November 14th E-Newsletter

Programs

Science on Tap with Sarah Doherty

TONIGHT, November 14th

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. This month's speaker is Sarah Doherty, Senior Research Scientist at the University of Washington. She'll be speaking about how aerosols impact climate. When she's not volunteering on WRI's board, Sarah is also the program director for UW's Marine Cloud Brightening research program.

Tap in Here

Holiday Wreath Making Party

Wednesday, December 4th

5:30PM-7:30PM

Create a nature-inspired holiday wreath! You'll use materials lovingly foraged by our Land Steward, Tiffa, including evergreen branches, pinecones, berries, dried flowers, and more —all gathered from around WRI’s campus. The wreath bases are handmade from weeping willow at our entrance. Tiffa will guide you through the process, and you’ll leave with a beautiful, compostable wreath. We can't wait to craft with you!

Craft Here

Science on Tap with Glade Brosi

Wednesday, 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.

Grow Here

Beaded Earrings Workshop with Amanda Keewatinawin

Wednesday, December 11th

5:00PM-7:30PM

Learn about indigenous beadwork, culture, and art in this creative workshop. Instructor Amanda Keewatinawin is a Nêhiyaw (Cree) artist and owner of Mystic North jewelry. She will share knowledge on how to create your own beaded fringe earrings using curated kits included with registration. Three tickets for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) are still available! All other spots are reserved at this time.

Bead Here

Youth Programs

After School Program Pilot is Here!

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.

Due to high interest, we will be using a lottery system for registration. All entries have equal chance for selection. See below for the timeline.

November 14th at 3:00PM: Lottery opens
November 19th at 9:00AM: Lottery closes
November 21st at 5:00PM: Lottery results announced
November 25th at 5:00PM: Registration due

If there are remaining spots after November 25th, we’ll contact families who were on the waitlist from the lottery or open to general registration.

Lottery Entry Here

Fall After School Programming

Throughout the fall term, WRI's Field Educators have been visiting Orondo, Newbery, and Lewis and Clark Elementary Schools for After School Programming. These programs are dreamed up and led by WRI Educators for creative and fun learning opportunities based on the students' interests. From outdoor games, to scavenger hunts, using stereoscopes, and more, these activities teach K-5th graders to be naturalists and encourage a passion for the natural world.

Place

Thank You, Sponsors!

Thank you to the many businesses and organizations that support WRI's mission of connecting people, communities and the natural world. We couldn't do it without you. Are you a business owner interested in supporting WRI? Email Randee to be included in the 2025 sponsorship appeal list.

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.

Land Steward's Observations

The rain and snow are finally here! As we move into the darkest part of the year, many of the little creatures that call WRI home are getting ready for their winter hibernation. A friend I ran into the other day was this small Western terrestrial garter snake. I found them in the middle of the trail. They seemed to have some type of neurological damage - they had a disorienting spiraling motion of their whole body while moving forward. Since they looked healthy otherwise, and had been spotted the previous day further down the trail, I decided they must be trying to find a rock pile to hibernate in for the winter. I knew just the place. Upon delivery to an appealing rock pile, they immediately scooted straight in and I haven't seem them since. Terrestrial garter snakes eat mostly aquatic foods - frogs, worms, small fish, and their eggs - and hibernate in rock piles from October to May, with up to hundreds of other snakes! They also are ovoviviparous - which means their eggs hatch inside their body and they give birth to live little snakelings. I hope this little one survives the winter!

Entry and photo by Tiffa Theden, Land Steward

Thank you to our donors from the past 2 weeks!

Christine Emmel - Sustaining

Maya von Wodtke and CJ Carter

Melissa Roe - Sustaining

Diane and Herb Young - Sustaining

Mary Carol Nelson - Sustaining

Orin and Lisa Melvin - Sustaining

Mandy Maxwell and Bill Riedel - Sustaining

Mark Weick and Carole Ann Borshard - Sustaining

Martha Bean and Ralph Haugerud - Sustaining

Chris Clark