IAFI Upcoming Events Calendar

It’s less than a month away!  The members of the Lakeside Gem & Mineral Club invite all to our 29th Annual Gem and Mineral show April 18-19. Join us at the Benton County Fairgrounds Building #2 in Kennewick.  The enlarged show features 19 dealers, 36 member displays, demonstrations, kid activities, door prizes, silent auctions, geode cracking, and much more. Come see precious gemstones, minerals, jewelry, fossils, meteorites, special exhibits, local collections, and of course, ROCKS! Adults $5.00; children under 14 are free. It’s a fun family event. We hope to see you there!  

Interpreting Landscapes Of Deep Time: Norway’s Scenic Routes & The Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail For the past several years, architect Rand Pinson has been researching and exploring the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail. That work led to a fellowship with the Architecture Foundation of Oregon and a trip to Norway to study its celebrated Scenic Routes program and National Parks, where world-class architecture supported through infrastructure has transformed how people experience remote landscapes. While there he met with local architects and learn from their experiences designing rest stops, bridges, parking areas and lookouts for Norway's "Scenic Routes" system of carefully selected roads that prioritize nature, innovative architecture, and art. He sees, "Norway’s scenic route system as a compelling model. It’s a great way to integrate architecture and design into scenic settings." He says, "I’m interested in the idea of storytelling in architecture, and this project presents an opportunity to shape a larger narrative that impacts the area." IAF Norway Collage "One of the key challenges of the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail," he noted, "is its lack of visibility and cohesive infrastructure. The exciting part of this project is finding the interesting ways history, ecology and architecture intersect,” he shared. “How can we take advantage of the site’s natural beauty, promote it and expand its potential? The National Geologic Trail already features remarkable elements, such as Maya Lin’s land art pieces that integrate seamlessly into nature. What it needs is a unifying vision to tie everything together. My goal is to contribute to growing tourism for this interesting and beautiful national park.” He is using his Norway explorations along with travels along the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail and experiences derived from OSU's Gorge Naturalist Program to compile research, develop documentation, drawings and models with the hope of one day bringing those ideas to life for our Trail. In this presentation, Rand shares his discoveries for the potential of the Ice Age Floods trail. Drawing on the intersections of geology, history, and design, he will present a vision for how thoughtful architecture and interpretation could bring this extraordinary landscape the public presence it deserves. This FREE presentation is sponsored by the Columbia River Gorge Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute.  The presentation begins at 7:00 PM, Thursday, April 30, in the Sprint/Baker Gallery Room of the White Salmon Valley Community Library, 77 NE Wauna Ave, White Salmon, WA 98672. Rand Pinson Rand Pinson, AIA, is a partner and architect at Pine Bureau, a narrative-driven architecture practice. Rand has extensive experience across the US landscape and is an alumnus of the world-renowned Auburn University Rural Studio in Hale County, Alabama. His professional work includes design-build projects at the Epicenter, a nonprofit community design center he helped found in Utah; Lake Flato Architects in Texas; and Waec hter Architecture in Portland, Oregon, focusing on residential, environmental, and hospitality projects. His work has won numerous AIA awards and has been featured in international publications and exhibitions, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Venice Biennale. Rand was named the 2025 Van Evera Bailey Fellow by the Architecture Foundation of Oregon.  Rand is a member of the Ice Age Floods Institute, a Master Naturalist, and a geology enthusiast. He is drawn to an architectural narrative that resonates in memory, is responsive to the land and environment, and is grounded to its time and place.

Join us for a FIELD TRIP INTO MOSES COULEE, DOUGLAS COUNTY, WA SPONSORED BY THE LOWER GRAND COULEE CHAPTER- IAFI   Geologists Dr. Joel Gombiner and Mark Amara will lead an exploration into the most enigmatic of the major coulees in the area of the Ice Age Floods. Questions and theories have arisen for years about how Moses Coulee was formed. It's long been assumed it was cut by huge floods in the same way the other major coulees are thought to have been formed. But for much of the series of Missoula Floods the Moses Coulee area was blocked by the Okanogan Lobe of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet. Bretz postulated there were two major episodes of coulee formation, the first much older one occurring before the last, late Pleistocene major ice advance. Other theories postulate that it was cut by break-out floods coming from beneath the ice sheet that could have occurred during the latest major ice advance.   We'll investigate 5 stops on this journey of Ice Age Floods geologic features starting from Jameson Lake near the head end of Moses Coulee and moving south down into central Moses Coulee. This field trip explores the glacial and flood features in Moses Coulee and involves short hikes at nearly every stop.  Date: SUNDAY MAY 3, 2026 Start time: 10:00 am Meeting Place / Driving Directions: Meet at the Jameson Lake WDFW Boat Launch and Rest Area at 441 South Jameson Lake Road, Waterville, WA 98858 at this map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kJdwZefZArVUpHQXA Bring: lunch, drinks, snacks, appropriate clothing and footwear, camera, etc. Bathrooms are available at the first stop only. There is NO cost for the trip though Registration and a Discover Pass are required. Due to limited car parking at several sites registration is limited to 30 people Contact Vicki Rivers to register in advance by one of the following methods: Text: 509.781.1701 or email: suezb@hotmail.com

Giant Pothole near Washtucna, WA Over 100 years ago, scientists discovered the unique landscape of the Channeled Scablands of Washington. By studying clues in Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, two of them pieced together the evidence that led to their conclusion which was scoffed at by many of their colleagues. After more than 20 years of field study and overwhelming evidence, most of the scientific community finally agreed with them.  See how today, new detectives are in the field with new technologies to unravel more of the mysteries of the Channeled Scablands.  Lloyd Stoess, President of the Palouse Fall Chapter of the IAFI, will show pictures and explain the evidence of the enormous Missoula Floods that carved our landscape.   

🪨 Explore 1.3 Billion Years in One Afternoon! Saturday, October 4 — Join the inimitable Michael Hamilton for a guided geology hike through Spokane Conservation District’s remarkable new headquarters, nestled in an ancient basalt quarry. This site is both brand new and unimaginably old. The Quarry reveals a stunning cross-section of Earth’s history—1.3 billion years of geologic drama exposed in a short, accessible hike. Along the way, you’ll see and learn about the effects of Ice Age floods, huge lava flows, tectonic shifts, and more, all woven into a developing geologic trail for the community. Don’t miss this rare chance to walk through deep time with expert insight and plenty of scenic stops. The new Scale House Market at the Quarry will be open with public bathrooms and the access gate will be open. We will meet up at 1 PM in front of the SCD office. Good walking shoes are recommended for this easy-moderate hike. Register for the hike using the button below. Each participant will need to have a signed liability waiver-click on the red button to download one for printing and bring it along. We will have more at the trailhead.  

Details to come. Presented by Don Chadbourne, geologist and board member of the Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI), Cheney-Spokane Chapter Registration is required. It will be linked here as soon as it has been posted to the library website. https://communitylibrary.net/library/athol/

Details to come. Presented by Don Chadbourne, geologist and board member of the Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI), Cheney-Spokane Chapter Registration is required. It will be linked here as soon as it has been posted to the library website. https://communitylibrary.net/library/harrison/

Every student in the Northwest should experience the incredible science story of the megafloods that shaped our landscape and history. To help bring this story to life, the Ice Age Floods Institute, Engaging Every Student, and our partners are excited to invite K–12 educators to free special training events. Thanks to support from the Avista Foundation, we are offering free hybrid workshops where you will gain access to valuable resources designed to inspire students to investigate their local environment. New Curriculum Resources Participants will explore a new Ice Age Floods Detectives phenomena-based curriculum with supporting presentations targeted to 4th grade, as well as hands-on investigations from the National Park Service's Investigating Ice Age Floods curriculum. Both explore the megafloods that shaped the Northwest and are adaptable for grades K–12 Free STEAM Workshops for K–12 Educators Details (In-person with options to join us via Zoom): Location: Richland, WA: Mon., June 22, 2026 (register here: tinyurl.com/zbrhtpht) Featuring: Engaging classroom and field-based activities, including exciting ways to model Floods phenomena Stories of the megafloods that transformed the Northwest 18,000–12,000 years ago at the end of the Last Glacial Period Up to 7 Washington STEM Clock Hours and/or PDUs for license renewal in Oregon and other states Schedule: All workshops 9:00 am–4:00 pm (or half day) 9:00–12:00 | Interactive workshop featuring new Ice Age Floods Discovery curriculum: targeted to grade 4 and adaptable for K–12 12–12:30 | Working lunch (provided) 12:30–3:30 | Interactive workshop featuring Investigating Ice Age Floods curriculum adaptable for grades K–12 3:00 or 3:30–4:00 | Nearby interpretive field studies with experts Cost: Free Ice Age Floods Institute mini-Grants available  To cover materials, transportation, STEM clock hour fee, etc. Learn more: iafi.org/k-12grants. Help Spread the Word: We encourage you to share this informative Ice Age Floods Workshops flyer with other educators to let them know about this opportunity!  For questions, comments, or ideas on where we might offer additional training, please contact Rick Reynolds, M.S.Ed., at rick@engagingeverystudent.com. Thanks for your interest and all you do to inspire our students to investigate our environment!  

Every student in the Northwest should experience the incredible science story of the megafloods that shaped our landscape and history. To help bring this story to life, the Ice Age Floods Institute, Engaging Every Student, and our partners are excited to invite K–12 educators to free special training events. Thanks to support from the Avista Foundation, we are offering free hybrid workshops where you will gain access to valuable resources designed to inspire students to investigate their local environment. New Curriculum Resources Participants will explore a new Ice Age Floods Detectives phenomena-based curriculum with supporting presentations targeted to 4th grade, as well as hands-on investigations from the National Park Service's Investigating Ice Age Floods curriculum. Both explore the megafloods that shaped the Northwest and are adaptable for grades K–12 Free STEAM Workshops for K–12 Educators Details (In-person with options to join us via Zoom): Location: Spokane, WA: Mon., June 24, 2026 (register here: tinyurl.com/y78vcde9) Featuring: Engaging classroom and field-based activities, including exciting ways to model Floods phenomena Stories of the megafloods that transformed the Northwest 18,000–12,000 years ago at the end of the Last Glacial Period Up to 7 Washington STEM Clock Hours and/or PDUs for license renewal in Oregon and other states Schedule: All workshops 9:00 am–4:00 pm (or half day) 9:00–12:00 | Interactive workshop featuring new Ice Age Floods Discovery curriculum: targeted to grade 4 and adaptable for K–12 12–12:30 | Working lunch (provided) 12:30–3:30 | Interactive workshop featuring Investigating Ice Age Floods curriculum adaptable for grades K–12 3:00 or 3:30–4:00 | Nearby interpretive field studies with experts Cost: Free Ice Age Floods Institute mini-Grants available  To cover materials, transportation, STEM clock hour fee, etc. Learn more: iafi.org/k-12grants. Help Spread the Word: We encourage you to share this informative Ice Age Floods Workshops flyer with other educators to let them know about this opportunity!  For questions, comments, or ideas on where we might offer additional training, please contact Rick Reynolds, M.S.Ed., at rick@engagingeverystudent.com. Thanks for your interest and all you do to inspire our students to investigate our environment!  

How do geologists know when the ice age floods actually occurred in the Spokane area? One method is to date the large flood-rafted erratic boulders. We explore the ages of the floods and the methods used to determine their dates and present newly gathered dates from the Spokane region revealing when the floods happened.  Presented by Glenn Cruickshank, vice president of the Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI), Cheney-Spokane Chapter, and Dr. Jim O'Connor, USGS Registration is required. It will be linked here as soon as it has been posted to the library website.

How do geologists know when the ice age floods actually occurred in the Spokane area? One method is to date the large flood-rafted erratic boulders. We explore the ages of the floods and the methods used to determine their dates and present newly gathered dates from the Spokane region revealing when the floods happened.  Presented by Glenn Cruickshank, vice president of the Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI), Cheney-Spokane Chapter Registration is required. It will be linked here as soon as it has been posted to the library website.

 Giant Current Dunes or MegaRipple Marks – One of Bretz’ most important pieces of evidence for catastrophic flooding was the “giant current dunes.” These large-scale bedforms appeared as patterns of parallel ridges and swales on many aerial photographs in the flood channels in the scabland of Washington, but had escaped recognition from the ground because of their size.  Giant Current Dunes are visible west of Clark Fork near Castle Rock; however, the most prominent and visible Giant Current Dunes are located several miles east of Spirit Lake along Hwy 54 where the highway cuts through the dunes showing their undulating profile. The location of many of the telephone poles on the crest of these dunes accentuates these landforms. The dunes form transverse to the current direction, and form cusps that are convex upstream, with arms that point downstream. Furthermore, the size of the cusps appears to decrease in the direction of lower velocity. Internally, the dunes consist of gravel and pebble foresets. Giant current dunes exhibit an asymmetrical profile with the downstream (lee) slope steeper than the upstream slope. Crests range from 20 to 200m apart and heights range from 1 to 15m (Baker and Nummedal, 1978) and are among the largest measured throughout the Floods area. The Spirit Lake current dunes can also be easily recognized from the air by their characteristic pattern, accentuated by vegetation. This dune field is immediately in the path of the breakout from Lake Pend Oreille, and experienced some of the highest energy flows. Presented by Dr. Linda McCollum, president of the Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI), Cheney-Spokane Chapter Registration is required. It will be linked here as soon as it has been posted to the library website (https://communitylibrary.net/library/spirit-lake/).

Save the date! Our chapter is planning a special late‑summer gathering on Saturday, August 29, in honor of J Harlen Bretz, whose birthday falls just a few days later (September 2). Bretz’s groundbreaking work on the Ice Age floods reshaped the scientific understanding of the Northwest—and we think that deserves a celebration. We’re still shaping the details, but expect a relaxed, community‑friendly event that highlights Bretz’s legacy and the remarkable landscapes he helped the world understand. More information will be posted as plans develop.   He mapped the scablands bold and bright, Said “Floods did this!” with all his might. For thirty years they told him “No”… ’Til evidence began to flow. So join us as we celebrate The man who made the floods make sense — A pre‑birthday bash for J Harlen Bretz, Who proved the skeptics wrong (immense!).