Season 16

Location: Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave, Hood River, OR 97031

Location: Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave, Hood River, OR 97031

The forests of the Columbia River Gorge are bursting with hidden life, much of it under our feet. Beneath the moss and soil, vast fungal networks connect and sustain the ecosystems we depend on. Yet many of us were taught to fear or ignore mushrooms, seeing them only as dangerous or strange. In truth, fungi are neither plants nor animals but their own extraordinary kingdom, one that decomposes, heals, nourishes, and inspires. Join Krista Cushman for a journey into the world of fungi, from the mycelium threads weaving through our forests to the seasonal beauty of local mushrooms. Along the way, she will share her own path from curiosity to connection, explore the ecological roles of fungi, and reveal some of the Columbia Gorge’s most intriguing fungal treasures. You may leave seeing the forest and its hidden kingdom through entirely new eyes.

Location: Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum, 5000 Discovery Dr., The Dalles, OR 97031

Location: Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave, Hood River, OR 97031

Gifford Pinchot was awed by the immense old-growth forests of the Cascades when he first visited the Pacific Northwest in the early 1890s. As the founding chief of the U.S. Forest Service, he championed forests as a “social good,” but as society and values evolved, so too did the management of public lands. Today, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest spans 1.3 million acres across the Columbia River Gorge, yet of the old growth that once covered nearly 70 percent of the area, less than 5 percent remains. Late in life, Pinchot defined conservation as “the foresighted utilization, preservation, and/or renewal of forests… for the greatest good of the greatest number for the longest time.” How did a forest that bears his name diverge so sharply from those ideals? And how did both sides of the Timber Wars come to misunderstand his ideals and legacy?

Join author Rand Schenck as he explores a century of forestry through the lens of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest—from decades of stewardship, through years of intense harvest, and toward today’s emerging efforts towards the rebirth of old growth.

Location: Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave, Hood River, OR 97031

How did a fish become an icon — and why should we care? In the 1960s and 70s, while the U.S. grappled with civil rights turmoil, the Pacific Northwest saw a unique struggle over tribal fishing rights—with salmon caught in the middle. Activists staged “fish-ins” instead of sit-ins, and the story of Northwest salmon ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court. This talk recognizes the long arc of legal history, beginning with the first tribal fishing rights case before the Supreme Court in 1905, and continuing through multiple returns to the Court leading up to the fish-ins and landmark decisions that followed. But this conversation is about more than just fishing rights—it is about tribal sovereignty, the enduring role of treaties between the United States and Tribal Nations, and the legal and moral questions surrounding how those agreements should be interpreted in modern times.

Join us for a conversation with Dylan Hedden-Nicely (Citizen of the Cherokee Nation and Director of the Native American Law Program at the University of Idaho) as we explore how the story of salmon became the story of so much more here in the Pacific Northwest.

Location: Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave, Hood River, OR 97031

Volcanic eruptions can perturb global climate, build mountains, and reshape human civilizations. They can be deadly, but the deep roots of volcanoes also provide a foundry for critical minerals that enable modern society. In these ways and others, volcanoes have inspired scientists and artists alike for thousands of years. The Volcano Listening Project explores connections between scientific research and artistic perspectives of volcanoes, developing tools to represent data through sound that draw equally from data science, volcanology, and new music. ‘Sonification’, the display of data using sound, provides a powerful way to understand complex signals such as are emerging with new monitoring capabilities and can enable volcano science. In equal part, sonification of volcanic data can trigger an emotional response, and thus lead to compelling music. This program will showcase volcano music and the science behind it, led by University of Oregon professor/violinist Leif Karlstrom and featuring an ensemble of internationally recognized musicians: Todd Sickafoose, Idit Shner, Adam Roskiewicz, and Jonny Rodgers.

Location: Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave, Hood River, OR 97031

Here in the Gorge, family farms have shaped both the landscape and the community for generations. Orchards stretch across the hillsides, tended by growers whose livelihoods rely quite literally on their sense of place. From microclimates and soil conditions to insect cycles and wind reports, their work blends inherited wisdom with modern science. And the agricultural community reflects a diversity of backgrounds – homesteaders, Finnish, Japanese, Mexican, among many – all of whom have contributed to the Gorge’s agricultural knowledge and legacy.
Together, local farmers anchor an agricultural industry that generates more than $200 million and the Gorge ranks in the top three for pears and cherry production. Yet behind those numbers is a way of life that is anything but simple. What does it take to grow fruit in a place where frost can erase a season overnight? What’s the best way to prune a tree – or hundreds of them? How do families keep farms alive in the face of rising costs, shifting regulations, and the constant pressure of development? And what might the Gorge look like without them?

Join us for a conversation with farmer Lisa Perry, who, along with her husband Ricardo Galvez, tends one of the many family farms that make up the Gorge’s rich agricultural community. She’ll share stories of their challenges, successes, and the deep connection to place that keeps them farming in the Gorge.

Location: Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave, Hood River, OR 97031

They’re almost invisible, blending into the basalt and bunchgrass. Most of us never see one—but when we do, it’s unforgettable. In the Columbia River Gorge, northern pacific rattlesnakes quietly go about their lives beneath our feet, helping control rodent populations and supporting the balance of local food webs. So why do these shy, gentle animals inspire so much fear? And what do we lose when we let myths shape our relationship with them?

Join wildlife ecologist Adrian Slade for a closer look at the Gorge’s only venomous reptile. Discover their fascinating biology, annual rhythms, complex social lives, and strong fidelity to den sites passed down through generations. Learn how they respond to wildfire, habitat changes, and human pressures—and how their presence signals a healthy landscape.

Whether you’re a hiker, land steward, or just snake-curious, this talk will offer practical tips for coexisting with rattlesnakes and a deeper appreciation for their subtle yet vital presence on the landscape. Let go of fear and meet the rattlesnake as it truly is: not a villain, but a neighbor.

*Adrian will be bringing live snakes for viewing as part of the in-person presentation.

Location: Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave, Hood River, OR 97031

The Crag Rats are the oldest mountain search and rescue team in North America, founded in 1926. This year marks 100 years of service for this all-volunteer group. Over the past century, they’ve provided lifesaving search and rescue support throughout Hood River County and beyond. From the icy slopes of Mount Hood to the steep canyons of the Columbia River Gorge, the Crag Rats have responded to injured climbers on Eliot Glacier, rescued hikers stranded by wildfires in Eagle Creek, and even searched for missing hunters as far away as Olympic National Park.

United by a deep love of the outdoors, The Crag Rats come from a wide range of backgrounds—teachers, orchardists, doctors, and outdoor professionals – each commited to taking the call when things go wrong in wild places. They’re guided by a strong sense of tradition—ranging from the lighthearted, like calling their president the “Big Squeak,” to meaningful milestones, such as finally welcoming women into the organization in 1993.

Join Christopher Van Tilburg on a journey through 100 years of rescue history, lore, tragedy, and triumphs – and speculation on what the Crag Rats future may hold.