Subject: Wenatchee River Salmon Festival College Scholarship Available

From: Susan C Peterson, Wenatchee River Salmon Festival Media & Marketing, 509.548.2558

Wenatchee River Salmon Festival Scholarship Applications are now being accepted!

Leavenworth, Wash.—Do you know of an aspiring biologist who would like assistance with tuition from an accredited college or university? The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival is now accepting applications from 2012 graduating high school seniors for the Nancy Duree Natural Resource Scholarship.

The scholarship will be awarded to a North Central Washington 2012 graduating high school senior pursuing a college education in a natural resource field (biology, forestry, botany, fisheries, geology, ecology, environmental education, etc.) The annual $1,500 scholarship is dedicated in memory of Nancy Duree, who was an active partner in the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival since its inception, and a champion of natural resource education for both children and adults.

Applicants must attend a high school in one of the following counties to compete for the scholarship: Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Kittitas, Okanogan or Yakima. The successful candidate will be selected based upon their academic record, community commitment, essay, references and financial need.

Applications will be accepted until April 16th and may be downloaded from the Salmon Festival website. Contact Corky Broaddus, Executive Festival Director at (509)548-6662 for more information.

The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival is dedicated to providing high quality natural resource education, promoting outdoor recreation, and sharing the cultural significance of the salmon to the people of the Northwest. The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery and Chelan County PUD host the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival and invite you to join us for this year’s 22nd celebration. All events are free and public days are September 22-23, 2012.

Head to the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery’s Salmon Fest for a fun filled day of outdoor familiy-oriented activities, then it’s just 5 miles to the town of Leavenworth for a rousing evening at Oktoberfest!

Stay in Leavenworth, or venture into Wenatchee, only a 20 minute drive down scenic U.S. Hwy. 2.

The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival is proud to be partnering with the Red Lion Hotel and the Best Western Cheiftain Inn for lodging in 2011. Please check their web sites for booking information.

There’s always fun for all ages in the Leavenworth area!

Red Lion Hotel Website

Best Western Cheiftain Inn Website

Leavenworth Oktoberfest Website

Click here for more about the contest, and a list of winners.

Leavenworth, Washington— The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival is proud to announce that Alex Steele was selected as the 2011 recipient of this year’s Nancy Duree Natural Resource Scholarship.

The $1500 scholarship is awarded annually to a north central Washington graduating high school senior, who is continuing their education in a natural resource field at an accredited college or university.

Steele will graduate from Cascade High School in Leavenworth, Washington in June. He will enter Whitman College this fall and plans to study Biology and Environmental Studies.

Festival Director Betsy McIndoe said, “We are really proud to honor Alex with this scholarship and we wish him the best of success.” The selection committee reviewed many highly qualified applicants this year but, “Alex was selected because of his passion for natural resources as evident in his essays, his strong academic record, and a well rounded showing of community service, leadership abilities, and strong recommendations,” said McIndoe.

The scholarship is named in honor of Nancy Duree, one of the founding Salmon Fest Core Team members who believed strongly in helping local youth understand and develop natural resource management skills. The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival scholarship has been offered since the festival’s beginning 21 years ago to area youth.

The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival is an award winning festival held at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. This year’s festival will be October 1-2, 2011.

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, and Chelan County PUD host the festival. It is a free festival open to all who wish to learn or share the richness of our abounding natural resources.

News Release

For Immediate Release: May 31, 2011
Contact: Susan C Peterson, Media Coordinator
509.548.2558

Executive Director Corky Broaddus said, “We put a lot of thought into moving the dates of the festival. We made this decision based on information from the 80-plus schools that attend so they may have the proper time to prepare students for the educational events the festival offers, and to better coincide with the natural return of the salmon to the Wenatchee River system.”

Salmon Fest is devoted to fun-filled “edu-tainment”, a form of education and entertainment that is both fun and educational. Salmon Fest’s mission is to connect families and youth to nature by helping people discover and appreciate the diversity and importance of the great outdoors, but also the beauty and interconnectivity of nature to our lives, and to understand and appreciate the significance of salmon to all people.

With the festival’s date change, Salmon Fest will be able to add field trips with better salmon viewing opportunities and the schools will have adequate time to incorporate Salmon Fest curriculum into the classroom. Broaddus added that, “Salmon Fest brings people, natural resources, education, entertainment and science together, and the best way to celebrate the miracle of the salmon life cycle is to have people experience salmon in their native habitat.”

The festival attracts 10,000 people annually from across the northwest and Canada.

Salmon Fest is recognized nationally because of its educational excellence, and is located just two miles away from spectacular Bavarian Leavenworth, the Ultimate Christmas town (featured on “Good Morning America”).

For further information swim to this website: www.salmonfest.org.

Contact: Susan C. Peterson, Media & Marketing, 509.548.2558

Information on the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival website is currently being updated to reflect upcoming festival events, entertainment, and activities.

- Story and photos courtesy Susan Peterson, Okanogan-Wenatchee NF

The 20th Wenatchee River Salmon Festival, a natural resource education event celebrating the return of the salmon to the Wenatchee River, was held last weekend at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. Despite the downpour, almost 10,000 people participated in the four-day event.

Salmon Fest was the region’s first “government, nature inspired” festival and has been the model for over 200 other festivals throughout the northwest. Conservation Education is the foundation of the festival, but the intent of the festival is to make connections between people, differing cultures and nature in an educational, fun and creative way.

Gene Tagaban at the Native American Intertribal Encampment.

Thirty-one schools participated on Thursday and Friday with nearly 3,000 4th graders engaging with biologists and specialists in hands-on, interactive activities, from “Kids in the Creek” to nature-inspired music with renowned entertainer Dana Lyons.

On the weekend, visitors enjoyed festival favorites such as Gyotaku (Japanese Fish prints), the Native American Village, and live raptors, but people really enjoyed the outdoor recreation activities— a newly expanded portion of the festival. From snow shoes to kayaking, plus really good food and entertainment, the festival engaged “kids” from ages 2-90.

This annual event is co-hosted by the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, and Chelan County PUD #1. Over 55 other partners are involved with the festival, along with 450 volunteers.

Those wishing to purchase t-shirts are invited to call 509.548.6662 x271 for purchasing information.

T-Shirts are priced as follows:
Short Sleeve, $15 (Adult and Kid’s Sizes)
Long Sleeve, $18 (Adult Sizes)

Original T-Shirt design artwork by
Spencer Piestrup

Proceeds from sales will go towards the Nancy Duree Natural Resource Scholarship that is awarded each year to a high school senior entering college to study in Natural Resources / Environmental Education.

“Journey’s End” by Lori Ayelsworth

Artist Lori Ayelsworth was commissioned to create “Journey’s End”, a soft pastel depicting a male and female Chinook salmon ready to spawn at the end of their life cycle. The original was auctioned off at the end of the Salmon Festival.

Prints measure 16″ x 20″, and are based on the original work.

Ordering:

Price $12. Please call 509.548.6662 x271 if you would like to order a print.

Kodi Jones was selected as the 2010 recipient of a $1,500 scholarship to be used at a college or university of her choice.  The scholarship is awarded annually to a North Central Washington graduating high school senior who is continuing their education in a natural resource field.

Jones is a graduating senior from Cle Elum/Roslyn High School in Cle Elum, Washington.  She will enter Washington State University this fall with a major in wildlife biology.  

Festival Director Betsy McIndoe said, “We are proud to honor Kodi with this scholarship and wish her the best of success.”   Many highly qualified applicants applied for the scholarship, “Jones was selected because of her academic record, personal essay, community service, recommendations and strong leadership abilities,” said McIndoe.

The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival scholarship has been offered since the festival’s beginning 20 years ago to area youth.

The scholarship is named in honor of Nancy Duree; one of the  founding Salmon Fest Core Team members who believed strongly in helping local youth understand and develop natural resource management skills.

The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival is a free, award winning festival held at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, September 16-19, 2010.

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, and Chelan County PUD, host the festival.