JANUARY
NEWS & EVENTS: with registration link fixed for 'Tahoma's Biggest Stories' talk.
|
|
image by David Hagen
Greetings!
The plants are sleeping, but there are still many ways to experience and engage with the shrub-steppe. Read on for info about our Winter Talks series, recreating in mud, new board members, and our second annual Nature's Storytellers contest.
|
WINTER TALK: TAHOMA'S BIGGEST STORIES
|
When: Tonight! Tuesday, January 12, 7pm.
What: "Tahoma's Biggest Stories: A Natural History of Mount Rainier National Park" by Jeff Antonelis-Lapp
Where: This is a virtual talk, on Zoom. You need to register in advance. Register here!
Did you know that Native Americans have traveled to Mount Rainier for over 9,000 years to gather resources unavailable near their lowland villages? Did you know that the effects of climate change extend far beyond the mountain’s retreating glaciers? Join Jeff Antonelis-Lapp, Emeritus Faculty at The Evergreen State College, for Tahoma’s Biggest Stories, an image-rich talk drawn 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.
Jeff began writing Tahoma and Its People after being unable to find a current natural history for a course he planned to teach at The Evergreen State College in Olympia. He conducted over 250 days of fieldwork for the book, many of them in the company of park archaeologists, biologists, and geologists. Learn more at https://jeffantonelis-lapp.com/.
This is the first Winter Talk in our ongoing series in partnership with Yakima Valley College. More info about future talks here.
|
WINTER TALK: 'MOUNTAIN LIONS: PHYSIOLOGY, ECOLOGY, & SAFETY'
|
When: Tuesday, February 9, 7:00 to 8:30 pm
What: "Mountain Lions: Physiology, Ecology, Safety” with Michelle Blake
Where: This is a virtual talk, on Zoom. You need to register in advance. Registration details will be available soon, here and on CCC's Facebook page.
Learn about the physiology of one of the most awe-inspiring big mammals left on our continent, the mountain lion (aka puma or cougar). What makes this big cat an apex predator and what role does it play in Northwestern ecosystems? Michelle will also discuss what can humans do to appreciate this animal while keeping themselves, pets, and livestock safe.
|
C4CCC JEWELRY AVAILABLE THROUGH VALENTINE'S DAY
|
If you thought you missed your chance to purchase C4CCC jewelry, don't worry! It's available on our website for one more month, through Valentine's Day. So you have one last chance.
C4CCC has created a beautiful array of jewelry to benefit CCC. The selection is sure to offer something special for a loved one, a friend, or yourself. Check out the diverse virtual selection here. And check back often as new items are posted weekly!
All proceeds benefit Cowiche Canyon Conservancy, so your purchases support our community lands and programming. Show your love!
|
IT'S MUD SEASON. WHAT CAN YOU DO?
|
In the Yakima Valley, there’s a season somewhere between winter and spring: Mud Season! Though mud can be fun stuff to slide and stomp through, hiking or biking on muddy trails destroys both the trails and the surrounding land. We want to take a moment to explain how this happens and how you, as a valued land steward, can help keep our community trails healthy and happy. Check out our latest blog, 'Staying Off Muddy Trails and Other Tips for Recreating During Mud Season.'
|
WE'RE EXCITED TO WELCOME TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS, DANIEL AND KAITLYN
|
With the New Year, two new board members have joined our team. We're excited to welcome Daniel Mendoza and Kaitlyn Porter.
|
Daniel Mendoza
A graduate of Grandview High School in 2003, Daniel has worked with Starbucks for over eight years and currently serves as the store manager for the Downtown Yakima store. He has lived in Yakima for nearly five years with his partner Jason and dog Hans. He looks forward to being more involved in the Yakima community, serving as a vessel to help increase the diversity and inclusion of recreation opportunities in our beautiful Yakima Valley. When not working on a B.A. in Organizational Leadership, Daniel can be found walking the Uplands with Hans.
|
Kaitlyn Porter
Kaitlyn Porter is a dog mom, adventure lover and outdoor enthusiast. She currently serves at the Director of Development for Annual Giving at Pacific Northwest University in Terrace Heights. In her work to support medical students through fundraising efforts, Kaitlyn has built strong community partnerships throughout the Greater Yakima region and beyond. Kaitlyn is excited to join the CCC board and get more involved with educational programming and with preserving the incredible lands right in our own backyard.
|
NATURE'S STORYTELLERS CONTEST IS OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS!
|
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!
Last year's Nature's Storytellers Writing Contest was so much fun that we're doing it again!
In partnership with Yakima Valley Libraries, we're organizing nature-themed contests for youth and adults in poetry and prose. This year, we won't be able to gather for an in-person reading. But we'll still gather via Zoom for a live community reading. And we'll still have prizes -- community goodies plus a published e-book featuring contest winners.
|
JOIN OUR NEW TRAIL AMBASSADOR TEAM!
|
If you love CCC trails, and are looking for a way to give back, we’re offering a new program for committed CCC volunteers to support meaningful community engagement efforts. Encouraged by the success of our Clean Trails Team, we’re currently recruiting a team of Trail Ambassadors to support safe and responsible use of CCC trails.
Trail Ambassadors will serve as friendly and informative points of contact, at trailheads and on the trail, for new trail users. You can learn more about the Trail Ambassador program here. If you have any questions, or are interested in joining the team, please contact Cy (eco@cowichecanyon.org).
|
|