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Riverbend Park Birthday Parties

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Riverbend Park wants to help you celebrate your special day! If you are interested in partying at the park, please review the following guidelines and then submit an online form to request a party date.

Important Information:

Parties run for a duration of 3 hours:
- 30 minutes to set up prior to the party
- 1 hour and 30 minutes of a naturalist-led program
- 30 minutes for your own activities including food, cake and presents
- 30 minutes to clean up after the party. You must be all cleaned up and out of the building at your designated end time.
Parties are responsible for providing your own food, drinks and decorations.
Parties are responsible for all set-up and clean-up, including bagging trash and returning furniture to its original place.
There should be a ratio of one adult to every five children at minimum for all parts of the party including indoor and outdoor time.
Payment is required in-full with the submission of the signed contract. Accepted forms of payment include VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, cash or check. Please call the Visitor Center front desk at 703-759-9018 (open Wed-Sun 12-5 p.m.) to pay over the phone.
Payment, contracts and any required forms are due AT LEAST THREE WEEKS PRIOR to the party date, otherwise the requested time slot will be forfeited.
Refunds: For cancellations made at least three weeks before the party date, a full refund will be issued minus a $25 processing fee. No refunds will be issued within three weeks of the party date. Full refunds are given due to inclement weather.
NOTE: We currently do not offer birthday parties from June through mid-August. This is our summer camp season and our staff will not be available to lead birthday parties. Thank you for your understanding.

Ages 3 and older
Cost: $250
Maximum: 20 children

Please choose from the following subtopics:

Insect Safari – Who has six legs, two antennae and wings? Insects of course! Let’s go on a hike to the meadow where we will roll logs and see who is pollinating the flowers. Meet a hissing cockroach at the end! Depending on age, other activities may include: reading books, bug bingo, freeze dance, butterfly painting or relay races.
Reptile Rangers – Meet our resident reptiles, pet their scaly skin and watch them eat live prey! Depending on age, other activities may include: reading a book, reptile bingo, snake or turtle crafts and digging for turtle eggs.
Dino Digs – Travel back to the Jurassic Age and become a junior paleontologist! Dig for dinosaur bones in the sandbox, craft clay fossils and meet a dino relative. Depending on age, other activities may include: reading books, playing dino-themed games and going on a prehistoric trail walk.
Creek Critters – Get your waders on and explore a nearby wetland where you will dip-net for tadpoles, crayfish and other wiggly water bugs. Depending on age, other activities may include: reading a book about pond life, playing musical lily pads, magnet fishing or making frog-themed crafts.

Ages 6 and older
Cost: $260
Maximum: 20 children

NOTE: These programs can be held at any time of the day but we recommend after 5 p.m.

Please choose from the following subtopics:

Games after Dark – Just because the sun goes down doesn’t mean you need to stop playing! Get your friends together and come play glow-in-the-dark lawn games, capture the flag or flashlight tag and compete for prizes in a blacklight scavenger hunt. End the night with s’mores around the campfire.
Space Exploration – Peer through the telescope and see the night sky up close! Play space games, make starry crafts, launch a rocket and end the night with s’mores and constellation stories around the campfire.
Nocturnal Animals - Hooo hoooo's out in these woods after dark? Learn about what animals have adapted to come out at night and touch real pelts and skulls. Enjoy a scavenger hunt to look for animals hidden in the woods and call for owls! End the night with s’mores and stories around the campfire.
Mock Camping – Enjoy the experience of camping with your friends and family without the hassle of planning an overnight trip. Learn to put up a tent or hammock, how to safely build a fire and how to navigate using a compass. End the night in your sleeping bag with s’mores and stories around the campfire. Bring some food to cook over the fire!

Ages 6 and older
Cost: $270
Maximum: 20 children

Please choose from the following subtopics:

Science for Wizards - Grab your magic wand and cast some spells at this Harry Potter themed party. Explore science through the lens of the wizarding world. Make potions, take an enchanted forest walk and meet one of our animal ambassadors!
Kitchen Chemistry - Put on your apron on and let’s whip up some edible experiments using ingredients found in your own kitchen! Learn about melting and freezing points as you make your own ice cream, craft a rainbow layered lemonade using the properties of density and explore non-Newtonian fluids by forming your very own edible birthday cake playdough!
Art in the Park - Discover the shapes, colors, textures and patterns hidden in the natural world through scientific exploration. Paint with natural dyes, sculpt with clay and use natural materials to make artful masterpieces!
Escape the Nature Center – In this adapted version of the very popular Escape Room games, race against the clock to solve puzzles and unlock secret codes to help our turtle Tortuga complete her mission to save the trapped animals! This is a fast-paced, exciting, critical-thinking adventure your friends are sure to love.

Ages 8 and older
Cost: $275
Maximum: 20 children (10 max for paddling)

NOTE: Kayaking participants must sign a waiver and be accompanied by a parent/guardian

Please choose from the following subtopics:

Fishing Fun - Go fishing with an avid angler on the Potomac River. Use different baits and lures to target fish such as sunfish, smallmouth and channel catfish from shore. Play games such as the casting competition and fish measurement games to learn angling skills and learn sustainable fishing practices.
Paddle the Potomac – Ready to explore the Upper Potomac by boat? Paddle to Beal Island and the rock garden with your friends and family. Go dip netting to discover aquatic life down below. Price of program includes boat rentals. Must fill out and return waivers in order to participate. Availability is limited due to weather constraints and conflicts with weekend boating programs. Please reach out at least two months in advance to schedule.
Ready, Aim, Archery! - It’s time for target practice! Learn to shoot a bow and arrow with our expert archer. Understand how archery was traditionally used as a means of gathering food and how bows and arrows have changed over time. Hone your skills and learn to aim with accuracy with fun games like pop the balloon!
Survival Skills – Do you have what it takes to survive the wilderness? Learn how to start a primitive fire, filter water, forage responsibly and sustainably, and make a lean-to shelter from items in the park!

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