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Happy February! It’s an exciting time of year at North Cascades Institute as we roll out our many programs for 2026. As we look ahead to a bustling year—our 40th!—this month’s newsletter is packed with ways to connect with the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
We’re kicking things off with a wide range of new learning opportunities. Whether you want to join us from your living room for online sessions on orcas and wolverines, or head into the field for San Juan Islands sailing, amphibian surveying, and springtime watercolors, there’s something for every curious mind. For those looking for a deeper connection, registration is now open for our spring Base Camp learning and lodging experiences and our popular summer Family Getaways, both based at the Environmental Learning Center. The ELC is also available for family reunions, conferences, and retreats, with openings in March, April, and November.
February 2026
▸ NEW 2026 FIELD EXCURSIONS. LEARNING CENTER AND ONLINE CLASSES
▸ FROM THE TRAIL: TIPS FOR VIEWING BALD EAGLES THIS WINTER
▸ TERRY TEMPEST WILLIAMS, SUZANNE SIMARD & MORE AUTHOR EVENTS
We have exciting events coming up as well, including the Nature of Writing Speaker Series—featuring keynote presentations by Suzanne Simard and Terry Tempest Williams—the 50th anniversary of the Banff Mountain Film Festival, and Paul Bannick’s Woodpeckers presentation.
Finally, if you’ve ever dreamed of working in the heart of the North Cascades, we’re currently recruiting for several key roles, including Program Coordinator, Youth Leadership Instructors, and Cooks. Thank you for being part of North Cascades Institute!
Learning Opportunities
FIELD EXCURSIONS, ELC SEMINARS & ONLINE LEARNING
Feb 18 | Orcas of the Salish Sea with Amanda Colbert - online
Mar 4 | Wolverines of the North Cascades with Cal Waichler - online
Apr 18 | Salish Seaweed Garden with Jennifer Hahn - Port Townsend
Apr 19 | Salish Seaweed Garden with Jennifer Hahn - Whidbey Island
Apr 23 | Wolves in Washington Updates from the Wolf Advisory Group - online
Apr 25 | Salish Sea Marine Science on the Snow Goose
May 1-3 | North Cascades Spring Naturalist Seminar with Chris Byrd - ELC
May 2-3 | Springtime Watercolors in the North Cascades with Molly Hashimoto - ELC
May 10 | Snake Count with John Rohrer and Scott Fitkin - Methow Valley
May 15-17 | Spring Stewardship Weekend - ELC
May 16-17 | San Juan Islands Exploration on the Orion
May 29-31 | Spring Birding in the Methow Valley with Libby Mills
June 3 | Explore the Lives of Frogs and Salamanders with Stephen Nyman - online
June 13 | Natural Dyes Workshop in the Chuckanuts with Jazmen Yoder
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
Aug 1-2 | Narrative Nature Writing Workshop with Lance Garland - ELC
Scholarships + military, student and disability discounts are available for most programs
Questions? Contact us at info@ncascades.org or (360) 854-2599
ORCAS OF THE SALISH SEA with Amanda Colbert |
WOLVERINES OF THE NORTH CASCADES with Cal Waichler |
STAY & PLAY IN THE NORTH CASCADES THIS SPRING
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!
Now registering for March, April and May!
UPCOMING INSTITUTE EVENTS
Feb 10 | In the Spirit of Right and Respectful Relations
A new season of the Nature of Writing Speaker Series begins February 10 at Third Place Books in Seward Park as we welcome Kurt Russo, Chenoa Egawa, and Fiorella de la O for a conversation centered on In the Spirit of Right and Respectful Relations: Conversations about Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being in Nature—a collaboratively-written book exploring Indigenous ways of knowing and being in relationship with nature in the PNW. ▸ RSVP
Feb 17 | Paul Bannick's Woodpeckers
Join Whatcom Land Trust, North Cascades Institute, and the North Cascades Audubon Society February 17 in the Whatcom Museum Old City Hall Rotunda for an engaging presentation by award-winning photographer Paul Bannick, based on his new book Woodpecker: A Year in the Life of North American Woodpeckers. Through stunning large-screen images and stories, Bannick reveals the lives of woodpeckers across the seasons. ▸ TICKETS
Feb 27-28 | Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival
The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour is returning to the Historic Everett Theatre on February 27–28! This year marks the festival’s 50th anniversary, celebrating five decades of stories about courage, connection, and the wild places that move us. A portion of proceeds benefit North Cascades Institute. ▸ TICKETS
Mar 30 | Suzanne Simard's When the Forest Breathes
On March 30, North Cascades Institute and Third Place Books welcome forest ecologist and best-selling author of Finding the Mother Tree Suzanne Simard to Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park for a conversation about her new book, When the Forest Breathes: Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World. She’ll be joined by Indigenous scientist and climate justice leader Jessica Hernandez, author of Fresh Banana Leaves and Growing Papaya Trees. ▸ TICKETS
April 11 | Terry Tempest Williams' The Glorians
We are honored to welcome author Terry Tempest Williams back to Bellingham April 11 for a conversation about her new book, The Glorians: Visitations from the Holy Ordinary. In a time of political fragility and climate uncertainty, Williams invites us to notice the everyday presences—animal, plant, memory, and moment—that reveal our shared vulnerability, interconnectedness, and the quiet power of attending to beauty. ▸ TICKETS
2026 FAMILY GETAWAYS IN THE NORTH CASCADES
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 & Aug 7-9, 14-16.
Institute News
HOST YOUR GROUP GATHERING AT OUR LAKESIDE MOUNTAIN VENUE
Reserve space at the Environmental Learning Center for your 2026 family reunion, retreat, group training or other gathering! 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 10-92 guests, delicious meals served in our lakeside dining hall, and guided canoeing and hiking opportunities included.
Upcoming Openings:
- March and April weekends (Fri-Sun)
- April 6 - 10 (Mon-Fri)
- November weekends (Fri-Sun)
- November 9-13 (week of Veteran's Day)
"FROM THE TRAIL" TO OUR BLOG: VIEWING BALD EAGLES
Our new monthly blog series From the Trail offers naturalist-inspired answers to common (and not-so-common) questions about Pacific Northwest landscapes—from wildlife encounters and wildflower timing to weather, geology and everyday ecology. Kicking things off with a favorite local topic, naturalist, environmental educator, and writer Marissa Bluestein shares tips on observing bald eagles along our local rivers this winter.
NCI RECOMMENDS | Tribal sovereignty and salmon discussion
with Scott Schuyler, Jay Julius, and Linda Mapes
In Treaty Justice: The Northwest Tribes, the Boldt Decision, and the Recognition of Fishing Rights, legal historian and tribal advocate Charles Wilkinson tells the powerful story of the 1974 Boldt Decision, a landmark ruling that affirmed tribal fishing rights and sovereignty in Washington State. Often compared to Brown v. Board of Education, the decision reshaped Indigenous law, resource management, and food sovereignty across the United States.
North Cascades Institute, Third Place Books, and University of Washington Press were honored to host a panel discussion on last fall featuring Scott Schuyler, Jay Julius, and Linda Mapes, exploring the Boldt Decision’s lasting impact on tribal sovereignty and salmon-centered food systems.
MAKE A LASTING GIFT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
Do you love the North Cascades? By including North Cascades Institute as a beneficiary in your will, life insurance plan, trust, or retirement account, you can make a lasting gift that reflects your values. Your generosity will help ensure that future generations have meaningful opportunities to learn from, connect with, and care for the natural world. Learn more about joining our Headwaters Club Legacy Circle today.
Top Image: Foggy morning in January along the Cascade River Road; by Stan Miller
