May 4th E-NEWSLETTER

Programs

Bird Fest Family Day

Saturday, May 21st

10:00am-2:00pm

WRI Lawn

The 20th annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest is right around the corner! This year, we are bringing back a favorite tradition: Bird Fest Family Day! Family Day is a day for families, youth, and adults to gather and take part in educational and recreational activities focusing on birds, wildlife, and their environments. It will be an opportunity for people to learn about local organizations, take part in art and nature activities, browse and purchase art from local artists, and chow down on excellent locally made food.

 

More fun events will be happening on the Saturday of Bird Fest, too! Including the Birders' BBQ at 5pm and Keynote with Derek Sheffield at 7pm. Check out all Bird Fest happenings here.

The Trashion Show was a hit!

Our 1st annual Trashion Show held on Earth Day was a hit! It was a fashion show featuring garments created with recycled and repurposed materials. There were 20 teams that put together an outfit to walk down the runway. At least 150 people attended to watch the show on the WRI Lawn. It was so much fun and we can't wait to continue the tradition next year! Start thinking of your ideas for next year's Trashion Show during Earth Day Week 2023.

 

This was a partnered event between WRI, Waste Loop, Sustainable NCW, and the Sustainability Club from Wenatchee Valley College with sponsorships from Waste Management and A Book for All Seasons. Thank you to all partners, sponsors, and volunteers who made this event possible!

 

Photo (left): View of the event from the River Haus where models waited to walk down the runway.

 

Photo (right): Photo from the Wenatchee World of Kyra Skaggs from the Sage Mountain Natural Foods team. Their "Future Farmer" outfit won first place in the adult category!

3rd Grade Field Days

WRI has begun a 4-week Field Day program with four 3rd grade classrooms at Alpine Lakes Elementary. Each classroom will come visit WRI for a half day each week for 4 weeks! They've just completed their second week in the program.

 

On week 1, students went on a scavenger hunt to get to know the WRI campus and search for signs of spring. They learned how to use binoculars and explored two different habitats where you may find different birds: forest and riparian. They even learned about the key indicator tree species in each habitat in our area! Do you know what they are?

(Check below for the answer)

 

On week 2, students learned about arthropods, one of the primary food sources for birds. They went on a search to find and collect some to observe. They learned how to use stereoscopes and microscopes and got to see a whole new world of bugs! They got to see things up close and personal... including a cockroach head (see reaction in photo above on the left), bee stinger, frog and plant cells, a butterfly wing, and more.

 

Key indicator tree species for forest habitat: Ponderosa Pine

Key indicator tree species for riparian habitat: Black Cottonwood

Field Day in Chelan

Last week, 4th grade students from Morgen Owings Elementary got to go on a field trip with WRI to Lake Chelan State Park! Students got to explore the area and learn about the wild birds that live there. They learned how to use field guides and binoculars to help spot and identify birds!

 

Thank you to those who have volunteered for Youth Programs in the last two weeks: Tim Abel, Annette Jouard, Pam DeGrenier, and Diane Young.

Want to volunteer for Youth Programs? Click here to view upcoming opportunities.

Place

Farewell and Congratulations to Rachel

Rachel has worked for WRI since October 2017. Throughout her time with WRI, she has served as a contract employee, Field Educator, and lastly, Community Programs Manager. Rachel is moving on to work for Upper Valley MEND. She will be the Food Programs Manager, managing the Community Cupboard, grocery rescue program, and gleaning program. This will be a whole new world for Rachel but she is very excited about the new challenge. Rachel will miss all the staff, volunteers, community members, students, instructors/presenters, and partners she has worked with during the last 5 years. She has grown as a person because of every interaction she has had with you all. Help us wish Rachel a hearty congratulations on her new position!

WRI mourns the death of Harriet Bullitt

Harriet’s desire to never stop learning and to share her passion for the natural world inspired the creation of the Wenatchee River Institute. Her strong commitment to the importance of place led her to protect the 9-acres of forests, fields and river access that comprise the Wenatchee River Institute campus. This permanent access to learning about and experiencing nature is a gift she shared with the entire community. We are grieved by her passing and are also grateful for the opportunity to carry on her dream of connecting people, communities and the natural world through sustainability education.

 

Out of consideration for Harriet’s family, and to ensure you are directed to the proper resources, we respectfully request that all questions be directed to Deb Hartl at dhartl@sleepinglady.com.

Thank you to our donors from the last 2 weeks!

Mary Carol Nelson - Sustaining

Winton Manufacturing

Tracy and Ben Brulotte - Sustaining

A Book for All Seasons

Amy and Dayle Massey

Mary Miller

Grace Edwards

Lynn Dickinson - Sustaining

Laura and Greg Reichlin - Sustaining

Christine Emmel - Sustaining

Diane and Herb Young - Sustaining

Gro Buer and Bruce Williams - Sustaining

Mark Weick and Carole Ann Borshard - Sustaining