Outings & Events
What’s going on!
There are many ways to experience Shrub-Steppe.
Cowiche Canyon Conservancy holds a variety of events and activities to increase opportunities for kids and adults to learn about the unique natural environment of the shrub-steppe and connect people to these lands. We work with a variety of partners including other non-profit organizations, schools, and local, state, and federal agencies to engage the community with our work and build support for our conservation work.
COMMUNITY EVENTS: VIRTUAL AND LIVE
Community events – live and virtual – aim to help our community engage with our shrub-steppe in healthy, educational, and inspiring ways.
3RD ANNUAL NATURE’S STORYTELLERS WRITING CONTEST
Are you one of nature’s storytellers? Do you have a story to tell about the land, water, or wildlife around you? Share your words with the community! We’re looking for original writing about or relating to the natural world, especially the wild things that live and breathe in our special place on earth, in Central Washington. Stories can involve nature as characters, narrators, heroes, tricksters, or something totally different. It’s up to you!
We’re accepting works of prose and poetry, in English and Spanish, from the following age groups: Youth (6 to 12), Teen (13 to 18), & Adult (19 to infinity).
Check out full submission guidelines here.
COMMUNITY WALKS
Our guided Community Walks, on a variety of natural themes, are a great way for families to engage with the shrub-steppe and learn CCC trails.
GEOLOGY WALK
When: Saturday, December 11, 2021
Where: West/Weikel trailhead, Cowiche Canyon
Cowiche Canyon is a marvel of geological forces. Join us to learn about them! Guides Zachary Schierl and Suki Smaglik will share stories about the flows of lava, erosion of rock, and movements of tectonic plates that have shaped Cowiche Canyon.
*You need to pre-register for this walk. Due to popular demand, we’re offering two groups. The first is already sold out! You can register for the second here.
*Dress warmly, and prepare for all weather!
WINTER TALK SERIES
Below are recorded talks from the 2020-21 season.
HOLISTIC HABITAT RESTORATION IN THE YAKIMA BASIN WITH JOHN MARVIN
Recorded talk on Tuesday, April 13
John Marvin, Fisheries Habitat Biologist with Yakama Nation, illuminates the tragic history of fish and people in the Yakima basin. He describes how long-standing and culturally essential fish populations have been decimated by a combination of agricultural development, poor water and habitat management, and climate change. Showing how forest and water habitat are intimately connected, Marvin describes some of the innovative and promising restoration projects happening around the area to bring back some healthy complexity and chaos to riparian habitats.
‘LICHENS: HUBS OF LIFE AND CREATORS OF WORLDS’ WITH JESSICA ALLEN
Recorded talk on Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Join Eastern Washington University’s Dr. Jessica Allen for a tour through the many hidden worlds of lichens. Learn about the roles lichens play in creating and sustaining biodiversity, with a special focus on local lichens here in the shrub-steppe and The Palouse. Jessica will also describe some of her recent genetics research into beautiful and mysterious wolf lichens. How is lichen genomics changing our understanding of the history and future of lichens?
‘MOUNTAIN LIONS: PHYSIOLOGY, ECOLOGY, & SAFETY’ WITH MICHELLE BLAKE
Recorded talk on February 9, 2021
Michelle Blake, with the Mountain Lion Foundation, dispels some of the many myths surrounding mountain lions (aka pumas or cougars) in the Northwest. How many are there in the Northwest? What should we do if we encounter one?
‘TAHOMA’S BIGGEST STORIES: A NATURAL HISTORY OF MOUNT RAINIER’ WITH JEFF ANTONELIS-LAPP
Recorded talk on January 12, 2021
Jeff Antonelis-Lapp presents an image-rich talk that draws from the book Tahoma and Its People, a natural history of Mount Rainier National Park. The book was recently selected as a finalist in the Banff Mountain Book Competition.