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Crisp morning air, crunchy leaves, and the joyful giggles of 5th graders echoing across the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center—it must be fall. 🍂🍁
Mountain School is back in session! Last week we welcomed students, teachers, and chaperones from Methow Valley Elementary to discover moments of wonder on the trails, along the lake, and in the forests of the North Cascades ecosystem.
While the Washington State Legislature did not renew funding for the Outdoor Learning Grant Program for 2025-2027—meaning fewer
students across Washington will get to experience overnight outdoor school—we remain committed to making Mountain School as accessible as possible.
Institute leadership continues to advocate for this funding and is stepping up tuition subsidies to help local schools continue to attend.
October 2025
▸ FALL CLASSES: MUSHROOMS, DRAWING, BALD EAGLES & MORE
▸ OCTOBER BASE CAMP STAYS AT THE LEARNING CENTER
▸ NEW! CASCADIA PATHWAYS GRADUATE PROGRAM
▸ INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY EVENTS WITH LUMMI NATION, UPPER SKAGIT INDIAN NATION, AND TLINGIT SPEAKERS
▸ WILDERNESS MEDICINE TRAININGS AT THE LEARNING CENTER
Together, we’re working to ensure every child can wander, wonder, and learn in nature. Want to help more kids experience Mountain School in the future? Donate and learn more about our programs at ncascades.org/give.
Finally, spotted recently on a lovely late-summer's evening at Wander Brewing in Bellingham: Institute co-founders Saul Weisberg and Tom Fleischner with our Development Director Sarah Meyer and Executive Director Bec Detrich.
From our early beginnings in the mid-1980s stretching all the way to our 40th anniversary in 2026, we are fortunate to have such creative, passionate and engaged leadership at the helm!
Learning Opportunities
2025 PROGRAMS
Oct 12 | Doctober screening of Girl Climber | Pickford Film Center in Bellingham
Oct 18 | Baker Lake Fungal Foray with Erin Moore - waitlist available
Oct 22 | North Cascades Lynx & Wildfire with Carmen Vanbianchi - Online
Oct 26 | Befriending Fungi with Evan Holmstrom
Nov 16 | Drawing Mountains in Ink with Claire Giordano - Online
Dec 13 | Bald Eagles of the Skagit Valley with Joe Ordoñez
Scholarships + military, student and disability discounts are available for most programs
Questions? Contact us at info@ncascades.org or (360) 854-2599
STAY & PLAY IN THE NORTH CASCADES THIS FALL
Looking for an overnight adventure in the North Cascades during the quiet season? BASE CAMP LEARNING & LODGING at the Environmental Learning Center offers guided seasonal learning activities with Institute naturalists, three meals and overnight accommodations in our guest lodges. Come for a night or an extended stay!
AVAILABLE DATES
Fall Larch season: Oct 10-12, 17-19, 22-26
Spooktacular Halloween weekend: Oct 31-Nov 2
DRAWING MOUNTAINS IN INK with Claire Giordano |
BALD EAGLES OF THE SKAGIT VALLEY with Joe Ordoñez |
WILDERNESS MEDICINE TRAINING IN THE NORTH CASCADES
Every year, the North Cascades Institute hosts a variety of intensive Wilderness Medicine skill-building courses for individuals working and playing in wilderness and remote settings. Instruction is offered by respected providers at the Environmental Learning Center on Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park. Students receive comprehensive scenario-based training and practical experience in an ideal remote setting with comfortable lodging, meals, and easy access to nearby winter recreation.
AVAILABLE TRAININGS
H-REMT Certification:
Hybrid instruction - online November 3, 2025; onsite December 1-14, 2025
REMT Certification:
Onsite January 19 - February 13, 2026
Calling all nature lovers and bibliophiles! Discover your next great read for the Fall & Winter months in presentations by authors, artists and naturalists sharing their works in our Fall 2025 Nature of Writing speaker series. Here is what is coming up in October and November, and you can view the entire series schedule at ncascades.org/events.
Presented in partnership with Village Books in Bellingham and Third Place Books in Seattle.
Chuckanut Radio Hour: Enough with Melissa Arnot Reid
Oct 14, 7 pm at Lairmont Manor, Bellingham
Woodpecker with Paul Bannick
Oct 15, 7 pm at Third Place Books Lake Forest Park
Wildflowers of the West with Molly Hashimoto
Oct 25, 4 pm at Village Books Fairhaven
Apprentice to Wild with Kurt Hoelting in conversation with Saul Weisberg
Nov 1, 2 pm at Village Books Fairhaven
Out There with Lance Garland
Nov 14, 7 pm at Third Place Books Ravenna
Nov 20, 6 pm at Village Books Fairhaven
True Nature with Lance Richardson
Nov 17, 7 pm at Third Place Books Lake Forest Park
Nov 18, 6 pm at Village Books Fairhaven
Absolution: A Southern Reach Novel with Jeff Vandermeer
Nov 19, 7 pm at Third Place Books Lake Forest Park
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY EVENTS
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day with us at two events highlighting Coast Salish and Northwest Coast history, storytelling and contemporary voices.
Wed, Oct 8 | Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, 7pm
Lynda Mapes, Scott Schuyler (Upper Skagit Indian Tribe), and Jay Julius (Lummi Nation) discuss Treaty Justice
Fri, Oct 10 | Village Books, Fairhaven, 6pm
Rena Priest (Lummi Nation) with Positively Uncivilized and Caskey Russell (Tlingit) with The Door on the Sea
Institute News
CASCADIA PATHWAY GRADUATE PROGRAM
Earn your Master’s degree from Alaska Pacific University while gaining paid teaching experience at North Cascades Institute.
The Cascadia Pathway offers a unique opportunity to earn a Master of Science in Outdoor and Environmental Education (MSOEE) from Alaska Pacific University—while gaining guaranteed, paid employment at North Cascades Institute in your second year. Graduates emerge with a master’s degree, 2 full years of professional work experience, and no tuition debt!
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12: GIRL CLIMBER
Doctober is the largest documentary festival in the Northwest, screening approximately 35 films in one month at the Pickford Film Center in Bellingham. North Cascades Institute is proud to be the community sponsor of Girl Climber. Equal parts gripping survival story and intimate portrait, this film isn’t just about breaking records, it’s about breaking barriers.
Showing on Sunday, Oct 12 at 10:55 am at Pickford on Bay.
SUMMER PHOTO ROUND-UPFrom backpacking with 76 Youth Leadership Adventures participants to welcoming nearly 300 guests for Family Getaways, our summer programs brought people of all ages closer to nature and each other. Field excursions and workshops at the Learning Center sparked creativity through photography, journaling and crafts, while group gatherings offered time to reflect, learn and connect. Now live on our blog! |
NORTH CASCADES TIME CAPSULEA new friend of the Institute recently shared some special historical photos dating back to the early 20th century. The collection includes hunting and fishing excursions, rustic homestead cabins, a river barge moving heavy equipment, and even early dam construction in the Skagit River gorge. History buffs will appreciate glimpses of Darius Kinsey and John McMillan. Check out the album and let us know if you recognize any faces or scenes! |
SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT:
LIBBY MILLS & RUSTY KUNTZE
We'd like to thank longtime Headwaters Club members Libby Mills and Rusty Kuntze, who have been supporting the Institute since its founding. Many will recognize Libby as one of our popular guest instructors, teaching birdwatching, nature journaling, and other classes since 1987. In addition to their annual tax-smart donations through their Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and Donor Advised Fund (DAF), Libby has also donated her time as an instructor and provided her artwork for use in our publications, merchandise, and at the Learning Center. We cannot thank Libby and Rusty enough for their amazing contributions throughout the years.
"We see environmental education as a vital pathway to a more hopeful future. NCI is a proven group to carry on our lifetime of work."
SUPPORT OUR WORK
Make a tax-smart and meaningful investment for the future by year's end by donating through your IRA, Donor Advised Fund, contributing gifts of appreciated stock, or donating your unused vehicles. With your support, we will inspire the next generation of environmental leaders. Thank you!
Top Image: Methow Valley Elementary at Mountain School, September 2025; photo by Nathan Drapela
