Illustrations by Jenny Rieke.
To start off 2026, Steve Ghan shares his thoughts on balancing work and play:
Balancing work with play
“Through biking or hiking, I’ve been able to consistently engage in both my paid work and in my volunteering with energy and enthusiasm.”
Steve Ghan (he/him)
Pauline Schafer shares her practice of nature journaling:
How to slow time
“As time hurtles ever forward, I plan to slow it down a bit with some nature journaling.”
Pauline Schafer
And Mikki Symonds shares these poetic gems:
Slightly sharp scent
sage invigorates: Wake up!
Investigate: where ARE you?
Wind howls high
rips limbs from trees not born here;
centuries-long howls: from whom are you?
From the grey green
soft yellow blooms bright invites:
"Why madly speeding?
Come see the bees!"
BOOTS IN THE BASIN is made possible by a coalition of local environmentally-focused organizations, including:
- Benton Conservation District
- Bike Tri-Cities
- Citizens’ Climate Lobby
- Franklin Conservation District
- Friends of Mid-Columbia River Wildlife Refuges
- The REACH Museum
- Save Our Shoreline 99301
- Sustainable Tri-Cities
- Tapteal Greenway
- WA Native Plant Society: Columbia Basin Chapter
- Lower Columbia Basin Audubon Society
