2012 Event Calendar
Winter Life Snowshoe Tour
January - March (Snow condition dependent)
Join a trained naturalist on a guided tour through a winter trail full of life. We provide the snowshoes. All you have to do is make a reservation. To ensure a more personal experience, groups are limited to a total of twelve. Tours begin at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery main building and are strictly limited to those with reservations only. http://www.friendsofnwhatcheries.org/event-registration/ to make a reservation.
Special Olympics
March 2-4
Visit Special Olympics Washington for more information about this winter event. Cross Country Skiing for this event is held on Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery property and is proudly supported by our local community.
Release of Coho Salmon
April
In April, the Yakama Indian Nation will release coho salmon into Icicle Creek. Call 509-548-7641 for more information.
Release of Spring Chinook Salmon
April
These eighteen month old fry are smolting, preparing for life in the ocean, and will be released into Icicle Creek. You are welcome to say farewell and good luck before they depart on their 500 mile journey to the Pacific Ocean. They will spend up to three years in the ocean maturing to return here to spawn a new generation.
Arbor Day Tree Sale
April
Arbor Day Tree Distribution - Plant a tree
Apple Blossom Youth Parade
April
The Wenatchee River Salmon Festival will be participating in Wenatchee’s Washington State Apple Blossom Youth Parade. If you are interested in participating in this year's parade, call Lynann at 509-548-2921. Hope to see you there.
Coded Wire Tagging
May
When you visit the hatchery and see a large white trailer on the grounds, it can only mean one thing. It's tagging time. Spring Chinook salmon fry are herded into the trailer where they are tagged. A tiny coded wire is inserted into the snout of the fry for identification. These wires are encoded with data that identify hatchery origin and year of fish release. This information is collected and analyzed following spawning. The adipose fin, a fleshy fin located between the dorsal and tail fin, the mystery fin, is clipped to identify the fry as a hatchery fish.
Adult Spring Chinook Salmon Return to Hatchery
May/June/July
Adult spring Chinook salmon return to the hatchery mid-May through July. These three, four and five year olds have a long journey from the Pacific Ocean. They will remain in the adult holding pond until they are ready for spawning. They are checked periodically for readiness, usually late August into early September. Spawning begins early in the morning and may take two to six hours.
Kids in the Creek
May
This high school field day delivers a comprehensive curriculum on stream ecology. High school students explore actual field methods for assessing aquatic and riparian habitat, water quantity, water quality and indicator insects, as well as an introduction to land use planning considerations. Students put on waders, collect samples, analyze data and work with natural resource specialists to evaluate conditions in the stream. This year Kids in the Creek will be held at Entiat National Fish Hatchery in May.
National Trails Day
First Saturday of June
Enjoy a quiet walk in the 1 mile loop Icicle Nature Trail on the first Saturday in June. This event is hosted by Leavenworth NFH, but the real organizers and educators are Wenatchee Valley College (WVC) students who lead guided trail walks while providing an interpretive talk. Each student focuses on a topic of interest and expertise.
Kids Fishing Day
First Saturday of June
Join us for Kids Fishing Day to celebrate National Fishing and Boating Week the first Saturday in June. This fun event is sponsored by several partners who make eveything run smoothly with a ton of fun! This year we will introduce a new on-line registration. Please pre-register using the website. Friends of Northwest Hatcheries
Leavenworth Summer Theater
July/August, See schedule
Live outdoor theater at Hatchery Park. Tickets can be purchased through Leavenworth Summer Theater.
Wenatchee River Salmon Festival
September 22-23, 2011 from 10am-5pm
For further information: (509) 548-6662 or www.salmonfest.org.
Special Fishing Days
October
Rainbow Trout fishing offers a fun activity for senior adults and people with special needs. Seeing the smiles and hearing the excitement makes this one of the best fishing experiences of the year. (By invitation only) For more information call (509) 548-7641.
12790 Fish Hatchery Road,
Leavenworth, WA 98826, (509) 548-7641
