November 27th E-Newsletter |
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Make Your Donation Go Twice As Far! Now until December 31st |
Thank you so much for supporting our mission to connect people, communities and the natural world. In an ever-changing world, the support of community members like you help us make an impact on youth and adults alike. We couldn't do this work without you! Our goal is to raise $65,000 by December 31st. Today, you have the opportunity to make your donation go twice as far. Thanks to the Icicle Fund, your donation will be matched up to $30,000. That could be $95,000 going to support this work! You can either donate directly through our website today or through Give NCW starting tomorrow. Thank you so much!
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Science on Tap with Glade Brosi Thursday, December 5th 7:00PM-8:00PM |
Science doesn't need to be intimidating! Join us at Ground Control in Wenatchee for casual and exciting science talks from local speakers. Next month's speaker is Glade Brosi, a pear farmer and Agronomist who studies how plants interact with soil. He'll be discussing how pseudo-sciences have taken over agronomy in the Wenatchee Valley and it's impacts on water, salmon, and economy.
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Birding by the River Wednesday, December 11th 8:00AM-9:30AM |
Go birding with knowledgeable WRI staff around the WRI campus! 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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International Mountain Day
Saturday, December 14th 2:00PM-5:00PM |
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Christmas Bird Count Wednesday, December 18th 8:00AM-4:00PM |
Join WRI in our second year of hosting the Annual Christmas Bird Count. This nationwide effort is organized by the National Audubon Society and local counts are compiled by local chapters. Birders of all levels are welcome to choose from a plethora of birding routes. Time commitments vary on your route and can be flexible. Email Joshua to sign up or follow the link below for more info.
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Snowshoe Strolls Fridays and Saturdays January/February 2025 |
A new year means new seasonal walks! Join us for 3 weekly Snowshoe Strolls around the Leavenworth 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. Registration coming soon! Dates will be available at the link below.
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Dia de los Reyes Saturday, January 4th 2025 1:00PM-8:00PM |
Come together at WRI to celebrate Latinx culture through the second annual Dia de los Reyes celebration. Dia de los Reyes, or 3 Kings Day, is a Latinx tradition celebrating culture. Activities will include musical performances, precessions across Leavenworth, presentations from local cultural leaders, pozole dinner, Rosca de Reyes, and more. All are welcome to attend this free event, no registration is required. |
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Winter Break Camp January 2nd & 3rd 2025 10:00AM-3:00PM Grades K-3 |
Get outside with WRI this winter break! On this 2 day camp, young naturalists will explore WRI, play in the snow, and learn about the natural world through fun activities. Registration is first come - first served and opens at 5:30PM on Tuesday, December 3rd. Visit the link below for more info and registration instructions. |
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After School Program Pilot
Tuesdays and Thursdays, December 10th-19th 2:45PM-5:30PM Grades K-3 |
Spend afternoons outdoors with WRI! Field Educators will meet students at Alpine Lakes Elementary to walk with them to WRI. Afternoons will include snacks provided by WRI, lots of outdoor time, nature exploration, game, art projects, and more. Pickup is at 5:30PM on the WRI campus. This Pilot Program will be Pay What You Can. There is still one remaining spot in this program. Register below. |
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Traveling Naturalist Field Trips |
As part of our Traveling Naturalist program this year, WRI met with 275 students from 4th and 5th grade classes across North Central Washington.
5th grade students from Brewster, Orondo, Manson, Rock Island and Ancient Lakes Elementary Schools visited one of 3 field trip locations for outdoor education programming. Whether students visited WRI, Confluence State Park, or Lake Chelan State Park, all 5th graders were Earth Explorers. They hiked, explored, used their nature journals they made in class, did an erosion control activity, and learned beading techniques from Cultural Educator, Amanda Keewatinawin to make beaded necklaces and bracelets.
4th grade students from Ancient Lakes were a new addition to the Traveling Naturalist program this fall. With Confluence State Park as their backdrop, they participated in the Wild Bird Program. Students played a bird identification game, hiked, journaled about bird songs and calls, and also visited with Amanda for beading instruction. |
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Do you have a passion for education? Do you want to connect people of all ages with the natural world? You could be our next Community Programs Educator! This position plans and facilitates engaging educational programs in collaboration with the Community Programs team. If you or somebody you know is interested, follow the link below for the application. |
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We're Closed for the Weekend! |
In observance of national holidays, WRI offices will be closed Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th. We will be back on Monday, December 2nd. The offices may be closed but WRI's grounds are open 24/7 for you to enjoy. |
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Pumpkin Composting - It's Not Scary! |
Give your Jack-o-Lantern the retirement it deserves! WRI is happy to team up with Winton Composting to offer pumpkin compost drop off for all community members for an optional donation of $5. Before composting your pumpkin, be sure to remove any paint, glitter, stickers, and candle wax. Drop by WRI at 347 Division St. and look for the Winton Dumpster near the Red Barn. To prevent contamination, this dumpster may be locked. Leave you pumpkin nearby and we will dispose of it for you. Please only use this resource for compost. Do not put dog droppings or other trash in this area.
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Land Steward's Observations |
I just wanted to share with everyone this final farewell to all the fantastic fall fungi now that snow season is here. In the afternoon before the bomb cyclone hit, I was working to cut back all the ornamental grasses in the Dry Riverbed Garden. To my delight I spotted a mass of bright orange folds along the edge of the gravel and concrete. The orange peel fungus! What a surprise! A wonderful gift before the long mushroom-less winter. This species, Aleuria aurantia, is the orange cup fungi that grows in the fall. There is another species called the spring orange peel fungus (Caloscypha fulgens), that is unrelated but looks quite similar. The main way to tell these species apart is when they are fruiting, one in the fall before the snow, the other in the spring after the snow! I love how these species greet us on either side of the cold dark winter. A fun way to interact with them is to blow on them - this causes them to release a puff of spores a couple seconds after you blow. It almost seems like a magic trick. Try it the next time you see a bright orange fungus masquerading as a discarded orange peel along a trail.
Entry and photo by Tiffa Theden, Land Steward |
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Thank you to our donors from the past 2 weeks! Your donations have been doubled. |
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Dave and Pat Notter - Sustaining Heather and Ole Bore - Sustaining Kevin and Erin Leff Lindsey and Tyler Kellett
Tracy Brulotte - Sustaining Amy and Dayle Massey in honor of Marv Speer Peter Burgoon and Judith Lurie Lori Goodwin Suzann and Robert Lombard James Leifheit and Kristi Karpenko Dave and Nancy Bartholomew - Sustaining Kurt and Celeste Peterson - Sustaining Lisa and Brian Koblenz Jane and Alvin Lee Mountain Home Lodge Anonymous Donors Brad and Annette Bjorklund
Chelsea Trout and Nate Schmidt Patrick Ryan in honor of Karen Ryan Lisi Ott - Sustaining Steve and Betsy Backstrom in memory of Arne Backstrom - Sustaining Randy and Marge Zerger Gina Westrich and Howard Clarke Caroline Rensel in honor of her parents (a wildlife biologist and a fisheries biologist) and her sister, a soon to be PHD in wildlife sciences Rich Fox Allison Kennedy and Susuk Lim Katherine and Kyle Peterson |
| Gustav's Grill and Beer Garden Gavin and Clara Johnson Ollie Wyatt Ted and Kathy Montgomery Leesa Broker D.A. Davidson Jim and Suzanne Ullrich Ted Alway and Patricia Ortiz Patti McGaughey Vaishali and Vasudev Bhide
Jeanine and Skip Butler Pat and Gary Willett Robert and Anne Smith Robert and Pat Strand Christine Emmel - Sustaining Bill Jenkins Mike and Carol Wyant Chris Clark Gro Buer and Bruce Williams - Sustaining Robin and Dave Judd Doris Christianson Calla and Peter Crowley Lisa Therrell and Rich Haydon Patty Ostendorff Diane McKenzie Ursula Maninger
Mel and Christine Hartwig Dennis Dauble Wynne Brown and Peter Wimberger Stevie Clifton and Hannah Kwon Lynn Dickinson - Sustaining |
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I have never, nor will I ever, cook a turkey. |
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