Red Barn Event: Is Nature More Cooperative Than We Think? TONIGHT, June 14th
7:00PM-8:00PM |
Join WRI, A Book for All Seasons, and and author, Kristin Ohlson to learn about the mutually beneficial relationships among living things that undergrid the natural world. How can we both uphold these cooperative relationships and become a cooperative partner with the rest of life?
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| Salmon Sculpture Ceremony Tuesday, June 27th 6:00PM-8:00PM |
Join WRI to welcome back the salmon! Join us for the unveiling of the new salmon sculpture located on the WRI campus, including a presentation from the artist, a ceremony and blessing with members of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and a community social to follow.
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Birding by the River Wednesday, July 12th 8:00AM-9:30AM |
Join WRI for Birding by the River happening the second Wednesday of every month! Join us for as many as you can. You'll walk around the WRI campus with knowledgeable WRI staff. All birding experience levels are welcome. Need binoculars? We have loaners! |
| Red Barn Event: Both Sides of the Fire Line Wednesday, July 19th 7:00PM-8:00PM |
Join WRI, A Book for All Seasons, and Wenatchee Pride to welcome retired firefighter and author, Bobbie Scopa. In her memoir, she "shares her life as a man, a woman, and a firefighter. Each chapter of her life, and of this book, can help us to better understand what it means to be transgender." Come listen to her stories!
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2022-2023 Traveling Naturalist in the Classroom Wrap-Up |
WRI just wrapped up the Traveling Naturalist in the Classroom program for the 2022-2023 school year. From September through May, WRI visited 26 fourth and fifth classrooms in 5 different schools 9 times, including at least one Field Day at WRI or a nearby park. That's over 550 students served... and a lot of interactions with nature! This program has a special focus on schools that serve low-income populations and large numbers of students of color.
Let's talk about what students learned on their last two visits with WRI. In April, 4th grade students learned more about birds, and did an activity called "fill the bill" where they learned which kind of beaks are better for which type of food. Fifth grade students learned about lichen! They started observing lichen as a "mystery organism" with hand lenses and stereoscopes. They learned why lichen are important for an ecosystem and they looked around their school grounds for them.
On WRI's last visit in May, 4th grade students learned about and built their own bird nests to take home. Fifth grade students made a "sound map" by observing their surroundings by just listening to the sounds of nature. They made a map based on the different sounds that they heard.
WRI Traveling Naturalist Coordinator, Tucker Jonas, says that this program allows students to "experience, observe, and appreciate nature anywhere." He hopes that they will "remember some of their skills and other things they learned so they can keep learning and growing with nature in mind." It was rewarding to watch these students grow over the past 9 months, watching their excitement about something they've seen or found in nature, and sharing that with their classmates.
The Traveling Naturalist in the Classroom Program is supported by the No Child Left Inside grant with the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office, Fordham Street Foundation, Williams Fund International, and donations from YOU. Thank you for your support in educating students across North Central Washington!
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Students and Community Members Reach for the Stars! |
This spring, WRI visited 2 schools in the Eastmont School District, 8th graders at Sterling Junior High School and 4th and 5th graders at Cascade Elementary. Students took a tour of the solar system, looked at the stars, and learned about seasonal differences. Eighth grade students also looked at moon phases, focusing on the solar and lunar eclipses, and learned about different types of galaxies.
WRI also got to help the Quincy Valley Historical Society & Museum kick off their new exhibit theme, "Lost in Space." At this family event in Quincy, 40-50 people learned about and took a tour of the solar system inside the planetarium. |
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Thank you to our Youth Education volunteers for helping out the last two weeks: Tim Abel, Mary Austin, Beth Beck, Luana Correa Duarte, Pat Willett, and Annette Jouard. |
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2023 Bird Fest Highlights |
Thank you to all who attended and were a part of the 21st annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest! This event is a partnership between WRI and the NCW Audubon Society. This event would not be possible without all of the volunteers who led field trips, planned events, and more. Thank you all!
This year, we expanded our free "pre-festival" activities, including activities at local libraries, the Bird Collection Open House at Wenatchee Valley College, plus 10 birding trips! These trips were oriented for beginning birders. There were over 50 birding field trips during Bird Fest and over 400 participants!
Other Bird Fest activities included Family Day, the Birders' BBQ, the Bird Fest Social, and the Keynote Address. Family Day made another comeback this year with 15 booths with activities. There were over 100 people who visited despite the heat, many of which were families, visitors of Leavenworth, and Bird Fest participants. At the Bird Fest Social, our numerous volunteer trip leaders were appreciated and thanked for their time. Over 100 people gathered together at the Birders' BBQ to enjoy a meal, live music, and each other's company. Finally, Dr. John Marzluff from the University of Washington was our 2023 Keynote Speaker, talking about his research detailing the intertwined lives of ravens, wolves, pumas, and the people that visit and live around Yellowstone. Our 3 Founders' Award Recipients were also recognized at the Keynote Address.
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We also want to take another moment to thank our wonderful Bird Fest Sponsors! Please help us show our gratitude by supporting their business or even learning more about them by visiting their websites. They helped make Bird Fest possible!
To view more photos from 2023 Bird Fest, check out our Facebook album. We hope to see you at the 22nd annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest from May 16th-19th, 2024! |
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Join us for a Garden Work Party! |
Did you know that there are 7 different gardens spaced throughout Wenatchee River Institute's 13 acres? All of these gardens are mostly managed by our lovely volunteers! Join in on a work party with fellow volunteers! The next dates are: These are great opportunities for those who enjoy flower gardening or would like to learn more about gardening by working alongside the Cascade Garden Club and other experienced gardeners. |
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Our new membership year is upon us! Thanks to those who have renewed their membership already:
Alice Armstrong, John and Valerie Backus, Jennifer Ballard, Jillian Ballas, Dave and Nancy Bartholomew, Mall Boyd, Bill Davies and Tiffany Brine-Davies, Tracy and Ben Brulotte, Gro Buer and Bruce Williams, Gordon and Linda Congdon, Lynn Dickinson, Chuck and Candace Egner, Christine Emmel, Kamuron Gurol, Paul Gustie, Karen and Curt Haire, Annette Jouard and John Taylor, Russ and Marla Latimer, Kay Angona Lisch, Connie McCauley, Orin and Lisa Melvin, Mary Carol Nelson, Holly Newman, Mark and Judy Oswood, Lisi Ott, David Stoller and Diane Patterson, Laura and Greg Reichlin, Melissa Roe, Susan Sampson and Gerald Horn, Audrey and Wayne Sosin, Mark Weick and Carole Ann Borshard, Robert and Anne White, Rufus Woods and Calysta Peterson, and Diane and Herb Young.
Not on this list? Renew your membership here. More details to come! |
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Thank you to our donors from the last two weeks!
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Melissa Roe - Sustaining Diane and Herb Young - Sustaining Orin and Lisa Melvin - Sustaining Gro Buer and Bruce Williams - Sustaining Mark Weick and Carole Ann Borshard - Sustaining Holly Newman Jan Tuff in honor of the Snohomish Giving Circle Tracy and Ben Brulotte - Sustaining Audrey and Wayne Sosin in honor of Lauren Liebling and Walter Thorn Bonny Headley in honor of the Snohomish Giving Circle Robert and Anne White Karen and Curt Haire - Sustaining Candance and Chuck Egner - Sustaining Diane Patterson and David Stoller - Sustaining Mary Carol Nelson - Sustaining Dave and Pat Notter - Sustaining |
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