As the seasons change and Spring rolls towards Summer — Solstice is at the end of this month, June 21 — so does our mix of educational programs, powered by contributions from people like you ~ thank you!
Mountain School finishes up this week with a final group of students from Washington Elementary in Mt. Vernon. For the past 11 weeks, our campus on Diablo Lake has welcomed more than 1,400 students and their teachers and parent chaperones for hands-on learning about the natural world around them. Mountain School involves everyone at the Learning Center to make it a success, and we're thankful for the hard work from our instructional staff, kitchen crew, maintenance and housekeeping teams and people behind the scenes providing leadership, coordination, instructor coaching and supervision. It's an amazing team in a very busy and dynamic setting!
June 2019
▶ SEEKING LEARNING CENTER & MOUNTAIN STEWARDS
▶ GET MARRIED IN THE NORTH CASCADES
▶ GIFT SHOPS IN THE PARK
▶ CLASSES & WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER
▶ NATIVE PLANTS IN BLOOM
The first season of Forest School too is wrapping up — congratulations to Abby Sussman and Codi Hamblin for the work in creating curricula, staffing models and completing the successful pilot season of this new outdoor educational program for Bellingham's 3rd graders on Lake Whatcom. Thank you to the wonderful group of instructors who joined the Forest School season too.
As we roll in to Summer, Youth Leadership Adventures season is upon us! Our YLA team is busy dusting off gear and finalizing logistics. We're excited for 36 exceptional high school students to join us on our 12-day backcountry leadership courses and experience the magic of wild places. This year, courses will take place throughout North Cascades National Park and Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in July.
Lastly, the Graduate Residency staff and cohort of M.Ed. students will head over the pass and spend 3 1/2 days in the Methow Valley for their Spring Natural History Seminar and transition to Summer Leadership Tracks.
Oh, and we're hiring!
Institute News
Stewardship Weekends at the Environmental Learning Center
We hosted our annual Spring Stewardship Weekend last month, and more than 50 volunteers helped us with critical projects at the Learning Center and surrounding forestlands. Together, we completed four miles of trail upkeep and restoration, 120 hours of Firewise work removing deadfall and small trees around campus buildings (15 truckloads!), 30 hours of invasive weed removal and repainted all of the campus direction signs. At the Confluence Garden on our property in Marblemount, we planted trees, weeded the garden and did trail maintenance to the Skagit River. Thanks so much to our hearty volunteers and Youth Ambassador crews!
Because we had more interest from people in performing stewardship work in the North Cascades than we had space for, we've created a Fall Stewardship Weekend October 18-20: a weekend at the ELC with special pricing, delicious meals, campfire stories and our endless gratitude!
SEEKING MOUNTAIN STEWARD VOLUNTEERS FOR SUMMER
Questions? (360) 854-2615 or barb.richey@usda.gov |
GIFT SHOPS IN NORTH CASCADES OPENDid you know that North Cascades Institute operates five gift shops in and around North Cascades National Park, including in Newhalem, Stehekin, Sedro-Woolley, Marblemount and at the Learning Center? Each store offers a curated selection of books, maps, apparel, field guides, local art and jewelry and souvenirs that will remind you of your memories in America's Alps, like magnets, t-shirts, posters, stickers and more. You can shop online too!Your purchases help fund youth education opportunities and create the next generation of public lands stewards.Thank you!
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Upcoming Classes & Events
July 12-14 — The Watercolor Journal with Michelle Cooper (ELC)
July 28 — Sauk Mountain Wildflower Wander with Shelley Weisberg
July 31 — Night Photography at Artist Point with Andy Porter
August 2-4 — Early August Family Getaway
August 9-11 — Mid-August Family Getaway
August 11-16 — Wilderness First Responder (ELC - click here) **NEW!**
August 18 — Moving Water Photography with Juan Aguilera
August 23-25 — Late August Family Getaway
September 6-8 — Adventures NW Photography Workshop (ELC)
September 13-15 — Fall Watercolors with Nikki Frumkin (ELC)
September 28-29 — Hawkwatching at Chelan Ridge
October 18-20 — Fall Stewardship Weekend (ELC) **NEW!**
November 29-Dec 1— Thanksgiving Family Getaway
Many more classes, information and registration at ncascades.org/get_outside, info@ncascades.org or (360) 854-2599.
Scholarships, student and military discounts and teacher credits may be available.
Weddings in the North Cascades
There is hardly a more spectacular place to host a wedding than beneath the jagged mountain peaks in the heart of North Cascades National Park, and our Environmental Learning Center is an ideal venue to celebrate your wedding weekend with friends and family.
You will be surrounded by pristine landscapes and be catered to by our friendly and dedicated staff. Guests can elect to participate in a number of outdoor activities on the trails and lake adjacent to the Environmental Learning Center.
Skagit Tours in the North Cascades
Experience the jaw-dropping beauty of the North Cascades, learn about the fascinating history of the Upper Skagit Hydroelectric Project and enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal with a fun, interactive boat and boot tour of the Upper Skagit Valley and North Cascades National Park.
Naturalist Note
NATIVE PLANTS IN BLOOM IN THE UPPER SKAGIT VALLEY
The Environmental Learning Center in North Cascades National Park is alive with young leaves, blooming buds and new green growth (the campus sits at around 1200 feet above sea level). Brightly colored flowers add vibrancy to the already spectacular landscape of snow capped mountains and turquoise Diablo Lake. Visit our blog to see photos and learn about few of the first flowering native plants that we see around campus and out on the trails!
Read more ⤑
Red Flowering Currant / Oregon Grape
Thank You!
WOW! Thanks to the generous support of 263 friends, we raised $183,000 during our spring Give Big for Youth campaign! These donations will ensure that 4,200 young people will come together this year outside to learn together, discover together, lead together and act together. Thank you for giving BIG and thank you for strengthening our community by fostering these shared experiences in nature.
Heather Meadows from Picture Lake by Jason Ruvelson
Mt. Baker by Brett Baunton
James + Nicole Wedding by Jason Lucas Photography
Native Plants by Nicola Follis
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Connecting people, nature and community since 1986
Explore more at ncascades.org | (360) 854-2599
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810 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284
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