Wenatchee River Institute

We connect people, communities and the natural world. The Wenatchee River Institute (WRI) believes the greatest hope for the future is through connecting people, communities and the natural world. We engage thousands of learners annually through transformative environmental education on our campus in Leavenworth, Washington and across North Central Washington. Each experience is created to help participants understand their environment and discover the impact they can have in the world and their community.

WRI serves as a unique steward, advocate, and educator, inspiring locals, students, and visitors to understand, explore, appreciate, and connect with the beauty and environmental richness of the natural world surrounding us. Situated at the base of the Cascade Mountains in Leavenworth, WA, WRI partners with schools and organizations all over North Central Washington (NCW) to offer student programs during the school year and a strong slate of school break camps. During the school year, WRI's youth education programs include Field Days on our campus in Leavenworth, Traveling Naturalist in the Classroom which brings hands-on lessons to schools throughout NCW, and After School Program activities. WRI also offers community education programs, including speaker series called Red Barn Events, Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest, art workshops, nature walks, and much more. Our vision is a community that cares for and engages in the natural world, and all of WRI's programming is meant to lead us closer to that vision.

Testimonials

A dedicated WRI volunteer since 2009, Tim (affectionately known as Turtle Tim to students) shared: "This is a prime age to get these kids aware about their environmental impact, how to take care of the place they live, and truly get that awareness into their heads, hands, and hearts."