March 22nd E-NEWSLETTER

Programs

Red Barn Event: Nexus Ski Film with Sasha Dingle

TOMORROW, March 23rd

7:00PM-8:00PM

Join WRI and Leavenworth professional skier, Sasha Dingle, to watch the new ski film, Nexus! It is an action sports film documenting five distinct groups of skiers, their connection to the mountains, and how skiing shapes their relationships. This film is produced and directed by women. You can watch the film trailer here.

Ski Here

Red Barn Event: Geologic Fluids and Plant Life

Wednesday, March 29th

7:00PM-8:00PM

Join WRI, Washington Native Plant Society, and local geologist, Ralph Haugerud for a Red Barn Event! You'll learn about the four types of geologic fluids. The effects of these fluids govern how water moves in and through our landscape, thereby shaping our plant communities.

Flow Here

Helping our Pollinator Friend, the Bee

Saturday, April 1st

10:00AM-12:00PM

Join WRI and Wenatchee Bee and Supply to learn more about how we can be a friend to the bees! You'll learn about how you can encourage healthy pollinator habitats on your own property or garden, the basics of beekeeping, and how yard cleanup affects bees and insects.

Buzz Here

Non-Profit Day at Pybus Public Market

Saturday, April 1st

10:00AM-2:00PM

This is a great opportunity to learn about different non-profit organizations in our area, what they do, and possibly how to volunteer and support an organization with a mission you are passionate about. WRI will have a booth at this event. Drop by and say hello!

Learn Here

Nature Photography Workshop

Sunday, April 2nd

9:00AM-12:00PM

This workshop will cover the fundamentals of making nature photographs and will provide you with the skills to make amazing images of what you love. This workshop is geared toward novice photographers, but all are welcome to attend to improve their skill set.

Photograph Here

Trashion Show Registration

DUE by Friday, April 7th

The 2nd annual Trashion Show is on Friday, April 21st! It's a fashion show featuring garments made from recycled materials and repurposed clothing. Create a design team to make your own trashion masterpiece to model down the runway! Register your team online by April 7th. There is limited space in each category! No registration is required to attend the show.

Design Here

SAVE THE DATE:

Bird Fest Registration

Tuesday, April 11th at 5:30pm

Scheduling and planning for the 21st annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest (May 18-21) is under way right now! The schedule will become available on our website in the coming weeks. Registration for all field trips, workshops, and more will open on Tuesday, April 11th at 5:30pm. Mark your calendars! All current information can be found at the link below.

Bird Here

Nature Writing: Come To Your Senses

Thursday, April 13th

2:00PM-4:00PM

Ready to get curious about nature and put words on a page? To convey the wonder takes more than recording what you see. Practice nature writing that employs all five senses. Come learn with WRI and nature writer and author, Marina Richie. This workshop is open to all writing experience levels!

Write Here

E. Lorene Young Community Garden Registration

Interested in renting a plot in the E. Lorene Young Community Garden? Registration opens for new garden plot renters on March 31st! If you are a returning gardener, registration is now open. WRI welcomes new and experienced gardeners alike who seek opportunities to share garden space, celebrate community, and foster green thumb wisdom. There are 33 raised garden beds in total measuring 8 feet long by 4 feet wide. The garden is located on the corner of Commercial Street and 12th Street. Learn more about the garden here.

Thank you, Snowshoe Stroll Volunteers!

Happy Spring! The last weekend of February concluded our 2022-2023 Snowshoe Stroll season. Over the course of 3 months, WRI led 40 guided Snowshoe Strolls at WRI and the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. Some of these strolls had more than one group being led, too! During each Snowshoe Stroll, and in each group, there was at least one WRI volunteer. In fact, this program wouldn't be possible without the help of our volunteers! We want to take a moment to thank everyone who took the time to help this Snowshoe Stroll season. Because of you, so many more people were able to experience the outdoors this winter, learn something new about the environment, and perhaps even learn how to snowshoe. Thank you to Diane Hansen, Betsy Steele, Karen Haire, Mark Weick, Beth Beck, Jeremy Howell, Ayla Medina Ulloa, Sharmen Dye, Chris Clark, Tiffany Theden, Nancy Dunn, Mary Austin, Jack Mynatt, and Ella Gebers!

March Traveling Naturalist Visits

This month, 4th grade students from Manson, Rock Island, Brewster, and Morgen Owings Elementary schools went on a field trip to learn more about wild birds. Students learned to use binoculars to spot birds from a distance. They did an activity to identify birds by looking through the binoculars at realistic wooden birds. Students learned about bird songs and calls, and then played an activity to mimic them! They also learned about bugs and why they're an important food source for birds. They went on a bug hunt to catch a bug and observe it, then released it. Finally, they went on an exploration hike and took some time to write in their nature journals.

Meanwhile, 5th grade students got their 6th classroom visit. This time, they learned about and dissected owl pellets. At first, students were weary. After all, they are regurgitated parts of an owl's food, right? Owl pellets contain parts of their food that are indigestible, such as hair and bones. After a while, students started to have fun with it, looking at all of the different types of bones they could find.

The Traveling Naturalist in the Classroom Program is supported by the No Child Left Inside grant with the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, Fordham Street Foundation, Williams Fund International, and donations from YOU. Thank you for your support in educating students across North Central Washington!

Geology Days with Wenatchee 4th Graders

This month, WRI Field Educators visited all 4th grade classrooms in 7 Wenatchee schools to teach students about geology. That is over 450 students! Students learned about erosion, weathering, and deposition by looking at a model of a stream table. They also learned the timeline of rocks by seeing how sediment settles and then builds up over time to make a rock formation. Some rocks can tell us clues about the plants and animals that were around when the rock was being formed!

Thank you to our Youth Education volunteers for helping out the last two weeks and attending the Youth Education Volunteer Training: Tim Abel, Mary Austin, Gina Westrich, Christine Trigg, Patti McGaughey, Kay Lisch, Jeremy Howell, Tammie Parkinson, Karen Haire, and Pat Willett.

Place

Join WRI's Board of Directors!

Are you passionate about WRI's mission to connect people, communities and the natural world? Learn how you can make an impact by serving on the Board of Directors! As a Board Member, you will help establish the framework for WRI, make sure WRI stays aligned with the mission and values of the organization, oversee and evaluate the organization's leadership, and act as an ambassador for WRI in the community.

If you are interested in learning more, contact Canuche at cterranella@wenatcheeriverinstitute.org or 509-548-0181 ext 1.

Make a Nomination: Founders' Award

Help us celebrate and honor volunteerism in support of Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest! The Founders' Award was inspired by the team of people who came together in 2003 to launch the very first Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest.

Nominations are open for two categories. Award decisions will be based on one or more of the following criteria:

Provided a significant amount of time and energy in support of goals and tasks.
Developed a policy or process change which has contributed to the more efficient and expansive operation.
Longevity of volunteer service.
Supplied a significant contribution through community science efforts in support of mission objectives. This could be in the development of field trips, the collection and analysis of data, or other ways.

Nominations are open until April 2nd! Learn more and make your nomination for the Founders' Award at the link below.

Nominate Here

Thank you to our donors from the last two weeks!

Harold Irvine

Steve and Jean Johnson

Karen and Curt Haire - Sustaining

Candace and Chuck Egner - Sustaining

Diane Patterson and David Stoller - Sustaining

Benchmark Jewelers

Cashmere Museum & Pioneer Village

Kamuron Gurol - Sustaining

Tracy and Ben Brulotte - Sustaining