Riverbend Environmental Education Center
Nature Connect
50th Anniversary Edition
Letter From Riverbend’s Leadership
Dear Friends,
2024 marked Riverbend Environmental Education Center’s 50th anniversary—and what a year it was.
Together, we honored five decades of connecting people to nature, while planting the seeds for the next fifty years. We welcomed thousands of families to our trails and weekend events. We taught 11,000 children—half of them from low-income schools—through hands-on, outdoor exploration. We brought back our Head Start program for Philadelphia preschoolers, and threw open our Barn doors daily to excited field trippers.
This kind of impact doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because of you.
It also happens because Riverbend remains rooted in values that transcend politics, and bring people together. We are educators, scientists, and parents. We believe in healthy forests, in children exploring the stream, and in clean air and water for everyone. That’s our agenda.
As we look ahead, we are planning for a bold renovation to our beloved barn and program expansion to meet schools’ urgent demand for more nature education.
We’ll need your voice. Your support. And your belief in caring for the Earth our children will inherit.
Thank you for walking this trail with us—for fifty years and counting.
With gratitude,
Erin Reilly & Bryan Franey
Executive Director & Board Chairperson
Celebrating 50 Years of Environmental Education
For 50 years, Riverbend Environmental Education Center has connected people to nature through outdoor learning and community events.
Riverbend Touches Thousands of Lives
Riverbend has reached over 100,000 students and families over 50 years. Research-based environmental education programs like Riverbend on the Road and Summer Camp and signature programs like Farm to Table and Shiverfest celebrate Riverbend’s mission while engaging generations of families and supporters.
Five Decades of Impact
The road to Riverbend has been paved by generations of caretakers, visionaries, and nature lovers who believed in the power of environmental education. From the founding of our 501(c)(3) nonprofit to the launch of our first summer camp to rebuilding after the COVID-19 pandemic, each milestone represents a step forward in our mission to connect people with nature.
The Road to Riverbend
December 1974 Our journey begins when 26 acres are set aside as Riverbend Refuge by the Wood Family. All we needed was a vision and our soon-to-be acquired nonprofit status.
September 1975 The start of something great: our first programs which grew into an award-winning education department.
December 1980 Our iconic Barn, constructed in 1923 to house cows and horses, gets a renovation adding an indoor classroom.
July 1982 Our very first Riverbend Rangers summer camp, marking the beginning of a beloved Gladwyne summer tradition.
1986 Riverbend becomes a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators (PAEE). This community connects us with environmental educators and resources across the state.
Fall 1988 Our very first Haunted Trails event kicked off a beloved tradition of celebrating fall and all things spooky.
1989 The Read Pond is finished! Today, the Upper Frog Pond is a favorite hangout for field trip students, summer campers, and community members.
1990 Our first Garden Party Gala Fundraiser. The start of what would become a cherished spring tradition—celebrating our mission and raising funds to connect kids with nature.
1993 The outdoor classroom, a beloved gathering place for learning at the preserve, was built.
1998 Our community came together to update the barn by adding the Loft and Overlook Room, boosting our hands-on environmental programs and inspiring even more learners.
2006 Laurie Bachman joins us as Executive Director, spearheading 15 years of growth and increasing financial stability.
October 2008 Our very first Shiverfest! What began as Haunted Trails and Fall Frolic, has grown into Shiverfest— our biggest fall fundraiser, helping us connect thousands of children with nature.
Spring 2014 Our first Farm to Table fundraiser brought the community together with local chefs on Riverbend's preserve, celebrating the vital role of our food systems.
2015 The opening of our Aquaponics Greenhouse revolutionized Riverbend’s educational programming, unlocking new opportunities to engage and inspire a broader community.
2017 The Community of Practice Program was established as a year-long training for K-8 teachers, focusing on pedagogy and nature topics, and culminating in a student-led action project.
2018 The Nick and Dee Adams Pavillion opens.
March 2020 Riverbend navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, pausing school programs for two years while steadfastly keeping summer camp running smoothly.
2021 Erin Reilly joins as Executive Director, leading the organization to 900% growth in the number of students served over two years as Riverbend rapidly reopens programs post-pandemic.
2022 Building on our commitment to low-income students since 2006, Riverbend's Board formally adopts a plan to ensure 40% of program hours go to Title 1 students, for free.
2023 Riverbend completes renovations to the 150-year old Farmhouse, named in honor of Laurie Bachman.
Spring 2024 Our 50th Anniversary Farm to Table was a feast for the senses and the soul. We celebrated 50 years of nature, community, and impact. Montgomery County issues a proclamation citing Riverbend's contributions to the county over five decades.
2025 We completed an architectural study to dream big about the Barn and preserve, laying the groundwork for the next bold chapter of environmental education.
Riverbend's Impact
Beyond our 30-acre preserve, Riverbend's reach extends in a 30 mile radius, teaching children across the greater Philadelphia region.
43 Years of Making Memories at Summer Camp
“My husband and I were always delighted when we picked [our son] up from Riverbend - he was so wonderfully tired and muddy, often covered in bug bites!! He would often tell us that the kids had been wading in the creek, looking for magic rocks. The camp had been sending the kids to clean up the debris from the creek. Genius!”
- Janis, 2010 Camp Parent
50 Years of Supporting Local Schools
“My students became scientists. Everything was a teachable moment for the kids. Just to see them really learn, because they owned it, this is what they’ll remember from the year.”
- Maria, 4th Grade Teacher
50 Years of Free Play in Nature
"I cannot stress enough how many kids had NEVER been into a body of water other than a pool or ocean. The "THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE" reverberated through the halls when we got home. The experience will leave a positive mark - doing unstructured-ish activity in nature with few holds barred is exactly what this screen-obsessed generation needs to have better mental health now and down the road. THANK YOU!"
- Manavon, Field Trip Teacher
50 Years of Training Nature Conservationists
"While interning at Riverbend, I acquired numerous important skills for my career and also just everyday life. I learned how to work in different outdoor conditions, how to identify common invasive species, how to identify native species, and how to use different tools as well. The work was extremely rewarding and I am so lucky to have been a part of it. I can now take all the knowledge I have and use it in my future careers in habitat restoration and conservation."
- Donna, Habitat Intern
50 Years of Budding Scientists
"Thank you, Riverbend. I like to be a scientist with you.”
- Jamari, 1st Grader
50 Years of Inquiry-Based STEM Education
"Our students had an incredible time at the center. The quote of the day, from one of our students '#bestdayever'."
- Monica, Field Trip Teacher
50 Years of Sparking Joy
“This is the best place ever because we see bugs and creatures. I feel super happy.”
- Avana, Age 6
50 Years of Award-Winning Environmental Education
Riverbend’s programs have been recognized with the following awards:
2017 Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for the “Building STEM Skills through Aquaponics Program”
2020 Governor’s Award for our nature-based STEM program serving students in Norristown, Bridgeport, and Conshohocken
2022 Lower Merion Go for the Green Award
2024 Main Line Parent 2024 Family Favorite for Nature Educators
2024 Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators “MWEE Partner of Excellence” Award
50 Years of Memorable Community Events
For five decades, Riverbend has brought people together through nature-filled events that celebrate our mission and community spirit. These gatherings have created lasting memories while supporting environmental education. Here’s a look back at some of the many moments of fun that have helped shape Riverbend’s story.
Honoring the Original Caretakers of our Land
As we celebrate half a century of connecting people with nature, we honor that Riverbend is located within Lenapehoking—the unceded ancestral homelands of the Lenape people. We are inspired by the Lenape tradition of stewardship, which teaches that all life is interconnected and deserving of care and respect.
The Preserve at Gladwyne Today
Our 30-acre preserve has long served as a living classroom where generations of summer campers, teen volunteers, Habitat Interns, school groups, and families have come to learn, explore, and grow. Together with dedicated volunteers, we’ve worked to restore native habitats, plant trees, and protect our local watershed—efforts that not only support wildlife but also reduce runoff into the Schuylkill River and help combat climate change.
50th Anniversary Propels Future Growth
Looking back on the last five decades, it's evident that our Riverbend supporters powered environmental literacy for thousands of children and families.
Now we’re setting our sights firmly on the future
We're investing in the next generation of conservationists by enhancing our preserve, expanding access through scholarships, and building the region's biggest, best-trained team of environmental educators. With every step forward, we’re reimagining what environmental education looks like for the next 50 years and beyond.
Thank You to Our Community!
We can't do it without the incredible support of our community. Your generosity, time, and passion make it possible for Riverbend to connect people with nature, inspire future environmental stewards, and protect our precious green spaces. Together, we are building a more sustainable future.
Riverbend's Current Board of Directors:
Decades of Loyal Corporate Support
Riverbend’s success has been built on the steadfast support of our governmental and corporate partners. Organizations like WSFS, AQUA, ASTM, and PECO have stood alongside us for over 30 years. The commitment of the longtime partners below has provided vital resources to inspire young learners, protect green spaces, and nurture a love of nature. We are deeply grateful for their partnership and proud to recognize the role they continue to play in shaping Riverbend’s future.
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