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Paint and Stroll
TOMORROW, August 21st, Friday, August 22nd, Thursday, August 28th,
and more! 1:30PM-2:30PM |
Get inspired by the amazing artists at the Village Art in the Park, 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 throughout the summer!
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| Birding by the River
Thursday, August 28th 8:00AM-10:00AM |
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. |
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Red Barn Event: The Trees are Speaking Thursday, September 4th 7:00PM-8:00PM |
Join author and journalist Lynda V. Mapes for a discussion about changing our relationship with forests. Lynda will share examples of sustainable forestry practices underway in our region and beyond that take care of people, forests, and wildlife, drawing from her new book, The Trees Are Speaking: Dispatches from the Salmon Forests. Her books will be available for sale at the event with thanks to A Book for All Seasons. |
| Paint and Sip: Red Barn Style!
Friday, September 5th 6:20PM-8:30PM |
Join us for a Paint and Sip in the Red Barn. Our painting will be inspired by the book, The Trees are Speaking: Dispatches from the Salmon Forests by Lynda V. Mapes, which she will be presenting about on Thursday, September 4th. Art supplies, instruction, and one beverage are included in registration, and you will take home your masterpiece at the end of the night! Advance registration required (link below!). |
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Volunteer Open House & Youth Training Tuesday, September 9th
5:00PM-7:00PM |
Come connect with the WRI community, enjoy light snacks and drinks, and meet our new Outreach Coordinator, Angela Crampton! From 5:00PM-6:00PM, we’ll mingle and share all the exciting ways you can support WRI as a volunteer. If you’re interested in working with our Youth Programs, stay for the second half of the evening from 6:00PM-7:00PM for our Fall Youth Program Volunteer Training. Let us know you're coming by clicking the link below! |
| 4th annual Sunset & S'mores
Wednesday, October 1st 5:00PM-7:30PM |
Come gather with us at WRI for an evening of food, drinks, and s'more fun! Early bird registration is now open until August 24th! Included with your ticket is a delicious meal from Ravenous Catering, a beverage of your choice (or two if you're an early bird!), and participation in fun camp activities with WRI Field Educators (including the planetarium!). We look forward to gathering together and celebrating our special WRI community!
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Fall Fungi Field Trip Thursday, October 2nd 8:30PM-4:00PM |
Join Wenatchee River Institute and Puget Sound Mycological Society for our Fall Fungi Field Trip! PSMS guides will take groups of people out to different locations for fungi foraging and collection. There is no guarantee you'll find good edible mushrooms, but you will learn the basics of foraging and get an idea of habitats to explore in the future. The guided trips will be out foraging for about 3-4 hours.
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| Mini Fringe Beaded Earring Workshop
Sunday, October 5th 12:00PM-3:00PM |
Join us for a day filled with creativity and learning. Local indigenous artist and owner of Mystic North Jewelry, Amanda Keewatinawin, will be leading a workshop on the Indigenous art form of beading. She will be sharing knowledge on the history of Indigenous beadwork and how to create your own mini beaded fringe earrings.
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Summer Camps have come to a close at the Wenatchee River Institute! We’re excited for fall programming to begin soon, but before then, our educators are taking a much-deserved rest. This summer was filled with laughter across campus and the joy of seeing the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts explore the natural wonders of North Central Washington. From river adventures to garden discoveries, curiosity and wonder were at the heart of it all. You can check out some of the highlights from each camp in our photo albums on our Facebook page. |
Read some highlights from the last three camps of summer below: |
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Rock On! Camp (Entering grades 4-6) |
WRI’s Rock On! Camp was packed with adventure and hands-on learning! Campers kicked off the week exploring the rock cycle with a sweet starburst activity, creating rock art, and finding a “special rock” along the river at ELY Beach. They learned about and practiced climbing skills at the Riverfront Rock Gym, practicing figure 8 knots and belay technique. Midweek brought rainy-day sand art at ELY Beach, followed by two days of outdoor climbing in Icicle Canyon with Northwest Mountain School. Campers learned safety protocols, teamwork communication, and how to use Grigri devices to belay each other while tackling multiple climbing routes. It was a week full of discovery, skill building, and outdoor fun!
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Amazing Artists Camp (Entering grades 1-3) |
Campers spent the week exploring creativity and nature! They made air-dry clay impressions, partner drawings, Northern Lights crafts, and suncatchers. Midweek trips to Lake Wenatchee State Park included fort building and beach art. The week wrapped up with homemade rainsticks, flower-pounding bandanas, cyanotype prints, and a scavenger hunt. |
| Forest Friends Camp (Entering grades 1-3) |
Campers explored creativity and nature through hands-on activities. They built habitats at Barn Beach, created butterfly symmetry paintings, and crafted suncatchers. At Lake Wenatchee State Park, they enjoyed water exploration, watercolor and charcoal art, and bracelet making. The week wrapped up with flower crown crafting and natural dye bandanas, celebrating the beauty and inspiration of the natural world. |
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You've Got Mail! NEW Field Notes Newsletter |
This special edition of Field Notes shines a spotlight on one of Wenatchee River Institute’s longest running programs — a program that matters deeply to us and the community we serve. We can’t wait to share the story and its impact with you soon! |
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Your perspective can make a real difference |
Wenatchee River Institute is looking for passionate leaders to join our Board of Directors! As a board member, you’ll help guide our mission, support environmental education, and strengthen connections between people, community, and the natural world. We welcome applications and nominations from individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. |
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Land Steward Observations |
It’s peak berry season, and our region is overflowing with native fruits. Thimbleberries, huckleberries, and cascade blueberries are standouts, while Oregon grape—though less loved—makes a tasty jelly and is beautiful year-round. At WRI we have Oregon grape and golden currant, but not many huckleberries or blueberries. What we do have is a challenge with Himalayan blackberry—delicious, but highly invasive. Despite its name, it’s actually native to Iran and Armenia and spreads aggressively, outcompeting other plants. Several areas on campus are blackberry monocultures, but we’re working to restore them to native habitat. In the meantime, help us out—pick some berries, enjoy a cobbler, and reduce their spread!
Written by Tiffa Theden, WRI's Land Steward |
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Thank you to our donors from the past 2 weeks! |
Steve and Betsy Backstrom in honor of Arne Backstrom - Sustaining Gro Buer and Bruce Williams - Sustaining David Nierman Clint and Julie Lougheed Annette Jouard and John Taylor - Sustaining Anonymous Donors The Bubblery Chuck and Candace Egner - Sustaining David Stoller and Diane Patterson - Sustaining Kamuron Gurol - Sustaining Lisa and Jim Osse - Sustaining Danica Mito Obertal Inn - Sustaining Goose Ridge Estate Winery Leavenworth Dave and Pat Notter - Sustaining
Heather and Ole Bore - Sustaining Tracy Brulotte - Sustaining Jackie and Tom Andrewjeski - Sustaining Dave and Nancy Bartholomew - Sustaining
Kurt and Celeste Peterson - Sustaining Monty and Karen Turner - Sustaining Lisi Ott - Sustaining Lexine Long and Nate Hough-Snee - Sustaining |
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