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From the beginning, the Institute has believed transformation happens outdoors—in mossy forests, along singing rivers, under open skies.
For forty years, that has meant:
Place-based environmental education grounded in science and art
Hands-on learning in the field
Stewardship practiced, not preached
Cultivating wonder as the starting point for lifelong care
Building communities connected to each other and the land
Our roots run deep. They hold.
May 2026
▸ NOW BOOKING FOR SUMMER: FAMILY GETAWAYS, BASE CAMP LEARNING & LODGING, DIABLO LAKE & LUNCH TOURS
▸ SPRING STEWARDSHIP WEEKEND - SPECIAL PRICING BEGINNING AT $50/PERSON
▸ NEW CLASSES: WILDFIRE ART, INTRO TO TRACKING, BEAT POETS HIKE, FOREST BATHING AT ST. ED'S
This spring, we’re honoring those roots—and the people who first planted them. Join Institute co-founders Tom Fleischner and Saul Weisberg for special 40th anniversary gatherings on May 21 at Third Place Books in Seattle and May 23 at Village Books in Bellingham.
Arrive early for a happy hour and connect with staff and community before the conversation begins. Alongside a celebration of Tom’s new book Astonished By Beauty, the evening will reflect on the Institute’s early days—and the enduring importance of natural history and environmental education in the years ahead.
Roots are not still. They stretch and strengthen in response to their surroundings. The world has changed—and so have we.
Your support helps the North Cascades Institute keep growing—opening doors to the outdoors, nurturing new leaders, and showing up for this moment with care and purpose. During Give BIG for Youth, every gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $40,000. Thank you for being part of this work!
GIVE BIG FOR YOUTH
Your support helps young people grow deep roots in nature. Join us today through May 5 for GiveBIG and have your gift matched dollar-for-dollar up to $40,000! Together, we will build a brighter future and inspire the next generation of conservation leaders.
SPRING STEWARDSHIP WEEKEND
May 15-17, Learning Center
Special pricing starting at $105 per person, $50 for college students!
We invite you to join Institute staff this spring at the Environmental Learning Center for a meaningful weekend of caring for the place that means so much to our community. Pricing includes two nights accommodations in our guest lodges, six meals and evening programs. We will have useful projects for all ages and ability levels, including older folks, families and kids, college students and you!
Beginning JULY 3, the Alice Ross IV sets sail on the azure waters of Diablo Lake in the North Cascades! North Cascades Institute, in partnership with Seattle City Light, offers visitors fun, educational tours of Diablo Lake July through September. Experience jaw-dropping views of glacier-clad peaks, learn about the quirky history of the Upper Skagit Hydroelectric Project and enjoy lunch at the Environmental Learning Center!
For group bookings or questions, contact our registration team Monday-Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm at (360) 854-2589.
Learning Opportunities
FIELD EXCURSIONS, ELC SEMINARS & ONLINE LEARNING
May 6 | Hidden World of Dragonflies and Damselflies with Jim Walker - online
May 10 | Snake Count with John Rohrer and Scott Fitkin - 3 spots left!
May 15-17 | Spring Stewardship Weekend - ELC - special pricing starting at $50/person!
May 16-17 | San Juan Islands Exploration on the Orion
May 29-31 | Spring Birding in the Methow Valley with Libby Mills - 1 spot left!
June 3 | Frogs and Salamanders of the Puget Trough with Stephen Nyman - online
June 13 | Natural Dyes Workshop in the Chuckanuts with Jazmen Yoder - 2 spots left!
June 20 | Amphibians of PNW Wetlands with Vikki Jackson and Stephen Nyman - Van Zandt
June 28 | A Naturalist's Journey Up Sauk Mountain with Hannah Black
July 18 | North Cascades Night Sky Photography with Juan Aguilera
July 22 | Editing Night Sky Photography with Juan Aguilera - online
Aug 1-2 | Narrative Nature Writing Workshop with Lance Garland - ELC
Aug 13 | Exploring the Geologic History of the Skagit River with Jon Riedel
Sept 5 | Wild and Fire Illustrating Poetry with Sarah Gilman (ELC)
Sept 12 | Forest Bathing AM & Forest Bathing PM with Mileva Huljev (St. Eds State Park)
Oct 3 | Beat Poets of the North Cascades with Nathan Drapela
Oct 16-18 | North Cascades Fall Naturalist Seminar with Chris Byrd - ELC
Oct 31 | Baker Lake Fungal Foray with Erin Moore
Nov 14 | Introduction to Tracking with Matthew Fortin (ELC)
Scholarships + military, student and disability discounts are available for most programs
Questions? Contact us at info@ncascades.org or (360) 854-2599
AMPHIBIANS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST |
NATURALIST'S JOURNEY UP SAUK MOUNTAIN |
2026 FAMILY GETAWAYS
Bring your family to the Environmental Learning Center this summer for a weekend of adventure, connection, and fun! Each day, Institute naturalists lead hands-on activities—hikes, nature crafts, outdoor games, big canoe explorations, songs by the campfire, and stargazing the night sky. Lodging and meals included, and anyone you call family is welcome!
2026 DATES: July 3-5, 10-12, 24-26 and August 7-9, 14-16
BASE CAMP LEARNING & LODGING: Now Registering for May-August
Looking for an overnight adventure in North Cascades National Park? BASE CAMP LEARNING & LODGING at the Environmental Learning Center offers guided learning activities with Institute naturalists, three meals and overnight accommodations in our guest lodges. Solo travelers, couples, friend or family groups—come for a night or an extended stay and let us show you the best of the North Cascades!
Institute Events
Discover your next great read in presentations by authors, poets and naturalists sharing their new works! In partnership with our bookseller co-hosts at Village Books in Bellingham and Third Place Books in Seattle, our Nature of Writing Spring Series invites you to dive into natural history topics, books for kids, day hiking in the Cascades and more!
May 12 & 13: Day Hiking Snoqualmie Pass by Tami Assars / Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula by Craig Romano (May 12 at Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park and May 13 at Village Books)
May 21 & 23: Astonished by Beauty: A Field Guide to the Practice of Paying Attention by Thomas Lowe Fleischner (May 21 Third Place Books, Seward Park and May 23 at Village Books). Tom will be joined onstage for a conversation with fellow Institute co-founder Saul Weisberg. We're hosting Happy Hours with Tom and Saul before each reading, details at ncascades.org/now.
Institute News
SHOULDER SEASON RATES FOR FALL 2026 GROUP GATHERINGS
Reserve space this Fall for your family reunion, retreat, group training or other gatherings at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center! Nestled on the wooded shore of Diablo Lake in the heart of North Cascades National Park, this unique venue inspires reflection and connection to the natural world as well as to each other. Lodging for up to 92, delicious meals, and learning opportunities included.
Now booking Nov & Dec 2026 at reduced rates! Call (360) 614-7037 or use our Request Info Form.
SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT: LEE WHITFORD
Lee Whitford’s connection to the North Cascades Institute spans decades—and runs deep. A graduate of Cohort 2 and former staff member, she has experienced the Institute from the inside out. Today, she continues that relationship as a Headwaters Club member, major donor, and Legacy Circle supporter, with a focus on youth programs, scholarships, and expanding access to immersive learning in nature.
That commitment is also part of a family legacy. Lee’s parents were longtime supporters, and together their generosity established an endowment that continues to sustain the Institute’s work.
As an environmental educator, mother, and grandmother, Lee has seen firsthand how time in the natural world can shape a young person’s life—building curiosity, confidence, and a sense of connection in a rapidly changing world. Through her ongoing support, she’s helping ensure those opportunities remain available for future generations. We are deeply grateful, Lee.
NOW HIRING ACROSS THE INSTITUTE
In preparation for another exciting summer season we are hiring several positions that boost teams across the Institute! In addition to Seasonal Administrative Assistant based out of Sedro-Woolley, we are recruiting for Kitchen Manager, Housekeeper, Cook, and Incident Commander to support programs at the Learning Center (with housing options available). We're also hiring for Summer Program Instructor and Youth Leadership Coordinator.
Full time, part-time, year-round and seasonal—these are exciting opportunities for folks who want to support environmental education in the North Cascades.
SHOP & SUPPORT THE INSTITUTE
Shop in our online store for North Cascades National Park apparel, patches and magnets, a wide variety of books and field guides, art prints and postcards, jewelry, toys, and activities for kids.
Your purchases online and at the gift shops we operate around North Cascades National Park help fund education opportunities for young people and create the next generation of public lands stewards.
Top Image: Deep roots at Thunder Creek by Jodi Broughton @findingbeauty9
