There is an old saying that a community is only as strong as the people who are willing to show up for it. If the 2026 Volunteer Appreciation Dinner was any indication, the Wenatchee River Institute community isn't just strong—it is vibrant, deeply connected, and completely unstoppable.
To kick off the evening, our Executive Director, Canuche Terranella, welcomed everyone and opened the dinner line, treating a packed room of volunteers to a fabulous, crowd-pleasing catering spread from El Chavo. The room immediately filled with the best kind of noise: good food, lots of mixing, and deep conversations between longtime supporters and our WRI staff team members.
Grounded in Gratitude
Image: WRI Board of Directors Member, Kevin Leff, showing his gratitude for the generous support of WRI volunteers.
WRI Board Member, Kevin Leff, stepped up to the podium. He brought some fantastic laughs to the crowd by teasing his wife’s relatively newfound—but completely consuming—birding obsession, which was entirely sparked by Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest a few years back!
A Room Full of Raised Hands
Kevin brought our mission to life with a visual reminder of what collective action looks like, asking volunteers to raise their hands as he called out different areas of support.
Image: WRI volunteers raising hands for where they support WRI.
Looking out from the front of the room, it was incredibly moving to see the raised hands:
- Storm Clean-Up: The incredible neighbors who rolled up their sleeves when natural disasters hit, proving that challenges only bring this community closer together.
- Campus & Community Garden: The dirt-under-the-nails crew making sure our campus and the E. Lorene Young Community Garden thrive.
- Youth Education: The dedicated mentors shaping the minds of the next generation.
- Bird Fest: The passionate planners and field assistants who make our signature festival an unforgettable celebration of the natural world.
- Beverage Service & Events Committee: The logistical masterminds keeping everyone refreshed, happy, and organized.
As Kevin reminded us all: "Look around the room. Look at all those raised hands. You all are the engine that drives us forward."
Our Community Programs Educator, Virginia Shoup, read the Land Acknowledgement and shared a message with the room: to carry the spirit of that acknowledgment forward into our day-to-day lives.
A Personal Note: Connecting People to Nature
When Kevin handed the microphone over to me, I had to take a moment just to soak it all in. Having been with WRI for roughly a year now, I am continually blown away by the sheer dedication of this community. Honestly, words cannot fully express the gratitude I feel having such an incredible breadth of volunteers to reach out to every week. Every day, you all show up to support our core mission: connecting people and communities to the natural world.
To give you a sense of just how powerful that collective effort is, I was incredibly proud to share a look at our recent data. In the full year of 2025, we had 231 volunteers step up to contribute an incredible 2,283 hours of service. But what is truly mind-blowing is where we stand right now. We are only halfway through 2026, and our community has already seen 148 volunteers clock in 1,419 hours!
Every single one of those hours represents a moment where someone chose to give back, pouring their heavy lifting, heart, and soul into protecting and celebrating this region.
Shining a Special Spotlight
While every single hour matters—whether you volunteered for one hour or 233 hours—a few groups earned an extra loud round of applause:
- Our Board of Directors & Events Committee: For the endless energy, late-night decisions, and flawless logistical execution that keep WRI moving in the right direction.
- The Cascade Garden Club & Bird Fest Planning Committee: Whose dedication allows our massive, large-scale community events to run smoothly.
The evening was also a wonderful chance for our volunteers to connect directly with the broader WRI staff.
Image: Staff and volunteers mingling and enjoying each other's company.
Shape the Future: Join Our Board!
As we look ahead to the rest of 2026 and beyond, we are looking for passionate leaders to contribute. If you love WRI’s mission and want to deepen your impact, we are actively encouraging folks in our community to apply for a position on the WRI Board of Directors. If your hands weren't already raised for committee work, or if you know someone in your local network who would be a perfect fit for a leadership role, please reach out or share the word!
Thank You!
To everyone who joined us, to everyone who digs in the dirt, serves drinks, teaches kids, or makes big organizational decisions: Thank you. You are the heartbeat of the Wenatchee River Institute, and it is an absolute privilege to work alongside you.
Interested in volunteering or joining the board? Check out our volunteer page or send us a note!
