June 11th E-Newsletter

Programs

Paint and Stroll

Select Thursdays/Fridays starting June 13th

1:30PM - 2:30PM

Get inspired by the amazing artists at the Art in the Park Market, then join us for a short walk down to the river and take some creative time for yourself. This free program is great for children and adults. Simple art supplies are provided. No registration required - just show up ready to create. Click the button below for a full list of dates. 

Grow Your Own Mushrooms

Sunday, June 15th

12:00PM-3:00PM

Learn how to grow delicious and nutritious mushrooms in your own home or garden. Instructor, Seth Beu, will bring his years of fungi growing experience to the Red Barn for this workshop.  We'll cover fun topics like cloning foraged mushrooms, avoiding contamination, and even make your own mushroom kit to take home. All supplies will be provided with course registration. There's only 1 spot remaining!

Birding by the River

Thursday, June 26th

8:00AM-10:00AM

New day - same great Birding by the River! Go birding with knowledgeable WRI staff around the WRI campus on the last Thursday of each month through October. All birding skills are welcome and we have loaner binoculars available. This is a FREE activity and no registration is needed.

River Discovery Tour

Select Fridays from June 27th - July 25th

5:00PM-7:30PM

Explore the Wenatchee River on this relaxing paddle with WRI and the Leavenworth Outdoor Center. This guided trip will introduce you to the plants and animals  of our diverse river area. Expect a great introduction to river travel and nature observation along your float. Paddleboard or kayak, and life preserver rental are included with registration.

Step Into Nature

Tuesdays in July

5:00PM-6:00PM

Do you want to take your family hiking or camping but feel unsure where to start? Experts from WRI are here to help! Learn about recreation in the Wenatchee area at these indoor, hands-on, events at the Wenatchee Public Library. There will be information for grown-ups and interactive games for kids. Come to one or all of the sessions!

Bat Night!

Tuesday, July 8th

7:30PM-10:00PM

Bats are far from the "flying rats" many people mistakenly call them. These unique mammals serve many important purposes in lots of different ecosystems! Learn more about bats and how biologists study them in the field at this interactive event in the Red Barn. This event is in partnership with Bats Northwest, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Happy Valley Bats.

Youth Programs

Announcing the Washington State Indian Education Summer Teaching Institute Scholarship

Tuesday, June 24th-Thursday, June 26th

WRI is excited to offer scholarships for Washington school staff to attend the Washington State Indian Education Summer Teaching Institute in Omak taking place June 24-26. "[This forum] is grounded in Indigenous theory and invites educators to share and learn best cultural-responsive practices and policies alongside Washington State Tribes, Indigenous scholars, Elders, and First Peoples" (from Wenatchee Valley College website).  

The scholarships would cover:

• Registration fee 
• Meals during training
• Two nights of lodging (if needed)
• Roundtrip mileage from your school to Omak

If you are interested in applying, follow the link at the button below.

Open Camp Spots!

We have limited spots available in some upcoming summer camps! Keep reading for open programs.

• Middle School Adventure Camp, June 30th - July 3rd for campers entering 7th-9th grades.
• Kids in the Wild Camp, July 21st - July 25th for campers entering 4th - 6th grades.
• Adventurous Artists Camp, July 28th - August 1st for campers entering 4th - 6th grades. 

Register for these fun camp sessions by clicking the hyperlinks above and following the "Register Here" link at the bottom of the event page. 

Spring Traveling Planetarium

Spring is a busy season for the Traveling Planetarium! WRI Educators worked with students of all ages (and some adults!) to explore the stars. Depending on grade level, these young astronomers learned about eclipses, constellations, moon phases, and how the earth's rotation influences our skies. WRI Educators visited: 

• K-8th graders from Cascade HomeLink
• Icicle River Middle School 7th graders and some of their parents at Space Expo day
• 121 Sterling Junior High 8th graders

What a fun way to finish off the school year!

More Youth  Ed Fun!

Cashmere Middle School

In partnership with Cascadia Conservation District , 115 sixth grade students from Cashmere Middle school visited WRI and Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center (CBFIC) over 2 days. Some highlights included visiting a fire lookout tower, learning about fire ecology and meeting fire crews. They then visited WRI lessons on our differing ecosystem compared to CBFIC and the water cycle with focuses on concepts like the rain shadow effect. 

Ellensburg Christian School

Seventeen 3rd grade students made the trek from Ellensburg to learn about birds at WRI. They studied real bird skins and looked for wooden birds using binoculars. They communicated and documented their findings in a coloring activity. We hope to see these 3rd graders again next year!

Place

Welcome to the WRI Board!

Dave Mell

Dave has long been drawn to mountains, inspired by their crisp blue skies and endless invitation for adventure since he first learned to ski in the Rockies at six years of age. He recently relocated to Leavenworth and found not only refuge and play in the alpine but a delightful group of board and staff at WRI. Operating from the heart and thriving in connection, Dave feels honored to support WRI’s mission of connecting people and communities with the natural world.

Jenny Ezpeleta

Jenny is passionate about the natural environment, a commitment that has shaped her career across teaching, communications, and public health. Holding a master’s degree in biology, Jenny has an impressive resume including research in Antarctica, teaching, communications, and work in public health. Recognizing the inextricable link between the environment and our health, Jenny is excited to serve on the WRI board and advocate for the natural world, people, and communities.

Bye! See ya later! H.A.G.S!

It's been real. It's been fun. It's been real fun. Writing this E-Newsletter has been bittersweet as it will be the last one I write for WRI. I hope you all enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them. I'll be departing this Friday, June 13th. My last 2 years in this unique and wonderful community has opened my eyes to what life looks like when you're surrounded by people who care about each other and the wonderful ecosystem we're a part of. My heart is fuller because of it. Now get outside and look for a cool bird!

DIPPERS ARE BEST BIRD!

Mason Powers

Outreach Coordinator

Thank you to our donors from the past 2 weeks!

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Thank you, committed reader. Your dedication did not go unnoticed.