January 24th E-Newsletter

Work at WRI!

WRI is hiring a Field Educator! Our Field Educators are our experts in youth education. They can expect to lead youth day camps, teach in-person school programs, travel to regional schools to deliver lessons, and develop lessons and activities for field education programs. This position will also support WRI community programs as needed. If you or somebody you know wants to pursue a job in environmental education at WRI, check out the job listing below. Initial application review will begin January 31, 2024. Position will remain open until filled.

Apply Here

Programs

Red Barn Event: Composting in our Community

Thursday, January 25th

7:00PM-8:00PM

Join WRI in the Red Barn to hear from Winton MFG about their work composting food and yard waste in our community. This presentation is an awesome opportunity to hear about the history, operations, and future of our neighborhood composting services!

Compost Here

Snowshoe Strolls

Fridays and Saturdays

January - February 2024

A new year means new seasonal walks! Join us for 3 weekly Snowshoe Strolls around the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery and learn about native ecology along the way. We will lead a stroll on Fridays and Saturdays at 10:00AM with an additional afternoon walk on Saturdays at 1:00PM. These gently paced strolls are suitable for snowshoers of all levels. Snowshoes, gaiters, and poles will be provided by WRI. Register online at the link below.

Stroll Here

Red Barn Event: PNW Ski Jumping

Tuesday, February 6th

7:00PM-8:00PM

Ski jumping was once Washington's most popular winter sport. Introduced by Norwegian immigrants in the 20th century, the sport has made an epic journey across the world. Join WRI and the Greater Leavenworth Museum's Northwest Ski Museum to hear from author and historian John W. Lundin as he guides us through the history of Ski Jumping in the PNW. Pick up a copy of Lundin's book courtesy of A Book for All Seasons at the event.

Jump Here

Wenatchee Pride Snowshoe Stroll

Saturday, February 10th

10:00AM-12:00PM

WRI is teaming up with Wenatchee Pride and Mountain Queers for a Snowshoe Stroll at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery! This is a safe, judgement free space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community to enjoy the outdoors. Registration costs are generously covered by Wenatchee Pride, just sign up at the link below!

Sashay Here

Red Barn Event: Protecting Rare Plant Species

Tuesday, February 13th

7:00PM-8:00PM

Permanently protected lands, like National Parks, are safe havens for many species. However, not all are equally protected. How do we know what rare plant species are protected current system? Through a process called Gap Analysis! Join the Washington Native Plant Society and Dr. Walter Fertig from the Marion Ownbey Herbarium in the Red Barn to learn more about rare plants and how we protect them.

Analyze Here

Science on Tap with Neil Paprocki

Thursday, February 15th

7:00PM-8:00PM

Join WRI at Ground Control in Wenatchee for an awesome opportunity to gather and learn about science from a member of your community. No prior science knowledge is necessary for this casual gathering. This month, we'll hear from bird migration expert and PhD candidate Neil Paprocki about hawk migration patterns. Learn more about this free event below.

Migrate Here

Family Movie Night: We Want to Hear From You!

What's your schedule like? Does your family have any favorite movies you'd like to see on the big screen for free? WRI wants your input for scheduling our newest event series, Family Movie Night! Every month we'll be showing a family-friendly movie in the Red Barn for all to enjoy. Please fill out the survey linked below to help with the planning process.

Survey Here

Youth Programs

Spend Mid-Winter Break with WRI!

Tuesday, February 20th - Friday, February 23rd

There's still space in our 2024 Mid-Winter Break Camp! K-3rd grade participants will spend 4 days exploring the outdoors and learning about the world around them through engaging activities. Mid-Winter Break camp is Pay What You Can. We hope that families can use our camp cost breakdown to understand how camp operates and contribute as they can. Thank you!

2024 Bird Fest Youth Art Contest

It's that time of year! The 2024 Bird Fest Youth Art Contest is now accepting submissions! Participating students have the chance to win a prize and have their art featured on the 2024 Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest Poster.

To participate you must

Be in grades k-8
Focus on a bird in your art piece (preferably a species found in North Central Washington)
Submit a full color piece

Submission deadline is Tuesday, March 5th at 12:00PM

Check out the Bird Fest Youth Art Gallery for inspiration!

Submit Art Here

Place

Trashion Show Team Registration is Open!

Calling all DIY divas and reuse royalty. Team registration for the 3rd Annual Trashion Show is now open! The Trashion Show, happening on Friday, April 19th, is an annual fashion show of garments made of repurposed materials. There are 4 team categories. Visit the registration page linked in the event to learn more and register in the appropriate category. Registration closes March 29th or when full. Note, registration is for teams wishing to enter a garment. Attendees need not register; just show up and enjoy the fun!

You've Got Mail! 2023 Tax Receipts Out Now

If you donated to the Wenatchee River Institute in 2023, you should have received a tax receipt from us via email or mail. If you did not receive one and need a receipt for your records, please reach out to Randee. Thank you so much for your support and making a difference in what we do.

Diary of a Land Steward - Entry #2

Winter is hard for humans, plants, and animals. Probably the lichen too, who knows. I stumbled upon a squirrel the other day chirping endlessly as they clung upside down to a pine tree. I could empathize with the little critter. It had been a tough week - temps in the negatives, multiple feet of new snow. Perhaps their nut and seed caches had been covered up. Maybe their friends were too cold to get out of bed and play. Perhaps the route to their drinking hole was frozen and too dangerous to travel. Things are tough.

Sure, the squirrels don’t have to deal with frozen pipes, sliding off the Chumstick, or breaking snowblower shear pins, but they’ve got their own host of challenges. If I can offer something of value in this Diary of a Land Steward, I’ll declare that you are not alone in your challenging experience of winter. Every species is navigating it. We will all be stronger as a result of getting through it. Sometimes, when stuff seems quite difficult, I look up at a giant Douglas Fir tree and I think, you know, if that big ol’ thing can survive decades in this one spot, I can live to replace another shear pin with frozen fingers.

Entry by Sean Eriksen, Land Steward

Thank you to our donors from the past 2 weeks!

Gro Buer and Bruce Williams - Sustaining

Steve and Betsy Backstrom in honor of Arne Backstrom - Sustaining

Kamuron Gurol - Sustaining

Sam and Karry Meshberg Foundation

Tracy and Ben Brulotte - Sustaining

Dave and Pat Notter - Sustaining

Heather Bore - Sustaining

Bill Davies and Tiffany Brine-Davies - Sustaining

Andy and Maureen Seikel

Kathy and Stephen Baker