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Northern Buckwheat (eriogonum compositum) flower.
Image by David Hagen.
Greetings Cowiche Canyon,
Summer is here. Join us, outside and in, for long days and opportunities to engage with and learn from our ecosystem.
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Canyon Meeting, by Mary Duke
Hello Artists,
You're invited to participate in a beautiful local exhibit, the ninth annual Images of the Shrub-Steppe at Boxx Gallery. More information and submission info can be found here.
The deadline to enter is August 1, 2025.
About the Exhibit
Images of the Shrub-Steppe is an annual juried art exhibit featuring work inspired by our unique ecosystem, shrub-steppe.
The Exhibit will run from September 6 – 28, 2025 at Boxx Gallery in Tieton, WA.
About the Juror
Kimberly Trowbridge is a visual artist and educator. Trowbridge combines painting, sculpture, language, performance, and site-specific research. She is the Founding Director of the Modern Color Atelier, an online, multi-year painting program through Gage Academy of Art.
You can find more info about the exhibit on our website.
| Shinrin Yoku Walk with Mary Carpenter | |
What: Shinrin Yoku Walk with Mary Carpenter
When: Saturday, June 7, 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Where: Cowiche Canyon West/Weikel Trailhead (531 Weikel Rd Yakima, WA 98908)
Register here (limited spaces available)
Reconnect. Relax. Res(e)t. Enjoy a Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku) experience in our shrub-steppe. Slowly and intentionally reset your nervous system. This guided walk will focus on expanding senses, supporting well-being, and awakening creativity.
Distance: About 1 mile
Difficulty: Mostly flat, some uneven ground.
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Owl Walk & Talk
with Dineen Vineyards
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What: Owl Walk & Talk with Dineen Vineyards
When: June 7, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Dineen Vineyards (2980 Gilbert Rd. Zillah, WA)
Note: this event has a ticket price of $35 (includes a glass of wine); all profits benefit Cowiche Canyon Conservancy.
Register Here (limited spaces available)
Step into the enchanting world of owls on our Owl Walk and Talk in the vineyard!
Led by Bran Romero (CCC's Jesuit Volunteer Corps Outreach and Engagement Specialist), this immersive experience will delve into the mysteries of these majestic creatures and discover their vital role in maintaining the balance of a vineyard ecosystem. Gain fascinating insights into owl behavior, their hunting techniques, and their significance in pest control.
Whether you’re an avid bird watcher or simply curious about the natural wonders around us, this walk promises to be an eye-opening adventure!
| Introducción a la Estepa Arbustiva | |
Que: Introducción a la Estepa Arbustiva
Cuando: Sabado, Junio 14, 9:00 am a 11:00 am
Donde: Snow Mountain Ranch (Snow Mountain Ranch (2648 Cowiche Mill Rd #2262, Cowiche, WA 98923)
Acompáñenos en un paseo familiar por la estepa arbustiva con la Cowiche Canyon Conservancy. Hablaremos sobre la naturaleza de nuestro ecosistema, incluyendo flora, fauna y temas geológicos. La caminata es gratuita y será guiada sólo en español. Este paseo será guiado por personal de Cowiche Canyon Conservancy y La Casa Hogar.
Inscríbase aqui
Dificultad: terreno llano en su mayor parte
Distancia: unos 3 km
NOTE: *This walk will be guided in Spanish.
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What: Pollinator Walk with Washington Bee Atlas
When: Sunday, June 22, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Where: Snow Mountain Ranch (Snow Mountain Ranch (2648 Cowiche Mill Rd #2262, Cowiche, WA 98923)
Register here
Join Washington Bee Atlas during pollinator week for a trip through the Wildflower Trail as entomologists catch and release native bees found here in Yakima. This walk is an opportunity to see up close and learn about the relationships between bees and wildflowers of our area.
Distance: 3 Miles
Difficulty: Moderate; around 500 ft in elevation climb, uneven ground, and some single-track trails
| Drink Beer for CCC, and Bees | |
What: Single Hill Beer Release ("On Orchard's Edge") and Native Bee Talk
When: Wednesday, June 25, 5:00 pm to 7:00pm
Where: Single Hill Brewing
Join us for the latest and likely the greatest new beer from Single Hill, a West Coast Pilsner benefitting CCC lands and programs!
At 6pm, Bran Romero (CCC's Jesuit Volunteer Corps Outreach and Engagement Specialist) will give a short talk on Native Bees of our Shrub-Steppe. This spring, Bran has spent dozens of hours catching and identifying many of the diverse bees that live and work on CCC lands, and maybe on some nearby orchards as well. Bran will share lessons learned, and stories about some of the unsung heroes of our lands.
If that's not enough to get you there, Wednesdays are Trivia Nights at Single Hill! And if you stick around for trivia, starting at 7 pm, there will be a special round of pollinator questions.
Can artwork, "On Orchard's Edge," comes courtesy of Laura Wise from 2024's Image of the Shrub-Steppe show at Boxx Gallery.
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Members of our newly formed Accessibility & Inclusion Committee
after an in-person meeting at Entrust Community Services on May 19
In January, we launched an Accessibility and Inclusion Committee. Formed by 13 members of our community (including two CCC board members) this committee is helping us identify and prioritize ways that we can improve the accessibility of our lands, communications, and programs. After generating a long list of possible improvements, this committee is shifting into an advisory role to help prioritize investments in trailhead infrastructure, signage, our website, and the focus of our outreach work.
Many improvements will take years to do well and with community input. Thanks to Land Trust Alliance, who supported and funded the first phase of this work, we are grateful to have been afforded the time and resources to build new relationships with community members who are committed to helping us along the journey of bettering access to outdoor spaces and programs.
If you are interested in joining our Accessibility & Inclusion Advisory Committee, we are especially interested in recruiting people with disabilities who can help advise us based on their lived experiences and knowledge. Please contact Cy (eco@cowichecanyon.org).
| | What to Look for on Trails | | |
Donate - We depend on community donations to run our programs and operations.
Volunteer - We depend on community volunteers to support our stewardship, trail maintenance, and education work.
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