There is something truly magical about gathering under the evening sky as the seasons shift. This year, our 5th annual Sunset & S’mores brought out one of our biggest crowds yet, and we were absolutely thrilled to see so many familiar faces and new community members come out to celebrate with us!
Sunset & S’mores remains a favorite event of the season for our team because it gives us a wonderful opportunity to connect directly with our community and share the hands-on environmental education we bring to students across North Central Washington.
A Glimpse into Educational Offerings
For those who wanted a taste of our programming, we set up a special sampling of interactive activities. Guests were able to explore these stations at their own pace, engaging directly with our activities while connecting with the wonderful staff and volunteers who were there to assist and share in such fun ways to connect:
The Traveling Planetarium: Offering quick little lessons of analemma, stars, and constellations.
The Watershed Model and Water Table: Providing an engaging, hands-on look at how water moves through our local landscapes.
Skins & Skulls: Offering a tactile encounter with regional wildlife.
Acorns to Mushrooms: A delightful nature-inspired craft where participants turned ordinary acorns into charming little forest mushrooms!
Camp-Inspired Photobooth: A fun spot for guests to capture memories of the evening with wonderful camp-themed props and backdrops.
To encourage participation throughout the evening, everyone received a passport at check-in to fill out as they explored. We asked those who participated to turn them in at the end of the night to be entered into a drawing for a prize, and we were excited to celebrate our two lucky winners!
Good Food and Heartfelt Speeches
No gathering would be complete without great food, which was generously provided by Ravenous Catering to keep everyone fueled and happy. As everyone settled in for dinner, our program featured some wonderful moments from the team. Ric Escobedo, Board Vice President, opened the evening by reading our land acknowledgement, grounding us in gratitude for the Indigenous stewards of this land. Following that, Orvin Melvin, Board President, took the microphone to express our deep appreciation for the dedicated sponsors and volunteers whose hard work makes events like this possible. Finally, Canuche Terranella, Executive Director, brought the evening speeches to a close by looking ahead sharing that we are approaching our 20th anniversary next year at WRI! He spoke movingly about the resilience of our team, highlighting a dramatic behind-the-scenes moment: the power in the Red Barn was out for maintenance and stayed off until just 10 minutes before the event started! PHEW.
Thank You to Our Incredible Sponsors
An event of this scale is only possible with incredible community backing. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to our wonderful sponsors for their generous support: Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort & Spa, South Restaurant, Ludwig's, Icicle Brewing, Winton Manufacturing, and North Cascades Heating & Air Conditioning!
Thank you to everyone who joined us, volunteered, catered, sponsored, and supported us. A special thank you to volunteer, Dave Masuda, and Outreach Coordinator, Angela Crampton, for capturing the spirit of the event with your wonderful photos!
Nights like this remind us why we do what we do. Here’s to community, nature, and many more years of outdoor education ahead!
