Field Notes from the North Cascades / May 2023 eNewsletter
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Happy May! After the second coldest April on record, we're welcoming the sunny days and warmer temperatures of last week. Mountain School students appreciate this too. As they learn about the natural and cultural history of the the North Cascades at the Environmental Learning Center, they spend most of the daylight hours during their 3-day programs outdoors, so the nicer weather is welcome!
May is a busy months for adult programs too: we're hosting online classes on Corvids, Grizzly bears and Orca whales; in-person courses on forest ecology, spring birding, seaweed harvesting and stewardship; Base Camp Learning & Lodging stays; and two special author events in Bellingham to close out the Nature of Writing Speaker Series.
MAY 2023
▸ UPCOMING FIELD, LEARNING CENTER & ONLINE CLASSES
▸ "WHY I SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AS A MOTHER"
▸ DIABLO LAKE BOAT TOURS NOW REGISTERING FOR SUMMER
▸ "THE POWER OF TREES" EVENT IN BELLINGHAM
Do you or someone you know want to spend an unforgettable summer and fall in the heart of North Cascades National Park? We're hiring staff at the Learning Center: a Food Services Supervisor and members for the housekeeping and facilities teams. Good pay and benefits, housing and meal plans and an awesome community! Learn more details here.
Give BIG for Youth May 2-3
Through your support, great things happen for both kids and nature. Let’s join together to transform lives and make this world a better place for generations to come. Donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $33,000!
North Cascades Institute, in partnership with Seattle City Light, offers visitors fun, interactive boat tours aboard the Alice Ross IV in the heart of North Cascades National Park. Experience the jaw-dropping beauty of Diablo Lake, enjoy stunning views of glacier-clad peaks and hidden waterfalls, keep an eye out for wildlife and birds, and learn about the fascinating natural and cultural history of the area.
All ages are welcome and tours are wheelchair accessible. For more information, call (360) 854-2599.
Diablo Lake & Lunch Tours: June 29-Sept 4
Thursdays - Mondays with a delicious lunch at the Learning Center
Diablo Lake Afternoon Tours: June 30-Sept 3
Fridays - Sundays
Fall Morning Tours:
Sept 9-Oct 1
Saturdays & Sundays
Opening Weekend at the Learning Center: MAY 12-14
It has been several years since we've been able to host adult classes at our campus on Diablo Lake, so we're especially excited to invite you to the following learning adventures—meals and lodging included. Come up and learn with us!
DISCOVERING BIODIVERSITY: SEEING THE FOREST AND THE TREES with Ed Grumbine
Together we will walk trails, sit under old trees, listen to bugs and birdsong, and feel the warmth of a fire as we explore many answers to a common question: What makes forests special and how do they work?
▸ SIGN UP
ROOM TO ROAM with Roger Christophersen
Curious about the elusive wildlife roaming the North Cascades? Roger Christophersen, National Park Service wildlife biologist, will join us on campus to talk about current monitoring projects and research about all your favorite species. This is a special presentation for our May 12 Base Camp—reserve today at shoulder season pricing.
Base Camp shoulder season rates start at $85 per person and apply to all May reservations
▸ SIGN UP
SPRING BIRDING IN NORTH CASCADES with Libby Mills
Join longtime Institute instructor Libby Mills to seek out Spring bird life in the North Cascades ecosystem as our feathered friends display fascinating breeding behaviors and share their melodious songs of the season.
▸ SIGN UP
FIELD EXCURSIONS, LEARNING CENTER and ONLINE CLASSES
May 6: Waterfall and Stream Photography with Juan Aguilera
May 7: Salish Seaweed Garden with Jennifer Hahn - full, waitlist available
May 10: Exploring Connections with Corvids with Dr. Kaeli Swift - ONLINE *
May 12-14: Discovering Biodiversity with Ed Grumbine - Learning Center
May 12-14: Spring Birding in the North Cascades with Libby Mills - Learning Center
May 14: Spring Snake Count with John Rohrer & Scott Fitkin - full, waitlist available
May 17: Grizzly Bears with Frances Backhouse and Joe Scott - ONLINE*
May 24: Killer Whales of the Salish Sea with Monika Wieland Shields - ONLINE*
June 3: Mindful Photography at Baker Lake with Alan Majchrowicz
June 4: Plein Air Watercolor Adventure with Claire Giordano
June 17: Forest Bathing and Sketching with April Claxton and Beverly Choltco-Devlin
July 15: Summer Tracking with Chris Byrd
Sept 13: Centuries on Foot: Historic Trails in the North Cascades - ONLINE*
Oct 13-15: Wild Mushrooms and Culinary Ventures with Erin Moore - Learning Center
Oct 13-15: Nature & the Practice of Presence with Kurt Hoelting and Holly Hughes - Learning Center
Oct 13-15: Watercolors with Molly Hashimoto - Learning Center - full, waitlist available
Oct 21: Baker Lake Fungal Foray with Erin Moore
* Can't make the specific date? We'll send you a link to watch the video on your own time! Military, Student and Disability discounts and scholarships may be available.
Please note that we are no longer requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for in-person programs.
Fresh From Our Blog
New Books Reviewed
"Jesintel: Living Wisdom from Coast Salish Elders collects the lived experiences, firsthand knowledge, tribal traditions and ecological insights of Indigenous elders from all around the Salish Sea. And in another new and insightful book, The Power of Trees: How Ancient Forests Can Save Us if We Let Them, Peter Wohlleben turns his attention to old-growth forests to show us how 'the future of forests and the future of humanity are inextricably entwined.'”
Why I Support Outdoor Education as a Mother
"My name is Alma. I am a daughter. I’m a friend. I am a cancer survivor. I’m a hiker. I am a consultant. I’m a kayaker. And I am the new Director of Inclusion and Community Partnerships at North Cascades Institute. And, perhaps most importantly, I am a mother. As a mother, I cannot stress enough the importance of environmental education and outdoor programs in a child’s life. In my child’s life, and maybe in yours."
THE POWER OF TREES ~ An Evening with Peter Wohlleben and Thor Hanson
Bellingham High School, May 6 at 7 PM
Peter Wohlleben—the author of the bestselling The Hidden Life of Trees—will present his latest book on old-growth forests and will be joined in conversation with another award-winning author and celebrated biologist, Washington's own Thor Hanson! This is an event not to be missed.
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!
