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River Legacy Named Chamber of Commerce 2018 Nonprofit of the Year Award!

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River Legacy Foundation is thrilled to be named as one of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Nonprofit Organization’s of the year! River Legacy shares the nonprofit award with the Arlington Sunrise Rotary Club and is also in esteemed company with the Small Business Award Winners of Sugar Bee Sweets; 3Di Sign & Design and Arlington Today magazine.

River Legacy is honored to receive this award and to be recognized for connecting children, families and students to nature. Of course, we share this award with the hundreds of donors and volunteers who give us their gifts of time, talent and money. We could not do what we do without them.

Read the press release  to learn more about the Arlington Chamber’s Small Business of the Year Award recipients!

Thank you to the Arlington Chamber and River Legacy’s network of donors and volunteers for your support!

River Legacy Discovery Room is NOW OPEN!

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Thanks to the generosity of our donors, supporters and community, the Transformation of River Legacy Living Science Center’s Exhibit Hall is now complete!

Come visit the NEW River Legacy Discovery Room to experience the amazing transformation. Admission to the Discovery Room is $3 for children (ages 3 to 12); $5 for adults (ages 13 to 59); and $4 for seniors (60 +). The Science Center’s atrium with its activity tables, exploration stations and terrariums and the surrounding nature trails will still be accessible to the community at no cost. The Science Center will also continue to offer FREE family programs on Saturdays and FREE family festivals. Access to the Discovery Room will be free during those festivals: Great Backyard Bird Count on Feb. 17; Earth Day on April 14; and W.A.T.E.R. Festival on September 8.

The Discovery Room features two large aquariums, all new engaging exhibits and a 30 foot interactive screen where guests can virtually immerse themselves in woodland habitats and seasons, learn fun facts about wildlife and play a variety of games – competing to be the top lizard in a push-up challenge; jumping as high as frog to catch dinner; or posing for a woodpecker selfie and MORE! The environmental stewardship area of the Discovery Room will inspire guests to take action to keep our waters clean, pick up litter and recycle.

A collapsible wall featuring vibrant graphics closes in our learning labs providing secure and private access for our field investigations and classes, but can be opened to expand the exhibit area when not in use. This new space allows more opportunities to host meetings, weddings and traveling exhibits.

The interactive wall was designed by 900 lbs of Creative, whose design credits include The Perot Museum and the Dallas Cowboys. The exhibits were created by Split Rock Studios in Minneapolis, who have designed exhibits for nature centers across the country.

To sustain and maintain the integrity of the new exhibits, River Legacy Living Science Center is launching an annual membership benefits plan that will allow guests unlimited access to the Discovery Room, as well as other perks, such as guest passes, private events and free tickets to special events. Click here to learn more about the membership benefit levels that best suit your family’s needs.

River Legacy Foundation would especially like to thank our major donors and partners: The Arlington Tomorrow Foundation; the Gene & Jerry Jones Arlington Youth Foundation; Baylor Orthopedic and Spine Hospital at Arlington; ACP International; the Sid W. Richardson Foundation; the Ann L. and Carol Green Rhodes Charitable Trust; The Meadows Foundation; Amon G. Carter Foundation; Sedalco Construction Services; Quorum Architects Inc,; Republic Waste Services; Arlington Water Utilities Department; Becky and David Moritz; anonymous donors; individuals and the River Legacy Foundation Board of Directors for helping to make this $2.5 million renovation a reality.

River Legacy Living Science Center and the NEW Discovery Room are open 9 am to 5 pm Mondays through Saturdays. Discovery Room admission and annual membership benefit plans can be purchased inside the Science Center’s Acorns Gift Shop. For more information on the Center, Discovery Room or educational programs, visit our Web site or call 817.860.6752.

River Legacy Discovery Room
Open 9 am to 5 pm Mondays through Saturdays
Last admission sold at 4:30 pm
$5 for adults (13 to 59)
$3 for children (3 to 12; free for children 2 and under)*
$4 for seniors (60 +)
* All children must be accompanied by a paying adult

 

 

 

 

Seasons of Growth and Change!

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Dear Friends of River Legacy,
Growth and Change. Because of you, 2017 has been a year of great growth and change at River Legacy.
As simple as an armadillo rooting through the leaf litter. As rewarding as a trip down a new trail to the Trinity River. As engaging as the spark of wonder in the eyes of a child discovering a bulb pushing up through the soil. Growth and change are exciting.
Because of you, River Legacy has experienced much growth and change from its beginning roots.  River Legacy Park has grown from 176 acres to more than 1,300 acres of greenway that shelters a myriad of animals and plants – and the thousands of humans that are nourished by experiencing that abundance. Walkers, hikers, strollers, bikers, kayakers and canoeists, skaters and wheelchair users can find ever-new ways to access the Trinity River and its surrounding forest. Growth and change are intriguing.
Growth and change prompt reflection. We examine where we were, where we are now and where we might go together. With your support, the exhibit hall at River Legacy Living Science Center has been transformed into the River Legacy Discovery Room, a rich learning environment bursting with more ways for new generations of children and adults to experience the wonders of our natural environment and take pleasure in the simple – yet infinitely complex – networks of life abundant. Growth and change are inviting.
River Legacy’s programming is growing and changing, too. What started with field investigations for some local students has grown into field investigations forSummer Fun more than 14,000 school children each year. Students from public and private schools, as well as homeschoolers, from the region come learn in the Center and in our outdoor classroom.
Our Saturday programs, community festivals, summer camps and winter-break and spring-break explorations offer opportunities for all to connect with nature. Adults also come to learn in our nature center about birds, composting, water conservation and more. People also come to meet, whether it is celebrating weddings, holding corporate events, or gathering for the kind of community activities that introduce more people to the riches of River Legacy. Growth and change are life-enhancing.
Your generosity has been the key to all this access, renewal, growth and change. THANK YOU!  You strengthen our community by supporting River Legacy Foundation. THANK YOU! Our reward is knowing that you value the resource that River Legacy has become. We are celebrating the change and growth we are seeing with the grand opening of our Discovery Room in late January/early February. Growth and change are joyous.
Thanks to YOU, we have seen wondrous changes at River Legacy because of the gifts of your time, talents and financial support. Thanks to you, we have more opportunities than ever for growth and change.
We hope you will continue to shape and support our ever-changing programs at River Legacy. Come explore the River Legacy Discovery Room. Spread the news about the growth and change that is happening at River Legacy.  Participate in community events and festivals at River Legacy. Volunteer and join in the fun. Consider making a tax-deductible end-of-year gift to support recreation, preservation and education at River Legacy. However you choose to be a part of the growth and change – We Thank You!
Hoping to see you soon at River Legacy for more exciting, intriguing, inviting, life-enhancing and joyous growth and change. Happy New Year!
Donate Now 
Tax-deductible gifts can also be mailed to:
River Legacy Foundation

Winter Break Family Fun

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Looking for some family fun during the school winter break? Be sure to join us at River Legacy Living Science Center for our Winter Break Family Activities on Dec. 27th through Dec. 29th.

  • Magnificent Mammals – Wednesday, Dec. 27 – enjoy animal explorations with a bunny, opossum, ferret and rat followed by a craft.
  • Radical Reptiles –  Thursday, Dec. 28 – enjoy animal explorations with snakes, lizards and turtles followed by a craft.
  • Guided Hikes – Friday,  Dec.  29 – go on a guided hike led by a River Legacy Naturalist to explore the winter flora and fauna of River Legacy. Hike will be followed by a craft or activity.

Each day, choose from an 11:30 am; 1:30 pm or 3:30 pm time slot. Cost is $2 per person. Space is limited and registration is available in person day of event. For children ages 2 and up with a responsible adult.

 

‘Tis the Season for Giving!

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As you begin your season of giving, remember we have great ways that you can give and give back:
  • Shop Amazon Smile and select River Legacy Foundation as your charitable organization. You can do this by going to Amazon Smile, logging into your account or creating a new one. You can also support River Legacy just by shopping at Kroger with your Plus Card and selecting River Legacy Foundation as your charity of choice.
  • Avoid the crowds and the hustle and bustle of busy malls and shopping centers, and find unique nature-oriented gifts, games, toys and jewelry for everyone on your list at our Acorns Gift Shop located inside River Legacy Living Science Center. The shop is managed by volunteers and all proceeds from purchases support our environmental education programs. Acorns Gift Shop is also the only authorized North Texas Retailer of Wee Forest Folk miniature collectibles. Shop 9 am to 5 pm, Mondays through Saturdays.
  • Give the gift of heirloom wall art. Book a Storybook Studios photo shoot for $45 per child and the studio will donate the fees to River Legacy Foundation. You will receive a complimentary woodland fantasy photo shoot and one 8 x 10 fantasy portrait (a $250 value). To book your fantasy photo shoot in support of River Legacy Foundation, schedule your appointment online at www.storybookstudiosdfw.com.
  • Donate to River Legacy Foundation in honor of a family member or friend! We will send your honoree a special acknowledgement letter and will send you a tax receipt. Donate online and select Tribute Gift as the donation type or stop by the Science Center to make your donation in person.

Enjoy an Entertaining Evening at A Night With Nature!

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S’mores by the fire, cocktail appetizers by Blue Mesa Grill, desserts provided by Nothing Bundt Cake, live music, a meet and greet with some of River Legacy’s wildlife ambassadors, an upclose look at rescued raptors and reptiles from Nature’s Edge Wildlife, stargazing and your very own chance to eat a bug and brag about it! These are just a few of the fun attractions adults will enjoy at A Night With Nature from 7 to 10 pm on Friday, Nov. 10 at River Legacy Living Science Center! 

Guests will also enjoy an open bar featuring fine wines, Division Brewing craft beer and specialty cocktails. A silent auction full of fabulous and fun items will help you get a head start on holiday shopping, and it will be even easier to bid and keep up with your favorite items with our NEW online mobile bidding system. You don’t even have to be present to grab a deal on some of our hottest ticket items! You can also grab plenty of prizes in the Prize Cube including restaurant & retail gift certificates, entertainment attractions and MORE! (Everybody’s a winner!)

Auction items include a 4-day, 3-night stay in the heart of Columbia’s coffee triangle featuring horseback riding, paragliding and more; beach house vacation getaways in Florida and Galveston; jewelry from Baseball Diamonds and James Avery; art pieces; guided fishing trips; golf excursions and SO MUCH MORE. Watch our Web site at www.riverlegacy.org and Facebook for a unique online mobile bidding link so you can start bidding early and often on your favorite deals.

Host couple Jerry and Becky McCullough invites you to join them for this fabulous one-of-a-kind fall fundraiser benefitting River Legacy Foundation’s education programs and exhibit transformation. Guests will even be the first to get a sneak peek at the NEW exhibits. Tickets are $100 per person, with sponsorships starting at $500. Reserve your tickets by calling 817.860.6752, ext. 107 or via e-mail to reply@riverlegacy.org.

Fall Fun for the Whole Family at After Dark in the Park

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Enjoy fall fun for the whole family at River Legacy Foundation’s 21st annual After Dark in the Park from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m, Oct. 6-8. This family-friendly fall festival and fundraiser featuring a bounce house, temporary tattoos, karaoke, pumpkin patch, balloon artists and a variety of unique games, crafts and activities is geared for children ages 2 to 10.

Experience a mini-camping scene at Camp REI; croon a tune at karaoke; hear professional storytellers weave a web of tales; or Spin the Spider for a chance to win fun prizes from Six Flags Over Texas. Children will enjoy a variety of fun games, crafts and activities such as the Pumpkin Roll Maze, Snake in a Hole, Habitat Hideout, Jolly Jack-O-Lanterns and more in the Children’s Area. Guests of all ages will have fun discovering facts about nocturnal wildlife along the Nature at Night path, getting an up-close look at a live animal during Animal Encounters, and smiling big for a fun family fall photograph in the new photo booth.

New community partnerships this year are adding extra fun to After Dark in the Park. Join the Arlington Public Library to build an Imagination Playground, and learn why “Wasting Water Is Scary” with the help of the Arlington Water Utilities Department. After Dark in the Park will also be a display location for the Arlington Water Utilities’ Imagine a Day Without Water Contest. Pick up your entry form at River Legacy Living Science Center to enter the contest before the Oct. 6 deadline.

“We are so excited to partner with some great corporations, small businesses and community organizations to be able to provide a top-notch fall festival that is not only a significant fundraiser for River Legacy Foundation’s environmental programs, but has also become the fall festival that families turn to for a safe and fun seasonal event,” said Becky Nussbaum, Fund Development coordinator. “We really couldn’t do it without the community support that we receive.”

After Dark in the Park

When: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. October 6-8. No event entry after 8:30 p.m.

Where: River Legacy Living Science Center, 703 NW Green Oaks Blvd.

Cost: $8 per person for ages 3 and up. More than 20 activities are available for free with the admission price. Food and some activities require coupons. Pre-purchase a Family Fun Package for $45 and get 4 admission tickets plus 20 $1 activity and food coupons (a $52 value). Additional admission tickets may be purchased for just $7 with Family Fun Package. Packages must be purchased by Thursday, October 5 at River Legacy Living Science Center, 703 NW Green Oaks Boulevard; or online at www.riverlegacy.org.

Parking: Free parking is available in River Legacy Parks, 701 NW Green Oaks Blvd., and visitors can catch a free hayride shuttle to event entrance.

Info: Call 817.860.6752, ext. 107 or e-mail reply@riverlegacy.org.

Maximize & DOUBLE Your Donations During North Texas Giving Day!

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River Legacy Foundation has received a $100,000 matching challenge grant from an anonymous donor, so all donations made to River Legacy during North Texas Giving Day via www.northtexasgivingday.org will be doubled! This is in addition to the percentage of bonus funds and prizes we are eligible to receive – not only stretching your donated dollar on September 14, but doubling it!
Join the North Texas Giving Day movement and support River Legacy by:
  1.  Scheduling your gift in advance! This year,  you can schedule your donation beginning at 8 am on Thursday, Sept. 7 through midnight Sept. 13. Schedule your gift online here. Scheduled donations will be processed on Sept. 14.
  2. Eating at Blaze Pizza on Sept. 12!Join us for lunch between 11 am and 3 pm or dinner between 5 pm and 8 pm at Blaze Pizza at 841 E. Lamar Blvd. Download this flier to print or show on your phone and Blaze Pizza will donate 20% of the proceeds to River Legacy. Stop by our table to schedule your North Texas Giving Day donation for a chance to spin the Blaze Pizza Ring of Fire & win fabulous prizes!
  3. Giving on Sept. 14! Maximize and double your donations by giving to River Legacy Foundation on North Texas Giving Day between 6 am and midnight on Sept. 14. Donate online here or stop by the Science Center and we will be happy to assist you with your online donation.
  4. Attending the Arlington Gives! Concert on Sept. 14. Join and support River Legacy at this FREE concert from 6:30 to 9:30 pm featuring the Josh Weathers Band. Come vote for River Legacy for the $10,000 People’s Choice Grant and donate at the River Legacy table in the showcase of charities.
  5. Spreading the word! Encourage your friends and families to join the movement and to Get Up and Give to River Legacy Foundation on Sept. 14.
  6. Following us on Social Media! Like and share us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to tag us at #RiverLegacy and #NTxGivingDay.
We are always so grateful for the generosity and support of our donors during this annual community giving experience. All donations and matching funds will help us to close the $200,000 funding gap on our $2.5 million Transformation Campaign. The renovation of River Legacy’s exhibit hall is already underway, featuring interactive, educational, museum-quality exhibits and classroom spaces. We can’t wait to share it with you!
Thank you in advance.  We look forward to your participation in the 9th annual North Texas Giving Day  on Sept. 14.

Let the Transformation Begin!

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Please pardon our dust these next couple of months!

River Legacy Living Science Center is moving forward with its $2.5 million capital campaign to transform the Center’s Exhibit Hall space with all new museum-quality exhibits and an interactive wall feature that will place our guests in a variety of environments and seasons. The renovation will also expand our classroom space and allow us to leave the exhibit hall open during Summer Classes, Field Investigations and other programs.

The Exhibit Hall will be closed beginning July 31 for the construction to begin for the renovation. 

We are so excited about this progress and can’t wait to share the outcome with our faithful donors,  supporters and guests who helped make it happen.

We are still just $200,000 shy of our $2.5 million goal. We will only complete what is funded. If  you would like to help us close the gap, please donate online here or mail a check to River Legacy Foundation, Attn:  Transformation,  703 NW Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington,  TX 76006.

Any amount is much appreciated, and we look forward to sharing your investment in environmental education with the public. If you would like more information about the Transformation campaign, please contact Fund Development Coordinator Becky Nussbaum at 817.860.6752, ext. 120.

Watch this video to know more about the renovation plans and the interactive wall feature.

Thank you for growing the next generation of environmental stewards through education, recreation  and conservation.

 

Sold out of Hurricane Harbor Tickets!

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We are sold out of our discount Hurricane Harbor tickets for this season! Thank you for your support. River Legacy Living Science Center raised more than $14,000 for our environmental education programs through ticket sales. A huge thanks to Six Flags Hurricane Harbor for the ticket donation.

Be sure to check back with us in May 2018 for next season’s tickets.