Field Notes from the North Cascades / November 2024 eNewsletter
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Happy Halloween week! Or in Ireland, Samhain shona duit! Samhain — the precursor to Halloween — was traditionally celebrated from October 31 to November 1 to mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Seen as the "Celtic New Year," it was considered a time when the veil between the world of the living and the spirit world was thinnest, allowing for the spirits of the deceased, fairies, and other supernatural beings to cross over. People would light bonfires, leave offerings of food and dress in costumes to appease these beings — rituals that influenced the modern celebration of Halloween. Samhain is still marked around the world by gatherings, storytelling and honoring ancestors - three very worthwhile activities in any century!
November 2024
▸ FAMILY GETAWAYS 2025 OPEN FOR REGISTRATION
▸ LAST CALL FOR BASE CAMPS - STARTING AT $55 PER PERSON!
▸ NATURE OF WRITING SPEAKER SERIES: JON WATERMAN, STEVE DUDA & BETSEY L. HOWELL
▸ MEET OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS
The Learning Center has been a lively "gathering and storytelling" place this Fall as we've recently welcomed 5th graders, teachers and parent chaperones from the Methow Valley, Mount Vernon, Nooksack Valley and Ferndale to Mountain School. They are outside exploring, learning and connecting with the natural world and one another, rain or shine.
In other gatherings news, our Youth Leadership Adventures crew hosted a reunion of student alumni and their families at Bay View State Park, where they shared stories from past trips to Diablo Lake, Ross Lake, Mazama Camp and Baker Lake. They also shared a meal cooked on Whisperlite stoves and s'mores. Family members reported that this gave them great insight into what their students actually did over the summer, as well as an opportunity to reflect on their own experiences in nature.
Trick or Treat!
NOW HIRING: PROGRAM INSTRUCTORS
Do you love teaching and being outdoors? Are you inspired by different ways of knowing and engaging science through art, play, creativity, relationship and nature connection?
We are looking for energetic and motivated team players from diverse professional backgrounds who want to work hard, have fun, and make a difference as a part of our mission-driven organization. Program Instructors lead our youth, adult, and family programs at the Environmental Learning Center on Diablo in North Cascades National Park, mid-February through mid-December.
- These positions are temporary/seasonal, full-time, nonexempt
- $17-$18 per hour
- Paid time off includes sick leave, vacation leave, holiday pay, and paid service days
- Wilderness First Aid Certification is provided
- Subsidized rental housing is available
Learning Opportunities
FIELD EXCURSIONS AND ONLINE CLASSES
Nov 8-11 | Base Camp at the Learning Center - Veteran's Day weekend
Nov 15-17 | Base Camp at the Learning Center
Nov 22-24 | Base Camp at the Learning Center
Nov 13 | Science and Story: A Conversation with Betsy L. Howell - Online
Dec 7 | Skagit Valley Winter Birding with Libby Mills - full, waitlist avail
Dec 8 | Snowy Cascades Watercolor Workshop with Claire Giordano -Online
Winter 2025 Classes will be announced in December's Field Notes!
Military, student and disability discounts + scholarships are available for most programs.
SNOWY WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP | Online, Dec 8In this class, Claire will share her favorite techniques for painting winter landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. After exploring some of the magical (and unpredictable) effects of watercolor, we will put our new skills into practice as we paint a winter scene with step-by-step guidance from Claire. The painting could make a great gift or card for the holidays! |
SCIENCE & STORY | Online, Nov 13With decades of experience as a wildlife biologist and as a writer, Betsy Howell lives at the intersection of conservation and communication. She began work in PNW forests in the 1980s and has worked with northern spotted owls, marbled murrelets, Roosevelt elk, amphibians and reptiles. She is currently a wildlife biologist in the Olympic National Forest—join us to hear her fascinating stories from the field! |
STAY & PLAY IN THE NORTH CASCADES
🍁 BIG NEWS! We've added more Fall Base Camps at the Environmental Learning Center starting at just $55 per person - our best-priced Base Camps ever! Enjoy naturalist-led activities like big canoe voyages on Diablo Lake (weather dependent, of course), fall color peeping along the Skagit River, yoga, mushrooming & hikes, arts & crafts, campfires & s’mores, game nights in the Wild Ginger Library and more! Bring friends & loved ones or join us for a solo adventure. We can't wait to see you up here, during the quietest time of the year!
🍁 AVAILABLE DATES & FILLING FAST: Nov 8-11 (Veteran's Day weekend), Nov 15-17, and Nov 22-24
Photo: Blue Lake Trail October 2024, by Base Camp participant Aaron Fu
Institute News
NATURE OF WRITING FALL SPEAKER SERIES: NOVEMBER EVENTS
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 newest works during our Fall 2024 Nature of Writing speaker series, in partnership with Village Books in Bellingham and Third Place Books in Seattle.
Into the Thaw: Witnessing Wonder Amid the Arctic Climate Crisis by Jon Waterman
Featuring a Q&A with North Cascades Institute's Christian Martin
Sunday, November 10, 5 pm at Village BooksRiver Songs by Steve Duda — a Chuckanut Radio Hour event!
Thursday, November 14, 7 pm at Hotel Leo's Crystal BallroomWild Forest Home by Betsy L. Howell
Sunday, Nov 24, 5 pm at Village Books. Learn about Betsy's online class with us on 11/13!
SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHTWe want to share our appreciation for Hugh Campbell and Dianne Dalton who started their endowment at North Cascades Institute in 2018 after they began taking the minimum distribution from Hugh’s IRA. “We decided to take advantage of the tax-deferred IRA minimum distribution to get more young people outside who otherwise wouldn’t have access to life-changing experiences in nature.” Donating from your IRA is an easy and tax-smart way to make a big impact. |
MEET OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERSThe board of directors of North Cascades Institute plays a pivotal role in its success by providing governance, oversight and strategic direction. Our board is composed of exceptional individuals with diverse experience and expertise. Their collective leadership, accountability, and commitment to the organization add immense value. We'd like to introduce three new board members who joined us in 2024: Yingzhao (Ying) Liu, Meredith Lohr and Burr Neely |
SUPPORT OUTDOOR EDUCATION WITH A CAR DONATION
By donating your car, truck, RV, motorcycle or boat, you can rake in a tax break while supporting the vital work we do at the Institute. It’s easier than you think and the pick-up is free. Visit the link below or call (855) 500-7433 to learn more!
SAVE THE DATE:
Giving Tuesday on December 3rd
Giving Tuesday is a global movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. Institute supporters are offering to match every donation made that day, dollar-for-dollar, up to $15,000! With your support, we can connect even more people to nature and empower the next generation of environmental leaders. Thank you!
HOLIDAY GIFTS IN OUR ONLINE SHOP
Our gift shop is full of handpicked items for the nature-lover in your life. Be they an Urban Birder, Backcountry Explorer, Day Hiker, Bookworm or Junior Ranger, we have gifts for everyone! Order by Dec 12 to receive in time for the holidays!
Gift Certificates for 2025 Institute programs are also now in our online shop!
Top Image: Larch at Hart Pass by Christian Martin
