October 15th E-Newsletter

Programs

A picture of WRI staff at a camp-themed photo set up during Sunset & S'mores event.

4th Annual Sunset & S'mores

Thanks to all who came and we look forward to next year! We experienced a mix of weather for this year’s Sunset & S’mores, including some much-needed rain. The crowd embraced it with smiles as we connected over food, laughter, and conversation. The 4th annual event blended learning, play, and community connection, leaving families with fun memories, new knowledge, and a deeper appreciation for WRI’s hands-on experiences.

A special thank you to the Events Committee and staff for such a wonderful event. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Image of Cristina Barone standing on a beach with water and mountains in the background.

Science on Tap: The Road to Better Transit

Tuesday, October 21st

7:00PM-8:00PM

Join WRI at Ground Control for Science on Tap, a free, casual evening of science, drinks, and conversation. Cristina Barone of Barone Transit Planning will share insights on what makes transit systems work, from planning decisions to the move toward fare-free service, followed by time for Q&A.

Tap Here

Picture of birders pointing at an Osprey and looking through binoculars

Birding by the River

Thursday, October 30th

8:00AM-10:00AM

Don’t miss your chance—the last birding event for the year! 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.

Bird Here

Red Barn Events

Join us in the Red Barn for engaging events where experts in their fields share insights on a variety of fascinating topics. Can’t make it in person? No problem—we live stream to our YouTube all events so you can tune in from anywhere. We encourage you to RSVP, but feel free to simply show up.

Image of Mission Ridge ski area with snowy landscape

Friends of Mission Ridge

Friday, October 17th

7:00PM-8:00PM

Join Friends of Mission Ridge & Steven Gnam at WRI’s Red Barn for a screening of Ridge to River and a community discussion about the proposed luxury resort development near Mission Ridge and its potential ecological and cultural impacts.

Ski Here

The opinions expressed in this presentation are solely those of the presenters and not necessarily those of WRI.

Image of Chimpanzees from Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest

Chimpanzees in Cle Elum?!

Thursday, October 23rd

7:00PM-8:00PM

Join us to learn about Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, a unique organization that provides lifelong care for chimpanzees formerly used in research, entertainment, and the pet trade. Co-Director, Diana Goodrich, will share stories about the sanctuary’s residents, insights into their care, and how the sanctuary has evolved over its seventeen years.

Join the Conversation

Mark Your Calendar for More Upcoming Red Barn Events

Stories from Lake Chelan | November 13th | RSVP

Volunteer Events

Image of a bee flying to a yellow flower.

Bumblebee Habitat Restoration

Thursday, October 16th

10:00AM-2:00PM

Want to volunteer and get your hands dirty? The fourth and final event will consist of mulching and setting up irrigation to make sure the donated native plants thrive for years to come!

Save the Bees Here

A picture of the Community Garden entrance at Wenatchee River Institute.

Make a Difference Day

Sunday, October 25th

9:00AM-1:00PM

Take part in Make A Difference Day on Saturday, October 25th as we upgrade the garden beds in our Community Garden. These are great opportunities to spend time outdoors and make a meaningful impact on our local environment.

Garden Here

Can’t make it to our next campus maintenance days? No problem! Sign up for our volunteer program to get monthly updates on upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Youth Programs

A picture of two boys testing water of the Wenatchee River.

Alpine Lakes Elementary School

Watershed Naturalists - 4th Grade

Four classrooms visited WRI for half-day programs in September and October to explore and learn about our watershed. Students examined a cardboard model of the watershed, studied local wildlife through animal pelts and skulls, and became chemists by conducting a cabbage pH lab and testing the water quality of the Wenatchee River. They searched for macroinvertebrates and salmon in the river and chose a special rock to reflect on themselves—connecting it to an Indigenous story they heard during their visit.

Peshastin-Dryden Elementary School

Nature Detectives - 1st Grade

Our educators visited PD Elementary for their fall Power Hours, where students explored their school grounds in search of “opposite” nature treasures. They also enjoyed a scavenger hunt to find camouflaged beanie babies and stuffed animals.

Alpine Lakes

Elementary School

Earth Explorers - 5th Grade

Four classrooms came to learn about Fire Ecology and Erosion Control. Students built matchstick forest models to observe what factors most influence the spread of wildfires. They also became engineers, designing and testing erosion control models using small stream tables.

Place

A picture of summer campers standing in a circle on a river bank holder rocks in their palms.

Community Inclusion

At Wenatchee River Institute, our mission is to connect people, communities, and the natural world by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone feels safe and valued. Guided by our Community Inclusion Statement, we strive to foster belonging for people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Our staff model respect and kindness so participants, especially students, can focus on learning, exploring, and deepening their connection with nature. We invite anyone with questions about our programs or values to reach out through our website.

Picture of a crowd attending WRI's Science on Tap event at Ground Control in Wenatchee.

We’re Looking for Science Speakers — Could It Be You?

Do you have a fascinating science topic you’d love to share with the community? We’re looking for presenters for Science on Tap in Wenatchee at Ground Control! Presentations are about an hour long and will take place throughout the winter season.

If you have a topic idea, please reach out to Virginia so we can get your presentation on the calendar.

Image of two squirrels poking their heads out of a hole in a tree. Photo by Photo by Laura Sisitzky.

Land Steward Observations

As frost settles in and the mountains get their first dusting of snow, many of the creatures at WRI are preparing for winter. You may remember the Northern flicker I wrote about earlier this year, the one that had been excavating a hole in our wildlife tree behind the River Haus. Just the other day, I saw two Douglas squirrels chasing each other, spiraling up that same tree. I thought it was about to turn into a scuffle—but then the most adorable thing happened. I looked back up to the flicker hole, and there they were, both inside, one lying on top of the other like a little stack of squirrel pancakes. That hole turned out to be quite the find! Here’s hoping they have a cozy, toasty winter in their new home.

Written by Tiffa Theden, WRI's Land Steward
Photo credit: Photo by Laura Sisitzky

Thank you to our donors from the past 2 weeks!

Anonymous Donors

Steve and Betsy Backstrom in honor of Arne Backstrom - Sustaining

Patti McGaughey

Mark Weick and Carole Ann Borshard - Sustaining

Lisa and Brian Koblenz - Sustaining

Vicki White

Bill and Mary Jones

Margareta and Marc Dilley

Chris Rader

Jabe Blumenthal and Julie Edsforth