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Field Days

A WRI Field Educator assisting a student with finding a bird with their binoculars.

Go Beyond the Walls of the Classroom

When building a community that cares for and engages with the natural world, creating gratitude and connectivity with nature from a young age is important. With the Wenatchee River Institute (WRI), students learn what it means to care for the land.

“We want learning to open the door to gratitude and connection.” - Deanna Butcher, Youth Programs Coordinator

WRI's Field Days provide opportunities for just that! Field Days provide a mix of science, exploration, and discovery to connect youth with nature. Our curriculum puts science tools in the hands of students while providing fun and experiential education in the outdoors throughout the school year. Spending time outside learning and caring for the land teaches students that they can do good things in the natural world, and have fun while doing it! 

Having Fun Outside - All Year Long!

Field Days
  • A group of students on the bank of the Wenatchee River pointing at a fish, surrounded by the fall foliage.

    Each season brings something new and exciting to learn... 

  • A group gathers around a volunteer near the river as he holds a dead salmon for students to view.

    From seeing the leaves change, to watching the river run with salmon, to seeing the final stage of the salmon lifecycle, there is so much to see in the fall...

  • A group of students standing in the river collecting aquatic macroinvertebrates.

    Students become Watershed Naturalists by performing a health assessment on our riparian habitat...

  • Students gathered around a net used to collect aquatic macroinvertebrates.

    Students collect and learn from small aquatic macroinvertebrates that keep our rivers clean and healthy...

  • Two students learning over a container in the sand doing an erosion activity to learn about how to create solutions for erosion.

    Students become Earth Explorers by exploring our local watershed, designing and engineering solutions to erosion, and teaching one another about native ecology...

  • A student making a funny face after looking at a cockroach head under the stereoscope.

    Students also get to look at nature up close and personal through naturalist tools like stereoscopes and hand lenses... Look at that cockroach head!

  • A group of students pose on snowshoes in a wintry scene by the river.

    In the winter, students explore wintry trails by snowshoe looking for signs of wildlife and uncover adaptations plants and animals use to survive the cold...

  • A group of students racing on snowshoes on a snowy meadow.

    Along the way, students play games to develop their snowshoeing skills and explore the key design features that help snowshoes function...

  • Three young girls dressed in winter gear studying snow crystals on a page and drawing them on their clipboard.

    Students study snow and the crystals that make up snow...

  • Two students smiling and posing with their nature finds.

    As the snow fades, spring excitement develops! Students search for signs of spring and fun nature items to share...

  • A group of students in a meadow with tall grass and mountains in the background.

    As the foliage grows, they get to explore more of the WRI campus and go on hikes by the Wenatchee River...

  • A group of students doing a water experiment on the banks of the river.

    Students perform a series of water quality tests to determine if the river is healthy...

  • A group of students pointing at a snag that is the home of a Northern Flicker.

    The spring is an exciting time to observe the wild birds that live here...

  • A group of students with binoculars searching for a bird on the WRI campus.

    They learn about bird anatomy and behavior by using field guides and binoculars, and learning bird songs through games...

  • A group of students posed outside of the River Haus writing in their nature journals.

    Students explore nature, but also stop to journal their nature discoveries...

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The air buzzes with excitement as students playfully uncover the secrets of the natural world, one lesson and one season at a time. They become nature detectives, spotting subtle changes, unraveling the mysteries of the world around them, and marveling at the delicate balance that keeps our ecosystems ticking.

“You can learn about the environment in the classroom, but you learn to care about it in nature. That’s our future.” - Karen Haire, WRI Volunteer

Kids become explorers: whether studying erosion on a fall hike, identifying birds in spring, or journaling about their nature discoveries. Every experience is an adventure designed to spark students’ curiosity and kindle a lifelong love for the environment.

“I had the best time of my life going to [WRI and] Barn Beach Reserve and doing all of those amazing activities with you guys. You made me want to take care of nature more...” - Calvin, 4th Grade Student

Resources

  • For more information on Field Day Programs for teachers and schools, click here. Make an inquiry for your students to visit our campus, or a natural area around your school!

  • Our Youth Field Days need YOU! Click here to sign up and share your love of the outdoors with students. 

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