Below is a sample of the emails you can expect to receive when signed up to ncascades.
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January 2020 Field Notes
Happy New Year! We hope that you had a restful and heartfelt holiday season with loved ones and healthy doses of time spent outdoors. We've passed the Solstice and are eagerly anticipating the return of longer days (as well as keeping an eye on the forecast for snow in the lowlands next week)! Towards the end of 2019, Institute leadership attended a conference in Sedona, Arizona called Reciprocal Healing: Nature, Health, and Wild Vitality that included addresses by Robin Wall Kimmerer, Gary Paul Nabhan, Davona Blackhorse, Kathleen Dean Moore and others. The theme being investigated was "the health of humans and nature are inextricably linked. As we heal ourselves, we heal the earth – and vice versa." Sessions included "Why Natural History Matters," "Forest Bathing: Medicine Meets Spirit," "Restoring Land Health, Human Health, and Community Well-being" and "Aligning Our Medicine With Nature." One vital question that illuminated the weekend was "how to honor and nurture reciprocal relationships between Earth, humans, and other living things." Dr. Moore framed this reciprocal work through three actions we can all dedicate ourselves to: Love, Witness, Defend. January 2020 ▸ UPCOMING CLASSES & EXCURSIONS ▸ MOUNTAIN SCHOOL CURRICULUM REDESIGN PROJECT ▸ MT. BAKER SNOW SCHOOL ▸ WINTER ONLINE SPECIAL: 15 % OFF HYDROFLASKS
Institute staff carried inspiration from sunny Arizona back to the snowy North Cascades — as well as clear calls to actions — both of which are helping us focus for the new year. When Dr. Kimmerer pointed out that "we are lonely for authentic engagement with each other and with the world," it helps to infuse our work in connecting people, nature and community with more urgency. Watch our blog for more reflections from this confluence of thought leaders, educators, healers and activists! 
Wilderness Medicine CoursesLearn skills for working or playing in remote or wilderness settings with Remote Medical Training at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center FEBRUARY
SIGN UP
Registration includes course materials, instruction, lodging Upcoming Classes & EventsFeb 10-14: Hybrid Wilderness First Responder course (ELC) 2020 Family Getaways: Open for registration ⤑
REGISTER TODAY
Scholarships, student and military discounts may be available. Institute News
Mountain School Curriculum Redesign Project2020 marks the 30th anniversary of Mountain School! Over the past 29 years, more than 30,000 youth have traveled up Highway 20 to experience an unforgettable three days and two nights environmental education experience in the mountains with us. In that time, teaching about the natural world has changed significantly, as you can imagine, and so we've kicked off a Mountain School Curriculum Redesign Project with teachers, staff at North Cascades National Park, Three Circles Center curriculum consultant and others. 
The effort is an opportunity for the Institute to press the “reset” button and intentionally organize and integrate all program content to align with new standards, including Next Generation Science Standards and Since Time Immemorial curriculum. Special thanks to Discuren Charitable Foundation, Beardsley Family Foundation, and Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation for making this curriculum redesign possible!
READ MORE ON OUR BLOG
Mt. Baker Snow School ready to go!A lot of snow has fallen in the mountains over the past week, with lots more on the way, which is great news for Mt. Baker Snow School — an outdoor winter learning adventure for middle school students that combines applied science education with snowshoe-powered exploration. We're looking forward to welcoming 700 students and teachers to Mt Baker Ski Area over the coming weeks. The Cascadia Weekly wrote that "Mt. Baker Snow School provides a local context in which climate science becomes more personal, encouraging a sense of responsibility and hopefulness. By investigating snowpack, watersheds and weather, students understand the problem in a tangible way and progress toward engineering solutions." We agree and can't wait to get on the mountain for learning and adventure this month!
READ MORE
THANK YOU!More than 700 individuals, families and organizations generously supported shared experiences in nature in 2019! When people share meaningful experiences outdoors, their quality of life, health and social wellbeing improve, and their communities become more sustainable. Everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy time outdoors, because when people connect with nature, we all benefit. Thank you for creating these transformative experiences for more than 4,000 young people this year!
DONATE
Diablo Lake Overview, December 2019, by Jason Ruvelson. Snow School by Scott Kranz.
North Cascades Institute
Connecting people, nature and community since 1986 Explore more at ncascades.org | (360) 854-2599 Thanks for reading! If you'd like to continue receiving emails from us but wish to change the type of content you'll get, click on the "Preferences" link below.
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January 2020 Field Notes
Happy New Year! We hope that you had a restful and heartfelt holiday season with loved ones and healthy doses of time spent outdoors. We've passed the Solstice and are eagerly anticipating the return of longer days (as well as keeping an eye on the forecast for snow in the lowlands next week)! Towards the end of 2019, Institute leadership attended a conference in Sedona, Arizona called Reciprocal Healing: Nature, Health, and Wild Vitality that included addresses by Robin Wall Kimmerer, Gary Paul Nabhan, Davona Blackhorse, Kathleen Dean Moore and others. The theme being investigated was "the health of humans and nature are inextricably linked. As we heal ourselves, we heal the earth – and vice versa." Sessions included "Why Natural History Matters," "Forest Bathing: Medicine Meets Spirit," "Restoring Land Health, Human Health, and Community Well-being" and "Aligning Our Medicine With Nature." One vital question that illuminated the weekend was "how to honor and nurture reciprocal relationships between Earth, humans, and other living things." Dr. Moore framed this reciprocal work through three actions we can all dedicate ourselves to: Love, Witness, Defend. January 2020 ▸ UPCOMING CLASSES & EXCURSIONS ▸ MOUNTAIN SCHOOL CURRICULUM REDESIGN PROJECT ▸ MT. BAKER SNOW SCHOOL ▸ WINTER ONLINE SPECIAL: 15 % OFF HYDROFLASKS
Institute staff carried inspiration from sunny Arizona back to the snowy North Cascades — as well as clear calls to actions — both of which are helping us focus for the new year. When Dr. Kimmerer pointed out that "we are lonely for authentic engagement with each other and with the world," it helps to infuse our work in connecting people, nature and community with more urgency. Watch our blog for more reflections from this confluence of thought leaders, educators, healers and activists! 
Wilderness Medicine CoursesLearn skills for working or playing in remote or wilderness settings with Remote Medical Training at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center FEBRUARY
SIGN UP
Registration includes course materials, instruction, lodging Upcoming Classes & EventsFeb 10-14: Hybrid Wilderness First Responder course (ELC) 2020 Family Getaways: Open for registration ⤑
REGISTER TODAY
Scholarships, student and military discounts may be available. Institute News
Mountain School Curriculum Redesign Project2020 marks the 30th anniversary of Mountain School! Over the past 29 years, more than 30,000 youth have traveled up Highway 20 to experience an unforgettable three days and two nights environmental education experience in the mountains with us. In that time, teaching about the natural world has changed significantly, as you can imagine, and so we've kicked off a Mountain School Curriculum Redesign Project with teachers, staff at North Cascades National Park, Three Circles Center curriculum consultant and others. 
The effort is an opportunity for the Institute to press the “reset” button and intentionally organize and integrate all program content to align with new standards, including Next Generation Science Standards and Since Time Immemorial curriculum. Special thanks to Discuren Charitable Foundation, Beardsley Family Foundation, and Hugh and Jane Ferguson Foundation for making this curriculum redesign possible!
READ MORE ON OUR BLOG
Mt. Baker Snow School ready to go!A lot of snow has fallen in the mountains over the past week, with lots more on the way, which is great news for Mt. Baker Snow School — an outdoor winter learning adventure for middle school students that combines applied science education with snowshoe-powered exploration. We're looking forward to welcoming 700 students and teachers to Mt Baker Ski Area over the coming weeks. The Cascadia Weekly wrote that "Mt. Baker Snow School provides a local context in which climate science becomes more personal, encouraging a sense of responsibility and hopefulness. By investigating snowpack, watersheds and weather, students understand the problem in a tangible way and progress toward engineering solutions." We agree and can't wait to get on the mountain for learning and adventure this month!
READ MORE
THANK YOU!More than 700 individuals, families and organizations generously supported shared experiences in nature in 2019! When people share meaningful experiences outdoors, their quality of life, health and social wellbeing improve, and their communities become more sustainable. Everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy time outdoors, because when people connect with nature, we all benefit. Thank you for creating these transformative experiences for more than 4,000 young people this year!
DONATE
Diablo Lake Overview, December 2019, by Jason Ruvelson. Snow School by Scott Kranz.
North Cascades Institute
Connecting people, nature and community since 1986 Explore more at ncascades.org | (360) 854-2599 Thanks for reading! If you'd like to continue receiving emails from us but wish to change the type of content you'll get, click on the "Preferences" link below.
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February 2020 Field Notes
Got rain? Even for a region renowned for being a wet corner of the planet, these past few weeks have been extra-saturated! It rained nearly every single day in Washington in January — and Hoquiam, Olympia, Bellingham and Seattle broke or tied all-time records for number of days with rain. Quillayute on the Olympic coast received over 25 inches of precip, more than 10 inches above normal! As Cliff Mass notes, "After (this) incessant rain, grass is like mush, water is ponding and accumulating everywhere, landslides have started, the rivers are flooding, and the aroma of wetness is everywhere." Indeed. Rain in the lowlands has translated to lots of snow in the North Cascades, and Mt. Baker Ski Area received 294 inches of snowfall in January — 24.5 FEET of snow! — only 10 inches away from breaking the all-time monthly snowfall record set during the World Record snowfall season of 1998-99! There's plenty of fluffy white stuff for our students to learn about and measure in Mt. Baker Snow School, which got underway January 27. February 2020 ▸ YOUTH LEADERSHIP ADVENTURES 2020 APPLICATIONS OPEN ▸ WILDERNESS MEDICINE COURSES AT THE ELC ▸ NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY AT DIABLO LAKE OVERLOOK ▸ SUPPORT MT. BAKER SNOW SCHOOL & GETS KIDS OUTDOORS THIS WINTER We've been very busy preparing all of the many programs we're offering in 2020. Read on to learn about a wide range of Learning Center classes, Field Excursions, Base Camp Learning and Lodging dates, Family Getaways and the launch of Youth Leadership Adventures applications for high school students looking to go on an adventure, meet new people & explore local ecosystems this summer. ps. We are hiring! Currently seeking a Systems Administrator based in the Sedro Woolley office and Housekeeping Coordinator for the ELC, more summer job openings coming soon. Upcoming Classes & EventsFeb 10-14: Hybrid Wilderness First Responder course (ELC) 2020 Family Getaways: Open for registration ⤑
REGISTER TODAY
Scholarships and student and military discounts are available. Institute News
Youth Leadership Adventures: Get Involved!Youth Leadership Adventures are for high school students seeking a fun and challenging summer adventure in the North Cascades! Our 8 and 12-day backpacking and/or canoe camping trips connect the next generation to the natural world, giving them the knowledge and skills to understand how climate change is affecting our region. Participants canoe, backpack, camp and complete service projects in the North Cascades while receive hands-on training in outdoor leadership, communication skill and public speaking -- no experience is necessary and scholarships are available! New video! https://youtu.be/lU9h7Uj_dRs 
There are many ways to get involved in this transformational outdoor program:Students: 9-12th graders looking to go on an adventure, meet new people & explore local ecosystems. No experience is necessary and we offer food, gear, scholarships and transportation. Apply now on our website! Teachers: High school teachers in Skagit or Whatcom counties that want to host a short presentation in their classroom to share this opportunity with their students (contact us at youth@ncascades.org, presentations taking place Feb-March) Field Instructors: Outdoor educators with experience leading backcountry trips, teaching about natural and cultural history, and experience working with a broad range of identities or representative of the diversity of our students. (Apply on our website Feb 14-March 14) Interns: Currently enrolled college students excited to develop a career in environmental education through hands on practice and application (Apply on our website March 9-April 10)
LEARN MORE ON OUR WEBSITE
Wilderness Medicine CoursesLearn skills for working or playing in remote or wilderness settings with Remote Medical Training at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center FEBRUARY
SIGN UP
Registration includes course materials, instruction, lodging
Participating in Base Camp reminded us of days gone by — forgetsomeday.com FROM THE GIFT SHOPCheck out this one-of-a-kind North Cascades National Park stoneware mug, only available in our gift shops and only $21.95. Handmade in the USA by Sunset Hill Stoneware — "America's Cleanest Greenest Pottery." This sturdy eco-friendly mug is lead-free, responsibly-sourced and fired at temperatures hotter than a volcano! Get one for yourself or as a gift for a loved one, and feel good knowing that proceeds benefit youth education in the North Cascades.
SHOP
HELP GET KIDS OUTDOORS THIS WINTERThis winter, approximately 650 middle-schoolers will investigate snowpack, watersheds and weather at Mt. Baker Snow School. Snow School is a day-long outdoor winter learning adventure combining applied science education with snowshoe-powered exploration at the Mt. Baker Ski Area. It provides a local context in which climate science becomes more personal, encouraging a sense of responsibility and hopefulness. Your donations make this program possible.
GIVE TODAY
Komo Kulshan and bald eagles by Karen Molenaar Terrell. Night photo at Liberty Bell by Andy Porter.
North Cascades Institute
Connecting people, nature and community since 1986 Explore more at ncascades.org | (360) 854-2599 Thanks for reading! If you'd like to continue receiving emails from us but wish to change the type of content you'll get, click on the "Preferences" link below.
Preferences | Unsubscribe
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February 2020 Field Notes
Got rain? Even for a region renowned for being a wet corner of the planet, these past few weeks have been extra-saturated! It rained nearly every single day in Washington in January — and Hoquiam, Olympia, Bellingham and Seattle broke or tied all-time records for number of days with rain. Quillayute on the Olympic coast received over 25 inches of precip, more than 10 inches above normal! As Cliff Mass notes, "After (this) incessant rain, grass is like mush, water is ponding and accumulating everywhere, landslides have started, the rivers are flooding, and the aroma of wetness is everywhere." Indeed. Rain in the lowlands has translated to lots of snow in the North Cascades, and Mt. Baker Ski Area received 294 inches of snowfall in January — 24.5 FEET of snow! — only 10 inches away from breaking the all-time monthly snowfall record set during the World Record snowfall season of 1998-99! There's plenty of fluffy white stuff for our students to learn about and measure in Mt. Baker Snow School, which got underway January 27. February 2020 ▸ YOUTH LEADERSHIP ADVENTURES 2020 APPLICATIONS OPEN ▸ WILDERNESS MEDICINE COURSES AT THE ELC ▸ NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY AT DIABLO LAKE OVERLOOK ▸ SUPPORT MT. BAKER SNOW SCHOOL & GETS KIDS OUTDOORS THIS WINTER We've been very busy preparing all of the many programs we're offering in 2020. Read on to learn about a wide range of Learning Center classes, Field Excursions, Base Camp Learning and Lodging dates, Family Getaways and the launch of Youth Leadership Adventures applications for high school students looking to go on an adventure, meet new people & explore local ecosystems this summer. ps. We are hiring! Currently seeking a Systems Administrator based in the Sedro Woolley office and Housekeeping Coordinator for the ELC, more summer job openings coming soon. Upcoming Classes & EventsFeb 10-14: Hybrid Wilderness First Responder course (ELC) 2020 Family Getaways: Open for registration ⤑
REGISTER TODAY
Scholarships and student and military discounts are available. Institute News
Youth Leadership Adventures: Get Involved!Youth Leadership Adventures are for high school students seeking a fun and challenging summer adventure in the North Cascades! Our 8 and 12-day backpacking and/or canoe camping trips connect the next generation to the natural world, giving them the knowledge and skills to understand how climate change is affecting our region. Participants canoe, backpack, camp and complete service projects in the North Cascades while receive hands-on training in outdoor leadership, communication skill and public speaking -- no experience is necessary and scholarships are available! New video! https://youtu.be/lU9h7Uj_dRs 
There are many ways to get involved in this transformational outdoor program:Students: 9-12th graders looking to go on an adventure, meet new people & explore local ecosystems. No experience is necessary and we offer food, gear, scholarships and transportation. Apply now on our website! Teachers: High school teachers in Skagit or Whatcom counties that want to host a short presentation in their classroom to share this opportunity with their students (contact us at youth@ncascades.org, presentations taking place Feb-March) Field Instructors: Outdoor educators with experience leading backcountry trips, teaching about natural and cultural history, and experience working with a broad range of identities or representative of the diversity of our students. (Apply on our website Feb 14-March 14) Interns: Currently enrolled college students excited to develop a career in environmental education through hands on practice and application (Apply on our website March 9-April 10)
LEARN MORE ON OUR WEBSITE
Wilderness Medicine CoursesLearn skills for working or playing in remote or wilderness settings with Remote Medical Training at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center FEBRUARY
SIGN UP
Registration includes course materials, instruction, lodging
Participating in Base Camp reminded us of days gone by — forgetsomeday.com FROM THE GIFT SHOPCheck out this one-of-a-kind North Cascades National Park stoneware mug, only available in our gift shops and only $21.95. Handmade in the USA by Sunset Hill Stoneware — "America's Cleanest Greenest Pottery." This sturdy eco-friendly mug is lead-free, responsibly-sourced and fired at temperatures hotter than a volcano! Get one for yourself or as a gift for a loved one, and feel good knowing that proceeds benefit youth education in the North Cascades.
SHOP
HELP GET KIDS OUTDOORS THIS WINTERThis winter, approximately 650 middle-schoolers will investigate snowpack, watersheds and weather at Mt. Baker Snow School. Snow School is a day-long outdoor winter learning adventure combining applied science education with snowshoe-powered exploration at the Mt. Baker Ski Area. It provides a local context in which climate science becomes more personal, encouraging a sense of responsibility and hopefulness. Your donations make this program possible.
GIVE TODAY
Komo Kulshan and bald eagles by Karen Molenaar Terrell. Night photo at Liberty Bell by Andy Porter.
North Cascades Institute
Connecting people, nature and community since 1986 Explore more at ncascades.org | (360) 854-2599 Thanks for reading! If you'd like to continue receiving emails from us but wish to change the type of content you'll get, click on the "Preferences" link below.
Preferences | Unsubscribe
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Field Notes eNewsletter September 2020 No images? Click here 
It''s hard to believe that Summer is winding down and the first signs of Autumn are revealing themselves. The regularity of the seasonal transitions, the ways in which the plant and animal worlds respond in kind, the reliability of the waxing and waning moon cycles — all of these things give a sense of normalcy in a world where most of our ways of living have been turned upside down. Find solace in the natural world — the creatures that visit your yard, the subtle changes of light, the food that grows in your area coming in with the harvest — and know that the healing powers of nature are plentiful and profound.September 2020 ▸ BASE CAMP IS BACK! ▸ NEW ONLINE CLASSES ▸ NEW PHENOLOGY VIDEOS ▸ SHOP OUR ONLINE STORE We’ve caught our stride in sharing virtual learning with the public, thanks to some fast-thinking, hard-working program staff as well as the support of our community! Of course we would love to see everyone in person, but we’re so happy to connect with those joining us online for these creative alternatives. Here are some screenshots of the learning in action: 
“Calling All Corvids Online” with Kaeli Swift was a hit with our community of bird-lovers. 
Molly Harrigan guides Family Getaways @ Home participants through a dandelion-themed yoga session. We''re still selling Family Getaways @Home activity boxes, relaunching our Mountain School @Home project to support teachers, parents and students learning from home, streaming Virtual Skagit Tours videos that explore the Upper Skagit Valley, and have launched more upcoming online classes (see below). Engaging any of these programs, shopping in our online store, or making a donation are all ways you can support the Institute during these difficult times—every little bit helps! We are in this together, and we are grateful for your support.
MAKE A DONATION
Base Camp Learning & Lodging is Back!
Flexible, affordable, enriching and fun, Base Camp offers you the opportunity to explore and learn about “the American Alps” while enjoying the comforts of our campus in the heart of North Cascades National Park. It''s a unique way to visit the Diablo Lake area for the first time, have a stop over as you travel across the Cascades on a road trip, or to launch your national park camping, hiking, biking, paddling, or climbing adventure. We''ve prepared a Coronavirus Safety Plan that will ensure everyone''s safety — including take-out meals, distanced lodging, and a new slate of self-guided activities that will get you out in the National Park with your own pod of friends and family. Each night has very limited space, so book your stay today and welcome back! Fall 2020 Dates:
CHECK AVAILABILITY
New Online & In-Person Learning
Unwrap the Adventure: Family Getaways @ Home!Are you missing your Family Getaways trip to the Environmental Learning Center this summer? The good news is that place-based, intergenerational learning can happen anywhere! Our Family Getaways at Home packages are equipped with engaging lessons, activities, and supplies designed to help your family explore the natural world around your home, share new perspectives across generations, and have fun! Just pick your box and we''ll ship it right to you: 
More News and OpportunitiesA Sense of Adventure: Exploring Perspectives:
LEARN MORE and ORDER
SHOP OUR ONLINE STOREFrom North Cascades National Park apparel to nature and guide books to gifts you can''t buy anywhere else, shop in our online store and we''ll mail your goods out to you. And you can feel good knowing that your purchases benefit youth education in the North Cascades!
SHOP NOW
AUGUST 2020 PHOTO ROUND-UPInstitute staff sure didn''t waste the summer''s sunny opportunities to gain elevation, jump in lakes, kayak on Big Water, and feel all those breathtaking feels that accompany life in the wondrous North Cascades. Come along for the ride!
VISIT OUR BLOG
SEEKING BOAT FOR DIABLO LAKEWe’re looking to acquire a used 12-passenger motor boat to be used as a rescue boat in support of our canoe programs on Diablo Lake. If you or someone you know has a lead on a boat, please email kristofer_gilje@ncascades.org. Mount Baker wildflowers; photo by Jodi Broughton.
North Cascades Institute
Connecting people, nature and community since 1986 Explore more at ncascades.org | (360) 854-2599 Thanks for reading! If you''d like to continue receiving emails from us but wish to change the type of content you''ll get, click on the "Preferences" link below.
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No images? Click here 
Virtual Skagit ToursENCOUNTER THE BEAUTY, HISTORY AND PEOPLE OF THE NORTH CASCADES AT HOME!Since you can''t come to us in the North Cascades for Skagit Tours this summer, we''re coming to you! We hope you will enjoy and learn from this new video series of Skagit Tours created by North Cascades Institute. 
Springtime on Diablo LakeAs springtime arrives in the northern hemisphere, the upper reaches of the Skagit Valley are slowly waking up. Wildflowers, leafing trees, migrating songbirds, black bears, and white deer populate this special place in northwestern Washington''s North Cascades. 
History of the North Cascades Environmental Learning CenterThe Environmental Learning Center attracts thousands of visitors every year. Learn the backstory from our Executive Director Saul Weisberg, architect David Hall, NPS volunteer coordinator Michael Brondi and others. 
History of the Alice RossWhat makes boats so charming, so timeless, and so convivial? Let us travel backward along the river of time to the late 1920''s when the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project was in its infancy and Diablo Lake Boat Tours were born. 
A Day in the Life of a Hydroelectric Powerhouse OperatorWe''re familiar with electricity, but how does it come to be inside our homes? What systems enable electricity to exist there? Learn more with Seattle City Light employee Nick Goddard!
WATCH VIDEOS
North Cascades Institute Virtual ProgramsHere at the Institute, we are passionate about empowering people of all ages to learn about and enjoy the North Cascades. During the current pandemic, we have pivoted to continue our mission through new virtual learning opportunities:
We invite those who are able to support North Cascades Institute''s work during these challenging times to make a donation. One way you can do that is to make purchases at our gift store in the Skagit Information Center in Newhalem on your next visit to the park or in our online shop: https://ncascades.org/shop. From North Cascades National Park apparel to nature and guide books to stickers, patches and gifts, you find cool products you can''t buy anywhere else. Thank you!
SHOP NOW
North Cascades Institute
Connecting people, nature and community since 1986 Explore more at ncascades.org Thanks for reading! If you''d like to continue receiving emails from us but wish to change the type of content you''ll get, click on the "Preferences" link below.
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July 2020 Field Notes No images? Click here 
Solstice has passed and Summer is officially here, though it sure isn''t Summer as we''ve known it in the past. We''re all trying to create opportunities to do the things we love outdoors, navigating new pandemic realities, and striving to be safe and #recreateresponsibly. It''s great that most of our public lands like national parks and forests have reopened - with modifications - because spending time outside has proven to be a safer space in regards to the virus, as well as necessary for physical, mental and spiritual health after several stressful months of being cooped up at home. The Institute continues to navigate the constantly-changing terrain of these unusual times, making and revising plans for the future when we can reopen the Environmental Learning Center and re-engage our passion: inspiring environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature! Our instructors have been incredibly resourceful - under reduced hours and remote working scenarios - to bring education, inspiration and fun to you, wherever you are. Read on to learn about new Family Getaways at Home mail-out packages and Virtual Skagit Tours videos, as well as our ongoing Mountain School at Home project. July 2020 ▸ VIRTUAL SKAGIT TOURS: SPRINGTIME AT DIABLO LAKE ▸ YOUTH LEADERSHIP ADVENTURES DAY PROGRAMS ▸ FAMILY GETAWAYS AT HOME PACKAGE FOR SALE ▸ JUNE PHOTO ROUND-UP ▸ RECREATE RESPONSIBLY THIS SUMMER You can find ongoing Institute updates on programs and operations at ncascades.org/coronavirus. If you are visiting the North Cascades this summer, be sure to stop in at the Skagit Information Center in Newhalem, across from the General Store. Institute staff members are on hand - with proper safety protocols in place - to share information on the area and offer a wide variety of gifts, books, maps, gear, apparel and unique souvenirs for sale. It''s our only outlet for meeting with the public currently, so be sure to come and say hello!
BLACK LIVES MATTER! Read the Institute''s response to racism on our blog >>
It is our responsibility as educators to actively welcome and create space for diverse voices and perspectives about ways of spending time outdoors. We believe that shared experiences in nature strengthen communities — and acknowledge that those shared experiences cannot be created without addressing the historical and continuing racism and systemic oppression of Black, Indigenous, and people of color. — North Cascades Institute blog post Black Lives Matter 
Since you can''t come to us for Skagit Tours this summer, we''re coming to you! In partnership with Seattle City Light, Institute staff has created a Virtual Skagit Tours video series to educate and inspire people around the world. The first videos in the series share the wonders of springtime at Diablo Lake, home to the Environmental Learning Center and parts of the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project. Come along as we celebrate wildflowers, migratory birds, black bears and white deer of the area, and explore Seattle City Light''s management of runoff that comes with melting snowpack. We also hear an indigenous perspective on the season from Scott Schuyler, a Tribal Elder of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe. NOW PLAYING: 
COMING SOON:
VIRTUAL SKAGIT TOURS PLAYLIST
Youth Leadership Adventures Day ProgramsYouth Leadership Adventures seeks high school students in 9th-12th grade for free week-long outdoor day adventures in July and August. Students will meet at locations in Mt. Vernon and Bellingham to explore the beautiful spaces around us, returning home each evening. While getting to know new people and exploring local outdoor spaces, participants will also gain leadership skills and learn how they can be applied to local environmental problems.
REGISTER TODAY
Family Getaways at Home PackagesWill you be missing a Family Getaways trip to the Environmental Learning Center this summer? We will certainly be missing you! The good news is that place-based, intergenerational learning can happen anywhere! Our Family Getaways at Home packages are equipped with engaging lessons, activities, and supplies designed to help your family explore the natural world around your home, share new perspectives across generations, and have fun while learning! 
Choose from Box 1: A Sense of Adventure and Box 2: Exploring Perspectives, and we will send it directly to your home where you can unwrap the adventure! Take it on a camping trip, send one to your grandparents, or just spend a fun afternoon with your family.
LEARN MORE and ORDER
Mountain School at HomeDuring this time of stay-at-home guidelines, North Cascades Institute is sharing lessons and activities from our talented Mountain School instructors. We hope these will inspire students of all ages to continue learning about the natural world and discover new connections to the outdoors from home. Recent Mountain School at Home lessons:
BROWSE LESSONS
Explore these lessons at www.ncascades.org/ms-at-home and share them with your friends! Upcoming Classes & EventsSeptember 12: Herbs for Immunity and the Changing Seasons (Bellingham)
REGISTER TODAY
Scholarships and student and military discounts are available.
RECREATE RESPONSIBLYAs parks, trails, and beaches begin to reopen, it can be confusing to know how to recreate responsibly in the "new normal". We all want to get outside as summer commences and doing so responsibly helps ensure that parks can stay open and natural spaces are safe for everyone to access. Here are some helpful tips to help you recreate responsibly, to keep both our lands and each other safe!
LEARN MORE
You Can Help Us Reach People at Home!
We’ve had to get creative and adapt to new ways of doing business, but thanks to generous donor support, North Cascades Institute continues to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature. Modified programs like Youth Leadership Adventures Day Programming connects young people to nature. Will you help students strengthen their leadership skills, practice stewardship, and develop climate literacy with your gift today?
GIVE TODAY
Hummingbird photo by Mukul Soman. View more of his excellent bird photography at instagram.com/mukul.soman
North Cascades Institute
Connecting people, nature and community since 1986 Explore more at ncascades.org | (360) 854-2599 Thanks for reading! If you''d like to continue receiving emails from us but wish to change the type of content you''ll get, click on the "Preferences" link below.
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June 2020 Field Notes No images? Click here 
This is a really tough time. Like you, we are grieving the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor and countless others senselessly killed as a result of the color of their skin. We are aghast at the deep and painful divisions in our society that are fueled by our nation''s legacy of racism, xenophobia and inequality. One thing that''s for certain is that North Cascades Institute is dedicated to cultivating a community of belonging that is welcoming and accessible to everyone. We believe that everyone benefits when people have equitable access to natural places and spaces for education, recreation and renewal. And we know that until people of color are safe in our communities -- until people cease to fear for their lives when stepping outside — there cannot be equitable access to the benefits of nature. We stand within the “fierce urgency of now” with those fighting for justice, equity and belonging. June 2020 ▸ MORE "MOUNTAIN SCHOOL AT HOME" ONLINE LEARNING ▸ INSTITUTE PROGRAM AND OPERATIONS UPDATES ▸ MOUNTAIN SCHOOL IN THE SKAGIT VALLEY HERALD ▸ NEW POETRY AND MEDITATION VIDEOS ▸ MAY PHOTO ROUND-UP ▸ HOW TO RECREATE RESPONSIBLY On top of the pain of recent events, the pandemic and resulting loss of life-as-we-knew-it impacts us all deeply and personally. With all the uncertainty about balancing “reopening the economy” with a scientific approach to the expanding pandemic, we''ve been asking the question “do we believe we can safely open Learning Center programs this summer?" Many questions are still on the table, with no clear answers, so given this uncertainty we made the difficult decision to cancel Learning Center programs and Field Excursions through August. This impacts Base Camp, Family Getaways and Learning Center classes as well our Conferences and Retreats. It breaks our hearts to do this, but we believe it’s the responsible thing to do. We were fortunate to receive a PPP loan from the federal stimulus, allowing us to rehire furloughed staff and put their creativity to work for a couple months on more Mountain School at Home videos and lessons, foodshed and garden lessons, painting the Dining Hall, Learning Center accessibility projects, Spanish translations of educational materials, the Mountain School curriculum update, virtual Skagit Tours and Family & Adult experiences, and much more. Even though the future is uncertain, we remain committed to getting people outside in nature as soon as possible. We will be ready, with our partners, to offer programs that are safe and engaging to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature.
Read North Cascades Institute''s response to the coronavirus on our website >>
We all have a chance to step off the sidelines, to speak up, to take action and to shine a blinding light on the racism lurking in so many corners of our society. We need to fight together wisely, boldly and unflinchingly, while staying aware that our passion and actions can and will be used against us. But we must not stop. This is the time. It will not be easy. It will often be messy, but it must be done. —Melody Cooper, sister of Christian Cooper
During this time of school closures and stay-at-home guidelines, North Cascades Institute is sharing lessons and activities from our talented Mountain School instructors. We hope these will inspire students of all ages to continue to learn about the natural world and discover new connections to the outdoors from home. Recent offerings include:
Explore these resources and let us bring Mountain School to your home at www.ncascades.org/ms-at-home.Spread the word and share these lessons with a friend! 
More Fun Content for Learning at Home
Upcoming Classes & EventsSeptember 12: Herbs for Immunity and the Changing Seasons (Bellingham) Look for virtual Summer Programs and Family Getaway activity boxes — info coming soon!
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Scholarships and student and military discounts are available. Institute News
We are entrepreneurs at our core, so we’re focusing on programs we can offer, while developing modifications and new initiatives. Here are a few ways that we are adapting: Youth Leadership Adventures |
PHOTOS FROM THE NORTH CASCADESInstitute staff once again shares snapshots of the many ways we get by with a little (or a lot) of time outside. In this post we say hello from backyards, nearby mountain tops, and many pretty places in between.
VISIT BLOG
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RECREATE RESPONSIBLYPublic lands are reopening and we all want to get outside to recreate as summer commences. Here are some helpful tips to help you recreate responsibly, to keep both our lands and each other safe!
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We are in awe of the 320 people who came together to give nearly $170,000—meeting both of our challenge matches! This helps ensure that Mountain School and our other youth programs are available well into the future.
If you missed the flurry around GiveBIG, we could still use your help in navigating these uncertain and challenging times. Thank you for considering making a donation.
Arrowleaf Balsamroot photo by Alexa Brandt
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May 2020 Field Notes No images? Click here 
As we enter a new month and the resplendent unfolding of spring continues apace, there are some hopeful signs that the worst of this pandemic may have passed and some aspects of the life we all miss will slowly return. We''re proud of our state leadership and everyone''s cooperation to help "Flatten the Curve" and make so many sacrifices. Still, it will be up to all of us to follow guidelines for social distancing as we begin to “re-open." Along with many others in our field of residential environmental education, we believe that it will not be possible to safely run programs in June and therefore decided to extend the closure of all Learning Center and field-based programs through the end of June. This decision is based on risks to participants and staff, current restrictions on group size, shelter at home regulations, public lands closures and the synergistic impacts of all of these factors on our programs and budget. MAY 2020 ▸ "MOUNTAIN SCHOOL AT HOME" ONLINE LEARNING RESOURCES ▸ GIVE BIG FOR YOUTH ON MAY 5-6 ▸ SHARE YOUR MOUNTAIN SCHOOL STORIES WITH US ▸ "POETRY IN THE RAIN" VIDEOS ▸ UNIQUE NORTH CASCADES COLLECTIBLES IN THE GIFT SHOP Covid-19 is forcing us to make changes in the ways we work since we can’t bring groups together to the park and forests. We are instead focusing on the outcomes we seek for our students and developing alternative learning models. Youth Leadership Adventures will not be hosting our traditional groups in the backcountry this summer and staff are looking into different ways to interact with our students. We are exploring virtual models for Skagit Tours with the support of Seattle City Light. We are hoping that summer programs, including opening our book stores, may be possible by July. We are planning on Mountain School and Forest School beginning in September, with some reduction in the number of students attending as coronavirus will continue to impact the country. We are preparing to move quickly if we can open earlier, and more slowly if restrictions continue for a longer time. Thank you for your patience. And thank you for considering supporting our work during these challenging times with a donation by May 6 to our Give Big for Youth campaign.
Read North Cascades Institute''s response to the coronavirus on our website >>
Give BIG — and double your donation — for the next 30 years of Mountain SchoolMAY 5-6 Give BIG: Join us for a special two-day giving event! Together, we can make it possible for people and communities to flourish. (Or schedule gifts for all your favorite nonprofits today.) When you Give BIG this spring, your donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $35,000!
MAKE A GIFT
During this time of school closures and stay-at-home guidelines, North Cascades Institute is sharing activities from our talented Mountain School instructors. So far, we''ve posted lessons including:
We hope these will inspire students of all ages to continue to learn about the natural world and discover new connections to the outdoors from home!
Bring Mountain School to your Home
Share Your |
POETRY IN THE RAIN WITH SAUL & CO.Take a break from the troubles of the world and join Saul Weisberg, North Cascades Institute co-founder and executive director, and Evan Holstrom, program coordinator, for a few poems read from a front porch in Bellingham in the rain. Whiskey might be involved too. Listening to poetry improves verbal skills and memory, sharpens critical thinking and develops empathy and insight. Happy National Poetry Month!
WATCH
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UNIQUE CASCADIAN ART IN OUR STOREIn commemoration of the North Cascades National Park’s 50th anniversary in 2018, we designed unique commemorative art in collaboration with Lantern Press. Featuring a classic Cascadian scene with rich colors and transfixing wonder, we have printed this art onto collectibles like magnets, patches, matted and unmatted posters, mugs, playing cards, stickers, and postcards. These are available in our online store - a great way to support the Institute!
SHOP
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Trillium photo by Darren Halstead
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No images? Click here 
Covid-19 Update from our Executive DirectorMarch 19, 2020 * Spring Equinox We are paddling into uncharted waters, but we are not alone. First and foremost, our hearts go out to anyone who has been impacted by the virus. We are grateful to everyone working on the front lines to care for people in need, whether it is helping your neighbors, delivering food or working in health care. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. At North Cascades Institute, we are focused on the health and safety of our staff, students and community. The Environmental Learning Center will be closed to the public and we are cancelling all programs, events, conferences and retreats through the end of April. This includes Mountain School, Base Camp, classes and field excursions and our Spring Dinner. Everyone who was registered for programs through April is eligible for a full refund. You may choose to transfer your registration fee into a credit for a future program or a donation – your generous support will mean a lot to our organization in these challenging times. Institute leadership has been meeting every day to understand and manage this crisis as it evolves and impacts our staff, programs, budget and operations. We are staying in close communication with our school, agency and other partners to understand the challenges they face, and how their decisions impact the Institute. We’ve developed contingency plans for bad-, and worst-case scenarios. We make decisions every morning that are obsolete by the afternoon, and we keep going. We are all looking for ways to keep our Learning Center and Sedro-Woolley teams safe, informed and engaged while working from home as much as possible. Many job duties are changing in order to keep people working productively on Institute priorities in a time of school closures and the absence of students and other participants. We’re practicing the new dance of social distancing to flatten the curve– while keeping our spirits up. We decided early on to keep all staff employed full-time through the end of this month and provide additional sick leave to help those in need. We will begin furloughs and significant reduction in our work hours on April 1. We are exploring letting staff live rent-free in spaces they currently occupy if they have no place else to go. Our work has never been more important, or faced such challenges (“School closures empty Washington''s outdoor classrooms” —Seattle P-I). We’re all here because we love getting kids outside to fall in love with nature. How can we implement our mission when our program models are changing? What can we do differently? What can we do that we haven’t thought of before? There are no simple or easy answers. We need to be nimble and look for new ways of doing nearly everything. I am grateful to be part of such a creative, smart and compassionate community – we’re going to take care of each other as best we can while continuing to work towards our vital mission. We are in this together. It’s good to remember – and well documented in the medical literature – that immersion in nature boosts human immune systems and provides many other health benefits. Go outside. Rejoice in the spring flowers and the swallow’s return. The coronavirus pandemic has caused a significant impact to North Cascades Institute, all of us who work here and everyone we serve. The uncertainty and rate of change is exhausting. It impacts every one of us directly, and differently. Our response, as a community, will define who we are as people, not just as an organization. Thank you for being a part of us. 
Saul Weisberg
Coronavirus Updates on our Website
Resources for Parents and Students23 Fun activities to do with kids using stuff you already have at home Free nature lessons plans from Explore.org 10 Nature Activities from the Children & Nature Network Guidelines for informal gatherings of children and youth while schools are closed Suggestions for preventing the transmission of coronavirus while spending time outdoors Virtual national park tour Free online Junior Ranger workbooks Free online Ranger Rick Magazine from the National Wildlife Federation Chris Morgan’s Wild podcast from NPR — always uplifting and interesting!
We’re all here because we love getting kids outside to fall in love with nature ... I am grateful to have an incredibly creative, smart and compassionate community here and we’re going to take care of each other as best we can while continuing to work towards our vital mission. — Saul Weisberg, Executive Director
North Cascades Institute
Connecting people, nature and community since 1986 Explore more at ncascades.org Thanks for reading! If you''d like to continue receiving emails from us but wish to change the type of content you''ll get, click on the "Preferences" link below.
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Signs of Spring are everywhere, from green shoots in the lowlands to melting snow under blue skies in the high country. Don''t you love the extra minutes of light at the end of each day? It''s the time of the year where it feels like everything is happening at once here at the Institute. Instructor training is underway to launch the 30th year of Mountain School this week. We are hiring new instructors and interns, housekeepers and cooks, an office assistant and a new donor relations manager. Applications for Youth Leadership Adventures are open for high school students. And we''re getting ready for our 18th cohort of Graduate M.Ed. students to graduate, while also planning for an all-cohort reunion at the Environmental Learning Center! Meanwhile, up in the mountains where winter is still holding on, Mt. Baker Snow School is combining hands-on science education with snowshoe-powered exploration for local middle-school students. We released a new 4-minute video showing you "What is Snow School?" and also welcomed a story published in the Skagit Valley Herald: March 2020 ▸ SPRING DINNER: FIRE LOOKOUTS RENDEZVOUS APRIL 18-19 ▸ BOOK YOUR CONFERENCE OR RETREAT THIS SUMMER AT THE ELC ▸ YLA APPLICATIONS OPEN ▸ NEW CLASSES OPEN FOR REGISTRATION "One morning in mid-February, eighth-graders from Concrete caught snowflakes on their tongues and took a few falls as they learned how to walk with snowshoes strapped to their feet." “I am so pumped!” 14-year-old Phoenix Young said — not about a typical snow day, but a day spent at Snow School with 27 of his peers. “It’s a great opportunity,” eighth-grade science teacher Sacha Buller said. “A lot of these kids have never been snowshoeing before and have never been up here before.” Read the rest of the story and view a great photo gallery on our blog. We''ve opened for registration a wide range of Learning Center classes and Field Excursions — sailing, watercolors, hiking, tracking, photography, journaling, herbalism & many more — as well as Base Camp Learning and Lodging stays and Family Getaways. Read on to learn more, or browse our comprehensive calendar, to find your route to the North Cascades this year! Read North Cascades Institute''s response to the coronavirus on our website >> 
Upcoming Classes & EventsApril 3-5: The Wild in Watercolor and Word (ELC) 2020 Family Getaways: Open for registration ⤑
REGISTER TODAY
Scholarships and student and military discounts are available. Institute News
Spring Dinner: Fire Lookouts Rendezvous on Diablo LakeJoin us for a special Spring Dinner at the Learning Center April 18-19. 
SIGN UP
Book your Conference or Retreat at the Learning CenterSummer weekends at the Learning Center are full but we have availability to host retreats and conferences Monday - Friday this summer. This is a great opportunity to get your staff team out of the office and create space for a series of strategic planning meetings, or reward them for a big year by creating an opportunity to explore and learn about the North Cascades National Park. We also love to host groups based around hiking, yoga and health and wellness, as well as celebrations and workshops of all kinds.
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There aren’t many opportunities for low-income or people of color to get this kind of experience. I never imagined that I could be an outdoor educator because I never had the opportunity to go camping, much less encounter a park ranger. I didn’t know jobs like this existed until now. — Imara White, Youth Leadership Adventures Apprentice FROM THE GIFT SHOPHAND-ILLUSTRATED NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK MAPXplorer Maps creates the world''s finest hand-drawn and hand-lettered illustrations of national parks and other significant historical sites. The process to complete the North Cascades National Park map took a diligent 18 months from inception to delivery. We now feature this beautiful piece of art on notecards, magnets, coffee mugs and coasters, available in our online store or in gift shops in and around the national park (opening soon for the year).
SHOP
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF MOUNTAIN SCHOOL!30 years of sparking curiosity, 30 years of muddy boots and new adventures, 30 years of hooting like owls and discovering new friends. We’re so excited about this program that brings over 2,700 5th graders into the heart of North Cascades National Park every year. Help create these hands-on learning experiences and memories that last a lifetime by making your gift today! "Dear future self, You did it! You thought that this would be scary and boring but it was fun. You used to think mushrooms were weird but now you think they are super cool!"
GIVE TODAY
Mt. Shuksan and snowshoes by Cara Stoddard. Family at fire lookout by Jim Henterly.
North Cascades Institute
Connecting people, nature and community since 1986 Explore more at ncascades.org | (360) 854-2599 Thanks for reading! If you''d like to continue receiving emails from us but wish to change the type of content you''ll get, click on the "Preferences" link below.
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Field Notes eNewsletter November 2020 No images? Click here 
November is here, and so are the winter birds of the Skagit Valley! Thousands of Snow geese and Trumpeter swans have returned from summer breeding grounds in the far north. Raptors too fill the flats, like Bald eagles, Northern Harriers, American Kestrels and Merlins. (Learn more about hawk migration in our next online class on November 12.) Meanwhile, up in the mountains, Base Campers staying at the Environmental Learning Center have been enjoying prolific mushrooms in the forest, spectacular fall colors decorating Vine maples, Big leaf maples, Cottonwoods and the famous Larches, and views of new snow sprinkled across the high peaks. November 2020 ▸ HAWK MIGRATION AND MOUNTAIN PHOTOGRAPHY ONLINE COURSES ▸ ONLINE HOLIDAY SHOPPING ▸ YOUTH LEADERSHIP ADVENTURES PODCAST ▸ MOUNTAIN SCHOOL AT HOME FOR FALL We hope that you all have voted, or else have made your plan for Election Day voting. In Washington State, one can still register to vote in-person through Election Day. There are many resources online to help you navigate this year''s complex voting process, including Vote411.org and HowTo.Vote. And remember to stay calm and patient as vote tallies are reported out Tuesday night and through the week — it could be a tumultuous ride, and frequent walks outdoors will help keep one in balance! 
SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITYThis year has presented many new challenges, but by remaining focused on our mission, we’ve adapted to serve our communities in new ways. Because we know that when people connect with nature, communities are strengthened, nature is protected, and we all benefit. Thank you for your gift to inspire environmental stewardship for all.
MAKE A YEAR-END GIFT
Online & In-Person Learning Opportunities
Migration Matters: Hawkwatching and Long-term MonitoringONLINE: Thursday, Nov. 12 at 6:00 p.m. Isn''t it a thrill to look up and see a winged predator streaking through the sky? Raptors are known to most as elusive, almost mythical creatures—rare to see and deeply inspiring. HawkWatch International''s Dave Oleyar and Jesse Watson will lead us through hawk identification and provide an interactive education on where migrating raptors concentrate and why. They''ll also explain the role of HawkWatch International and illustrate the meaning of the data collected by HawkWatch crews over 30 years. 
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Mountain Photography CompositionONLINE: Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 6:00 p.m. Join Seattle-based outdoor photographer Scott Kranz for a slideshow and discussion of tools and techniques for composing mountain landscape photography. Learn about location and trip planning, understanding and working with light and composition principles to help you create more captivating images and convey your story. Scott will share some of his favorite images from the 50 Peaks Project, which celebrated the national park''s 50th anniversary through climbing 50 summits in 2018!
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Two-Part Owl Series with Paul BannickNorth Cascades Institute is excited to partner with Skagit Audubon Society to welcome award-winning author and photographer Paul Bannick for a series on owls. Paul will combine his breathtaking images, first-hand accounts, video, sound and science to inspire conservation and education efforts. We hope you''ll join us for an intimate look into the life histories of two of North America’s most charismatic birds: the Great Gray Owl and the Snowy Owl!Great Gray Owl: A Visual Natural HistoryONLINE: January 7 at 7 pmCool facts: Although the Great gray owl is one of the tallest owls in the U.S., it’s just a ball of feathers. A Snowy Owl weighs more than a Great Gray Owl and they have larger feet and talons. Because they are big owls, they need to eat regularly. In the winter, they eat up to 7 vole-sized small mammals daily. 
Snowy Owl: A Visual Natural HistoryONLINE: January 19 at 7 pmCool facts: In some years, some North American Snowy owls remain on their breeding grounds year-round, while others migrate to southern Canada and the northern half of the U.S. In the Pacific Northwest, Snowy Owls are irruptive, appearing in some winters but not in others.
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Wilderness Medicine Courses: Winter 2020-2021Strengthen your skills in backcountry emergency medicine while enjoying a stunning setting in the North Cascades, private lodging and organic meals at the Learning Center.
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) RecertificationDecember 11-14Spend four days at the Environmental Learning Center inside North Cascades National Park for your next WFR Recertification, room and board included! Instructor: Wilderness Medical Associates International. 
Remote Emergency Medical Technician (REMT)January 11 - February 5The REMT curriculum includes high-level medical skills and topics. Students receive the certification through the National Registry of EMTs and the U.S. Coast Guard. Instructor: Remote Medical Training. 
Hybrid Wilderness |
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April 2020 Field Notes No images? Click here 
These are difficult times all over the world and our hearts go out to all of you who are struggling with sickness, job loss or other disruptions because of the coronavirus. Fear and anxiety about the unknown are another form of contagion, causing widespread stress. But North Cascades Institute is still here and working hard to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative experiences in nature. That’s what we do, and we’ll be ready when this pandemic slowly passes. In a world that feels so unpredictable, it is good practice to tune in to the predictable patterns of the natural world. The unfolding of spring provides us with so many things to observe: migrating birds, blooming trees and plants, the evening music of frogs and owls, nettles and skunk cabbage emerging in the forest. You can deepen your observations of the changing season with activities created by our instructors for our new Mountain School at Home project: initiating a sit spot practice, practicing ephemeral nature art and starting a tree bud journal! Visit ncascades.org/ms-at-home for these and future activities and stay engaged with the wonder and beauty all around us. April 2020 ▸ NEW "MOUNTAIN SCHOOL AT HOME" ONLINE LEARNING RESOURCES ▸ INSTITUTE PROGRAM AND OPERATIONS UPDATES ▸ SHARE YOUR MOUNTAIN SCHOOL STORIES WITH US ▸ YLA APPLICATIONS EXTENDED ▸ HONORING PETER HARDIN JACKSON ▸ HAND-DRAWN NORTH CASCADES MAP IN THE GIFT SHOP With so much of our normal lives and schedules altered or shut down, many people are spending more time in nature in backyards, neighborhood parks and local trails (following proper social distancing recommendations and respecting closures, of course). What a powerful reminder of all the ways the natural world benefits us: reducing stress, elevating moods, and providing fresh air, connection and exercise.
Read North Cascades Institute''s response to the coronavirus on our website >>
During this time of school closures and stay-at-home guidelines, North Cascades Institute is sharing lessons and activities from our talented Mountain School instructors. We hope these will inspire students of all ages to continue to learn about the natural world and discover new connections to the outdoors from home. Explore these resources and let us bring Mountain School to your home at www.ncascades.org/ms-at-home Upcoming Classes & EventsJune 13: Alpine Adventures, Climate Change, and Watermelon Snow (Mt. Baker) 2020 Family Getaways: Open for registration ⤑
REGISTER TODAY
Scholarships and student and military discounts are available. Institute News
UPDATES ON OUR PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONSAt North Cascades Institute, we are focused on the health and safety of our staff, students and community. Here are some changes to our programs and operations:
ONGOING CORONAVIRUS UPDATES
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF MOUNTAIN SCHOOL!30 years of sparking curiosity, 30 years of muddy boots and new adventures, 30 years of hooting like owls and discovering new friends … we’re so excited to celebrate 30 years of Mountain School, which has brought over 35,000 young people into the heart of North Cascades National Park for hands-on learning about the natural world. 
Getting young people outside to learn, play, discover, reflect, and share is at the heart of a healthy life. While we may not be able to gather in person right now, your gift today will foster transformative learning experiences in nature for thousands of students to come.
Learn More and Make a Gift
Share Your Mountain School StoryWe know from experience and interactions with 29 years of Mountain School alumni that this educational program has been a transformative experience for so many people in our community. Students and teachers, we''d love to hear your favorite stories from Mountain School in the comments of this blog post! 
SHARE YOUR MEMORIES WITH US!
HONORING PETER HARDIN JACKSONAmidst all else going on in the world, we are mourning the loss of our dear friend Peter Hardin Jackson, son of the late U.S. Sen. Henry M. Jackson and North Cascades Institute board member from 2008 to 2019. A brilliant and eloquent writer, Peter used his voice to champion the causes of human rights and the environment, including conservation and youth education in North Cascades National Park — the park his father helped establish in Congress in 1969. In September 2016, Peter was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He led a determined fight to the end but passed away last month in Seattle, where he lived with his wife, Laurie Werner.
READ A TRIBUTE
Peter was a unique and wonderful human being, committed to Laurie, his friends and his many passions, of which North Cascades Institute was one. I l valued his friendship, kindness, curiosity, and honesty. He spoke truth to power, gently and with passion. Thank you Peter, for being a valued member of our board of directors, and for your service to our beloved and troubled world. You will walk well through our memories and tears. — Saul Weisberg, Institute Co-founder and Executive Director
PHOTO ROUND UP FROM THE NORTH CASCADESEveryone can agree, so much has happened this month and it''s high time for a Photo Round-up! Please enjoy this peek into life at the Institute as we welcome the new season in our favorite place, as well as prepare the Learning Center for an unexpected closure through (at least) May.
VISIT BLOG
Hummingbird photo by Andrew Reding.
North Cascades Institute
Connecting people, nature and community since 1986 Explore more at ncascades.org | (360) 854-2599 Thanks for reading! If you''d like to continue receiving emails from us but wish to change the type of content you''ll get, click on the "Preferences" link below.
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Fall Virtual ClassesHere at the Institute, we are passionate about empowering people of all ages to learn about and enjoy the North Cascades. During the current pandemic, we have pivoted to continue our mission by providing these new and exciting virtual learning opportunities: 
THIS WEEK! Thursday, Sept 17 at 5:00 p.m. |
Observe & Imagine: Connecting to Place Through the Creative ProcessTuesday, Sept 29 at 5:00 p.m. Can the creative process enrich our sense of place and deepen our empathy for other beings? If you''ve ever wondered about the utility of art beyond merely expressing yourself, this online course taught by artist Carina A. del Rosario will show you some rewarding functions of the artistic process. She will share inspirations that have developed her own creativity and connections to her environment. She will also facilitate an exercise in ekphrastic poetry for imagining ourselves in a place and using our imaginings for discovery and connection. Media covered in this discussion will include photography, collage, drawing, poetry and more.
REGISTER
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Fire & Brimstone: Living with Volcanoes in the Pacific NorthwestThursday, Oct 15 at 5:00 p.m. What distinguishes the Pacific Northwest from other regions in the United States? Hint: it''s an explosive geological feature. From Mt. Baker and Glacier Peak to Mts. Rainier, Adams, and St. Helens, these iconic peaks are part of an 800 mile-long chain of volcanoes extending from California to British Columbia. Educator Gina Roberti''s interactive online course will provide you with tools to observe and understand volcanic processes. You will also become acquainted with the volcanoes in our region and learn why we have so much volcanic activity in this part of the world. Gina will also discuss living safely with volcanoes.
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Stay tuned for details about these and other virtual Institute classes!
Join artist Molly Hashimoto for an interactive workshop and optical feast. Molly will share her work and techniques for capturing the visual essence of our region. Suitable for practicing artists and fans alike!
Become one of the educated pod with local orca educator Amanda Colbert! She will lay out orca biology and discuss their connection to salmon and by extension, upriver waterways and landscapes of the North Cascades.
Flexible, affordable, enriching and fun, Base Camp offers you the opportunity to explore and learn while enjoying the comforts of our campus in the heart of North Cascades National Park. Check availability ⤑
We invite those who are able to support North Cascades Institute''s work during these challenging times to make a donation. One way you can do that is to make purchases in our online gift shop. From North Cascades National Park apparel and stickers, to nature books, field guides, patches and gifts, you''ll find cool products you can''t buy anywhere else. Thank you!
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Field Notes eNewsletter August 2020 No images? Click here 
This is a time of experiment and change. We are resilient and are preparing to be even stronger on the other side of this pandemic. North Cascades Institute and its programs provide not only learning, but the healing that many of us will be seeking.Based on what we’ve been hearing from our school partners, we reluctantly made the difficult decision to cancel Fall Mountain School at the Learning Center. So, instead of celebrating Mountain School’s 30th anniversary and sharing our new curriculum, we are planning ways to bring Mountain School downriver to the schools, while continuing our Mountain School at Home lessons and outdoor activities.August 2020 ▸ FAMILY GETAWAYS AT HOME ▸ IN THE COMPANY OF CORVIDS, AUG 26 ▸ VIRTUAL SKAGIT TOURS ▸ SAVE THE GRIZZLIES ▸ RECREATE RESPONSIBLY Here are other ways the Institute is adapting to times of great change and unpredictability:
We''re hopeful that we can offer small-group classes this Fall in the field and at the Environmental Learning Center, as well as our overnight Base Camp Learning & Lodging program at Diablo Lake, with new social-distancing measures in place. View the Fall calendar here: ncascades.org/signup/calendar.By participating in any of these new offerings - purchasing a Family Getaway at Home box or unique North Cascades gifts at our online store, signing up for a Zoom seminar, making plans to join us in the Fall - you are providing us with critical support and helping the Institute survive. You can also help us by making a donation.We''re all doing the best we can to take care of each other through trying times. What are you doing to take care of yourself? Please take time to get outside. Remember how much you love, depend on, and care for, the natural world. 
Will you be missing a Family Getaways trip to the Environmental Learning Center this summer? We will certainly be missing you! The good news is that place-based, intergenerational learning can happen anywhere! Our Family Getaways at Home packages are equipped with engaging lessons, activities, and supplies designed to help your family explore the natural world around your home, share new perspectives across generations, and have fun!
Box 1: A Sense of Adventure
Box 2: Exploring PerspectivesJust purchase a Family Getaways at Home package and we will send it directly to your home where you can unwrap the adventure! Take it on a camping trip, send one to your grandparents, or just spend a fun afternoon with your family.
LEARN MORE and ORDER
In the Company of Corvids Online August 26Did you know that many of our corvid species are amongst the most intelligent species on the planet? Crows, ravens, nutcrackers, and jays been known to play, mourn the dead, recognize human faces, and detect patterns of behavior in other species. They are familiar residents of our neighborhoods, local parks, and nearby mountains, yet so much about them and their "corvid cultures" remains unknown to most of us. Join Dr. Kaeli Swift for an online class on Zoom that will explore the curious world of Washington''s corvids.
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Since you can''t come to us for Skagit Tours this summer, we''re coming to you! In partnership with Seattle City Light, Institute staff has created a Virtual Skagit Tours video series to educate and inspire people around the world.Recent videos in the series have shared the wonders of Springtime at Diablo Lake—including an indigenous perspective on the season from Scott Schuyler, a Tribal Elder of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe; the history of the Environmental Learning Center; and the origin of the Skagit Tours boat, the Alice Ross.
VIRTUAL SKAGIT TOURS PLAYLIST
Upcoming Classes & Field ExcursionsAugust 26: In the Company of Corvids Online
FALL BASE CAMP LEARNING & LODGING NOW REGISTERING
The future is uncertain, but we''ll be here for you when we''re able to reopen. We welcome registrations for programs taking place this fall, and if you need to change your plans later, we’ll work with you to find an alternate program or receive a full refund - your choice. This Peace of Mind policy applies to programs scheduled through the end of the year.
REGISTER TODAY
Scholarships and student and military discounts are available. 
Youth Leadership Adventures Day ProgramsYouth Leadership Adventures seeks high school students in 9th-12th grade for free week-long outdoor day adventures in August. Students will meet at locations in Mount Vernon and Bellingham to explore the beautiful spaces around us, returning home each evening. While getting to know new people and exploring local outdoor spaces, participants will also gain leadership skills and learn how they can be applied to local environmental problems. There are two more sessions this summer!
REGISTER TODAY
RECREATE RESPONSIBLYAs parks, trails, and beaches open are open with modifications, it can be confusing to know how to recreate responsibly in the "new normal". We all want to get outside this summer and doing so responsibly helps ensure that parks can stay open and natural spaces are safe for everyone to access. Here are some helpful tips to help you recreate responsibly, to keep both our lands and each other safe!
LEARN MORE
Thank You for General Operating Support
We are grateful to Discuren and Skagit Community Foundations for their unrestricted supplemental grants this year. And to the Clif Family, Swantz Family, and Whatcom Community Foundations for their willingness to pivot their program grants to support general operations instead. The changes to the field of environmental education are unprecedented. Unrestricted donations and grants allow us to use funds creatively during these times, and to ensure we are able to have a strong restart to our in-person programs when it is safe to do so. Learn more about ways you can support our work today.
GIVE TODAY
NeoWise Comet and the Northern Lights over Baker Lake; photo by Andy Porter
North Cascades Institute
Connecting people, nature and community since 1986 Explore more at ncascades.org | (360) 854-2599 Thanks for reading! If you''d like to continue receiving emails from us but wish to change the type of content you''ll get, click on the "Preferences" link below.
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Virtual Skagit ToursENCOUNTER THE BEAUTY, HISTORY AND PEOPLE OF THE NORTH CASCADES AT HOME!Since you can''t come to us in the North Cascades for Skagit Tours this summer, we''re coming to you! We hope you will enjoy and learn from this new video series of Skagit Tours created by North Cascades Institute. 
Springtime on Diablo LakeAs springtime arrives in the northern hemisphere, the upper reaches of the Skagit Valley are slowly waking up. Wildflowers, leafing trees, migrating songbirds, black bears, and white deer populate this special place in northwestern Washington''s North Cascades. 
History of the North Cascades Environmental Learning CenterThe Environmental Learning Center attracts thousands of visitors every year. Learn the backstory from our Executive Director Saul Weisberg, architect David Hall, NPS volunteer coordinator Michael Brondi and others. 
History of the Alice RossWhat makes boats so charming, so timeless, and so convivial? Let us travel backward along the river of time to the late 1920''s when the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project was in its infancy and Diablo Lake Boat Tours were born. 
A Day in the Life of a Hydroelectric Powerhouse OperatorWe''re familiar with electricity, but how does it come to be inside our homes? What systems enable electricity to exist there? Learn more with Seattle City Light employee Nick Goddard!
WATCH VIDEOS
North Cascades Institute Virtual ProgramsHere at the Institute, we are passionate about empowering people of all ages to learn about and enjoy the North Cascades. During the current pandemic, we have pivoted to continue our mission through new virtual learning opportunities:
We invite those who are able to support North Cascades Institute''s work during these challenging times to make a donation. One way you can do that is to make purchases at our gift store in the Skagit Information Center in Newhalem on your next visit to the park or in our online shop: https://ncascades.org/shop. From North Cascades National Park apparel to nature and guide books to stickers, patches and gifts, you find cool products you can''t buy anywhere else. Thank you!
SHOP NOW
North Cascades Institute
Connecting people, nature and community since 1986 Explore more at ncascades.org Thanks for reading! If you''d like to continue receiving emails from us but wish to change the type of content you''ll get, click on the "Preferences" link below.
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May 2020 Field Notes No images? Click here 
As we enter a new month and the resplendent unfolding of spring continues apace, there are some hopeful signs that the worst of this pandemic may have passed and some aspects of the life we all miss will slowly return. We''re proud of our state leadership and everyone''s cooperation to help "Flatten the Curve" and make so many sacrifices. Still, it will be up to all of us to follow guidelines for social distancing as we begin to “re-open." Along with many others in our field of residential environmental education, we believe that it will not be possible to safely run programs in June and therefore decided to extend the closure of all Learning Center and field-based programs through the end of June. This decision is based on risks to participants and staff, current restrictions on group size, shelter at home regulations, public lands closures and the synergistic impacts of all of these factors on our programs and budget. MAY 2020 ▸ "MOUNTAIN SCHOOL AT HOME" ONLINE LEARNING RESOURCES ▸ GIVE BIG FOR YOUTH ON MAY 5-6 ▸ SHARE YOUR MOUNTAIN SCHOOL STORIES WITH US ▸ "POETRY IN THE RAIN" VIDEOS ▸ UNIQUE NORTH CASCADES COLLECTIBLES IN THE GIFT SHOP Covid-19 is forcing us to make changes in the ways we work since we can’t bring groups together to the park and forests. We are instead focusing on the outcomes we seek for our students and developing alternative learning models. Youth Leadership Adventures will not be hosting our traditional groups in the backcountry this summer and staff are looking into different ways to interact with our students. We are exploring virtual models for Skagit Tours with the support of Seattle City Light. We are hoping that summer programs, including opening our book stores, may be possible by July. We are planning on Mountain School and Forest School beginning in September, with some reduction in the number of students attending as coronavirus will continue to impact the country. We are preparing to move quickly if we can open earlier, and more slowly if restrictions continue for a longer time. Thank you for your patience. And thank you for considering supporting our work during these challenging times with a donation by May 6 to our Give Big for Youth campaign.
Read North Cascades Institute''s response to the coronavirus on our website >>
Give BIG — and double your donation — for the next 30 years of Mountain SchoolMAY 5-6 Give BIG: Join us for a special two-day giving event! Together, we can make it possible for people and communities to flourish. (Or schedule gifts for all your favorite nonprofits today.) When you Give BIG this spring, your donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $35,000!
MAKE A GIFT
During this time of school closures and stay-at-home guidelines, North Cascades Institute is sharing activities from our talented Mountain School instructors. So far, we''ve posted lessons including:
We hope these will inspire students of all ages to continue to learn about the natural world and discover new connections to the outdoors from home!
Bring Mountain School to your Home
Share Your |
POETRY IN THE RAIN WITH SAUL & CO.Take a break from the troubles of the world and join Saul Weisberg, North Cascades Institute co-founder and executive director, and Evan Holstrom, program coordinator, for a few poems read from a front porch in Bellingham in the rain. Whiskey might be involved too. Listening to poetry improves verbal skills and memory, sharpens critical thinking and develops empathy and insight. Happy National Poetry Month!
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UNIQUE CASCADIAN ART IN OUR STOREIn commemoration of the North Cascades National Park’s 50th anniversary in 2018, we designed unique commemorative art in collaboration with Lantern Press. Featuring a classic Cascadian scene with rich colors and transfixing wonder, we have printed this art onto collectibles like magnets, patches, matted and unmatted posters, mugs, playing cards, stickers, and postcards. These are available in our online store - a great way to support the Institute!
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Trillium photo by Darren Halstead
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Signs of Spring are everywhere, from green shoots in the lowlands to melting snow under blue skies in the high country. Don''t you love the extra minutes of light at the end of each day? It''s the time of the year where it feels like everything is happening at once here at the Institute. Instructor training is underway to launch the 30th year of Mountain School this week. We are hiring new instructors and interns, housekeepers and cooks, an office assistant and a new donor relations manager. Applications for Youth Leadership Adventures are open for high school students. And we''re getting ready for our 18th cohort of Graduate M.Ed. students to graduate, while also planning for an all-cohort reunion at the Environmental Learning Center! Meanwhile, up in the mountains where winter is still holding on, Mt. Baker Snow School is combining hands-on science education with snowshoe-powered exploration for local middle-school students. We released a new 4-minute video showing you "What is Snow School?" and also welcomed a story published in the Skagit Valley Herald: March 2020 ▸ SPRING DINNER: FIRE LOOKOUTS RENDEZVOUS APRIL 18-19 ▸ BOOK YOUR CONFERENCE OR RETREAT THIS SUMMER AT THE ELC ▸ YLA APPLICATIONS OPEN ▸ NEW CLASSES OPEN FOR REGISTRATION "One morning in mid-February, eighth-graders from Concrete caught snowflakes on their tongues and took a few falls as they learned how to walk with snowshoes strapped to their feet." “I am so pumped!” 14-year-old Phoenix Young said — not about a typical snow day, but a day spent at Snow School with 27 of his peers. “It’s a great opportunity,” eighth-grade science teacher Sacha Buller said. “A lot of these kids have never been snowshoeing before and have never been up here before.” Read the rest of the story and view a great photo gallery on our blog. We''ve opened for registration a wide range of Learning Center classes and Field Excursions — sailing, watercolors, hiking, tracking, photography, journaling, herbalism & many more — as well as Base Camp Learning and Lodging stays and Family Getaways. Read on to learn more, or browse our comprehensive calendar, to find your route to the North Cascades this year! Read North Cascades Institute''s response to the coronavirus on our website >> 
Upcoming Classes & EventsApril 3-5: The Wild in Watercolor and Word (ELC) 2020 Family Getaways: Open for registration ⤑
REGISTER TODAY
Scholarships and student and military discounts are available. Institute News
Spring Dinner: Fire Lookouts Rendezvous on Diablo LakeJoin us for a special Spring Dinner at the Learning Center April 18-19. 
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Book your Conference or Retreat at the Learning CenterSummer weekends at the Learning Center are full but we have availability to host retreats and conferences Monday - Friday this summer. This is a great opportunity to get your staff team out of the office and create space for a series of strategic planning meetings, or reward them for a big year by creating an opportunity to explore and learn about the North Cascades National Park. We also love to host groups based around hiking, yoga and health and wellness, as well as celebrations and workshops of all kinds.
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There aren’t many opportunities for low-income or people of color to get this kind of experience. I never imagined that I could be an outdoor educator because I never had the opportunity to go camping, much less encounter a park ranger. I didn’t know jobs like this existed until now. — Imara White, Youth Leadership Adventures Apprentice FROM THE GIFT SHOPHAND-ILLUSTRATED NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK MAPXplorer Maps creates the world''s finest hand-drawn and hand-lettered illustrations of national parks and other significant historical sites. The process to complete the North Cascades National Park map took a diligent 18 months from inception to delivery. We now feature this beautiful piece of art on notecards, magnets, coffee mugs and coasters, available in our online store or in gift shops in and around the national park (opening soon for the year).
SHOP
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF MOUNTAIN SCHOOL!30 years of sparking curiosity, 30 years of muddy boots and new adventures, 30 years of hooting like owls and discovering new friends. We’re so excited about this program that brings over 2,700 5th graders into the heart of North Cascades National Park every year. Help create these hands-on learning experiences and memories that last a lifetime by making your gift today! "Dear future self, You did it! You thought that this would be scary and boring but it was fun. You used to think mushrooms were weird but now you think they are super cool!"
GIVE TODAY
Mt. Shuksan and snowshoes by Cara Stoddard. Family at fire lookout by Jim Henterly.
North Cascades Institute
Connecting people, nature and community since 1986 Explore more at ncascades.org | (360) 854-2599 Thanks for reading! If you''d like to continue receiving emails from us but wish to change the type of content you''ll get, click on the "Preferences" link below.
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Covid-19 Update from our Executive DirectorMarch 19, 2020 * Spring Equinox We are paddling into uncharted waters, but we are not alone. First and foremost, our hearts go out to anyone who has been impacted by the virus. We are grateful to everyone working on the front lines to care for people in need, whether it is helping your neighbors, delivering food or working in health care. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. At North Cascades Institute, we are focused on the health and safety of our staff, students and community. The Environmental Learning Center will be closed to the public and we are cancelling all programs, events, conferences and retreats through the end of April. This includes Mountain School, Base Camp, classes and field excursions and our Spring Dinner. Everyone who was registered for programs through April is eligible for a full refund. You may choose to transfer your registration fee into a credit for a future program or a donation – your generous support will mean a lot to our organization in these challenging times. Institute leadership has been meeting every day to understand and manage this crisis as it evolves and impacts our staff, programs, budget and operations. We are staying in close communication with our school, agency and other partners to understand the challenges they face, and how their decisions impact the Institute. We’ve developed contingency plans for bad-, and worst-case scenarios. We make decisions every morning that are obsolete by the afternoon, and we keep going. We are all looking for ways to keep our Learning Center and Sedro-Woolley teams safe, informed and engaged while working from home as much as possible. Many job duties are changing in order to keep people working productively on Institute priorities in a time of school closures and the absence of students and other participants. We’re practicing the new dance of social distancing to flatten the curve– while keeping our spirits up. We decided early on to keep all staff employed full-time through the end of this month and provide additional sick leave to help those in need. We will begin furloughs and significant reduction in our work hours on April 1. We are exploring letting staff live rent-free in spaces they currently occupy if they have no place else to go. Our work has never been more important, or faced such challenges (“School closures empty Washington''s outdoor classrooms” —Seattle P-I). We’re all here because we love getting kids outside to fall in love with nature. How can we implement our mission when our program models are changing? What can we do differently? What can we do that we haven’t thought of before? There are no simple or easy answers. We need to be nimble and look for new ways of doing nearly everything. I am grateful to be part of such a creative, smart and compassionate community – we’re going to take care of each other as best we can while continuing to work towards our vital mission. We are in this together. It’s good to remember – and well documented in the medical literature – that immersion in nature boosts human immune systems and provides many other health benefits. Go outside. Rejoice in the spring flowers and the swallow’s return. The coronavirus pandemic has caused a significant impact to North Cascades Institute, all of us who work here and everyone we serve. The uncertainty and rate of change is exhausting. It impacts every one of us directly, and differently. Our response, as a community, will define who we are as people, not just as an organization. Thank you for being a part of us. 
Saul Weisberg
Coronavirus Updates on our Website
Resources for Parents and Students23 Fun activities to do with kids using stuff you already have at home Free nature lessons plans from Explore.org 10 Nature Activities from the Children & Nature Network Guidelines for informal gatherings of children and youth while schools are closed Suggestions for preventing the transmission of coronavirus while spending time outdoors Virtual national park tour Free online Junior Ranger workbooks Free online Ranger Rick Magazine from the National Wildlife Federation Chris Morgan’s Wild podcast from NPR — always uplifting and interesting!
We’re all here because we love getting kids outside to fall in love with nature ... I am grateful to have an incredibly creative, smart and compassionate community here and we’re going to take care of each other as best we can while continuing to work towards our vital mission. — Saul Weisberg, Executive Director
North Cascades Institute
Connecting people, nature and community since 1986 Explore more at ncascades.org Thanks for reading! If you''d like to continue receiving emails from us but wish to change the type of content you''ll get, click on the "Preferences" link below.
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June 2020 Field Notes No images? Click here 
This is a really tough time. Like you, we are grieving the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor and countless others senselessly killed as a result of the color of their skin. We are aghast at the deep and painful divisions in our society that are fueled by our nation''s legacy of racism, xenophobia and inequality. One thing that''s for certain is that North Cascades Institute is dedicated to cultivating a community of belonging that is welcoming and accessible to everyone. We believe that everyone benefits when people have equitable access to natural places and spaces for education, recreation and renewal. And we know that until people of color are safe in our communities -- until people cease to fear for their lives when stepping outside — there cannot be equitable access to the benefits of nature. We stand within the “fierce urgency of now” with those fighting for justice, equity and belonging. June 2020 ▸ MORE "MOUNTAIN SCHOOL AT HOME" ONLINE LEARNING ▸ INSTITUTE PROGRAM AND OPERATIONS UPDATES ▸ MOUNTAIN SCHOOL IN THE SKAGIT VALLEY HERALD ▸ NEW POETRY AND MEDITATION VIDEOS ▸ MAY PHOTO ROUND-UP ▸ HOW TO RECREATE RESPONSIBLY On top of the pain of recent events, the pandemic and resulting loss of life-as-we-knew-it impacts us all deeply and personally. With all the uncertainty about balancing “reopening the economy” with a scientific approach to the expanding pandemic, we''ve been asking the question “do we believe we can safely open Learning Center programs this summer?" Many questions are still on the table, with no clear answers, so given this uncertainty we made the difficult decision to cancel Learning Center programs and Field Excursions through August. This impacts Base Camp, Family Getaways and Learning Center classes as well our Conferences and Retreats. It breaks our hearts to do this, but we believe it’s the responsible thing to do. We were fortunate to receive a PPP loan from the federal stimulus, allowing us to rehire furloughed staff and put their creativity to work for a couple months on more Mountain School at Home videos and lessons, foodshed and garden lessons, painting the Dining Hall, Learning Center accessibility projects, Spanish translations of educational materials, the Mountain School curriculum update, virtual Skagit Tours and Family & Adult experiences, and much more. Even though the future is uncertain, we remain committed to getting people outside in nature as soon as possible. We will be ready, with our partners, to offer programs that are safe and engaging to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature.
Read North Cascades Institute''s response to the coronavirus on our website >>
We all have a chance to step off the sidelines, to speak up, to take action and to shine a blinding light on the racism lurking in so many corners of our society. We need to fight together wisely, boldly and unflinchingly, while staying aware that our passion and actions can and will be used against us. But we must not stop. This is the time. It will not be easy. It will often be messy, but it must be done. —Melody Cooper, sister of Christian Cooper
During this time of school closures and stay-at-home guidelines, North Cascades Institute is sharing lessons and activities from our talented Mountain School instructors. We hope these will inspire students of all ages to continue to learn about the natural world and discover new connections to the outdoors from home. Recent offerings include:
Explore these resources and let us bring Mountain School to your home at www.ncascades.org/ms-at-home.Spread the word and share these lessons with a friend! 
More Fun Content for Learning at Home
Upcoming Classes & EventsSeptember 12: Herbs for Immunity and the Changing Seasons (Bellingham) Look for virtual Summer Programs and Family Getaway activity boxes — info coming soon!
REGISTER TODAY
Scholarships and student and military discounts are available. Institute News
We are entrepreneurs at our core, so we’re focusing on programs we can offer, while developing modifications and new initiatives. Here are a few ways that we are adapting: Youth Leadership Adventures |
PHOTOS FROM THE NORTH CASCADESInstitute staff once again shares snapshots of the many ways we get by with a little (or a lot) of time outside. In this post we say hello from backyards, nearby mountain tops, and many pretty places in between.
VISIT BLOG
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RECREATE RESPONSIBLYPublic lands are reopening and we all want to get outside to recreate as summer commences. Here are some helpful tips to help you recreate responsibly, to keep both our lands and each other safe!
LEARN MORE
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We are in awe of the 320 people who came together to give nearly $170,000—meeting both of our challenge matches! This helps ensure that Mountain School and our other youth programs are available well into the future.
If you missed the flurry around GiveBIG, we could still use your help in navigating these uncertain and challenging times. Thank you for considering making a donation.
Arrowleaf Balsamroot photo by Alexa Brandt
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April 2020 Field Notes No images? Click here 
These are difficult times all over the world and our hearts go out to all of you who are struggling with sickness, job loss or other disruptions because of the coronavirus. Fear and anxiety about the unknown are another form of contagion, causing widespread stress. But North Cascades Institute is still here and working hard to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative experiences in nature. That’s what we do, and we’ll be ready when this pandemic slowly passes. In a world that feels so unpredictable, it is good practice to tune in to the predictable patterns of the natural world. The unfolding of spring provides us with so many things to observe: migrating birds, blooming trees and plants, the evening music of frogs and owls, nettles and skunk cabbage emerging in the forest. You can deepen your observations of the changing season with activities created by our instructors for our new Mountain School at Home project: initiating a sit spot practice, practicing ephemeral nature art and starting a tree bud journal! Visit ncascades.org/ms-at-home for these and future activities and stay engaged with the wonder and beauty all around us. April 2020 ▸ NEW "MOUNTAIN SCHOOL AT HOME" ONLINE LEARNING RESOURCES ▸ INSTITUTE PROGRAM AND OPERATIONS UPDATES ▸ SHARE YOUR MOUNTAIN SCHOOL STORIES WITH US ▸ YLA APPLICATIONS EXTENDED ▸ HONORING PETER HARDIN JACKSON ▸ HAND-DRAWN NORTH CASCADES MAP IN THE GIFT SHOP With so much of our normal lives and schedules altered or shut down, many people are spending more time in nature in backyards, neighborhood parks and local trails (following proper social distancing recommendations and respecting closures, of course). What a powerful reminder of all the ways the natural world benefits us: reducing stress, elevating moods, and providing fresh air, connection and exercise.
Read North Cascades Institute''s response to the coronavirus on our website >>
During this time of school closures and stay-at-home guidelines, North Cascades Institute is sharing lessons and activities from our talented Mountain School instructors. We hope these will inspire students of all ages to continue to learn about the natural world and discover new connections to the outdoors from home. Explore these resources and let us bring Mountain School to your home at www.ncascades.org/ms-at-home Upcoming Classes & EventsJune 13: Alpine Adventures, Climate Change, and Watermelon Snow (Mt. Baker) 2020 Family Getaways: Open for registration ⤑
REGISTER TODAY
Scholarships and student and military discounts are available. Institute News
UPDATES ON OUR PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONSAt North Cascades Institute, we are focused on the health and safety of our staff, students and community. Here are some changes to our programs and operations:
ONGOING CORONAVIRUS UPDATES
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF MOUNTAIN SCHOOL!30 years of sparking curiosity, 30 years of muddy boots and new adventures, 30 years of hooting like owls and discovering new friends … we’re so excited to celebrate 30 years of Mountain School, which has brought over 35,000 young people into the heart of North Cascades National Park for hands-on learning about the natural world. 
Getting young people outside to learn, play, discover, reflect, and share is at the heart of a healthy life. While we may not be able to gather in person right now, your gift today will foster transformative learning experiences in nature for thousands of students to come.
Learn More and Make a Gift
Share Your Mountain School StoryWe know from experience and interactions with 29 years of Mountain School alumni that this educational program has been a transformative experience for so many people in our community. Students and teachers, we''d love to hear your favorite stories from Mountain School in the comments of this blog post! 
SHARE YOUR MEMORIES WITH US!
HONORING PETER HARDIN JACKSONAmidst all else going on in the world, we are mourning the loss of our dear friend Peter Hardin Jackson, son of the late U.S. Sen. Henry M. Jackson and North Cascades Institute board member from 2008 to 2019. A brilliant and eloquent writer, Peter used his voice to champion the causes of human rights and the environment, including conservation and youth education in North Cascades National Park — the park his father helped establish in Congress in 1969. In September 2016, Peter was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He led a determined fight to the end but passed away last month in Seattle, where he lived with his wife, Laurie Werner.
READ A TRIBUTE
Peter was a unique and wonderful human being, committed to Laurie, his friends and his many passions, of which North Cascades Institute was one. I l valued his friendship, kindness, curiosity, and honesty. He spoke truth to power, gently and with passion. Thank you Peter, for being a valued member of our board of directors, and for your service to our beloved and troubled world. You will walk well through our memories and tears. — Saul Weisberg, Institute Co-founder and Executive Director
PHOTO ROUND UP FROM THE NORTH CASCADESEveryone can agree, so much has happened this month and it''s high time for a Photo Round-up! Please enjoy this peek into life at the Institute as we welcome the new season in our favorite place, as well as prepare the Learning Center for an unexpected closure through (at least) May.
VISIT BLOG
Hummingbird photo by Andrew Reding.
North Cascades Institute
Connecting people, nature and community since 1986 Explore more at ncascades.org | (360) 854-2599 Thanks for reading! If you''d like to continue receiving emails from us but wish to change the type of content you''ll get, click on the "Preferences" link below.
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Field Notes eNewsletter August 2020 No images? Click here 
This is a time of experiment and change. We are resilient and are preparing to be even stronger on the other side of this pandemic. North Cascades Institute and its programs provide not only learning, but the healing that many of us will be seeking.Based on what we’ve been hearing from our school partners, we reluctantly made the difficult decision to cancel Fall Mountain School at the Learning Center. So, instead of celebrating Mountain School’s 30th anniversary and sharing our new curriculum, we are planning ways to bring Mountain School downriver to the schools, while continuing our Mountain School at Home lessons and outdoor activities.August 2020 ▸ FAMILY GETAWAYS AT HOME ▸ IN THE COMPANY OF CORVIDS, AUG 26 ▸ VIRTUAL SKAGIT TOURS ▸ SAVE THE GRIZZLIES ▸ RECREATE RESPONSIBLY Here are other ways the Institute is adapting to times of great change and unpredictability:
We''re hopeful that we can offer small-group classes this Fall in the field and at the Environmental Learning Center, as well as our overnight Base Camp Learning & Lodging program at Diablo Lake, with new social-distancing measures in place. View the Fall calendar here: ncascades.org/signup/calendar.By participating in any of these new offerings - purchasing a Family Getaway at Home box or unique North Cascades gifts at our online store, signing up for a Zoom seminar, making plans to join us in the Fall - you are providing us with critical support and helping the Institute survive. You can also help us by making a donation.We''re all doing the best we can to take care of each other through trying times. What are you doing to take care of yourself? Please take time to get outside. Remember how much you love, depend on, and care for, the natural world. 
Will you be missing a Family Getaways trip to the Environmental Learning Center this summer? We will certainly be missing you! The good news is that place-based, intergenerational learning can happen anywhere! Our Family Getaways at Home packages are equipped with engaging lessons, activities, and supplies designed to help your family explore the natural world around your home, share new perspectives across generations, and have fun!
Box 1: A Sense of Adventure
Box 2: Exploring PerspectivesJust purchase a Family Getaways at Home package and we will send it directly to your home where you can unwrap the adventure! Take it on a camping trip, send one to your grandparents, or just spend a fun afternoon with your family.
LEARN MORE and ORDER
In the Company of Corvids Online August 26Did you know that many of our corvid species are amongst the most intelligent species on the planet? Crows, ravens, nutcrackers, and jays been known to play, mourn the dead, recognize human faces, and detect patterns of behavior in other species. They are familiar residents of our neighborhoods, local parks, and nearby mountains, yet so much about them and their "corvid cultures" remains unknown to most of us. Join Dr. Kaeli Swift for an online class on Zoom that will explore the curious world of Washington''s corvids.
REGISTER TODAY
Since you can''t come to us for Skagit Tours this summer, we''re coming to you! In partnership with Seattle City Light, Institute staff has created a Virtual Skagit Tours video series to educate and inspire people around the world.Recent videos in the series have shared the wonders of Springtime at Diablo Lake—including an indigenous perspective on the season from Scott Schuyler, a Tribal Elder of the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe; the history of the Environmental Learning Center; and the origin of the Skagit Tours boat, the Alice Ross.
VIRTUAL SKAGIT TOURS PLAYLIST
Upcoming Classes & Field ExcursionsAugust 26: In the Company of Corvids Online
FALL BASE CAMP LEARNING & LODGING NOW REGISTERING
The future is uncertain, but we''ll be here for you when we''re able to reopen. We welcome registrations for programs taking place this fall, and if you need to change your plans later, we’ll work with you to find an alternate program or receive a full refund - your choice. This Peace of Mind policy applies to programs scheduled through the end of the year.
REGISTER TODAY
Scholarships and student and military discounts are available. 
Youth Leadership Adventures Day ProgramsYouth Leadership Adventures seeks high school students in 9th-12th grade for free week-long outdoor day adventures in August. Students will meet at locations in Mount Vernon and Bellingham to explore the beautiful spaces around us, returning home each evening. While getting to know new people and exploring local outdoor spaces, participants will also gain leadership skills and learn how they can be applied to local environmental problems. There are two more sessions this summer!
REGISTER TODAY
RECREATE RESPONSIBLYAs parks, trails, and beaches open are open with modifications, it can be confusing to know how to recreate responsibly in the "new normal". We all want to get outside this summer and doing so responsibly helps ensure that parks can stay open and natural spaces are safe for everyone to access. Here are some helpful tips to help you recreate responsibly, to keep both our lands and each other safe!
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Thank You for General Operating Support
We are grateful to Discuren and Skagit Community Foundations for their unrestricted supplemental grants this year. And to the Clif Family, Swantz Family, and Whatcom Community Foundations for their willingness to pivot their program grants to support general operations instead. The changes to the field of environmental education are unprecedented. Unrestricted donations and grants allow us to use funds creatively during these times, and to ensure we are able to have a strong restart to our in-person programs when it is safe to do so. Learn more about ways you can support our work today.
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NeoWise Comet and the Northern Lights over Baker Lake; photo by Andy Porter
North Cascades Institute
Connecting people, nature and community since 1986 Explore more at ncascades.org | (360) 854-2599 Thanks for reading! If you''d like to continue receiving emails from us but wish to change the type of content you''ll get, click on the "Preferences" link below.
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