The NEW Skagit River Interpretive Center-
Help Fulfill the Dream!

If you’ve ever visited the winter seasonal Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center, set up in the upstairs classroom of the old Rockport Schoolhouse (now the Rockport Fire Hall), you know the value of this resource to visiting eagle watchers. You probably also know that the limited space and scheduling capacity often cannot meet the ever-growing public demand for such a service.

For over a decade, dedicated and enthusiastic individuals have dreamt of building a state-of-the-art interpretive center, open year-round, in a permanent location that will help people to:

  • Understand the importance and uniqueness of the Skagit River watershed area to the greater Western Washington region and the nation
  • Appreciate the diversity in wildlife, trees and plants that create the watershed’s natural character
  • Be introduced to the cultural and historical character of the Skagit Valley
  • Fully experience the river and surrounding wilderness without adversely impacting its sensitive systems, and
  • Learn more about the area’s activities, amenities and communities

The new Skagit River Interpretive Center will fulfill these objectives by offering a variety of environmental, cultural, and historical education programs and events managed by full-time staff and knowledgeable volunteers. With the center operating year-round, these programs and events will highlight the changes and beauty each season brings. It will also offer meaningful employment to local persons in a community suffering from long-term economic hardship.

Partnerships – Bringing Dreams to Life To fulfill a Dream such as the Skagit River Interpretive Center, it takes imagination, collaboration and cooperation among many individuals, organizations and government agencies. Here are the organizations and agencies that have been a part of this decade-long planning process:

  • WA State Dept. Fish & Wildlife
  • U.S. Forest Service – Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
  • U.S. National Park Service – North Cascades National Park
  • Skagit County Commissioners
  • North Cascades Institute
  • Northwest Interpretive Association
  • Sarvey Wildlife Center
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Audubon Society

This year, Skagit County Parks & Recreation Department donated a facility in Howard Miller Steelhead Park that will be used to house an interim interpretive center. Puget Sound Energy continues to generously provide funding for seasonal staffing and some expenses. Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group assists with additional volunteer staffing and program development. But more partners are needed, and it will only be through partnerships that these valuable programs will be able to continue

What We Need – Funding
Financial support from public and private sources will pay for the design and construction of the facility, creation of the organization to operate the center, and the development of programs. We welcome the opportunity to share the excitement of our Dream with prospective partners and supporters. Please contact us to explore the possibilities!

Skagit River Interpretive Center

P.O. Box 571 Concrete, WA 98237-0571 (360) 853-7283
sricthedream@verizon.net

http://www.skagiteagle.org/SRIC/sric-home.htm