Ice Age Floods Institute

The Ice Age Floods History of the Cheney Area
2026-03-10 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Cheney Community Library, 610 1st St, Cheney, WA, 99004
The landscape upon which the town of Cheney has been built bears silent witness to one of the greatest series of catastrophic floods that has ever been documented on our planet. In this talk, we delve into how the leading scientists, both past and present, have interpreted this landscape as a consequence of one immense glacial lake pouring into another glacial lake, which then overflowed and breached the southern shoreline to create the vast channeled scablands.
Presented by Dr. Linda McCollum, professor emeritus of geosciences at EWU and president of the Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI), Cheney-Spokane Chapter
Registration is required.

Free STEAM Workshops for K–12 Educators - The Dalles, OR
2026-03-14 09:00 - 16:00 | Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, 5000 Discovery Dr., The Dalles, OR, 97058, United States
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:

The Dalles, OR: Sat., Mar. 14, 2026 (register here: tinyurl.com/yxw9haet)

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!

Combined Chapter Hike – Escure Ranch / Towell Falls
2026-03-14 10:00 - 15:00 | Escure Ranch, Washington, 99125
The Palouse Falls and Cheney-Spokane Chapters of the IAFI invite you to a hike at Escure Ranch on the BLM Rock Creek Recreation Site on Saturday, March 14. The hike will start at 10:00 a.m. It will be led by Don Chadbourne, geologist and board member of the Cheney-Spokane Chapter, and Lloyd Stoess, president of the Palouse Falls Chapter. You will meet the leaders at the trailhead.
Description of the Escure Ranch Hike
The hike will begin and end at the Escure Ranch parking area, of the Bureau of Land Management, Rock Creek Recreation site. The hike will follow an old ranch road to Towell Falls and return on the same route. The out and back hike will be about 6.5 miles. The trail is mostly double track over dirt and rock, with an elevation gain and loss of about 160 feet. The hike is a pleasant trek through a remote scabland canyon. Features will include rock benches and basins, flood bars, Mima mounds, mesas and waterfalls. This hike is included in the book, On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods – Northern Reaches, by Bjornstad & Kiver.
Directions to the trailhead will be provided to hikers after registration.
Click on the Register button to sign up for the hike. The hike will be limited to 30 hikers.
Items to bring with you: appropriate shoes, day pack, water, snacks, appropriate clothing for changes in the weather, sun protection, emergency items, camera and binoculars. Walking poles will be helpful.
The hike is free; however, donations for support of Chapter activities will be accepted.
For additional questions, contact Don at 509-891-5875, or Lloyd at 509-954-3927.

Map available for download: 11 x 17 LIDAR map of Escure Ranch Area showing our hiking route to Towell Falls (downloadable PDF)

Sandhill Crane Festival
2026-03-20 06:30 - 2026-03-22 21:00 | Othello, WA, WA, 99344, United States
At the Sandhill Crane Festival, March 20-22, 2026 in the beautiful Columbia Basin, Othello, WA, you’ll have the chance to explore the Ice Age Floods story through presentations and field trips, and see thousands of Sandhill Cranes, ducks, and geese as they gather against the stunning backdrop of the Saddle Mountains and sprawling cornfields. There is a fantastic lineup of geology and wildlife viewing opportunities, along with engaging talks, fun tours, hikes, and workshops for everyone to enjoy.

Registration is now open with a registration deadline of March 15 at noon (No refunds after this date).
All Events are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are filled in the order received.
Please note, Lectures, tours and hike participants must purchase a General Admission Ticket for $10.00.

Mega-Floods of the World - The Legacy of Dr. Bretz' Work
2026-03-20 17:00 - 18:00 | Ritzville Public Library, 302 West Main Street, Ritzville, Washington, 99169
Researchers have established, based on the pioneering work of Dr. J Harlen Bretz and JT Pardee, that over 140 Ancient Mega-Flood, including Noah’s Flood are discussed in oral traditions worldwide. Professional geologist Bill Burgel will briefly discuss how the research related to the Missoula Floods and Bonneville Flood has opened up the possibility of mega-floods being the most likely explanation for the formation of the Mediterranean Sea, the Persian Gulf, The Bosphorus Straits, the English Channel, Chimu in Peru and the floodwaters on Mars. Mega-flood events are also being cited for the draining of Glacial Lake Agassiz, Glacial Lake Iroquois and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

Mega Floods, Ice Ages, Volcanic Eruptions, Earthquakes, and other things that could keep you awake at night but probably shouldn't
2026-03-21 10:00 - 11:00 | McFarland Middle School, 790 S. 10th Avenue, Othello, Washington, 99344, United States
This presentation will begin by defining what an Ice Age is and then looking at our dynamic planet and those major events that can lead to dramatic temperature changes. Also included will be a look at hazards here in the Pacific Northwest and why they occur.

Moses Coulee Field Trip
2026-03-22 08:15 - 16:00 | McFarland Middle School, 790 S. 10th Avenue, Othello, Washington, 99344, United States
This field trip will head north from Othello along the eastern edge of the Quincy Basin with stops on the Ephrata Fan and Soap Lake at the mouth of Grand Coulee. Moses Coulee parallels Grand Coulee to the west and has puzzled scientists to this day. Several plausible explanations to its origins have been proposed. This off-the-beat coulee is always a surprise to first time visitors.
On the way back to Othello, there will be stops at Potholes Coulee and Drumheller Channels which were two of the four outlets for the Missoula Floods exiting the Quincy Basin.
Go to www.othellosandhillcranefestival.com to sign up for this trip.

Dating Erratic Boulders: How Long Ago Were the Floods?
2026-03-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Deer Park Library, 208 S Forest Ave, Deer Park, WA, 99006
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.

Geology of the Tri-Cities Field Trip
2026-03-28 09:00 - 16:00 | Richland Community Center, 500 Amon Park Dr, Richland, WA, 99352, United States
The Lake Lewis Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute is sponsoring an informal (carpool) field trip focus on the geology in and around Richland, Washington.
We will leave from the southwest portion of the Richland Community Center (500 Amon Park Dr., Richland, WA 99352) parking lot (nearest to Wake-Up Coffee House). Please try to arrive by 8:45 AM so that we can get organized into as few vehicles as possible and be ready to leave by 9:00 am. We will try to get back around 3:30 or 4:00 pm.
This field trip will examine the geologic materials, processes, and history of the Tri-City area, including exposures of the massive Columbia River basalts, ancestral Columbia River and Yakima River deposits (including the Ringold Formation), old sequences of Ice Age flood deposits (some greater than 780,000 years old), as well as young Ice Age flood deposits and loess exposed at the Coyote Canyon Mammoth Site. There will be 5 or 6 main stops, with some cross-country hiking (up to 1.3 miles) on unimproved game trails. Some areas are pretty steep, with uneven terrain and loose gravel, presenting slip, trip and fall hazards. Other physical hazards can also be present in places, including rusty nails, glass, sharp metal, wood, and masonry debris. There is also the potential for biological hazards such as ticks, yellowjackets, black widows, scorpions, rattlesnakes, and the ever-present cheat grass.
Please bring a lunch, snacks, water, etc. and be sure to dress appropriately for the weather conditions and for walking in uneven terrain. Wear sturdy shoes (no open toes, sandals, or flip-flops!), bring an extra layer of clothing, and be prepared for wind, rain, or sun. If it’s sunny and hot, you’ll need a hat and sunscreen. Oh, and be sure to bring a camera!
The field trip is free. However, carpooling and ride cost sharing are encouraged. You can also join and/or donate to IAFI through https://iafi.org/join-iafi/ or donate to the IAFI K-12 Education Grant Program through https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-iafi-k-12-education-grant-program.
Please contact George Last (gvlast@charter.net) if you would like to attend or if you have any questions.

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Hike – Palisades Park 2026
2026-04-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Palisades Park, 2-198 S Rimrock Dr, Spokane, WA, 99224, United States
The 3-mile hike will be led by IAFICS board member geologist Michael Hamilton. It will take place along Rimrock Drive, which has spectacular views of Spokane and the Spokane Valley. The Glacial Outburst Flood Story will include a lot of “arm-waving,” pointing out flood features both along the trail and with views to the east. The geology discussion will include details of another kind of flood that hit the Spokane area 14 million years ago. The hike will then cut to the west along one of the park’s trails to find mysterious Mima mounds, and then loop back to the parking area.

Lower Crab Creek Field Trip—Saturday 11 April—10am to ~3p
2026-04-11 10:00 - 15:00 | CMSP&P Bridge, Beverly, WA, 46.83539588686751, -119.93816967222578, Beverly, WA, United States
Field Trip Leader: Karl Lillquist, Emeritus Professor, Geography Department, CWU
What’s so cool about lower Crab Creek? Crab Creek is a perennial stream with headwaters not far from Spokane! It flows over 160 miles through semiarid eastern and central Washington to join the Columbia River just south of Beverly. Lower Crab Creek lies in a broad coulee adjacent to the towering faulted and folded Saddle Mountains. Ice Age floods from two directions scoured the coulee walls. More recent rockfall and landslide deposits veneer the coulee walls, and sand dunes and salt flats blanket the coulee floor. Native Americans have long frequented the river and shrub steppe environments of the area. In the past 150 years, the landscape has been altered by the coming of the railroad and by large scale irrigation. Currently, the area is a mecca for outdoor-minded folks included hunters, fishers, nature lovers, cyclists, and off road vehicle enthusiasts.
Over the day, we will explore:
1) the tectonic origins of Crab Creek “Coulee” and the Saddle Mountains;
2) impacts of Ice Age flooding on the area;
3) formation of prominent rockfall and landslides from the Saddle Mountains; and
4) how geology, weather and climate, and human activity have shaped sand dunes and salt flats in the area.
The trip will conclude around 3pm giving participants plenty of time to get back to Ellensburg for Nick Zentner’s lecture.
What’s the plan for the day?
10:00am Stop 1—Beverly—geology and geography overview; Ice Age floods
11:00 Depart
11:15 Stop 2—Beverly Sand Dunes—weather, dunes, ORV’s, salt flats & Crab Creek
12:00 pm Depart
12:15 Stop 3—Smyrna Ice Cave—faulting, talus, cold air drainage & human uses of talus
1:00 Depart
1:15 Stop 4—West of Smyrna—landslides
2:00 Depart
2:15 Stop 5—Red Rock Coulee—Ice Age floods
3:00 Depart
Where to meet and park? We will meet on the east end of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific railroad bridge in Beverly at 10:00am. The bridge and the old railroad right of way are now part of the Palouse to Cascades Trail. This trail forms the northern boundary of the town of Beverly and is our first stop. Beverly is located about 10 miles south of Vantage along the Columbia River. To get there from WA 243, take a left and head east on Lower Crab Creek Road for just under 0.2 mi. Turn left onto Seattle Street and drive north for ~0.2 mi to a trailhead just south of the Palouse to Cascade Trail. Park here or along Seattle Street, 1st Avenue SW, or Main Street. Make sure to pull off the streets as far as possible and don’t block resident’s driveways.
What are the trip logistics and costs? All Ellensburg IAFI field trips are free of charge and involve participants driving their own vehicles to the various stops. Most trips involve several short walks or hikes. We may cross barbed wire fences, and walk over uneven terrain and through dryland vegetation. There are limited restrooms scattered along our route. There’s no need to reserve a place on the field trip—just show up! We provide a free digital copy of the field guide for you to download or print out (see “Field Guides” near the bottom of my CWU website => https://www.cwu.edu/academics/geography/_documents/karl-lillquist.php). I will post the Lower Crab Creek field guide on my website on about Monday 6 April. Due to budget constraints, hardcopies of the field guide will now only be available by prior request and subsequent donation (suggested $15). If you want a full color, hardcopy of the ~40 page field guide, email me at lillquis@cwu.edu to let me know how many copies you would like. I will place my order for hardcopies by 8:00am Monday 6 April so if you want a hardcopy, please get your request in before that day. Pick up your copy and make your donation to IAFI at Stop 1 on the field trip.
Hope you can join us!

29th Lakeside Gem & Mineral Show - April 18-19
2026-04-18 09:00 - 2026-04-19 16:00 | Benton County Fairgounds, 1500 S. Oak, Kennewick, WA, United States
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!

Norwegian Scenic Routes - An Ice Age Floods Trail Model
2026-04-30 19:00 - 20:30 | White Salmon Valley Community Library, 77 NE Wauna Ave, White Salmon, WA, 98672, United States
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.

FIELD TRIP INTO MOSES COULEE, May 3rd, 2026
2026-05-03 10:00 - 16:00 | Jameson Lake WDFW, 441 South Jameson Lake Road, Waterville, WA, 98858, United States
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

Dr. Megan Anderson "What happens when you crash Iceland into North America? Mapping Washington's ancient tectonic pileup"
2026-05-04 19:00 - 20:30 | Bellevue College T building room 126, 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, Bellevue, WA 98007, Bellevue, WA, 98007, United States
Western Washington has been a location of intense geologic action for millions of years, and it still is. This talk shows how geologists use the physics of Earth’s gravity and magnetic fields to map deeply-buried rocks which tell the story of ancient mountains now long-gone. The talk will also show how the subsurface architecture left behind continues to influence the geologic and earthquake activity of today.

Mysteries of the Channeled Scablands and the two Detectives who Solved it.
2026-05-05 19:00 - 20:00 | Richland Library, 955 Northgate Dr., Richland, Washington, 99352
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.
This will also be available on Zoom: Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89175830218
Join instructions
https://us06web.zoom.us/meetings/89175830218/invitations?signature=A-eaOzzCh1jy5rfktTN7oAoucFkSE0aKCWq9f_DNyAs

Explore Deep Time at Coyote Wall with Geologist Lloyd DeKay
2026-05-09 07:45 - 23:00, 2026-05-16 07:45 - 11:00 | White Salmon/Hood River Bridge Park and Ride, PGF5+M6, White Salmon, WA, 98672, United States
Have you ever looked at the dramatic cliffs and unusual rock formations of the Columbia River Gorge and wondered how they came to be?
This May, during the White Salmon Wildflower Festival, you’re invited to step into “deep time” on a guided geology walk with professional geologist Lloyd DeKay. This is more than a hike—it’s a journey through millions of years of volcanic eruptions, massive floods, and the relentless shaping power of water and time.
A Walk Through Ancient Landscapes
Set against the stunning backdrop of Coyote Wall, this experience explores the interconnected terrain of the Labyrinth and Syncline—some of the most geologically fascinating features in the Gorge.

Participants will:

Walk the scenic roadway and venture into the Labyrinth
Observe unique rock formations and folded layers up close
Learn how lava flows, Ice Age floods, and tectonic forces shaped the land
Pause for a bring-your-own snack/lunch beside peaceful Labyrinth Creek

Expect a moderately active outing of 2+ hours and 2+ miles round trip, with some light rock scrambling along the way.
Where: Meet-up at the Mt Adams Visitor Info Ctr at Mile Post 65, Highway 14, Lot 1 Heritage Plaza Parking, White Salmon
When: Meet by 7:45 Sharp | May 9 and May 16 | 2026
Cost: Free
Sign Up: White Salmon Wildflower Week Events – Scroll down that page to sign up – each date will fill at 15 participants.
See the Gorge Differently
By the end of this walk, you won’t just see the Gorge—you’ll understand it. Layers of basalt, carved valleys, and scattered boulders will tell a story of fire, flood, and time on a scale that reshapes your perspective.
Whether you’re a curious local or a visiting wildflower enthusiast, this is a rare opportunity to connect more deeply with the landscape that defines our region.
Come ready to hike, learn, and never look at the Gorge the same way again.
Meet Your Guide: Lloyd DeKay
Lloyd DeKay brings a lifetime of geological expertise and local passion to this experience.

BA in Earth Sciences – California State University, Northridge
MS in Geological Oceanography – University of Rhode Island
27-year career in global exploration with Gulf/Chevron

Since moving to the Gorge in 2007, Lloyd has become a cornerstone of the local naturalist and geology community. He serves as President of the Columbia River Gorge Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute and has led extensive efforts to expand educational resources, including interactive maps, field guides, and regional programming.
Locally, he’s also a co-founder of community initiatives in White Salmon and Bingen and a frequent field trip leader for Oregon State University’s Gorge Naturalist Program.

Cheney-Spokane Chapter Quarry Hike
2026-05-09 13:00 - 15:00 | Spokane Conservation District Office, 4422 E 8th Ave, Spokane Valley, WA, 99212, United States
🪨 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.

Lower Lake Wenatchee Area Field Trip—Saturday 6 June 2026
2026-06-06 10:00 - 16:00 | Lake Wenatchee State Park, 21588 SR 207, Leavenworth, WA, 98826, United States
Quick description: Our focus on this trip will be on alpine glaciation from various sources in the Eastern Cascades near the lower Lake Wenatchee Area. Enroute, we will mix in big picture geology, weather and climate, and human uses in the area. The trip will begin on the beach in the southern portion of Lake Wenatchee State Park.
Detailed schedule and the topics to be covered:

10:00 Stop 1—Lake Wenatchee State Park—Topics: Bedrock geology; weather & climate; Wenatchee River alpine glacier.
11:00 Depart
11:30 Stop 2—Northeast of Fish Lake —Topics: Fish Lake lobe of the Wenatchee River glacier; moraines & erratics; moraine-dammed lakes; Glacier Peak & Mt. St. Helens tephras.
12:15 Depart
12:45 Stop 3—Chiwawa River Valley Overlook—Topics: Chiwawa River alpine glacier; Mad River outlet glaciers; declining contemporary glaciers.
1:45 Depart
2:00 Stop 4—Meadow Creek Valley Overlook—Topics: Meadow Creek/Napeequa glaciers; Dirtyface Mountain cirques; Napeequa River capture by White River; moraine-dammed lakes.
2:45 Depart
3:15 Stop 5—Deep Creek at Morrow Meadow—Topics: Glacial meltwater, faulting, lateral valleys, and ice age lakes.
4:00 Depart for home

Logistics:

This trip is free and open to the public.
You will need a Discover Pass for Stop 1.
After Stop 1, we will drive on a mix of paved and good quality gravel forest roads. A Subaru-type AWD vehicle should do fine on the gravel roads.
I strongly encourage you to consider carpooling; parking will be limited at each of the stops and lengthy strings of automobiles can be unwieldy on narrow forest roads.
We will take short hikes at Stops 2, 3 and 4. By short, I mean 0.25 mi or less at each stop. The hiking terrain at Stops 3 and 4 will be fairly steep. Stops 2 and 4 will involve hiking off trail through recently logged areas.
No restroom or picnic facilities are available along our field trip route after Stop 1. Therefore, you will need to use the great outdoors if you need to go. Plan on eating lunch/snacks on the road or at the stops. There will not be a formal lunch stop.
Dogs and kids are fine to bring as long as they are well-behaved.
Dress for the weather. June weather here can be sunny and hot to rainy, windy & cool.
A pdf of the field guide is already posted on my CWU website at https://www.cwu.edu/academics/geography/_documents/karl-lillquist.php. Scroll down the page to “Field Guides”. You will find it under “Lower Lake Wenatchee Area”. Feel free to download and bring it on the field trip in digital format or print it out.
The Ellensburg Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute will also provide ~40 hard copies of the field guide for the trip. If you want a hard copy, please consider a cash donation to help defray the costs of the field guides (each costs about $15 to print).

Questions?
Email me at lillquis@cwu.edu or leave a phone message at 509 963-1184. Emails are best as I only check that phone a couple of times each week.

Athol Library Lecture: Introduction to the Ice Age Floods and the National Geologic Trail
2026-06-12 13:00 - 14:30 | Athol Library, 30399 3rd St, Athol, ID, 83801
At the end of the last Ice Age an ice dam in northern Idaho created Glacial Lake Missoula stretching 3,000 square miles around Missoula, Montana. The dam burst and released flood waters across Washington, down the Columbia River into Oregon before reaching the Pacific Ocean. The Ice Age Floods forever changed the lives and landscape of the Pacific Northwest.
The Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail is a network of routes, sites, and interpretive centers that follow the pathways of the repeated Ice Age megafloods released from Glacial Lake Missoula between roughly 18,000 and 15,000 years ago. These floods reshaped the Pacific Northwest on a continental scale, carving features such as the Channeled Scablands, Grand Coulee, Dry Falls, Palouse Falls, and the Columbia River Gorge. It spans four states—Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon—and links dozens of geologic landmarks that preserve evidence of these enormous floods.
Presented by Don Chadbourne, geologist and board member of the Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI), Cheney-Spokane Chapter
No registration required. Call Librarian Ali Spahn with any questions at 208-683-2979.

Harrison Library Lecture: Introduction to the Ice Age Floods and the National Geologic Trail
2026-06-16 16:30 - 18:00 | Harrison Library, 111 S Coeur d’Alene Avenue, Harrison, ID, 83833
At the end of the last Ice Age an ice dam in northern Idaho created Glacial Lake Missoula stretching 3,000 square miles around Missoula, Montana. The dam burst and released flood waters across Washington, down the Columbia River into Oregon before reaching the Pacific Ocean. The Ice Age Floods forever changed the lives and landscape of the Pacific Northwest.
The Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail is a network of routes, sites, and interpretive centers that follow the pathways of the repeated Ice Age megafloods released from Glacial Lake Missoula between roughly 18,000 and 15,000 years ago. These floods reshaped the Pacific Northwest on a continental scale, carving features such as the Channeled Scablands, Grand Coulee, Dry Falls, Palouse Falls, and the Columbia River Gorge. It spans four states—Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon—and links dozens of geologic landmarks that preserve evidence of these enormous floods.
Presented by Don Chadbourne, geologist and board member of the Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI), Cheney-Spokane Chapter
No registration required. Call Librarian Ani Matosian with any questions at 208-689-3976.

Free STEAM Workshops for K–12 Educators - Richland, WA
2026-06-22 09:00 - 16:00 | The Reach Museum, 1943 Columbia Park Trl , WA, Richland, WA, 99352, United States
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!

Free STEAM Workshops for K–12 Educators - Spokane, WA
2026-06-24 09:00 - 16:00 | Shadle Park Library Maker Studio, 2111 W. Wellesley Ave., Spokane, WA, United States
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!

Post Falls Library Lecture: What Happened when the Dam Burst?
2026-06-24 13:00 - 14:30 | Post Falls Library, 821 N Spokane St, Post Falls, ID, 83854
Geologist Michael Hamilton talks about the geology of the Spokane area which reveals an interesting part of the glacial flood story. When the glacial ice dam failed, the area immediately downstream received deposits of sediments and various landforms that provide clues of what happened when the dam burst. What we see in the flood deposits around Spokane also suggest insights on the sequence and size of the outburst floods.
Presented by Michael Hamilton, geologist and board member of the Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI), Cheney-Spokane Chapter
No registration required. Call Librarian Grace Lippman with any questions at 208-773-1506.

Spirit Lake Library Lecture: The Ice Age Missoula floods and the Spirit Lake giant current dune field
2026-06-27 13:00 - 14:30 | Spirit Lake Library, 32575 N 5th Ave, Spirit Lake, ID, 83869
Giant Current Dunes or MegaRipple Marks – One of the 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
No registration required. Call Librarian Nicole Ferris with any questions at 208-623-5353.
PDF Resource Materials

Waitt, R.B. 2016 Megafloods and Clovis cache at Wenatchee, Washington
Baker, V.R. 2023 J Harlen Bretz & the cataclysmic Late Pleistocene mega-flooding origin of the Channeled Scabland
Romano, M. 2015 Reviewing the term uniformitarianism in modern Earth sciences
Baker, V.R. Sept. 1995 Joseph Thomas Pardee and the Spokane Flood Controversy

Hayden Library Lecture: Dating Erratic Boulders: How Long Ago Were the Floods?
2026-07-07 13:00 - 13:30 | Hayden Library, 8385 N Government Wy, Hayden Lake, ID, 83835
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
No registration required. Call Librarian Kathleen Kennedy with any questions at 208-772-5612 x126.

Rathdrum Library Lecture: Dating Erratic Boulders: How Long Ago Were the Floods?
2026-07-14 15:00 - 16:30 | Rathdrum Library, 16320 ID-41, Rathdrum, ID, 83858
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
No registration required. Call Librarian Tiffany Berg with any questions at 208-687-1029.

Spirit Lake Library Lecture II: The Ice Age Missoula floods and the Spirit Lake giant current dune field
2026-07-21 13:00 - 14:30 | Spirit Lake Library, 32575 N 5th Ave, Spirit Lake, ID, 83869
(This will be the same presentation as June 27.) Giant Current Dunes or MegaRipple Marks – One of the 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
No registration required. Call Librarian Nicole Ferris with any questions at 208-623-5353.
PDF Resource Materials

Waitt, R.B. 2016 Megafloods and Clovis cache at Wenatchee, Washington
Baker, V.R. 2023 J Harlen Bretz & the cataclysmic Late Pleistocene mega-flooding origin of the Channeled Scabland
Romano, M. 2015 Reviewing the term uniformitarianism in modern Earth sciences
Baker, V.R. Sept. 1995 Joseph Thomas Pardee and the Spokane Flood Controversy

POSTPONED Until August 2027: Bretz Was Right: A Pre‑Birthday Floods‑Fest
2027-08-28 10:00 - 14:00 | WA
Update on 5/21/26: Sorry, but due to a heavy summer schedule we’ve had to postpone this event until next year to give us more time to plan.
Our chapter is planning a special late‑summer gathering on Saturday, August 28, 2027 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 the Bretz 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!).
