January 22nd E-Newsletter

It's time to celebrate!

We are humbled by the support shown from our community. Because of YOU, we not only met our end-of-year fundraising goal... but surpassed it! Our goal was to raise $65,000 by December 31st, and... *drum roll*

Together, you helped raise over $74,000 plus the $30,000 match from the Icicle Fund! That is over $100,000 going towards connecting people, communities and the natural world in 2026. This also means our team took on the polar plunge challenge and plunged into the ice cold Wenatchee River. Check out the video on Instagram or Facebook!

Special thanks to you, our members and supporters; the Community Foundation of North Central Washington for running the Give NCW campaign that raised over $1 million benefitting 98 local nonprofits; the Icicle Fund for offering this valuable matching opportunity; and finally, to a generous local family that is passionate about Bird Fest who offered an additional $5,000 match. We look forward to continuing to serve our community this year!

Programs

Missed the most recent Red Barn Event? Watch the recording on YouTube to learn about Habitat Gardening, featuring presenter Ted Alway of the Wenatchee Valley Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society. He shares how to transform your landscape into a thriving ecosystem for native plants and pollinators.

Learn more about upcoming programs below!

Snowshoe Strolls

Upcoming dates:

Friday, January 23rd, Saturday, January 24th, Friday, January 30th,

and more!

Join us this winter for WRI’s Snowshoe Strolls on Fridays and Saturdays throughout January and February at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery! These guided walks are a beginner-friendly and a great way to enjoy fresh air, explore the Icicle Creek in winter, and learn more about the local environment.

If there is not enough snow for snowshoeing, we will offer a Winter Hike at the same time and location, and a discount code for 50% off the fee. Please see individual dates for more information below.

Snowshoes are provided and registration is required.

FREE Community Seed Swaps

Saturday, January 31st

12-1:30PM OR 5-6:30PM

Celebrate National Seed Swap Day! Stop by the Red Barn during the two times above to swap seeds, pick up free seeds, and get inspired for the growing season ahead. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, all are welcome. Members of WRI’s E. Lorene Young Community Garden and local Master Gardeners will be on hand with seeds, seed-starting containers, and helpful tips to help you plan for spring and learn more about getting a garden plot of your own.

Dine & Donate: A Community Benefit Dinner for WRI with Colchuck's

Tuesday, January 27th

5:00PM-7:00PM

Enjoy a delicious community dinner made possible by our generous partners: Colchuck’s, US Foods, and Sysco. There is a suggested donation of $20 per person at the door. All donations from the evening will go directly toward WRI’s clean-up and reconstruction efforts following the December storm. Come share a meal, connect with neighbors, and help support the recovery of a place that means so much to our community!

Youth Programs

Mid-Winter Break Camps – February 2026

Get ready for our Mid-Winter Break Camps! We’re offering two options this February:

• Two-Day Camp: Thursday, Feb. 12 & Friday, Feb. 13
• Four-Day Camp: Tuesday, Feb. 17 through Friday, Feb. 20

Registration is NOW OPEN!

There are still spots open for the Winter After School Program! — Register here.

2026 Bird Fest Youth Art Contest NOW OPEN!

It's that time of year! The 2026 Bird Fest Youth Art Contest is now accepting submissions! Participating students have the chance to win a prize and have their art featured on the 2026 Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest Poster.

To participate you must:

• Be in grades K-8
• Focus on a bird in your art piece (preferably a species found in North Central Washington)
• Submit a full color piece

Submission deadline is Sunday, March 8th at 11:59PM

Check out the Bird Fest Youth Art Gallery for inspiration! Follow the link below for more details and submission instructions. If you have any questions, email Michaela. 

Place

You've Got Mail: 2025 Tax Receipts

If you donated directly to the Wenatchee River Institute in 2025, you should have received a tax receipt from us via email or mail. If you did not receive one and need a receipt for your records, please email Randee. Thank you so much for your support and making a difference in what we do!

The Traveling Planetarium is Back!

Exciting news for local stargazers and students! The WRI Traveling Planetarium has officially received a refresh. Thanks to recent updates, the planetarium is now equipped with a new projector and an upgraded computer system.

This upgrade wouldn't have been possible without the help of our amazing community. We want to extend a huge thank you to Jeremy, a dedicated local volunteer! Jeremy generously donated his time to drive to western Washington to pick up the new equipment directly from the company.

Thank you to our donors from the last 2 weeks AND in the second half of Give NCW!

Steve and Betsy Backstrom in honor of Arne Backstrom - Sustaining

Gro Buer and Bruce Williams - Sustaining

Anonymous Donors

Candace and Chuck Egner - Sustaining

Diane Patterson and David Stoller - Sustaining

Anne Carson in memory of Frances Field

Kamuron Gurol - Sustaining

Lisa and Jim Osse - Sustaining

Jill and Joel Martinez - Sustaining

June Terry

Andy and Maureen Seikel - Sustaining

Dave and Pat Notter - Sustaining

Heather and Ole Bore - Sustaining

Mustache Unicorn Fund

Tracy Brulotte - Sustaining

Jackie and Tom Andrewjeski - Sustaining

Maury and Shannon Haferman

Debbie Lapo and John Ballinger in honor of Ted Alway and Patricia Ortiz

Dave and Nancy Bartholomew - Sustaining

Kurt and Celeste Peterson - Sustaining

Lisi Ott - Sustaining

Nancy Ahern

Judy Clark

Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort

Sarah Brawley

Deanna Butcher

Angela and Andrew Crampton

Emily Gale

Heather and Patrick Murphy

Carolyn Griffin-Bugert and Bob Bugert - Sustaining

Joshua Schaub

Lexi Stowell

Martin Straub and Diane Blake

Caroline Woolmington and Timothy Clement

Susan Mitchell

Deborah and Lee Oatey

Jeanne and Don Poirier

Rachel Clement and Tucker Jackson

Theresa and Richard D-Litzenberger

Denise Figlewicz

Bill and Sally Bauer

Mall Boyd - Sustaining

Christina Barrineau and Mark Wefel

Suzanne Hartman and Barry Storer

Jeanne Pusey

Rich Evans

Betsy Metcalf

Christine and David Morgan

München Haus

Penelope and Larry Tobiska

Mary and Zach Zornes

Icicle Brewing Company

Peter and JoAnne Hill

Pam and Oliver Brulotte

Colchuck Consignment

Susan Westerlund and Peter Valaas

Margaret Neighbors

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