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Earlier this year, we kicked off our 40th Anniversary with a look back at North Cascades Institute’s deep roots—and forward to the bright future we’re building together.
Then summer arrived, and we got busy doing what we’ve done for four decades!
Students headed into the backcountry with Youth Leadership Adventures. Families paddled Diablo Lake and gathered around campfires. Naturalists led explorations across the North Cascades ecosystem. Visitors came to learn, hike, eat, connect and spend time together at the Environmental Learning Center.
In other words, while we weren’t talking quite as much about our 40th Anniversary, we were busy living it.
OCTOBER 2026
▸ 40% OFF BASE CAMP STAYS AT THE LEARNING CENTER IN OCT & NOV
▸ FALL EVENTS WITH RENA PRIEST, DAVID B. WILLIAMS, LYANDA LYNN HAUPT, AND DOCTOBER AT THE PICKFORD
▸ NEW CLASSES: DRAWING TREES AND BIRDS IN GRAPHITE, WINTER FOREST SNOWSHOE TREK, BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY & MORE
Now October has arrived. The days are getting shorter, vine maples are turning red and the larches gold, and another busy season in the North Cascades is beginning to wind down. It feels like a good time to reflect on where we’ve been—and where we’re headed.
Over the next few months, we’ll share more of the people, places and experiences that have shaped North Cascades Institute since 1986, while looking ahead to how we plan to grow in the years to come.
Forty years of learning, stewardship, wonder and community. Forty years of people discovering a deeper connection to this remarkable place.
Our roots run deep. And we’re still growing.
Institute founder Saul Weisberg shares a poem that inspired and informed us in our early days of environmental education and outdoor exploration.
WELCOME FALL STAFF!
Our newest instructors have been busy at the Environmental Learning Center training to lead Mountain School—including our new Open Enrollment Mountain School—as well as Base Camp and Conferences & Retreats. They’ve practiced everything from modeling watersheds and wildfires and exploring how the North Cascades were formed to nature journaling, games, skits and even talent shows. This adventurous crew comes to us from across the country, with many bringing experience from national parks including Denali, Glacier and Yosemite. They’re also embracing life at the ELC: a new staff club - the “Diablo Dunk” - is attempting a cold plunge in Diablo Lake every day of the season.
Welcome, fall crew—we’re glad you’re here!
Learning Opportunities
FIELD EXCURSIONS, ELC SEMINARS & ONLINE LEARNING
Oct 7 | Drawing and Painting Orcas with Sara Shimazu - Online
Oct 16-18 | Fall Naturalist Seminar with Chris Byrd - ELC full, waitlist available
Oct 21 | A Year in the Life of North American Woodpeckers with Paul Bannick - Online
Oct 24-25 | Lichenology 101 with Hannah Prather - Northern State / Baker Lake
Oct 31 | Baker Lake Fungal Foray with Erin Moore - full, waitlist available
Nov 4 | Cougars in the Pacific Northwest with WDF&W's Brian Kertson - Online
Nov 12 | Scientific Botanical Sketching with Crystal Shin - Online
Nov 14 | Introduction to Tracking with Matthew Fortin - ELC
Dec 2 | Forest Health in the North Cascades with Rachel Brooks - Online
Dec 9 | Soil Ecology of the North Cascades with Toby Rodgers - Online
Dec 12 | Skagit Valley Winter Birding 1 with Brendan McGarry
Dec 16 | How Birds Fly with Peter Cavanaugh - Online
Jan 13 | Winter Adaptations with Gina Roberti - Online
Jan 22 | Drawing Winter Trees in Graphite with Kristin Frost - Online
Jan 23 | Winter Forest Snowshoe Exploration with Chris Byrd - Mt. Baker area
Jan 30 | Winter Bird Photography with Peter Cavanaugh - Padilla Bay
Jan 31 | Skagit Valley Winter Birding 2 with Brendan McGarry - Bow-Edison
Feb 3 | Habitat Connectivity and Washington’s Highways with WSDOT- Online
Feb 10 | Reading the Rocks: Geology of the North Cascades with Gina Roberti - Online
Feb 16 | Drawing Birds in Graphite & Colored Pencil with Trenton Jung - Online
Scholarships + military, student and disability discounts are available for most programs
Questions? Contact us at info@ncascades.org or (360) 854-2599
LICHENOLOGY 101 |
INTRODUCTION TO TRACKING |
40% OFF FALL BASE CAMP LEARNING & LODGING STAYS
Celebrate our 40th anniversary with 40% off Base Camp stays at the Environmental Learning Center this October and November, starting at just $63 per person. Fall is a magical time here, bringing changing colors, crisp mountain air, quiet trails, and mist drifting over Diablo Lake.
Spend a cozy weekend reading or playing board games in the Wild Ginger Library, wandering forest trails, slowing down with walking meditation or nature journaling, watching nature documentaries, and gathering around an evening campfire. Our naturalists can also help you plan a self-guided adventure to see the golden Western larches on the east side of the North Cascades.
Your stay includes guest lodge accommodations, three meals, and a variety of guided and self-led activities—all with plenty of time to slow down and enjoy fall in the mountains.
OPEN-ENROLLMENT MOUNTAIN SCHOOL
Experience Mountain School as a family in the heart of the North Cascades this fall. This 3-day, 2-night program invites families to explore forests, watersheds, and wildlife together through hands-on learning, reflection, and play—while connecting with a community of curious learners.
Rooted in Mountain School curriculum and approach
For families, homeschoolers, and community members
Designed for ages 7–12 (minimum age 7; older siblings welcome)
Emphasis on scientific inquiry, observation, and place-based learning
Learn more and register for one of these sessions:
OCTOBER 12–14 and NOVEMBER 16–18
Institute Events
The Nature of Writing Speaker Series continues with more inspiring events in Bellingham & Seattle! Explore the wonders of the Pacific Northwest through art, poetry, and prose, as we connect with the seasonal rhythms and dynamic forces that shape us and our relationships with the natural world.
In The Range of Fire & Ice by David B. Williams
Thur, Oct 8 at 6 PM | Village Books, Fairhaven
Check out an essay from David's book about Cascade Pass on our blog!
Dancing to the Ticking of the Doomsday Clock by Rena Priest
Sat, Oct 10 at 6 PM | Village Books, Fairhaven
Feathered Forest: Aloft with Birds in Ancient Trees by Marina Richie
In conversation with Lyanda Lynn Haupt
Sun, Oct 11 at 6 PM | Village Books, Fairhaven
Among The Birds: Field Notes from Cascadia by Lyanda Lynn Haupt
Wed, Oct 14 at 7 PM | Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park
Mountainous by Julia Kuo—family-friendly book launch event!
Sat, Oct 24 at 3 PM | Village Books, Fairhaven
Sensoria: Attending to the Wonder and Vitality of Nature with editor Gavin Van Horn
Sun, Oct 25 at 6 PM | Village Books, Fairhaven
Thur, Oct 29 at 7 PM | Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park
Cascade of Life by Emily Poole
Tues, Oct 27 at 6 PM | Village Books, Fairhaven
Thur, Oct 29 at 7 PM | Third Place Books, Seward Park
DOCTOBER @ THE PICKFORD
Each year, the Pickford Film Center in Bellingham partners with local organizations to bring fascinating documentaries and important issues to the screen during the Pacific Northwest's largest documentary film festival. This year, we are excited to sponsor two moving films about humanity’s relationship with the beautiful, fragile and ever-changing natural world.
Frost Without Snow and Ice
Oct 7 & 21
Humboldt, USA
Oct 18 & 21
Institute News
CELEBRATING YOUTH LEADERSHIP ADVENTURES
This summer, high school students headed into the North Cascades for five- and eight-day Youth Leadership Adventures—camping, backpacking, paddling, building friendships, giving back to public lands, and discovering what they’re capable of along the way.
Students arrived from different communities and backgrounds, including an especially multilingual crew swapping words and phrases in Ukrainian, French, and Spanish. Over the course of their trips, they built confidence and connections with each other and the natural world.
“I learned that I can actually work with people I only knew for a couple of days and not be as anxious as I usually am. It makes me want to meet new people and go out into the world more!”
Along the way, students completed service projects in North Cascades National Park and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, while Indigenous participants brought their own experiences and connections to the landscape. In just a week, YLA students found new friendships, quiet moments in nature, a deeper appreciation for the environment, and opportunities to grow as leaders. Thank you to our 2026 students and staff for another memorable summer!
CALL FOR SPRING 2027 CREATIVE RESIDENTS
The Institute is excited to welcome artists, writers, and naturalists from a range of disciplines to apply for Creative Residencies at the Environmental Learning Center. We are now accepting proposals for Spring 2027. See our website for guidelines and apply by October 30, 2026.
Be sure to say hello to Fall 2026 Creative Residents during your visit at the Learning Center this October and November!
Art by Julie Kim, one of our three Fall 2026 creative residents
SHOULDER SEASON RATES FOR GROUP GATHERINGS
As the North Cascades shift with the seasons, Nov–Dec 2026 and Mar–Apr 2027 offer a special opportunity for your group to experience the region’s changing colors and moods—while enjoying reduced shoulder season pricing!
Nestled on the wooded shore of Diablo Lake in the heart of North Cascades National Park, the Environmental Learning Center is the perfect setting for reflection and connection to the natural world as well as to each other. Lodging for up to 92, delicious meals, and learning opportunities included.
Call (360) 614-7037 or use our Request Info Form.
Welcoming...
- Game Groups, Book Clubs, Sip & Stitchers
- Trainings and Creative Workshops
- Yoga and Hiking groups
- Family Reunions
- School Retreats
- Leadership and Board Meetings
- Speaker Events and Seminars
NATURE NOTES: LARCH MADNESS
Larches are some of the most unusual trees in the North Cascades. They have needles. They grow cones. They look like evergreens for most of the year. But when fall arrives, they do something most of their conifer neighbors don’t do. They turn gold and drop all their needles.
So why would a conifer bother turning gold before going completely bare?
SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT: Peggy Ratermann & Jim Asa
We want to thank Headwaters Club & Legacy Circle members Peggy Ratermann & Jim Asa for their tax-smart contributions through their Individual Retirement Account (IRA) in support of Mountain School as well as through their recurring monthly gift plan. Peggy and Jim were inspired to become Headwaters Club donors, Legacy Circle members, and monthly sustainers after Peggy spent many years bringing her 5th grade students to Mountain School.
“I loved watching my students’ eyes and hearts fill with wonder and awe as we traipsed through the woods. I remember one of my students at the end of three magical days of Mountain School exclaiming, ‘Mrs. Ratermann, those were the best three days of my whole life!’ A price cannot be put on the time spent with North Cascades Institute, whether at Mountain School, or with Youth Leadership Adventures, or in one of the many courses taught online. We are so proud of the work NCI does, and we cannot be prouder to help support that work!"
WEEKEND FOR ALL: When Access Becomes Belonging
Weekend for All was created with a focused commitment to welcoming people who have historically been underserved by outdoor programs and faced barriers to accessing public lands. For some communities, our national parks and wild places haven’t always felt like places where they fully belonged. Because access isn’t simply about whether someone can enter a park—it’s also about whether they feel welcomed once they arrive. Weekend for All creates space to experience the North Cascades on their own terms: exploring trails and Diablo Lake, trying new activities, or simply relaxing in a beautiful place. By reducing barriers and creating a welcoming environment, we hope to help more people build their own lasting relationships with the outdoors.
SUPPORT INSTITUTE PROGRAMS
Do you too want to make a tax-smart, meaningful investment for the future? Please consider donating through your IRA, Donor Advised Fund, gifts of appreciated stock, or donating your unused vehicles. With your support, we will inspire the next generation of environmental leaders. Thank you!
Top photo: A beautiful day with participants at Artist Point this September; photo by Shelby Gresch. See more highlights from recent field courses in Flowers, Frogs & Frolics of Summer!
