Annual Balde Eagle Festival set

The annual Balde Eagle festival will be held in Grand Coulee Thursday, Feb. 16, and in Davenport on Friday, Feb. 17, according to National Park Service Education Specialist Janice Elvidge.

Events on both days are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Elvidge said the event, which educates kids in cooperation with local schools, can use help from volunteers in several areas:

• Housing is needed in the Grand Coulee Dam area for one man with at least one bird. He’s new to the festival this year, she said, and will need one room for two to three nights, depending on weather.

• Site coordinators are needed for programs at the Ridge Riders facility, the Vet Center in Electric City, and St. Henry’s Catholic Church. Site coordinators need to be at their site at 8 a.m. to assist with any setup. They then meet each group, get numbers and basic information, and then help the presenter as needed. It is especially helpful for the coordinator to have a personal cell phone, as none of the sites have telephones.

• In Davenport, an assistant is needed to help during the day.

• Grand Coulee and Davenport lunch sponsors are needed. (Lunch is provided for each speaker and site coordinator.) 

Those willing to help can contact Elvidge at 509-754-7848 or 509-631-4229. Or they can contact new Education Ranger Dorea Martin at 509-754-7843 or by email at dorea_martin@nps.gov.