May 16th E-Newsletter

Programs

An illustration of a mother and child birding

Bird Fest Family Day

Saturday, May 18th

10:00AM-2:00PM

Looking for an easy way to drop by Bird Fest? Gather the whole family and visit Bird Fest Family Day on the WRI Lawn! This free vendor fair will feature local businesses, organizations, artists, and live music from Eric Link. Our vendors include The Bubblery, North Central Washington Audubon Society, Waste Loop, Laurel Mundy Illustration, and more! Stop by each booth for fun nature related activities for the whole family.

Family Activities Here

Small bird on a log with a white backdrop

22nd Annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest

May 16th-19th

Don't freak out, but Bird Fest STARTS TODAY. We are so excited for another year of celebrating the return of Leavenworth's migratory birds. Birders of all levels are encouraged to explore one of our 40+ birding trips, workshops, and other activities. Trips are filling up fast, but there are still many trips with space! See the list below for some open trips.

Friday, May 17th 7:00AM-9:00AM: Birding by Pontoon Boat
Friday, May 17th 7:00AM-11:00AM: Birding Beebe Springs
Saturday, May 18th 7:00AM-10:30AM: Birding Mountain Home with Queer Flockers
Sunday, May 19th 7:00AM-11:00AM: Exploring the Entiat Waterfront

Learn more, see all open trips, and register below.

BIRD FEST!!

Bird Fest Trivia

TONIGHT, May 16th

6:00PM-7:00PM

Gather at Icicle Brewing to test your bird know-how and get in the spirit of Bird Fest over some of Washington's finest beer. Discover the fascinating world of birds while enjoying a lively evening of friendly competition and community camaraderie. Teams can have up to 5 people with $1 buy in per person.

Quiz Here

Wednesday Wenatchee Birding

Wednesday, May 22nd

7:30AM-9:00AM

Go birding with knowledgeable WRI staff around Walla Walla Point Park and the Horan Natural Area in Wenatchee! All birding skills are welcome. This is a FREE event and no registration is needed.

Bird Here

Community Plant Starts Swap

Wednesday, May 23rd

5:00PM-6:00PM

All are welcome to join WRI and Cascade Garden Club for a free plant start swap. Bring starts to swap if you have them, stop by anyway if you don't. The E. Lorene Young Community Garden is located at the corner of Commercial St. and 12th St. in Leavenworth.

Swap Here

River Trivia with Wildwater River Guides

Wednesday, May 29th

7:00PM-9:00PM

Get ready to test your ecological and whitewater knowledge of the Wenatchee River at River Trivia! Come hang out at Bushel and Bee for an exciting evening with Wildwater River Guides. Come early to sign up! All proceeds raised will go to WRI.

River Quiz Here

Plant Foraging Workshop: Nettle

Thursday, May 30th

6:00PM-7:30PM

Join WRI for a series of instructional evenings where instructors will teach about identification, harvesting, and medicinal uses of various native plants. This month's workshop will focus on nettle. You may know it as "stinging" nettle but is highly nutritious if prepared correctly. Register for this Pay What You Can class below.

Swap Here

Naturalists on the River

Weekly, Starting June 5th

5:00PM-7:00PM

Explore the natural world around you while floating the Wenatchee River on a paddleboard! WRI and Leavenworth Outdoor Center are excited to team up for another year of guided floats in Leavenworth. Registration includes paddleboard rental and lifejackets. Register online below.

Float Here

Photograph of people looking at birds with binoculars

Red Barn Event: Active Stewardship

Thursday, June 6th

7:00PM-8:00PM

Our forests face catastrophic losses every year due to a variety of causes largely linked to climate change. In this Red Barn Event, learn about how private landowners can actively manage their forested land for the benefit of all it's inhabitants. This Red Barn Event is accompanied by a Field Trip to visit a managed forest site.

Manage Here

Active Stewardship Field Trip

Saturday, June 8th

9:00AM-1:00PM

Embark on a FREE field trip to a managed ponderosa pine dry forest for insights into land management and fire risk reduction. Explore prescribed burn areas and learn forest inventory basics, including measuring stocking density, alongside examples of wildlife habitat creation. This field trip is in Teanaway, a 50 minute drive from Leavenworth. Register online below.

Steward Here

Red Barn Event: Mind-Body Training

Wednesday, June 12th

7:00PM-8:00PM

In this Red Barn Event we'll engage in a community mental health discussion for folks who frequent risk-inherent environments. Presenters Aimee Huffman and Sasha Dingle will explore the power of mind-body training such as yoga, breathwork, meditation, and more. This Red Barn Event will be supplemented with a workshop later in the month.

Connect Here

Cyanotype Workshop

Saturday, June 15th

11:00AM-3:00PM

Join us for an introduction to the creative art of Cyanotypes! Learn how to create blue photogram prints with this process. Utilizing found items such as leaves and flowers, participants will make their own cyanotype prints. Supplies are provided. Register online below.

Print Here

Youth Programs

A child wearing a patterned sweatshirt looking at a tree

Bird Fest Youth Art Contest Gallery

May 7th - June 7th

What talented artists we have in this valley! See some amazing selections of art from our Youth Bird Fest Poster Contest in person at the Leavenworth Library. Stop by during library hours to take a look. You can also view the entire gallery online here.

Place

Methow Recycles is Hiring!

Methow Recycles, a Twisp based nonprofit, is seeking a new Executive Director! The successful candidate will lead a strong organization into the future of recycling while also supporting the beautiful Methow Valley to become a model of circular economy in rural Washington. Resume review begins June 3. Learn more and apply below.

Apply Here

Thank you to our donors from the past 2 weeks!

Diane and Herb Young - Sustaining

Mary Carol Nelson - Sustaining

Orin and Lisa Melvin - Sustaining

Mark Weick and Carole Ann Borshard - Sustaining

Martha Bean and Ralph Haugerud - Sustaining

Hillary and Chris Clark - Sustaining

Annette Jouard and John Taylor - Sustaining

Anne Hanchek

Danica Mito

Chuck and Candace Egner - Sustaining