River Bend Nature Center

River Bend Nature Center Environmental Education and Outdoor Recreation Trails open from dawn until dusk year-round. Office hours 8 AM - 4 PM Monday - Friday.

Rental Times: Monday – Friday, from 8am to 4pm / Saturday & Sunday, 9am to 5pm. Boat rentals are from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday and 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday and Sunday, May through October. Rental equipment must be returned to the office before closing time. Seasonal Rates: $20 / members, $25 / non-members + tax per boat. Most kayaks seat one person; tandem kayaks available as we

ll, and canoes will seat three adults or two adults with two small children. Life Jackets and paddles are provided at the time of rental. All rentals are weather permitting and are on a first come, first served basis. Snowshoe, Cross Country Ski, and Kicksled rentals in winter when enough snow is on the ground. Prices:

Cross Country Ski Rentals: $15 per session + tax
Snowshoes: $12 per session + tax
Kicksleds $15 per hour + tax per sled
Cross Country Ski equipment includes skis, poles and boots. All rentals are weather permitting and are on a first come, first served basis, and all equipment must remain on River Bend property. Members receive a $2 discount. Become a member by visiting https://riverbendracine.org/about/membership/

Facilities rental available for meetings and events - please call or email for rates. Cash, checks, and credit cards accepted.

08/26/2026

PRESS RELEASE
Saturday, September 5, 2026
9:00am – 11:00am
Open to the public, reservations required

River Bend Nature Center
Guided Forest Therapy

River Bend Nature Center invites you to step into the quiet wisdom of the land for a restorative morning of forest therapy.

You will be guided by Pam Whyte of Cedar & Stone Forest Therapy through a gentle, sensory-based experience designed to help you slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with the natural world.

This is not a hike. There is no destination to reach, no pace to keep.

Instead, through a series of simple invitations, you’ll be encouraged to:
● Notice the textures, sounds, and rhythms of the forest
● Experience nature through your senses
● Set down the weight of daily life, even if just for a moment

The walk is slow, accessible, and welcoming to all, with plenty of time to pause, reflect, and simply be.

This special event is more than a personal wellness experience; it is also a fundraiser supporting Riverbend Nature Center.

Guests often leave feeling:
● Grounded and calm
● More connected to nature and themselves
● Reminded that they are part of something larger
…And perhaps… with a quieter mind and a softer way of moving through the world

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. $20 per participant
Group size is limited. Ages 18+

River Bend Nature Center exists to provide environmental education and outdoor recreation for the children, families and adults of Racine and southeastern Wisconsin.
For more information about River Bend Nature Center and its programs, please visit www.RiverBendRacine.org, or contact us at 262-639-1515.

08/25/2026

PRESS RELEASE
River Bend Nature Center
RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED

Balance & Flexibility on the Trails
River Bend Nature Center will host a series of sessions in partnership with Neuro Advantage Rehabilitation. Each session offers inclusive, outdoor experiences led by occupational therapists. Participants will pause at designated spots for gentle stretching, balance and strengthening exercises all designed to promote mobility, flexibility, and overall wellness in a natural setting. Held in River Bend’s forest, each small-group program blends rehabilitation-based strategies with the restorative benefits of nature to promote physical and emotional well-being for adults of all abilities.

There is growing demand for accessible, community-based wellness opportunities that support older adults and individuals with balance or mobility challenges in maintaining active, healthy lifestyles. While many recognize the physical and emotional benefits of outdoor activity, barriers such as mobility limitations, balance concerns, lack of adaptive equipment, and limited program accessibility often prevent participation. As a result, many individuals who could benefit most from time in nature – particularly those managing age-related changes, neurological conditions, or mobility impairments – are excluded from participation. This partnership between Neuro Advantage and River Bend seeks to fill this gap by combining clinical expertise in adaptive wellness with access to nature. Participants may choose one or more classes. To preserve small group sizes, RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED - [email protected] or 262-639-1515

Move & Restore on the Trails
Join the therapists of Neuro Advantage for a guided hike through the trails of River Bend. Along the way, participants will pause for gentle stretching, balance and strengthening exercises designed to promote mobility, flexibility and overall wellness in nature. Suggested donation of $10 per session.
10:30-11:30am - Tuesdays in September (Sept 1, 8, 15, 22, 29)

Forest Focus & Flexibility
Seated stretching, focusing on breathing, posture and stretching to improve flexibility, balance and relaxation. Suggested donation of $10
9:30–10:15am - October 13

Assisted Nature Walk
Experience the beauty of the outdoors in guided hikes led by a River Bend naturalist, with support from the therapists at Neuro Advantage Rehabilitation for participants with limited mobility or balance challenges. Suggested donation of $10
10:30-11:30am – October 13

Neuro Advantage Rehabilitation, located in Mount Pleasant, is an outpatient therapy clinic dedicated to improving mobility, independence, and quality of life for individuals with neurologic and physical conditions. Our team of therapists is passionate about helping people of all ability levels stay active and engaged in their communities.

River Bend Nature Center exists to provide environmental education and outdoor recreation for the children, families and adults of Racine and southeastern Wisconsin. For more information about River Bend Nature Center and its programs, please visit www.RiverBendRacine.org, or contact us at 262-639-1515.

08/24/2026

Summer isn't over yet - and the Root River is still waiting for you.

There's plenty of season left to make the most of, and River Bend Nature Center has the canoes and kayaks to help you do it. Grab a boat, glide out onto the water, and soak up those long, warm afternoons while they last.

Rentals are first come, first served - $20 for members, $25 for non-members, for up to three hours on the water. Kayaks seat one, canoes fit two adults (or two adults and two small children), and life jackets and paddles are provided. Rental hours run 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays and 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekends.

Don't let these last weeks of summer slip by. The water's right here, ten minutes from downtown Racine.

We're proud to support River Bend Nature Center and the outdoor adventures it makes possible for all of us.

Beginning ArcheryArchers will learn bow and arrow anatomy as well as the basic skills needed to shoot archery in a safe ...
08/22/2026

Beginning Archery

Archers will learn bow and arrow anatomy as well as the basic skills needed to shoot archery in a safe and controlled environment! Participants will enjoy competing against others to shoot a variety of target centers such as mosquitoes, ticks, and more! Archers must be at least 7 years old to participate and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. All equipment is provided.

Wednesday, August 26, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm (Outdoor)
Wednesday, September 23, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm (indoor)
Wednesday, October 28, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm (Adult Only, indoor)
Wednesday, November 18, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm (indoor)
Wednesday, December 16, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm (indoor)

Cost Per Class: $15.00. Registration is required; space is limited.

For more information or to reserve your space, please call 262-639-1515 or email [email protected]

08/19/2026

PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, September 3rd, 2026
7:00 pm – 8:30pm
Free and open to the public

Is Invasive Buckthorn Making the Frogs “Croak”?

The Hoy Audubon Society of Kenosha and Racine will host a presentation about invasive Buckthorn in southeastern Wisconsin. The presentation will take place at River Bend Nature Center.

Learn about the effects of the non-native/invasive buckthorn and others on native flora and fauna, and on invasive plant management and restoration efforts. Buckthorn releases an allelopathic chemical called emodin that is significantly toxic to developing amphibians.

Guest speaker Jake Mikic is a restoration ecologist from southeast Wisconsin, helping to remove invasive species and restore native plant communities. He has helped to change building codes to prevent migratory bird deaths via window collisions at UW-Milwaukee and assisted in the discovery of a new, blue protein produced by walleye. Currently he is working as an entomologist with SC Johnson’s Healthier World initiative to combat malaria and other mosquito-borne illnesses in the Global South.

The Hoy Audubon Society of Kenosha and Racine has a mission to initiate, encourage, coordinate, stimulate, and assist civic and community organizations, business, professional and educational interests and appropriate units of government in the study and appreciation of ornithology; to preserve and protect wildlife habitats; to support all reasonable programs of air and water pollution abatement and control; to support the principles of conservation of natural resources at local, state and national levels; to encourage and enlist the active cooperation of all citizens in the Racine and Kenosha County areas in support of these aims.

River Bend Nature Center exists to provide environmental education and outdoor recreation for children, families and adults. For more information about River Bend Nature Center and its programs, please visit www.RiverBendRacine.org, or contact us at 262-639-1515.

Free and Open to the public.Seated stretching and mindfullness led by therapists from Neuro Advantage Rehabilitation. T...
08/19/2026

Free and Open to the public.

Seated stretching and mindfullness led by therapists from Neuro Advantage Rehabilitation. These sessions will focus on breathing, posture, and gentle stretching to improve flexibility, balance, and relaxation.

Experience the restorative benefits of yoga enhanced by the power of nature.

Suggested donation of $10/person.

Please RSVP to 262-639-1515 or [email protected]

Address

3600 N Green Bay Road
Racine, WI
53404

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

(262) 639-1515

Website

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