News & Press

New nature preserve protects high-quality shrub-steppe in Douglas County.

The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust (CDLT) has recently acquired 1,396 acres in northern Douglas County for the purpose of conserving its high quality shrub-steppe and wetland habitats. Spiva Butte Nature Preserve is home to several sensitive species of plants, wildlife and birds. Most notably, the preserve provides critical habitat for one of the last two viable sage-grouse populations remaining in Washington State, and becomes the first Land Trust owned preserve in Douglas County.

It can be challenging to figure out how to get outside with kids during the winter. Sometimes the ground is covered in a blanket of snow as deep as some toddlers are tall!

Luckily there are plenty of organizations who offer low-cost or free, family friendly outings to help you make the most of this season. Find a few opportunities below.

Guided Family Snowshoe Hikes

Quick! Do you know what phase the moon is in, without looking?

Now that the days are so short, we have less time to spend outside in the sunshine. But, that also means we have more time to spend with the night sky! When we’re children, we’re naturally fascinated by space — by the vastness of it, by the stars, the planets and black holes.

The moon also captures our attention. Where did it come from? Why does it look like that? Kids love to ponder these questions. Here are a few ways to learn about the moon with little ones.

LAKE WENATCHEE — The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust raised $1.1 million in four months to contribute to the purchase of Nason Ridge — moving one step closer to keeping the 3,714 acres of forested land accessible to the public forever. “We hit and passed our goal in a short amount of time,” said Curt Soper, the land trust’s executive director. “It says a lot about our community.” The area overlooks Lake Wenatchee and includes Nason Creek, a crucial salmon habitat that feeds the Wenatchee River.

The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust will temporarily close its Mountain Home Preserve to the public beginning October 23rd. Thirty acres of CDLT’s 170-acre property on Mountain Home Road above Leavenworth will be thinned to improve its health and resilience to drought, bark beetle attack, and wildfire. 

Fall seems like a weird time to be talking about bird nests. Birds nest in the spring, right?

But it’s actually a great time for kids to go looking for nests. Why? Because looking for them in the spring can be difficult for children — and dangerous for the birds.

In the fall, once leaves are off the trees, finding nests can be easier and quicker. You can practice getting an eye for where they might be found. Plus, some birds nest near where they nested previously, so it’s a good way to scope out where to look in the spring.

Kids these days.

In truth, though, kids these days spend more time on screens than ever before. Some kinds of screen time can be beneficial for kids older than 18 months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). But too much of the wrong kind can cut into healthy activities like sleep, social interaction and spending time in nature.

WENATCHEE — Preserving the environment for future generations.

The Chelan-Douglas Land Trust took steps this week to further that goal by purchasing two pieces of property, according to a Chelan-Douglas Land Trust news release. The properties include about 17 acres to expand the Jacobson Preserve, as well as 40 acres of floodplain on the Wenatchee River.

For the month of October, Alpine Lakes High Camp is donating 25% of all booking proceeds to the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust to support our conservation work in our beautiful corner of the world. The Land Trust is thrilled by the incredible generosity of Alpine Lakes High Camp!

This is a rare opportunity to have easy access to remote mountain lakes during the peak of glorious autumn colors AND support the Land Trust. Think golden larches, fiery-crimson Cascade huckleberry bushes and the sparkle of crystal clear alpine lakes. Don’t miss a special get-away in a special place!

As you read this, thousands of salmon are swimming up the Columbia River, trying to make it home to North Central Washington.

I talked to our friends at Cascade Columbia Fisheries Enhancement Group (CCFEG), a local group that works to improve conditions for native fish, about fun ways kids can get out, experiencing this amazing migration with their families.

Read the full article at the Wenatchee World. 

WENATCHEE — While much of Wenatchee was still in bed or just getting their day going, Batman and Superwoman were roaming the Wenatchee foothills.

With the help of a local guide, the young brother, sister duo led a group of about a dozen up a dusty trail through the Jacobson Preserve. Batman — true identity Miles Radillo, 5 years old — scampered along out the front. Superwoman, 3-year-old Alanis Radillo, did too, but sometimes rode on mom or dad’s shoulders, red cape bobbing in the breeze.

I used to be scared of bats. Let’s be honest, their tiny faces can be terrifying at first glance. On top of that, plenty of myths about bats fed my fears.

But the truth is, once I learned a little bit about them, I realized they are some of the coolest creatures on earth. They rarely pose a threat to humans. In fact, if you hate mosquitos, you should probably love bats! Now, I think seeing a bat at dusk is a treat.