Bird Fest Special Announcments |
The migratory birds are arriving, and we are hard at work getting everything ready for an incredible weekend of birding, learning, and community. Will you join us for the 24th Annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest? |
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New: No More Waitlists: To streamline the process and give everyone an equal opportunity to join our most popular excursions, we will not be maintaining waitlists for 2026.
Instead, if a trip sells out and a spot becomes available due to a cancellation, those seats will be held and released all at once for second general registration. - Release Date: TODAY! Wednesday, April 29th
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Release Time: 5:00 PM (PST)
If you are hoping to snag a spot on a full trip, mark your calendars for that window!
A Note on Swapping: If you choose to cancel one trip to sign up for a newly opened spot on another, please keep in mind that our standard cancellation policy still applies. |
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NEW: Birding by River Raft
Friday, May 15th 7:45AM-10:45AM | $65 |
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| Birding by Large Canoe
Saturday, May 16
7:00am-10:00am | $50 |
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Use special code Email20 to get $20 off the following trips: Upper Basin Birders Field Survey (May 14), Habitat Bike and Hike (May15), or Birding by Large Canoe (May 16). |
Community Fair Saturday, May 16th 10:00AM-3:00PM |
We invite you to the Bird Fest Community Fair—a gathering for families, youth, and adults to celebrate birds, wildlife, and the beautiful Wenatchee Valley.
Continuing our tradition of an extended schedule, the fair remains open later into the afternoon, so you can head over straight from your morning birding field trips. Enjoy a full afternoon of art and nature activities, guided walks, and live music from a local musician. With a wide variety of artists and vendors on-site, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy. |
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Painting Mini Bird Figurines
Saturday, May 16
9:00am-11:30am | $15 |
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Make & Take a Lego Bird
Saturday, May 16
9:00am-11:30am | $10 |
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Owl Pellet Dissection
Saturday, May 16
10:00am-11:30am | $10 |
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| Drawn to Nature: Learn to See with a Pencil with 2026 Spotlight Artist
Saturday, May 16
12:30pm-3:00pm | $25 |
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We have so many upcoming events and happenings that we simply can’t fit them all into one email. Check out the calendar or Bird Fest schedule to look ahead! |
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Mini Fringe Beaded Earring Workshop Friday, May 8th 5:00PM-8:00PM |
Join us for an evening 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. Our earrings will be inspired by bird color palettes!
Registration required and goes through the general Bird Fest registration process. |
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| Science on Tap: Secret Life of Community Cats Tuesday, May 19th 7:00PM-8:00PM Wenatchee, WA |
Join BJ Andersen, Executive Director of the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society, for an insightful look into the science of community cat management. Moving beyond anecdotes, this presentation dives into the data supporting Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) as a humane and effective strategy for stabilizing local cat populations.
You'll gain a deeper understanding of the myths surrounding free-roaming cats and the real-world impact of animal welfare efforts right here in the Wenatchee Valley. |
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It has been a whirlwind of a spring here at WRI! Our calendar is packed, and our campus is buzzing with the energy of young naturalists. From exploring the banks of the Wenatchee River to spotting early spring migratory animals, we are in "full swing" nearly every day of the week. Whether we are hosting schools on-site for Field Days or visiting classrooms through our Traveling Naturalist program, it is a joy to see so many students connecting with the land.
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St. Joseph’s Catholic School Wild Bird Program 2nd grade |
Second graders recently visited us for an immersive dive into the world of ornithology! Students mastered new bird songs and calls, got a hands-on look at bird anatomy using our collection of bird skins, and even tried their hand at nest building. The day wrapped up with binocular practice and an exploratory hike to spot our local feathered friends in their natural habitat. |
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| Peshastin-Dryden Elementary School
Sensory Scramblers Transitional Kindergarten |
Our staff headed to PD Elementary to introduce Transitional Kindergarteners to the basics of birding. These young naturalists explored the essential traits that make a bird unique and worked together to construct their own bird nests. To finish the session, the students practiced using their "deer ears" to tune into the various bird sounds surrounding their school. |
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SUMMER CAMP: Pathfinders Outdoor Camp Students entering grades 4th-6th |
In this new camp hosted collaboratively with the Wenatchee Valley YMCA at Lake Wenatchee YMCA Camp, Pathfinders Outdoor day campers will spend the week exploring the forests and water around Lake Wenatchee. This week will include classic summer camp outdoor education, outdoor living and survival skills, team building, nature crafts, hiking, and water time all rooted in the local ecosystem. Campers will leave with an increased confidence in the outdoors, new friendships, and a deeper connection to the natural world around them. Camp will take place daily at the Lake Wenatchee YMCA Camp.
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Check the camps page to see the current list of camps with open spots. If the camp you are interested in is full, there’s a waitlist for each camp. From the calendar event, click the link to join the waitlist. |
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Biochar Demonstration Happening Friday at WRI Friday, May 1st 10:00AM-3:00PM |
Just an FYI that we’re partnering with the Cascadia Prescribed Burn Association for a Biochar Demonstration this Friday, May 1st.
If you see smoke or fire on campus, don't be alarmed! We’ll be working to process debris left over from the December storm at two locations: the Waterfront Park parking area (near Barn Beach) and by the ELY House (near the Community Garden).
If you’re curious about the process, feel free to drop by and chat with the team from Cascadia PBA! |
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Community Garden Planter Box Rebuild Recap |
We are buzzing with excitement at the E.Lorene Young Community Garden! Earlier this month, a powerhouse team of volunteers spent a productive morning breathing new life into our space (watch on Instagram). In just under three hours, this incredible crew helped us rebuild 12 planter boxes, ensuring our garden is sturdy, fresh, and ready for the upcoming growing season.
This transformation wouldn't have been possible without the hands-on help of our community, including Cascade Garden Club. A massive shout-out goes to our dedicated volunteer team and our hardworking WRI staff. Your sweat equity keeps this garden thriving as a beautiful resource for everyone.
Join us Tuesday mornings for Nature Menders (previously Weed Warriors). More details can be found on our volunteer calendar. |
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Earth Day Trash Pickup Recap
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Our Earth Day Trash Pickup was a resounding success, bringing together 15 dedicated community members and 3 WRI staff members to protect our local ecosystem. Dividing into three groups, the teams scoured the riverbanks from the Hwy 2 bridge to Blackbird Island, ultimately removing over 173lbs of debris. Much of the waste consisted of microplastics and refuse deposited by recent winter flooding and snowmelt, but the day was defined by standout moments of effort: two adventurous volunteers hauled back a massive wagon load from beneath the Hwy 2 bridge, while one of our youngest participants impressively discovered and carried out a 6ft metal T-post. By clearing everything from heavy metal to tiny plastic fragments, our volunteers ensured a cleaner, healthier forest and river for everyone.
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A huge thank you to everyone who came out to support our incredible designers and models at the 2026 Trashion Show! We are currently working on a more comprehensive recap of the event, but we know the suspense is building, so we wanted to share the results right away. In the Middle School category, the top prize went to This Girl is on Fire, while Sanaldo Rex took home the win for the High School division.
The competition remained fierce in our other categories as well. The Adult category winner was the striking Krampus, and the coveted People's Choice award—voted on by our amazing audience—was captured by the Snack Attack Fairy. Congratulations to all our winners and participants for making this year truly unforgettable! |
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WRI Staff CPR & First Aid Training |
This week, seven of our WRI staff members successfully completed their CPR and First Aid certification. Active certification is required for all WRI staff members. This training is a vital component of our ongoing commitment to risk management and participant safety across all our programs.
A huge thank you to Erin at Cascade Medical Center for her expert instruction. Her thorough approach ensures our team is prepared to respond confidently and effectively in the field. |
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I’m known for being enamored with the obscure—the strange little organisms that most people overlook. While lichens and galls are favorites, I’m also fascinated by arthropods. During Earth Week, we found a beautiful piece of bark covered in lichen and moss for our Cryptogam Garden. On it sat a tiny, moving speck of neon red!
I managed to snag some photos through my hand lens and identified it as a velvet mite. These arachnids (kin to spiders and ticks) are harmless to humans, typically emerge after rain, and feast on insects and their eggs. Next time you’re out after a storm, take a closer look at the leaf litter—you might just meet one yourself.
Written by Tiffa Theden, Land Steward
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Thank you to our donors from the last 2 weeks! |
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Steve and Betsy Backstrom in honor of Arne Backstrom - Sustaining Gro Buer and Bruce Williams - Sustaining Dave and Nancy Bartholomew - Sustaining Kurt and Celeste Peterson - Sustaining Julie Reimer and Diane Bedell in memory of Lisa Therrell Lisi Ott - Sustaining
Tim Foss in memory of Lisa Therrell Mary Ersek and Jerry Schellenberg in memory of Lisa Therrell
Jeremy and Maria Howell - Sustaining Lynn Dickinson - Sustaining
Puget Sound Mycological Society Laura and Greg Reichlin - Sustaining Mall Boyd - Sustaining |
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