Field Notes from the North Cascades / February 2023 eNewsletter
No images? Click here
There are signs of life at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center this month as our first programs of the year get underway. Remote Medical Training is offering three courses this month, including Remote Medicine Upgrade (RMUR) and Wilderness First Responder (WFR) trainings. Staff members are returning from winter furloughs with stories to share from near and far, while new hires in our kitchen, facilities and instructional teams are beginning to arrive for community-building and training. There's lots of buzzing energy on Diablo Lake after a brief winter hibernation, and a lot of optimism for the exciting year ahead of us.
FEBRUARY 2023
▸ NEW 2023 FIELD & ONLINE CLASSES
▸ 2023 FAMILY GETAWAYS AND BASE CAMPS
▸ TREE TALKS WITH THEO: BLACK COTTONWOODS
▸ INSTITUTE STAFF SERVICE DAYS IN OUR COMMUNITY
There isn't much snow on campus, but the frozen waterfalls along the highway are impressive during this current deep freeze, as our Development Director Jodi discovered this week traveling upriver!
If you or someone you know is interested in living and working in one of the most beautiful national parks in the country, supporting environmental education for people of all ages while making new friends and memories to last a lifetime, we still have a few open positions in our kitchen: ncascades.org/jobs.
There are over 20 new in-person and online classes open for registration, with topics including watercoloring, grizzly bears, corvids, orca whales, wilderness survival, photography and more. And we're excited to be hosting adult natural history seminars at the Learning Center again: Birding with Libby Mills and Forest Biodiversity with Ed Grumbine May 12-14 - spaces is limited!
Read on for more, and make your plans now to join us in exploration and learning in 2023!
Together, we can build the future by engaging people of ALL ages, backgrounds and abilities in shared learning experiences in nature.
SPRING BASE CAMP LEARNING & LODGING: Now registering for March and beyond!
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the North Cascades waking up to spring with a Base Camp stay at the Environmental Learning Center. Included in your reservation:
private room in our guest lodges
3 delicious homemade meals
seasonal educational explorations of the natural and cultural history of this spectacular region
Please note that we are no longer requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for Base Camp stays
Learning Opportunities
FIELD EXCURSIONS, LEARNING CENTER and ONLINE CLASSES
Feb 11: Skagit Valley Winter Birding with Brendan McGarry
Feb 13-17: Remote Medicine Upgrade and Recertification (RMUR) - ELC
Feb 15: Snowy Owls with Paul Bannick - ONLINE
Feb 19: Capturing Memories in Watercolor and Ink with Claire Giordano - ONLINE *
Feb 20-24: Hybrid Wilderness First Responder (H-WFR) - ELC
Feb 25: Winter Wildlife Tracking on Snowshoes with Chris Byrd - waitlist available
March 1: Exploring the Winter World Online with Gina Roberti - ONLINE *
March 23: Human Minds in Natural Spaces with Dr. George Conesa - ONLINE*
April 5: Wilderness Survival Essentials with Jason Knight - ONLINE *
April 26: Wolves in Washington with the Wolf Advisory Group - ONLINE *
April 28-30: Spring Stewardship Weekend - ELC
April 29: Birding the Salish Sea on the Snow Goose with Amanda Colbert
May 6: Waterfall and Stream Photography with Juan Aguilera
May 7: Salish Seaweed Garden with Jennifer Hahn
May 10: Exploring Connections with Corvids with Dr. Kaeli Swift - ONLINE *
May 12-14: Discovering Biodiversity with Ed Grumbine - ELC
May 12-14: Spring Birding in the North Cascades with Libby Mills - ELC
May 14: Spring Snake Count in the Methow Valley with Rohrer and Fitkin
May 17: Grizzly Bears with Frances Backhouse and Joe Scott - ONLINE*
May 24: Killer Whales of the Salish Sea with Monika Wieland Shields - ONLINE*
* Can't make the specific date? We'll send you a link to watch the video on your own time! Military, Student and Disability Scholarships may be available.
Please note that we are no longer requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for in-person programs.
SNOWY OWL: A VISUAL NATURAL HISTORY
February 15
We are thrilled to welcome author and award-winning wildlife photographer Paul Bannick, for a captivating multi-media presentation about the lives of Snowy Owls! Through never-before-published images, Paul will help us understand how the "Arctic Owl" survives, breeds and lives on the Arctic tundra and wintering areas further south—and what we can do to help them thrive.
WILDERNESS MEDICINE COURSES
Intensive First Aid skill-building courses for individuals working and playing in wilderness and remote settings. Instruction is provided by Remote Medical Training at the Environmental Learning Center on Diablo Lake. Lodging and meals are included.
- Feb 13-17: Remote Medicine Upgrade and Recert.
- Feb 20-24: Hybrid Wilderness First Responder
Institute News
SERVICE DAYS: |
TREE TALKS WITH THEO: |
LEAVE A LEGACY: GERRY COOK'S STORY
Did you know that you can make a huge impact on our mission while also gaining potential tax benefits by naming the Institute as a beneficiary in your estate plans? Read our recent blog post by Institute board member Gerry Cook about why he and his wife Hannah decided to join our Headwaters Club Legacy Circle and leave a lasting legacy for the next generation of conservation leaders.
NOW BOOKING 2023 CONFERENCES & RETREATS
Reserve space at the Environmental Learning Center for your 2023 group gathering! Located on 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. We welcome conferences, retreats, reunions, trainings, workshops, and other gatherings.
SHOP AND SUPPORT THE INSTITUTE
From North Cascades National Park apparel, patches and magnets, to a wide variety of books, art prints, jewelry, toys and activities for kids—shop in our online store and feel good knowing that your purchases benefit youth education in the North Cascades!
Top photo: Komo Kulshan in deep winter repose, by Tandem Wheels: tandemwheels.com
