Wenatchee River Institute April Events

Nature Writing: Come to Your Senses

Thursday, April 13, 2-4 p.m. Ready to get curious about nature and put words on a page? To convey the wonder takes more than recording what you see. Practice nature writing that employs all five senses. Come learn with WRI and nature writer and author, Marina Richie. This workshop is open to all writing experience levels.

Red Barn Event - Block Printing Demonstration with Molly Hashimoto

Wednesday, April 19, 7-8 p.m.

Join WRI, A Book for All Seasons, and artist and author, Molly Hashimoto for a step-by-step block printing demonstration and presentation about her research on western trees. She has been studying and painting western trees for decades and compiled it all in her new book, Trees of the West: An Artist's Guide.

2nd Annual Trashion Show

Friday, April 21, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Join us for the 2nd annual Trashion Show, a fashion show featuring wearable garments using recycled materials and repurposed clothes. Come down to see the creative pieces built by your neighbors and vote for your favorite outfit. This event is held outside on the WRI River Haus Lawn. Bring some snacks, a picnic blanket, or a camp chair to make yourself comfortable. Chairs will also be available. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be for sale during this event.

Red Barn Event - Beaver-powered Restoration: The Wenatchee-Entiat Beaver Project

Wednesday, April 26, 7-8 p.m. Join WRI and Washington Native Plant Society to learn about Wenatchee-Entiat Beaver Project. The Project provides education and outreach to manage human-beaver conflicts, relocates beavers, and constructs beaver dam analogs to restore aquatic and riparian environments in Central Washington.

Bird Fest Youth Art Gallery

Students in grades K-8 took on the challenge of the 2023 Bird Fest Youth Art Contest. Local students were tasked with creating an art piece focusing on birds. There were 80 submissions! The winning artwork is featured on the 2023 Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest poster and the winning artist will receive a prize.

This year's winner is Hazel, a 4th grade student from Vale Elementary in Cashmere. Congratulations, Hazel. Keep your eye out for Hazel's art on the poster which will be distributed around the Wenatchee Valley to promote this year's Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest from May 18-21.

All of the art pieces submitted are displayed in the Bird Fest Youth Art Gallery on our website. Take a look at all of the beautiful artwork from these talented students at www.wenatcheeriverinstitute.org

Signs of Spring with Kindergarteners

Kindergarteners were nature explorers during their Field Days at WRI. Four classrooms (about 75 students) from Peshastin-Dryden Elementary visited the WRI campus. They spent the day outside looking for signs of spring. Students "adopted a tree" and got to know a specific tree on the WRI campus. They learned about the two different types of trees: coniferous and deciduous. They also learned about the different bugs and critters that start coming around in springtime.