this kids play area. The
entrance will look like a house with a door made out of twisted
vines and branches. Structurally the entrance is sound with large
pieces of wood cemented in to form a house with shingles. The
Kids in the Wild face lift is ongoing. The staff at River Bend
hopes to be able to add a few new play structures in this area
sometime next spring to encourage nature play. The play area is
located between Oak and Owl trails near the Trailside Center.
Kids are encouraged to move, play, dig, explore, rearrange,
build, and discover in this area.
Fast Fact: Nature’s Anti-Freeze
F
or nature’s cold-blooded creatures, winter can be
a really tough time. Some have adapted to winter
by having life spans that only last during the warm
months, by migrating, or by having special chemicals
in their blood that act like natural antifreeze. These
antifreeze proteins or AFPs, operate in two main
ways: either by reducing the freezing point of the
blood or by disrupting the formation of ice crystals
in the body’s organs and fluids.
Antifreeze proteins were first discovered several
decades ago in Antarctic fish, which use the AFPs to
bind to ice crystals present in sub-freezing water and
lower the temperature at which they can grow. Many
insects use AFPs to lower the temperature at which
their hemolymph (insect blood) freezes and to allow
them to lose a larger percentage of their body water
over the winter but still re-hydrate in the spring. The
6
worms that live inside burdock seeds and goldenrod
galls have AFPs that increase the amount of sugar
in their blood over the winter, making them taste
sweet. Many reptiles and amphibians spend the
winter buried underground in a reduced metabolic
state, or brumation. But some species, such as the
wood frog, are able to freeze solid and reanimate
in the spring. The AFPs in the blood of a wood frog
change the formation of ice crystals into flat shapes,
allowing them to freeze solid and reanimate in the
spring unharmed.
Try this experiment at home: Fill two containers with
water. Add a large amount of sugar to one container.
Then set the containers out for a few hours when
the temperature is around or below freezing. Then
examine the two containers.
River Bend Nature Center Newsletter
© schankz - Fotolia.com
Winter 2015
Be a Tree Detective
Bethany Dunn, Seasonal Environmental Educator
T
There may not be any leaves in winter but by
examining the twigs one can see where they used
to be! The leaf scars on twigs will show how the
leaves were arranged when they were present,
either opposite or alternating. In looking at the
bigger picture, the way that the branches grow also
reflect the way that the leaves grow, opposite or
alternating.
the shape, size, color, and texture of the buds are
never the same in different species. In looking at
the buds their size can determine whether it’s a leaf
or a flower; flower buds tend to be larger. Some
buds have protective scales that will enclose the
plant tissue, while others have no scales and are
considered naked. These bud characteristics as well
as the number of buds and their arrangement are all
ways to help identify deciduous trees.
© thaikrit - Fotolia.com
here are two main types of trees: coniferous
and deciduous. They are very distinct from
one another in the shape and longevity of
their leaves. Coniferous trees will stay green year
round, even in the coldest of winter, while deciduous
trees lose their leaves every fall. The easiest way to
identify a tree is by looking at their leaves, the shape,
color, size, spacing along the branches, whether
they are lobed or not, and many other traits all give
you clues as to a tree’s identification. Without any
leaves, identification of deciduous trees becomes a
more intense form of detective work. In order to
classify the trees one must look at the twigs, bark,
buds, and the bud scarring on the tree.
The bark can help decipher the tree’s identity as well,
not just in its appearance, but by its smell! Some
trees have a unique smell that can be whiffed by
scratching off a bit of the outer bark. An example
of this is yellow birch. When its bark is scratched it
smells like wintergreen.
All of these ways of examining trees will help to
identify them in the winter months, and is something
that you can do in your own backyard. Winter tree
identification guides can be found online. 
If there are buds on the trees this can be a great
assistance in identification. Just as with leaves,
Volume 35, Issue 4
www.rbnc.org
7
Become a Member!
Put your money where your heart is! When you invest in a hometown organization
like River Bend Nature Center you add value to our community and help make
it a great place to live.
River Bend Nature Center provides high quality environmental education for
everyone, from preschoolers to senior citizens. Our natural lands and trails
offer a place for recreation, relaxation, and discovery of the amazing wonders
happening every day in the natural world around us. We are only able to do our
important work with your financial support.
Join today, visit: rbnc.org/membership/
Business Membership Benefits
•
•
•
•
Listing in our quarterly newsletter at your membership level;
Listing on the Business Member page of our website;
Discount on four-hour facility rental;
A 10% discount on everything in the wild bird department at
Paddington’s Seed & Feed when you present your member card.
Individual & Family Membership Benefits
•
•
•
•
Free & discounted events, programs, and equipment rentals, including
discounted Summer Camp registration;
Free snowshoe rentals on designated Snowshoe Days during the winter
months;
Our quarterly newsletter;
A 10% discount on everything in the wild bird department at
Paddington’s Seed & Feed when you present your member card.
River Bend’s Wish List
Turkey fan, beard, and legs
Backpacking tents & sleeping pads
For the Seasonal Staff House
Deer antlers
Six campfire pie irons
Non-stick pots & pans
Spotting scope
New/gently used kids boots & snowpants
Deep freezer
Compound bows
Cross-country skis & poles
Washing machine
Hand saws
3-pin cross-country ski boots (any size)
Digital cameras (new or newer)
Canoes and/or kayaks
Questions? Please give us a call 507.332.7151
or email [email protected].
New industrial blender
New compasses (up to 100)
8
River Bend Nature Center Newsletter
Winter 2015
Business Members
Platinum Level
1st United Bank
Brushwork Signs
Faribault Foods
I&S Group, Inc.
Jennie-O Turkey Store
KGP Logistics, Inc.
Paddington’s Seed & Feed
State Bank of Faribault
Gold Level
Cable Connection
& Supply Co., Inc.
Wells Fargo Bank, NA
Plus Level
Cannon River STEM School
Community Resource Bank
Caves of Faribault/Swiss Valley Farms
Countryside Animal Hospital
Daikin
Distinctive Dental of Faribault
Faribault Flyers Bike & Ski Club
Faribault Farm & Home Supply
Harry Brown’s Family Automotive,
Inc.
Mercury Minnesota
SAGE Electrochromics
Schroder Concessions, Inc.
Steele Waseca Coop Electric
Teske Manufacturing, Inc.
Basic Level
A&W Restaurant
Acupuncture & Pain Management
Clinic
Anderka Construction
Arnold Law & Mediation
Child and
adult parties
available!
Boldt Funeral Home
Brite-Way Window Service
Cenneidigh, Inc.
Chappuis Jewelry
Community Co-op Oil Assoc.
DeGrood’s Mobil West
Donahue’s Greenhouse
Faribault Area Retired Educators
Faribault Tire & Auto
Faribo Air Conditioning & Heating
Faribo Insurance
Faribo Sno-Go Club, Inc.
Fette’s Electronics
First United Church of Christ,
Northfield
Floor to Ceiling
Historic Hutchinson House B&B
Home Town Federal Credit Union
Humphrey Manlift Co., Inc.
Legacy Golf
Mortenson Fire & Safety, Inc.
MRG Tool & Die Company
Parker-Kohl Funeral Home
Paul Swenson Photography
Polzin Glass
Quality Appliance
R.C. Mutual Insurance Co.
Reese, Winter & Associates, Ltd.
Reliance Bank
Reynolds Services, Inc. Seal Coating
Rice County Abstract & Title Co.
Rice County Mutual Insurance
ServiceMaster by Ayotte
Tom’s Lock & Key, LLC
TRB Electric, LLC
Vohs Floors
Wieber Physical Therapy, Inc.
IT'S ABOUT
DOING EVERYTHING
WITH PASSION.
Shattuck-St. Mary’s Students taking
part in service learning at RBNC.
Hands Across Faribault, 2014
Just added! Nature at Night overnight parties
Parties include naturalist-led activities, building rental
www.rbnc.org/birthdays
Volume 35, Issue 4
It's not about doing one thing with passion.
www.s-sm.org
admissions @s-sm.org
Choose your
own party theme!
507.332.7151
www.rbnc.org
9
River Bend Teams Up With
Minnesota State Academy for the Blind
Kaytlan Moeller, Education Coordinator
R
iver
Bend
Nature Center
has
partnered
with the Minnesota
State
Academy
for
the Blind to offer an
Experienced
Works
program to their visually
impaired students. The Experienced Work
program has been going on throughout
the community of Faribault for over 20
years. This year there are ten students from
the Academy for the Blind that are in this
program experiencing hands on work with
multiple different businesses.
Students Cassie and Justin with their
mentor Barb come out to River Bend
for a little over an hour every Monday to
experience what it would be like to work at
the Nature Center. Education Coordinator
Kaytlan Moeller has been showing the
students how to assist with cleaning
and caring for our live animal exhibits,
planting prairie by hand seeding, cutting
buckthorn, raking leaves, and more! It has
been a very rewarding experience for both
the Academy for the Blind students and
the River Bend staff.
Kaytlan noticed how Cassie first
seemed very apprehensive about cutting
buckthorn with the loppers. Cassie didn’t
think she could accomplish this feat blind.
However, Kaytlan showed Cassie how to
identify buckthorn by having her feel the
oval leathery leaf, the thorns protecting
the buds, and how to follow her way by
tracing the stem until it nears the base of
the plant. Then Cassie would bring her
loppers to the plant and cut it. Cassie’s
mentor Barb assisted her by treating the
stump with chemical and putting the cut
buckthorn into a pile. Kaytlan had Cassie
kick all around the base of her buckthorn
pile so she could feel how big it was before
they headed back to the Academy. Cassie
was so overjoyed by her experience she
jumped up in the air and with tears in
her eyes she said, “I did this, and I did it
blind!” Justin remarked how he likes being
able to work with his hands and learn how
things happen in nature.
Each visit to River Bend brings new
challenges for Justin and Cassie to conquer.
On a recent return visit, Kaytlan offered
encouragement to the students: “Are you
ready? You might be surprised how much
you can do here at River Bend but the key
is to not automatically doubt yourself. You
have to be willing to learn what you can’t
do not automatically assume you can’t!”
River Bend’s education staff works with
kids nearly every day, but working with
the blind students has proven to be a very
rewarding challenge. Cassie and Justin
have taught the River Bend staff how
to “see” the natural world from a new
perspective, expanding the depths of the
staff’s understanding of the natural world
they teach others about each day.
(Top) Cassie’s mentor, Barb, assists her
with raking leaves for the very first time.
(Bottom) Justin spends some time feeding
and handling the blue-tongued skink.
Join the Restoration Club
Cheryl Culbreth, a restoration expert from the Landscape
Restoration, Inc. has teamed up with River Bend Nature Center
to launch a restoration club. Cheryl has a long background in
land management and has practiced many restoration techniques
throughout Minnesota. The club meets on the third Wednesday
of each month with the possibility of special work days on
weekends if desired. Members meet in the Interpretive Center
for a brief background on the targeted species of the day. Then
club members head out to learn about restoration techniques
10
and implement them at River Bend. The hope is that they will
take those skills that they have learned back to restore their
own property. Restoration topics include: buckthorn removal
techniques, protecting species of interest with wire caging, seed
collecting, battling new invasive species, identification techniques
by bark, leaf, and bud characteristics, using GPS’s to mark
important points, and more! If you are interested in joining the
restoration club, contact Kaytlan Moeller at [email protected].
River Bend Nature Center Newsletter
Winter 2015
The Volunteer Page
Thank you to the volunteers listed below for their hard work and dedication to River Bend! Our mission is at work in our
community because of you. September through November volunteers listed.
Office Volunteers
Delores Barta
Kathleen Holman
Kandie Mensing
Barb Rost
Joan Nordquist
Kiosk Box Builder
Jeff Kingland
Maintenance
David Lee
Faribault Flyers
Bike & Ski Club
Brett Word
Restoration Club
Cheryl Culbreth
Jake Langeslag
David Lee
Brett Word
Mark Zenter
Committees
Tom Boevers
LaVonne Brick
Gene Buhr
Greg/Sue Carlson
Lawrence Denny
Lynette Dickson
Anne Dienst
Kenn Dubbels
Tom Gagnon
Dave Green
Sandy Hagel
Penny Hillemann
Glenn Holman
Todd Markman
Catherine McBride
Nalani
McCutcheon
Jan Mitchell
Dan Rasmussen
Mike Sandberg
Mike Selly
George Smith
Deb White
Brett Word
Doug Zahn
Program Presenter
David Falkner
Bill Hein
Beth Kallestad
Dale Maul
Jan Mitchell
Richard Peterson
Chris Whillock
Penny Hillemann
Catherine McBride
Linda Olson
Steve Underdahl
Deb White
Volunteer
Naturalists
John Battles
Diana Hering
Glenn Holman
Jan Mitchell
Barb Rost
Julie Schiffer
Fred Stanley
Brett Word
Weekend
Volunteers
Janet/Eddie Lozon
Jan Mitchell
Joshua Torkelson
Wally/Char Wetzel
WOW Feeder
Fillers
Friendship House
Board of Directors
Matt Carlander
Greg Carlson
Rev. Eva Cavaleri
Lynette Dickson
Kurt Fischer
Dave Green
River Bend
Rangers
Jeff Anderson
Shelly Cole
Bob Kack
Mike Ross
Mike Sandberg
Dave Simon
Bats, Bones &
Bonfires
Chris/David Angell
Lynn Babcock
Delores/Terry
Barta
Madison Beytein
Cindy/Kenzie
Bockenstedt
Tom Boevers
Anna Brennan
Dawn/Phil/Seth/
Evan Brossard
Greg/Sue Carlson
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
A great way to support River Bend Nature Center is by volunteering. Our
volunteer opportunities provide a fulfilling and new experience. Our winter
volunteer opportunities include:
Gloria Carter
Rev. Eva Cavaleri
& Shattuck
Students
Cec DeGrood
Dusty/Anne Dienst
Kenn Dubbels
Myron/Ron Engle
Don/Judy Graunke
Cindy/Steve Gray
Sandy Hagel &
Family
Dave/Diana
Hering
Glenn/Kathleen
Holman
Leah Inman
Scott/Nevin
Kennedy
Eileen Kriechbaum
& BA Key Club
Rachel Kubal &
Scouts
Kim/Kent/Madi/
Alex/Ava Lea
Dave Lee
Eddie/Janet Lozon
Tim Madigan
Catherine McBride
Laura McCooley &
Scouts
Gail Mittelsteadt
Trent Moeller
Steve Morgan
Sarah Mueller &
Cannon River
STEM School
4th Graders
Bob Nesvold
John/Patti
Nowacki
James/Joshua/
Morgan Rist
Mike Sandberg
Eric Sandberg &
FHS STOPS
Students
Al/Jason Shuda
Marv Trandem
Julie/Ryan Van
Gundy
Deb White
Maxwell
Zimmerman
Newsletter Art
Moe Brand
Two of our talented zombie volunteers
who added lots of Halloween atmosphere
to the event (and even stayed in character
while their picture was taken).
WinterFest: Volunteers are needed for indoor and outdoor jobs during
our annual winter festival on January 25th from 1-4pm.
Weekend Volunteers: Interpretive Center volunteers will provide an
interpretive and educational experience to weekend visitors.
Maple Syruping: Maple syruping will take place in the early spring.
Volunteers are needed to drill taps, collect sap, and work the evaporator.
No experience is necessary and training will be provided. It’s a great way
to learn the basics of maple syruping! All ages are encouraged to help out
and learn a little bit more about this sweet springtime tradition!
Trail Grooming: If you enjoy using River Bend’s trails for skiing and are
looking for an opportunity to give back, help us out by grooming our
ski trails. Training will be provided.
To volunteer or for more information about any of these opportunities,
please contact us at 507.332.7151 or by email at [email protected].
Volume 35, Issue 4
www.rbnc.org
11
News & Notes
Tractor-drawn wagon rides through the prairie,
one of many popular Bats’ attractions.
Wagon Loads of Family Fun Had at
Bats, Bones & Bonfires
The evening couldn’t have been more
beautiful for our annual Bats, Bones,
and Bonfires on October 25th; the sun
was shining and it was near 70 degrees
as over 1,400 people joined for the
Halloween family festival. Crowds enjoyed
performances by St. Olaf College’s Taiko
drum club and by the NokturnalFyre fire
spinners. The biggest attractions of the night
were the tractor wagon rides, the inflatable
bouncy house, and the live animals.
Families enjoyed s’mores and hot chocolate
around the amphitheater campfire. River
Bend would like to extend a huge thank
you to everyone who attended the event
and our volunteers and donors for helping
us make this event possible! Special thanks
to event sponsor Frandsen Bank & Trust!
Staff Position Eliminated
River Bend Nature Center’s Board of
Directors together with Executive Director
Ben Van Gundy made the difficult
decision to eliminate a staff position in
late November. The position of Director
of Education which was held by Sarah
Shimek was no longer financially tenable
for the Nature Center and so the naturalist
staff was reduced from approximately two
and three-quarters full-time equivalent
positions to two full-time positions. Amber
Brossard and Kaytlan Moeller will share
education responsibilities as Education
Coordinators. River Bend thanks Sarah
Shimek for her two years of service to our
organization.
12
Children attending 2014’s WinterFest enjoyed
meeting the horses pulling the sleigh.
WinterFest Coming in January
Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean you
can’t have fun outside! On Sunday, January
25th from 1-4 PM, discover the fun that
nature provides in winter at our annual
WinterFest! Enjoy fun for all ages including
snow games, sleigh rides, sledding, nature
crafts, kicksled races, and live animal
shows. The St. Olaf College carolers will be
here gracing us with their beautiful voices.
If you get a little chilled, warm yourself
up with hot cocoa, apple cider, or make a
s’more by the fire. Food will also be available
for purchase from an outside vendor. Find
details at: rbnc.org/winterfest.
Early Release Days’ Science Club a
Hit with Young Explorers
For many years River Bend has offered
Science Club to Faribault Public
School’s first to fifth graders.
The program takes place on the
district’s monthly early release days
and incudes games, crafts, and a
snack all centered around a specific
science topic. It continues to be one
of the highlights for the students
as well as for the staff members.
Past topics have included: Kitchen
Chemistry, Night Owls, and Creepy
Crawlers. “This program is one
of my favorites,” says Education
Coordinator Amber Brossard. “It’s
great because we are able to get to
know the kids even more than with
our regular school programs.” The
next Science Club will take place in
March.
River Bend Nature Center Newsletter
River Bend staff enjoying the Ramble. Left
to right are: Bethany Dunn, Emily Pavlovic,
Hannah Champeau, and Amber Brossard.
33rd Annual River Bend Ramble A
Success!
The 250 attendees of the 33rd annual River
Bend Ramble didn’t quite know what to
think when, during the live auction a bluetongued skink was brought out (a skink
is a lizard about two-feet long). The item
being auctioned? The winner was to choose
a name for the skink. After fierce bidding
the skink was named “Jerry” after Jerry
Groskwietz our Ramble emcee. That was
just part of the fun that took place at this
year’s Ramble which raised over $26,000
for environmental/outdoor education
programs at River Bend Nature Center.
River Bend Nature Center would like to
thank all the auction donors, volunteers,
and attendees of this year’s Ramble. Special
thanks to this year’s sponsors: I+S Group,
Winter 2015
1st United Bank, KGP Logistics, and
Hy-Vee.
Don’t miss the fun at next year’s Ramble
which will take place September 19th,
2015!
Creciendo Juntos Connects Young
Spanish Speakers to Nature
October marks the finale to the 2014
year for Creciendo Juntos, a McKinley
Early Childhood Center class for young
Hispanic families which visits River
Bend a few times each season to learn
about the ecology of Minnesota. This
fall we had opportunities to explore
the sounds of nature and learn about
macro invertebrates with River Bend’s
Animal Ambassadors. River Bend
would like to thank McKinley Early
Childhood Center for helping to make
this year such a success and Jennie-O
Turkey Store for funding this unique
program. We look forward to working
with Creciendo Juntos again in 2015
as we tap for maple syrup, go on a
color scavenger hunt, and look at how
animals camouflage.
River Bend’s Give Big on Give to
the Max Day 2014
Give to the Max Day 2014 took place
on Thursday, November 13th and was
a big success at raising funds for River
Bend! Give to the Max Day is a statewide day of online giving to Minnesota
nonprofits and schools organized by
GiveMN, a nonprofit whose goal
is to expand giving in the state. For
twenty-four hours River Bend received
donations from more than 55 of its
supporters. The State Bank of Faribault
also donated a $5,000 matching grant
to help challenge our donors to new
giving heights. We were thrilled to be
able to claim the entire matching grant
and raise a total of just over $12,000!
Thank you to all our supporters for
their financial contributions, you make
River Bend happen!
Volume 35, Issue 4
There’s No Such Thing As
Bad Weather
Read about nature, phenology,
wildlife, weather, and more on
our blog!
rbnc.wordpress.com
Sugar Maple Saturday
Sugar Maple Saturday coming in March!
Come tap a maple tree, taste sap, see
the evaporator at work, learn the history
of maple syruping, and taste test our
fresh syrup!
Stay tuned to our website for date/time.
TRUE EXPERTISE + WORKING INGENUITY
At ISG, we believe our true expertise — coupled with our
ingenuity, creativity, and eagerness — truly set us apart.
We’re not just about getting the project done, and moving
on to the next. We’re about helping our clients succeed,
building environments that support sustainability and
fostering long lasting relationships that benefit our clients
now and into the future.
ARCHITECTURE
+
ENGINEERING
+
ENVIRONMENTAL
+
PLANNING
www.is-grp.com
River Bend Nature Center
Board of Directors
Staff
Officers
Ben Van Gundy, Executive Director
Amber Brossard, Education Coordinator
Kaytlan Moeller, Education Coordinator
Leslie Kennedy, Administrative Assistant
Jill Engle, Marketing & Communications
Coordinator
Bill Tussing, Facilities Assistant
Karen David, Receptionist
Greg Carlson, President
Catherine McBride, Vice President
Dave Green, Treasurer
Penelope Hillemann, Secretary
Directors
Matt Carlander
Rev. Eva Cavaleri
Lynette Dickson
Kurt Fischer
Linda Olson
Dustin Simpson
Steve Underdahl
Debra White
Seasonal Environmental Educators
Hannah Champeau
Bethany Dunn
Emily Pavlovic
Special thanks for newsletter editorial assistance to Sara Lindquist,
Allyn McColley, and Julie Trecartin.
All content © 2015 River Bend Nature Center unless otherwise noted.
www.rbnc.org
13
A Nature Preschool
A NEW NATURE PRESCHOOL
A
RIVER BEND NATURE CENTER
merican kids today spend 27 percent of
their time with electronic media such as
video games, television, computers, and
recorded music. There have been books written
about kids not spending enough time outdoors.
One of the best such books is Last Child In The
Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit
Disorder by Richard Louv. Concerned about this
“nature deficit disorder”, River Bend Nature
Center has decided to pursue the building of a
nature-based preschool.
Research has found that the most common
influence on lifelong conservation values is
frequent, unstructured childhood play in “wild”
settings be it a park, a farm’s “back forty,” or
just a vacant lot. This “nature play” has largely
vanished as a part of American childhood.
Nature-based preschools can facilitate similar,
daily play for their students, while also providing
excellent developmental experiences.
Nature preschools get their children out in
nature nearly every day. Each day, time is spent
in the healthy outdoors including explorations of
woods, prairies, wetlands, and along the stream
banks. It is expected that the nature preschool
will bring a steady revenue stream to the Nature
Center. Also, having young parents involved in
a child’s nature education at River Bend will
expand our membership and donor base and also
expand our core group of dedicated volunteers.
Because River Bend Nature Center currently
does not have suitable facilities for a nature
preschool, new construction will be needed.
Currently the idea is to add on about 4,500
square feet of space to the existing Interpretive
Center with two classrooms. It is estimated
that the cost of construction will be around
$1,500,000. Funds for the nature preschool will
come from foundations and individuals. A donor
has pledged $100,000 to get the project started,
and now we need your help. Please support our
efforts to add a nature preschool at River Bend
Nature Center by making a donation marked
“For the Nature Preschool” today!
Donate online at rbnc.org/donate.
ARCHITECTURE
14
+
ENGINEERING
+
ENVIRONMENTAL
+
PLANNING
www.is-grp.com
River Bend Nature Center Newsletter
Winter 2015
Naturalist Notebook
Illustrated by Moe Brand
Text by Emily Pavlovic, Seasonal Environmental Educator
White Cedar
Thuja occidentalis
Coniferous trees take the spotlight at River Bend in the
winter. White cedar, frequently referred to as arborvitae,
is a coniferous plant very commonly used for ornamental
purposes in the United States and Europe. It can be very
long-lived with an individual found in Ontario dating
at over 1650 years old. Its main range extends through
the eastern part of Canada and northeastern part of the
United States stretching down to Tennessee and the
Carolinas. Arborvitae grows in habitats with low tree
competition such as on cliffs or in coniferous swamps.
The leaves are small and scale-like, arranged opposite
in alternating pairs forming flattened branches that fan
out. Small glands dotted along the back of the leaves
release a fragrant aroma when crushed. The bark of
arborvitae is gray to reddish brown and shreds in long
vertical strips.
White cedar is monoecious meaning that it has both
male and female flowers on the same plant. Male flowers
located at the base of the shoot are yellowish; female
flowers are pinkish and arise at the tips of terminal
branches. The mature cones are oval, a pale cinnamon
color, and between 9-14 millimeters long.
White cedar has important medicinal, craft, and
construction uses in the Ojibwe culture. The tree is the
subject of many legends and is honored with the name
Nookomis Giizhik (Grandmother Cedar). The origin
of the name arborvitae, Latin for “tree of life”, dates
back to the 16th century when the French explorer
Jacques Cartier and his crew were treated for scurvy by
eating the vitamin C-rich tree foliage. Today it is used
as a homeopathic remedy to treat bronchitis, bacterial
skin infections, and other infections although the
effectiveness and safety of doing so are not confirmed.
Due to the wood’s light weight and resistance to decay it
is used extensively in outdoor settings such as fencing.
Deer and birds often use protective stands of cedar as
shelter during extremely harsh winters. When exploring
River Bend with kindergarteners we naturalists stop
outside the Interpretive Center to taste the “deer salad.”
In the winter, deer browse on the fragrant leaves. They
can only reach so high; thus creating the mushroom
shape of the four trees outside. Keep a look out this
winter for creatures taking advantage of this wonderful
tree and take some time to smell the highly fragrant
leaves.
Winter 2015
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Faribault, MN
Permit #35
River Bend
NATURE CENTER
Return Service Requested
PO Box 186
1000 Rustad Rd
Faribault, MN 55021
507.332.7151
www.rbnc.org
New & Returning Members
New members, welcome! Members who have been away, welcome back!
September to Early December Memberships
Brad Benoit
Ward/Ellen Bisping
Grace Brown
Michael Carpentier
Matthew Cavellier
David Connelly
Jenna Dahl
Travis/Hannah Davidson
Mary Katherine Deschamp
Family
Kris/Matt Drevlow
Heidi Erickson
Kelsey Finks
Sarah Foley
Ernie Fortner
Barbara J. Green
Tom/Annette Hickey
Richard Hillesheim
Alan/Debbie Hofmaster
David Hofmaster Family
Carrie Homuth
Erin/Dan Honken
Leah/Matt Inman
Stephanie Johnson
Valerie Kruse
Jeffrey Lorenzen
David Lovercheck/Jennifer
Keller
Jody Koch
Allyn McColley
Kasey McKenney
Andrea Miller
Bob/Holly Moullin
Bill/Janine Nelson Family
Adam/Kristin Nightingale
Brian Niner
Jason Olson
Sarah/Noel Pavlovic
Debra Randgaard
Aaron/Jen Rothmeyer
Jim/LeAnn Schneider
Clark Shirley
Jocelyn Simpfenderfer
Charlotte Smith
Sarah Stowell
John/Bobbi Sumner
James Taylor
Amber VanNingen
Ken Walls
Mary Lane Weaver
Marshall/Betsy Wright
SBF
Creating Customers for Life
STATE 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
River Bend Nature Center
Winter Program & Event Schedule 2015
January
January
3
27
Bagels & Birds
9:30-10:30am
Cost: Free
Join a naturalist in the comfort of the building to observe the
birds and other visitors to Windows on the Wild, the Nature
Center’s backyard habitat feeding area. Enjoy coffee and
bagels in a relaxed atmosphere while watching the antics of
wildlife at this free program.
Open to all ages.
7
Lifelong Learning: Get Active in Nature
1:00-3:00pm
Cost: $5 ($3 for members)
Get active in nature and beat the winter slump! Naturalist
Kaytlan will show you how to snowshoe and then we’ll head
out for snowshoeing at your own pace. If there is no snow, we
will take a hike instead! Dress warm and wear warm boots.
Open to seniors. Pre-registration is required by Jan. 6th.
14
Northfield O.W.L.S. (Older, Wiser, Livelier, Seniors)
10:30am-12:00pm
Cost: $12 ($10 for River Bend members)
Location: Northfield Senior Center, 1651 Jefferson Pkwy
O.W.L.S. now in Northfield, too!
Join us once a month for a nature presentation followed by a
catered meal. See ad on reverse for monthly topics.
Open to seniors. Pre-registration required by Jan. 9th. Need
not be a Northfield Senior Center member to attend.
21
O.W.L.S. (Older, Wiser, Livelier, Seniors)
21
Restoration Club
3:00-5:00pm
Cost: Free!
Join us once a month for a restoration work day. Every
month we will head out onto the River Bend property to
practice implementing restoration techniques such as bud ID,
buckthorn removal, trail repair, and more. The hope is that
you can learn from practicing at River Bend and take some
of these restoration techniques home to implement on your
property.
Open to adults. New members welcome anytime.
25
The Minnesota Master Naturalist program is one of the best
ways to familiarize yourself with the unique and exciting
aspects of the world around us. This program is directed at
adults that enjoy learning about the natural world, sharing
that knowledge with others, and supporting conservation.
Open to adults. Pre-register by January 13th at:
www.minnesotamasternaturalist.org/ or call Amber
Brossard at 507.332.7151.
27
Nature Book Club
7:00-8:00pm
Cost: Free
Gather once a month for a nature book club discussion. This
month’s book is Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. Last
Child in the Woods is the first book to bring together a new
and growing body of research indicating that direct exposure
to nature is essential for healthy childhood development and
for the physical and emotional health of children and adults.
Open to adults.
February
4
Lifelong Learning: Conquer Your Fears
1:00-3:00pm
Cost: $5 ($3 per member)
Do you fear snakes, spiders, and cockroaches? Then this is the
perfect class for you. Join the naturalists as they teach you
about these creatures and help you conquer your fears.
Open to seniors. Pre-registration preferred.
7
11
WinterFest
Bagels & Birds
9:30-10:30am
Cost: Free
See description on January 3rd.
Northfield O.W.L.S. (Older, Wiser, Livelier, Seniors)
10:30am-12:00pm
Cost: $12 ($10 for River Bend members)
Location: Northfield Senior Center, 1651 Jefferson Pkwy
1:00-4:00pm
Cost: $7 ($5 for members)
Come join us for a fun winter day filled with lots of activities
such as winter games, blizzard golfing, sleigh rides, s’mores,
hot chocolate, cross country ski and snowshoe clinics and
more!
Open to all ages. Cost cap for families: $25 ($20 for
members).
26
Tuesdays & Thursdays, Jan. 27th-Mar. 5th (& 2 Sats.)
3:30-6:00pm
Cost: $275
Learn all about the wonderful Big Woods Big Rivers biome
at River Bend Nature Center. The class will include hands-on
learning and lots of outdoor activities! All participants will be
involved with two Saturday field trips to explore even more
of Minnesota’s rivers and woods! Dress for the weather, we’ll
be going outside every class.
12:00-2:00pm
Cost: $12 ($10 per members)
Join us once a month for a catered meal and nature
presentation. See ad on reverse for monthly topics.
Open to seniors. Pre-registration required by Jan. 16th.
Big Woods, Big Rivers Master Naturalist Class
O.W.L.S. now in Northfield, too!
Join us once a month for a nature presentation followed by a
catered meal. See ad on reverse for monthly topics.
Open to seniors. Pre-registration required by Feb. 6th.
Need not be a Northfield Senior Center member to attend.
13
Homeschool: Winter Animal Tracking
3:00-4:30pm
Cost: $7.50
Participants will learn to read a variety of signs animals leave
as they go about their daily activities. Participants can also
become nature detectives to find out whose track it is and
what the animal was doing there. Dress warm and wear warm
boots.
Open to homeschoolers in grades K-6.
Pre-Registration Information
Snow Day!
12:00-5:00pm
Cost: $25 ($20 for members)
It’s a no-school day! Join our naturalists to learn about snow,
how it forms, and snowflakes’ unique qualities while playing
fun outdoor games. Then we’ll learn about birds and make
our own bird feeders. The afternoon will include snowshoeing
and kicksledding, too. Bring your own lunch, snacks and warm
beverages will be provided.
Open to ages 8-12. Pre-registration required by Feb. 9th.
1314
Valentine’s Day Youth Lock-in
Friday at 6:00pm to Saturday at 10:00am
Cost: $25 ($20 for members)
To pre-register for our programs you have four
options, choose what works best for you.
Call us
507.332.7151
Go online
shop.rbnc.org
Email us
[email protected]
Or stop in to see us
1000 Rustad Rd, Faribault
Open to ages 8-12. Pre-registration required by Feb. 11th.
Sign up for the Lock-in and Snow Day! for a $10 discount.
River Bend Nature Center
Winter Program & Event Schedule 2015
March
February
18
O.W.L.S. (Older, Wiser, Livelier, Seniors)
12:00-2:00pm
Cost: $12 ($10 for members)
Join us once a month for a catered meal and nature
presentation. See ad below for monthly topics.
Open to seniors. Pre-registration required by Feb. 13th.
18
Restoration Club
3:00-5:00pm
Cost: Free!
Join us once a month for a land restoration work day. Every
month we will head out onto the River Bend property to
practice implementing restoration techniques such as bud ID,
buckthorn removal, trail repair, and more. The hope is that
you can learn from practicing at River Bend and take some
of these restoration techniques home to implement on your
property.
Open to adults. New members welcome anytime.
22
Antlers & Aging
2:00-4:00pm
Cost: $10 ($8 for members)
Learn about antlers and horns and some tips for finding shed
antlers. We will head outside to look for sheds that have been
hidden throughout the property. We will also learn techniques
for determining the age of deer.
Open to ages 12 & up. Pre-registration required by Feb. 20th.
23
Homeschool - Winter Fun: Snowshoes & Kicksleds
3:00-4:30pm
Cost: $7.50
During this class, participants will explore nature in the
winter using snowshoes and kicksleds to traverse the winter
landscape. Participants will also learn about the fascinating
origins of and types of snowshoes, and how useful a kicksled
can be.
Open to homeschoolers in grades K-6.
24
Nature Book Club
7:00-8:00pm
Cost: Free
Join us once a month for a nature book club and discussion.
This month’s book is to be determined, see our website.
Open to adults.
O.W.L.S.
Older, Wiser, Livelier, Seniors
Now in two locations: River Bend Nature Center
and Northfield Senior Center!
Upcoming O.W.L.S. Programs & Speaker
January 14th (Nfld) & January 21st (Fbo)
Dave Angell, Wildlife Photographer
Dave Angell a wildlife photographer from Faribault will join us
to share his amazing photographic talents. After his retirement
from teaching high school biology, Dave turned his long-time
passion for photography into his second career.
February 11th (Nfld) & February 18th (Fbo)
Margot Monson, Entemologist
Margot Monson will join us for a presentation about pollinators
and beekeeping. She’ll talk about the impact of climate
change and habitat modification and destruction on honey
bees, monarchs, and on the less well known native insect
pollinators.
March 11th (Nfld)
Beth Kallestad, Cannon River Watershed Partnership
Beth Kallested will present on the history of the Cannon River
and its watershed.
March 18th (Fbo)
Nancy Braker, Carleton College Arboretum
Nancy Braker will discuss the unique features and functions of
“the Arb” and what it is like to manage it.
4
Lifelong Learning: Vermicomposting
1:00-3:00pm
Cost: $30 ($28 for members)
Join our naturalists for a look at vermicomposting, or using
worms to convert your food waste into excellent gardening soil.
We’ll learn about creating and maintaining a vermicomposting
system. Then you’ll construct a compost bin to house the
starter colony of worms you’ll take home with you!
Open to adults. Pre-registration required by Feb. 18th.
7
Bagels & Birds
9:30-10:30am
Cost: Free!
Join a naturalist in the comfort of the building to observe the
birds and other visitors to Windows on the Wild, the Nature
Center’s backyard habitat feeding area. Enjoy coffee and
bagels in a relaxed atmosphere while watching the antics of
wildlife at this free program.
Open to all ages.
11
Northfield O.W.L.S. (Older, Wiser, Livelier, Seniors)
10:30am-12:00pm
Cost: $12 ($10 for River Bend members)
Location: Northfield Senior Center, 1651 Jefferson Pkwy
O.W.L.S. now in Northfield, too!
Join us once a month for a nature presentation followed by a
catered meal. See ad on this page for monthly topics.
Open to seniors. Pre-registration required by Jan. 9th.
Need not be a Northfield Senior Center member to attend.
12
Nature Trivia Bee
7:00pm
Cost: TBA
Come join the staff at River Bend for a night of nature trivia!
Join a team or just come to watch. There will be multiple
rounds of nature trivia questions to decide which team gets
the title of “Nature Trivia Champions”! Details will be posted
on our website.
18
O.W.L.S. (Older, Wiser, Livelier, Seniors)
12:00-2:00pm
Cost: $12 ($10 for members)
Join us once a month for a catered meal and nature
presentation. See ad on this page for monthly topics.
Open to seniors. Pre-registration required by Mar. 13th.
18
23
Restoration Club
3:00-5:00pm
Cost: Free
See description on February 18th.
Prairies & Potholes: Minnesota’s Forgotten Lands
7:00-8:00pm
Cost: $5 ($3 for members)
Minnesota has lost 99% of it’s native prairies and with it,
much of it’s wetlands as well. This presentation is about the
wildlife that we have left and a glimpse into what could have
been in Minnesota’s prairies.
Open to all ages. Pre-registration required.
24
Nature Book Club
30
Homeschool: Maple Sugaring
7:00-8:00pm
Cost: Free
See description on February 24th.
3:00-4:30pm
Cost: $7.50
Follow the process of making maple syrup from tapping a tree
to boiling it down into syrup. Participants will use special
equipment to measure sugar content of raw sap, try their
hand at pioneer games, and explore historic artifacts from
early Native Americans and pioneers.
Open to homeschoolers in grades K-6.
Programs are subject to change. Please check
our web site for complete details and updates.
www.rbnc.org