Red Barn at Wenatchee River Institute

In this workshop we will combine the science of lichenology with the joy of artistic creativity. We will cover 20 terms that describe the different structures and forms of lichen. We’ll illustrate them in a booklet that participants can take home for future reference.

We will cover the basic anatomy, forms, and other specialized structures that are important when identifying lichens. Combining art with science is a great way to learn and retain new information. If you are lichen-curious, this workshop is a can’t miss!

Microscopes, specimens, visual aids, paper, and drawing supplies will be provided. All skill levels welcome!

Join the Northwest Avalanche Center for a free introductory avalanche safety class. Learn how to recognize avalanche danger and access forecasts. Open to all winter recreationists. Registration required. This presentation takes place in the Red Barn with no fieldwork.

Streaming link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-3U36Cs8XM
Doors open at 6:30pm for a community social with beer, wine, sparkling water, and tea available for purchase. The presentation will start at 7:00pm.
Native plants aren’t only beautiful, they’re also essential for pollinators! Species like bees, butterflies, and other helpful invertebrates rely on these plants for food, habitat, and more. Our presenter, Angie Orpet from the Xerces Society, will discuss collaborative efforts made by Washington growers to conserve these important species. She’ll discuss how planting native plants and creating pollinator habitat on working lands can assist with crop production.

With over 45 years of bicycle touring experience, Bob and Carolyn have some biking stories to share! They have ridden through cyclones, snowstorms, and mud wallows; with a baby, three teenagers, and with many families; on single bikes, on a tandem and on mountain bikes; as newlyweds, parents, and retirees; in campgrounds, wilderness, youth hostels and guesthouses; with laughter and with tears.
Join us for an evening of storytelling through photos and reflective memories highlighting how their touring has changed over the past four decades. They’ll share a bit about gear, how to take a bike on planes, trains, boats, escalators, and elevators, and bike touring resources to know about. If the snow’s not too deep, they’ll bring their loaded tandem.

Streaming link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZVMVlkbTRk

Doors open at 6:30pm for a community social with beer and wine available for purchase. The presentation will start at 7:00pm.

Grizzly bears roamed the North Cascades region for thousands of years as a key part of the ecosystem. They distributed native plant seeds and kept other wildlife populations in balance. Since then, populations declined primarily due to direct killing by humans. The last confirmed sighting of a grizzly bear in the U.S. portion of the North Cascades ecosystem was in 1996. In April 2024, the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) decided that restoring grizzly bears to the North Cascades ecosystem (NCE) would be undertaken by relocating grizzly bears from other ecosystems. National Park Service Wildlife Biologist Dr. Jason Ransom will discuss the ecology of grizzly bears in the NCE, what the restoration process looks like moving forward, and best practices for coexisting with both black bears and grizzly bears in the Cascades.

Doors open at 6:30pm for a community social with beer and wine available for purchase

Big River: Resilience and Renewal in the Columbia Basin

In BIG RIVER, award-winning photographer David Moskowitz and writer Eileen Delehanty Pearkes illuminate the natural history, hydrogeology, beauty, and human activity on the Columbia River, while also highlighting the challenges facing the region and the people working on sustainable solutions.

The culmination of Moskowitz’s many years of photographing the river and exploring its watershed and Eileen’s decades of research, Big River seeks a path forward for the Columbia River Watershed, balancing the demands around water, salmon, agriculture, energy, and climate with the fundamental need for a sustainable living river.

Streaming link: https://youtube.com/live/Y3AbqeQaUl0?feature=share

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. The presentation will start at 7:00pm.

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Conservation Northwest, the Okanogan Nation Alliance, the Province of British Columbia, Okanogan Region Trappers and a team of dedicated individuals have begun implementing a five-year project that will restore wápupxn, one of our brothers, back to their ancestral lands. Our high mountain ecosystems have been out of balance since the disappearance of wápupxn in the 1980s when they vanished from the landscape.

Streaming link: https://youtube.com/live/d4mzUuX_31o?feature=share

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. The presentation will start at 7:00pm.

Are you someone who frequents risk-inherent environments like the mountains? Join us for a community engaged mental health discussion in the Red Barn. Instructors, Aimee Huffman and Sasha Dingle, will explore the power of mind-body training like breathwork, yoga, meditation, and nervous system regulation exercises. We’ll talk about how these practices can impact stress resilience and improve performance and help first responders and outdoor athletes recover from traumatic events.