News & Press

This article originally ran in The Wenatchee World in February 2018.

As the weather warms, we start to see more thunderstorms roll in from the mountains. Personally, I have loved the flash of lightning, the sound of thunderstorms, and the idea of so much energy bouncing around in the sky since I was a kid.

Here are some ways to explore thunderstorms with your family.

Thunderstorm Facts

OLYMPIA — The state Senate on Wednesday passed a bill to establish a community forest pilot program.

Sen. Brad Hawkins, R-East Wenatchee, is the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 5873, which passed with a 41-5 vote. It now heads to the House of Representatives.

Nason Ridge is one of three projects the program would fund through the state’s capital budget. If the bill becomes law and the program is successful, Hawkins said, legislators could pursue an ongoing statewide grant program.

We have gotten so much snow in February that it’s hard to imagine any animals are up and moving about. But underneath all that snow, many animals have stayed cozy and warm despite the cold temperatures.

How? The fluffy snow acts as a blanket, keeping the ground warmer than the air. This creates a space called the subnivean zone, which is what we’re exploring today.

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The state of recreation is strong. And we’ve got to do something about climate change, or we’ll lose out on investments in access and infrastructure. Those are the headlines from a conversation about the state of recreation with Jon Snyder, the first Policy Advisor on Outdoor Recreation and Economic Development in the state of Washington (and the founder of this publication).

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.