Welcome to Week 3 of our 10-week challenge, designed to encourage new naturalist discoveries as we continue to practice social distancing and wait for the coming vaccinations! Don’t let this week’s rain keep you inside – pull on some waterproof boots and a coat and head out. Join me to do a snow-dance as we look at the week’s weather forecast, hoping for less rain. At the end of this post, I’ve added a few new late-breaking new activity options you can do as a substitute on your game card.
quaking aspen in January 
Susan Ballinger, January 2021
I invite you to select one of the 60 total activities designed to delight your senses, stimulate your curiosity, and remind you of the joy that springs up just by being outside in nature. When you’ve completed 10 activities, send an email to Susan (skylinebal@gmail.com) so she can add your name to the list of Coronavirus 2021 life-long learners on the Wenatchee Naturalist website.
Below are six options for Week 3 – find one to pique your curiosity!
Read
Browse the bookshelves of Mountaineers Books online to find a new title to purchase or check out at the library. I recommend Steven Arno’s Douglas Fir: the Story of the West’s Most Remarkable Tree, and Northwest Trees, 2nd Edition: Identifying and Understanding the Region’s Native Trees. Use your NCRL library card to find a title, arrange a drive-by pick up, or place an order through a local bookstore.
Listen
Podcast by the U.S. Forest Service, Pacific NW Research Station, featuring research scientists. Check out “Changing Wildfire, Changing Forests,” posted 7/24/2020.
Watch
A USFS Storymap showcasing Pacific NW huckleberries and other fruit and seed crops important to traditional tribal diets and social history of Native Americans.
Vaccinium deliciosum Cascade Blueberry (Huckelberry) 
Journal
Explore Clare Walker Leslie’s website, and her book The Nature Connection: An Outdoor Workbook for Kids. It is a workbook designed to show children and adults the excitement of discovering nature outside.
Visit
Go for a nature walk in at least three City of Wenatchee Parks. Use the link above to find a park and access details.
City of Wenatchee Parks 
Senator Brad Hawkins, District 12
Advocate
Engage with your Washington State Senator on a natural resource or conservation topic you care about. The webpage link provides all contact information.
Breaking News!
This week, Wenatchee Valley College announced an exciting free Zoom community program in honor of Black History Month. The English Dept. is teaming up with the Sustainability Committee and several community organizations to bring writer and ornithologist Dr. J. Drew Lanham to campus (via Zoom) on Feb. 18th from 1 PM to 2PM Register now for, Visiting Writer Dr. Drew Lanham: On Race and the Environment in the Age of the Climate Crisis”. Consider exploring his writings in Orion Magazine, “9 Rules for Black Birdwatching.” or his essay, “Birding While Black.”
Are you a bit curious about the annual Great Backyard Bird Count Project? Register now for the Tuesday, Feb. 9th, 12 noon Webinar. In this webinar the Great Backyard Bird Count Project Coordinators from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon, and Birds Canada will share amusing birdwatching stories and magical bird moments, as well as tips and tricks for how to participate in this year’s bird count. Tune in for an hour of fun, information, and audience Q&A. Maybe you’ll be inspired to participate as a community scientist Feb. 12-15th.