Welcome to Week 9 of our 10-week challenge, designed to encourage new naturalist discoveries as we continue to practice social distancing and wait for the coming vaccinations! March brings us the first signs of spring, while our mountains are still shining with snow. Try to get outside early when the mud is firm under foot!

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Each week, select one of the 60 total activities designed to delight your senses, stimulate your curiosity, and remind you of the joy that springs up just by being outside in nature. When you’ve completed 10 activities, send an email to Susan (skylinebal@gmail.com) so she can add your name to the list of Coronavirus 2021 life-long learners on the Wenatchee Naturalist website. 

Below are six options for Week 9 -Pick one to explore with a wide-open mind and heart.

Read

Seek out and read a collection of nature-based poems written by leading American poets, including Gary Snyder, Mary Oliver, and Wendell Barry. Read Ashia Ajani’s piece in the Sierra Club magazine titled, ” Eight Black American Eco-poets Who Inspire Us.”

Listen

The Landscape Music’s Earth Year 2020-21 Project is underway. The organization’s mission is to deepen public appreciation of the natural world by providing a platform for contemporary composers whose music engages with landscape, nature and place. Take a listen to their You-Tube Channel to view the Landscape Music: Rivers and Trails concert video of Citywater’s Landscape Music: Rivers & Trails program on Visions of the Wild at the Empress Theatre in Vallejo, CA.

Watch

Watch a dynamic talk about wolverine ecology, policy and conservation in the Pacific NW by Wolverine Foundation director, Rebecca Watters- a program of the Swan Valley Connections.

Journal

Oregon State Extension’s Outdoor Program offers a series of weekly nature journal writing prompts for use by teachers, students, and individuals. Try out one of their writing prompt options!

Visit

Plan an early spring hike at Ancient Lakes. Be sure to read recent trip reports on The Washington Trails Association. Remember your DISCOVER Pass.

Advocate

Explore this 2020 list of U.S. top-rated non-profits that protect the environment using Charity Navigator.

Free March Offerings

Community Garden Clean-Up at Wenatchee River Institute- Tues. March 22, 1:30-3:30. Learn more here.

Native Planting 101 Workshop – Mondays in March at 7:00 pm. (virtually via Zoom – one hour session each week)RSVP here.

• March 22: Native Plant Selection and Care with Mel Asher
• March 29: Q&A and Panel Discussion with the experts  

Questions? Contact KirkB@cascadiacd.org or (509) 436-1601