Wenatchee Outdoors

Fun with Twigs: Plant ID in the Winter
2022-02-26 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
This event is hosted by Wenatchee River Institute
Saturday, February 26th 10am-12pm @ WRI
During the winter months, deciduous woody shrubs and trees without flowers and leaves still hold clues to their identity. Join Washington Native Plant Society members for a stroll along the Wenatchee River to learn some new identification skills. We will observe and differentiate maple, dogwood, snowberry, cottonwood, and other woody shrubs and trees. Immerse yourself in twig terminology as you examine leaf scars, bud scales and other anatomical features. The walk will begin at Wenatchee River Institute for a basic introduction to twig anatomy/terminology and instructions on using a dichotomous key.
This is a FREE workshop, but registration is still required: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/event-calendar.html/event/2022/02/26/fun-with-twigs-plant-id-in-the-winter/362315

Guided Snowshoe Hike at Lake Wen. State Park!
2022-02-26 13:00 - 15:00
Lake Wenatchee State Park- Leavenworth, WA
Every Saturday in January and February, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Join us at Lake Wenatchee State Park north entrance every Saturday in January & February at 1pm as park staff guide you on a 1.3 mile snowshoe hike through scenery along the Wenatchee River, the shore of Lake Wenatchee, and surrounding forest. Participants can enjoy a well-packed route through parts of our park that are not always accessible in summer. Expect some historical talking points, nature interpretation, and views of Nason Ridge, Dirty Face, and South Beach. No snowshoes? No problem! Call the park ahead of time to rent a pair. A Sno-Park pass is required to park.
More info: contact the state park (509) 763-3101

Friends of Horan Bird Walks
2022-03-02 07:30 - 10:00
Event by North Central Washington Audubon Society

Location: Walla Walla Point Park

The Friends of Horan bird walk takes place the first Wednesday of each month. There is no registration required for these walks. Just show up, be prepared for the weather and, walk about 2.5 miles on easy, gravel trails. Each of the walks begins at 07:30 and ends by 10:00. It is fine to leave the walk early if you have limited time. The walks begin at the north-most parking lot in Walla Walla Point Park near the restrooms. Parking does not require a Discovery Pass and is free (thank you Chelan PUD).
Every walk follows a protocol to visit several sites and the bird sightings are entered into eBird. This ensures that bird use in the Horan area and in Walla Walla Point Park are consistently documented.

Fun with Twigs: Plant ID in the Winter
2022-03-02 10:00 - 12:00
This event is hosted by Wenatchee River Institute
Wednesday, March 2nd 10am-12pm @ WRI
During the winter months, deciduous woody shrubs and trees without flowers and leaves still hold clues to their identity. Join Washington Native Plant Society members for a stroll along the Wenatchee River to learn some new identification skills. We will observe and differentiate maple, dogwood, snowberry, cottonwood, and other woody shrubs and trees. Immerse yourself in twig terminology as you examine leaf scars, bud scales and other anatomical features. The walk will begin at Wenatchee River Institute for a basic introduction to twig anatomy/terminology and instructions on using a dichotomous key.
This is a FREE workshop, but registration is still required: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/event-calendar.html/event/2022/03/02/fun-with-twigs-plant-id-in-the-winter/362316

Envir. Film & Speaker Series: Expedition Reclamation
2022-03-03 19:00 - 21:00
Chelan-Douglas Land Trust is the sponsor for the premiere of the film, “Expedition Reclamation” presented by The Brave Space Project, as part of the Environmental Film and Speaker Series on Thursday, March 3 at 7 PM. This short documentary seeks to redefine “outdoorsy” and reclaim belonging in the outdoors for Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color by highlighting their joyful, resilient, and transformative relationships to outdoor recreation. Join us virtually to hear from co-directors, Erin Joy Nash and Chelsea Murphy, as they and their team present the film and a panel conversation with those who contributed their stories in the film.
Please register to attend this event virtually.

Birding E. Wenatchee's Porters Pond
2022-03-05 08:00 - 10:00
Event by North Central Washington Audubon Society

Location: Apple Capital Loop Trail

Join Joe Veverka and Tucker Jonas for a couple of hours of birding at Porter’s Pond in East Wenatchee. We will meet at the Apple Capital Loop Trail-19th St Trailhead at 8:00 am and walk along the Apple Capital Loop Trail and side trails looking for waterfowl and grebes on the river. We expect to find several species of waterfowl as well as wintering sparrows and perhaps even some early arriving violet-green swallows. Walking should be fairly easy not exceeding 2 miles at a birder’s pace. Bring binoculars, good shoes, plenty of water, and snacks. Don’t forget a camera. All skill levels are welcome. If you have any questions email Joe Veverka at joe_veverka@yahoo.com

The History of Climbing in Leavenworth
2022-03-08 18:30 - 20:00
Red Barn Event: The History of Climbing in Leavenworth
Tuesday, March 8th 7-8pm @ Red Barn, WRI
Join WRI and local climber, Jim Phillips for an evening of local climbing history! Jim has climbed around Leavenworth for over 50 years and will be discussing his experiences, history and mysteries, pitons and people, guidebooks and services, Enchantments then and now, and his observations of changes since the 1960s. This is a FREE event with a donation basket at the door. Doors open at 6:30pm for a community social with beer and wine available for purchase.
Please check the website for any updates on the event: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/event-calendar.html/event/2022/03/08/red-barn-event-the-history-of-climbing-in-leavenworth/367386.

Discover Pass Free Day!
2022-03-09
Washington State Parks has designated the free days in 2022 when visitors will not need a Discover Pass to park at state parks and on recreation lands managed by Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
Wednesday, March 9 is Billy Frank Jr.’s birthday.
Billy Frank Jr. (1931-2014) was an environmental activist and former chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission. His lifelong dedication to protecting endangered salmon and restoring justice for the Nisqually Tribe helped shape Washington’s environmental laws and expanded treaty rights for Native Americans nationwide. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.
“Billy Frank Jr. Day is a day to be outside giving back to Mother Earth,” said Frank’s son, Nisqually Chairman Willie Frank III. “I do believe my dad wouldn’t want us to take the day off. He would want us to be out replanting trees or cleaning up the riverbanks. This is a day for the state of Washington to feel a little bit of Billy Magic.”
For more information click here.

Monthly eBird Survey
2022-03-09 08:00 - 09:30
Monthly eBird Surveys at WRI (Wenatchee River Institute)
Beginning Wednesday, March 9th (and go throughout the year) from 8-9:30am @ WRI
Join WRI’s knowledgeable naturalists on a birding survey around the WRI Campus! eBird is the largest biodiversity-related community science project in the world. We will be utilizing it to record our observations of local wild birds. You will conduct four 15-minute stationary bird counts for an hour of birding. Total walking distance is ½ mile, over a gravel path with two moderate hills. All skill levels are welcome!
To learn more about our monthly eBird walks, visit: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/education-programs/community-programs/seasonal-nature-walks.html

Consciousness of Place and People
2022-03-09 17:30 - 19:00
This event is hosted by the North Cascades Institute
Instructor: Tom Hulst
Location: Anywhere you would like as the event is an online format.
Class Tution: $10
We relate to our earthly home in many different ways and for just as many reasons. Planet Earth can be felt as a place of refuge, or a challenge, a fount of inspiration and even a threat to us. We can offer it care and appreciation, as well as neglect and harm. We humans can aspire to form a reciprocity — or a relationship of kinship — to it. In other words, we can strive to respect and interact with our home planet, getting what we need without overtaxing it.
This new online program offers an opportunity to take an interdisciplinary look at our concepts of place. We’ll explore the perspectives of numerous figures, from conservationists to poets to indigenous scholars, as we learn about the many varied ways people have reaffirmed their connection to nature. We will also have an opportunity for a facilitated discussion about our own sense of belonging to the earth.
We welcome Tom Hulst to our virtual platform. He is the past president and board member of E3 Washington, currently teaching at Tacoma Community College and passionate about education and the natural world. Tom is a regular columnist for the Public Administration Times (the PA Times), the voice of the field of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).
The Institute is excited to host this multifaceted virtual program that will engage, inform, challenge and hopefully enhance our perspectives on the possibilities of our relationship with our home planet.
For more information and to register click here.

Sailing Around Vancouver Island
2022-03-10 19:00 - 20:00
Red Barn Event: Sailing Around Vancouver Island
Thursday, March 10th 7-8pm @ Red Barn, WRI
Join Wenatchee Valley local, Mike Cecka for an evening photographic recap of his 46-day sailing adventure! Departing from the Oak Harbor marina, their route took them around the nearly 300-mile long island, passing through the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands, up the Strait of Georgia and more. They saw many wildlife along the way, too! For more detail and updates, check the website: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/event-calendar.html/event/2022/03/10/red-barn-event-sailing-around-vancouver-island/368133

How to Climb the Nose in a Day
2022-03-10 19:00 - 20:30
How to Climb the Nose in a Day or How to Climb the Nose in a Few Days
Hosted by Riverfront Rock Gym
Located at 1319 Walla Walla Avenue
Featuring John Plotz
Date: March 10th
Time: 7pm
Come down next Thursday at 7pm to learn all the tips and tricks from John Plotz for climbing EL Capitan!
For more information click here.

Lowell Skoog Presents Written in the Snows
2022-03-12 19:30 - 20:30
Hosted by Riverfront Rock Gym in Wenatchee
Date/Time: Saturday March 12 at 7:30pm
Lowell Skoog is something of a NW backcountry skiing legend — both for his historical knowledge of regional backcountry skiing scene but also for some of the ambitious backcountry ski tours he has pioneered (e.g., The Isolation Traverse, the Picket Range Traverse) and was first to do during the snowy months on skis.
Legendary northwest skiing historian Lowell Skoog takes a deep dive into Northwest ski culture through
stories and photographs in his new book Written in the Snows-Across Time on Skis in the Pacific Northwest.
Written in the Snows is AVAILABLE NOW!
In Written in the Snows, renowned local ski historian Lowell Skoog presents a definitive and visually rich history of the past century of Northwest ski culture, from stirring and colorful stories of wilderness exploration to the evolution of gear and technique. He traces the development of skiing in Washington
from the late 1800s to the present, covering the beginning of ski resorts and competitions, the importance of wild places in the Cascades and Olympic mountains (with a side trip to Oregon’s Mt. Hood,), and the friluftsliv, or open-air living spirit, of backcountry skiing.
Skoog addresses how skiing has been shaped by larger social trends, including immigration, the Great Depression, war, economic growth, conservation, and the media. In turn, Northwest skiers have affected their regions in ways that transcend the sport, producing local legends like Milnor Roberts, Olga Bolstad, Hans Otto Giese, Bill Maxwell, and more. While weaving his own impressions and experiences into the larger history, Skoog shows that skiing is far more than mere sport or recreation.
• Century of Northwest wilderness skiing stories by noted expert
• 150 black-and-white and color photographs
• Celebrates the friluftsliv, or open-air living spirit, of backcountry skiing
As a skier, climber, writer, and photographer, Lowell Skoog has been a keen observer of
Northwest mountaineering since the 1970s. He is the creator of the Alpenglow Gallery and
founder of the Northwest Mountaineering Journal, websites that celebrate local mountain
culture, and he was a key member of the team that launched the Washington State Ski and
Snowboard Museum. Skoog is the chairman of the Mountaineers History and Library committee. He lives in Seattle.

Footprints on Snow-7 Brave Women Who Shaped the History of the NW Mnts.
2022-03-14 19:00 - 20:00
Red Barn Event: Footprints on Snow – Seven Brave Women Who Shaped the History of the Northwest Mountains
Monday, March 14th 7-8pm @ Red Barn, WRI
Join WRI for an evening with author, Joan Burton to hear about her book, Footprints on Snow and the stories of seven amazing women of the Pacific Northwest. These women were explorers, climbers, and conservationists and helped shape the history of the Northwest Mountains. For more detail and updates, check the website: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/event-calendar.html/event/2022/03/14/red-barn-event-footprints-on-snow-seven-brave-women-who-shaped-the-history-of-the-northwest-mountains/368480.

Gear Repair Cafe
2022-03-17 17:00 - 20:00
Save the Date! And your old and broken gear. Waste Loop and @colchuckconsignment are partnering again for a Gear Repair Cafe on Thursday March 17th from 5-8pm.

Do you have outdoor gear that needs fixing? What about skills or tools that could help fix things? Or do you want to learn some new DIY repair skills? Gear Repair Cafes are a chance to keep old and broken gear and garments out of the landfill by fixing or upcycling them. Materials and tools will be available but please bring any extras you have that could fix your gear or someone else’s! This free community event is all about helping each other out and building community while keeping our gear functioning and out of the landfill.

Educational demos will be happening throughout the night on topics such as:

-Patching and zippers 101
-Changing a bike flat
-Drysuit gasket repair
-Proper seasonal storage for skis

If you’d like to volunteer as a fixer for this event please send us a dm or email at contact@wasteloop.org
For more information click here.

Discover Pass Free Day!
2022-03-19
Washington State Parks has designated the free days in 2022 when visitors will not need a Discover Pass to park at state parks and on recreation lands managed by Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
For more information click here.
Saturday, March 19 – Washington State Parks’ birthday

NCW Hummingbird Project
2022-03-20
North Central Washington Hummingbird Project. Volunteer to conduct a vernal solstice hummingbird monitoring observation in your yard. Surveys occur on solstice and equinox dates. Each survey is one hour long. All the data collected is entered into eBird to help advance the knowledge about Anna’s range expansion and biology. You can find out more about this project by clicking here to access a background paper. The NCWAS Hummingbird page contains additional hummingbird resources. Project contacts: Bruce McCammon or Susan Ballinger.

Miles for Monarchs
2022-03-21
Community Science Project
Miles for Monarchs, an individual or team program from Monarch Joint Venture. Walk, bike, swim, paddle, and run for monarch conservation, February-November, 2022. Designed to engage participants in personal
wellness while supporting monarch conservation. A single monarch can fly 3,000 miles, so can we? Register, $10. Family teams welcome!

Think You Know the North Cascades? A Natural History Trivia Challenge with Gina
2022-03-23 19:00 - 20:30
Hosted by the North Cascades Institute
Join us for a fun night on Zoom and put your natural history trivia skills to the test! We’re hosting a live, interactive game show in which we break up into teams, compete for prizes and deepen our understanding of the natural history of the North Cascades. This game show will take you on a whimsical journey of unexpected learning and fun.
Expand your knowledge about the oldest, puzzling, most economically valuable, famous, glimmery rocks, birds, insects and mushrooms in the North Cascades… and everything in-between! This 2-hour online gathering is structured around a group trivia challenge with scientific expertise, commentary and discussion facilitated by the inimitable Gina Roberti, an Institute Graduate M.Ed. alumnus currently working at the Mount St. Helens Institute.
To register click here.

Hiking Washington's History
2022-03-24 19:00 - 20:00
Red Barn Event: Hiking Washington’s History
Thursday, March 24th 7-8pm @ Red Barn, WRI
Join WRI for an evening with author, Judy Bentley to hear about her book, Hiking Washington’s History. Bentley will describe some of these ancient and more recent paths now preserved, restored, and maintained for hiking. Her talk and slides will draw from 44 historic hikes! For more detail and updates, check the website: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/event-calendar.html/event/2022/03/24/red-barn-event-hiking-washington-s-history/368352.

Othello Sandhill Crane Festival
2022-03-25 - 2022-03-27
For over two decades we have celebrated the annual return of nearly 35,000 sand hill cranes to Othello, Washington every March as they migrate north to their breeding grounds in Alaska. The Festival offers an incredible opportunity to view the cranes up-close, with tours led by local experts. The Festival also boasts other specialty tours of the flora, fauna and geology of the area, and many lectures, as well as children’s activities.
The Festival has grown over the years with returning participants attending from across the country.
For more information click here.

Intro to Wildlife Tracking Class
2022-03-26 09:00 - 2022-03-27 16:00
Intro to Wildlife Tracking Class
Saturday and Sunday, March 26th & 27th 9am-4pm @ WRI
WRI (Wenatchee River Institute) invites you to join us for a weekend introduction to the language of wildlife tracking. Throughout the weekend, you’ll gain a basic understanding of how to identify and interpret the commonly left tracks and sign of the birds, mammals, and insects of our region. For more detail and registration, visit: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/event-calendar.html/event/2022/03/27/intro-to-wildlife-tracking-class/368492

Tour de Blues
2022-04-02 - 2022-04-03
This event takes place at Mission Ridge
Tour de Blues Presented By PEPSI is all about getting out with your family and friends and exploring Mission Ridge! Spend the weekend skiing and riding all the blue runs on the mountain. Then turn in your punch card when you finish all the blue runs or are finished for the day to the admin office. We will do a random drawing from the entries starting at 2:30 PM and notify the winners via our website and social media on Sunday at 3:30 PM.
How does the event work?

Register at the Guest Services desk inside the Hampton Lodge and pick up your trail punch card.
Ski or snowboard as many of the blue runs as you can on Saturday and Sunday.
Turn your trail punch card into the Guest Services desk in the lower level of the Hampton Lodge before 2:00 pm on Sunday.
We will post the Tour de Blues prize drawing winners Sunday at 3:30 pm and announce the winners on our Website and Social Media Channels. If you aren’t present that day to pick up your prize, we will hold them at the admin office for two weeks.
Win awesome prizes

For more information click here.

Vermicomposting
2022-04-02 10:30 - 12:00
Join us in the MakerSpace during the month of April for Science on Saturdays. Saturday, April 2 at 10:30 AM is our composting class! Join us together with Betsy and Jana from Sustainable Wenatchee for this class on vermicomposting. Vermicomposting is a great way to learn the basics of indoor composting, using Red Wiggler worms to create nutrient-rich worm castings and compost. In this class, we will make an indoor compost bin and learn what to put in our compost, and how to keep your worms happy and healthy.
The recommended age for this class is 8 and older, and each child will need to be accompanied by an adult as we will be using a drill to create holes in our compost bin.
Cost is $5 for members and $8 for nonmembers. Registration is required and will close at noon on April 1st.

Workshop: The Families of Flora Hour - Five Families
2022-04-04 16:00 - 17:00
Workshop: The Families of Flora Hour – Five Families
Description

4 one-hour webinars that provide in-depth coverage of one or two families each session, along with discussion of important identification characters of common genera and species in Washington’s flora.
With Host, David Giblin
Times and Dates: 4:00-5:00, April 4, 6, 11, 13
Format: PowerPoint presentation summarizing diagnostic features of each family along with supporting photos; brief discussion of evolutionary context of each family (e.g., closely related families, whether primitive or derived); a review of generic keys in Flora of the Pacific Northwest, 2nd edition for families covered. Emphasis is placed on explaining and recognizing important characters used in the keys, with special focus on large or difficult genera within each family. This program is provided by zoom webinar, and recordings will be available for student review for 3 weeks following the last program date.
Families covered: Ferns and Fern Allies, Liliaceae (broad sense), Ranunculuceae, Polygonaceae/Grossulariaceae
Prerequisites – knowledge of basic vegetative (e.g, stipules, prickles) and reproductive (e.g., corolla, inferior ovary, bilateral symmetry) plant morphology; familiarity with how to use a dichotomous key; familiarity with the differences between the terms family, genus, and species.
Recommended text: Flora of the Pacific Northwest, 2nd edition
David Giblin, PhD., Collections Manager at the UW Herbarium at the Burke Museum
Cost for all four sessions – $50.00
Register to attend here: https://www.wnps.org/events/family-of-flora-hour-five-families

An Introduction to Lichens
2022-04-05 18:30 - 20:00
An Introduction to Lichens
Hosted by the Wenatchee River Institute
In this hands-on workshop, you will create your own lichen ID chart using local specimens. You will discover that there are lichens all around you. Winter is a great time to see them too, as wind and snow knock them out of trees and there are fewer leaves to hide them in trees and shrubs. You may even find that a single branch has five or more species. With your chart you will get better acquainted with them and you will learn what to look for when using lichen identification guides.
More information and registration: https://wenatcheeriverinstitute.org/education-programs/community-programs/workshops.html

Yoga Basics with Dianne
2022-04-06 10:00 - 11:00
This event is hosted by the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center
Yoga Basics with Dianne
Wednesdays in April at 10 am – April 6, 13, 20, 27
Wells House 801 Nelson Ave (located on the Wenatchee Valley College Campus)
$40 for four-week series/members $50/non-members
Improve your flexibility, balance, strength, and relaxation using basic yoga postures and breathing techniques while enjoying the charm of the historic and beautiful Wells House.
Dianne McCammon will lead this small, adults-only yoga series. Yoga Basics is slower-paced and focuses on developing a clear and safe alignment of fundamental postures. This series of classes is designed for beginners, those recovering from injury or anyone wanting to refine their current practice. Come learn, play, and maybe even break a sweat in a supportive environment. All bodies are welcome.
Dianne is certified at the 500-hour level with Yoga Alliance and is a Registered Yoga Therapist with International Association of Yoga Therapists.
Please bring your mat and water. Space is limited. We will be following health and safety guidelines issued by the Chelan Douglas Health District and the State of Washington, including facemasks if mandated.

A Year in the Lives of North American Owls
2022-04-07 19:00 - 20:30
Environmental Film & Lecture Series: Paul Bannick: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls. Program will feature video, sound, stories from the field, and images from the new book, Owl: A Year in the Lives of North American Owls. Check the Wenatchee Valley Museum website for presentation mode and registration instructions.

Flamingo Days at Mission Ridge
2022-04-09 - 2022-04-10
Mission Ridge is sending off the season in style with Flamingo Days, their season-ending tradition that is on the last two operating days of the season every year. There is the potential this date may change, depending on conditions. If the season is extended, Retro Days will be on this weekend. Join in on the Flamingo Scavenger hunt for your chance to win a 2022/2023 Premier Pass. One lucky flamingo hunter will be rewarded each day with a season pass for next year, and there are tons of other prizes to pick up as well.
Dust off your best neon ski gear and help us send off the season in style. Soak up some sun while you search for the plastic flamingos with numbers on them hidden around the mountain.
Each flamingo is numbered and has a prize associated with it, and the Grand Prize for the Flamingo Scavenger hunt is a 2022/2023 Season Pass! Other prizes include Mission Ridge gear, hats, shirts, candy, and more!
Saturday:

Turn in Your Flamingos at the Wenatchee Express garage by Midway. Opens at 10 am – Close (or when all the Flamingos are turned in)
Flamingo Scavenger Hunt 9 am until 2 pm.
Amazing Retro and/or Flamingo-themed costumes all day.

Sunday:

Turn in Your Flamingos at the Wenatchee Express garage by Midway. Opens at 10 am – Close (or when all the Flamingos are turned in)
Flamingo Scavenger Hunt 9 am until they are all found, or 2 pm, whatever comes first.
Amazing Retro and/or Flamingo-themed costumes all day.

For more information click here.

Sage Hills Trail Maintenance
2022-04-09 09:00 - 12:00
Sage Hills Trail MaintenanceHosted by Chelan-Douglas Land TrustLocation: Sage Hills TrailheadJoin us at one of two locations for annual spring maintenance of the lower Sage Hills trail. This work will be light to moderate and involve hiking 2-3 miles and using hand tools such as hoes and McLeods along the way. In order to accommodate more people, and to get more work done, we will be splitting the volunteers between two different meeting locations.For more information, follow this link. https://www.cdlandtrust.org/outings-events/events/trail-maintenance-sage-hills
