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Recent Articles

  • Mountain School at Home “ACHOTUS” Ep4: J.D. Ross
  • Volver a imaginar el futuro de la Escuela de Montaña: Abrazar la educación centrada en los estudiantes 
  • High school students reflect on climate change and their futures in the North Cascades
  • Recreate Responsibly: Winter Edition
  • Connections: Outdoor Learning During a Pandemic

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ncascades

Connecting people, nature and community through education since 1986. #ncascades

North Cascades Institute
Sound on 🔊: Did you know the benefits of takin Sound on 🔊:

Did you know the benefits of taking a walk in the great outdoors coupled with the sounds of nature are beneficial to our physical, emotional, and overall mental health? 
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Benefits include improved circulation, increase in mood, as well as a decrease in anxiety, blood pressure & stress! Something perhaps we all can benefit from in these times of transition & upheaval. 
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What are your favorite nature sounds? 

🎥: @bluemrb 
📍Ancestral homelands of the Upper Skagit, Nlaka’pamux, Sauk-Suiattle & Swinomish peoples
With an abundance of snow this time of year, the N With an abundance of snow this time of year, the North Cascades offer ample ways to enjoy winter recreation. If your activities take you into backcountry settings, being in the know to #RecreateResponsibly should include avalanche awareness. Here’s a tip from www.recreateresponsibly.org/winter:

❄️TAKE NATURE SERIOUSLY: Know your limits. Avalanches can strike even the most prepared winter recreationist. Before going out on a snowy trail, check conditions with your local avalanche center or the National Avalanche Center online to determine local mountain weather. (For those getting out in the North Cascades, check out nwac.us for local conditions.)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Remember that avalanche equipment is only as helpful as your corresponding training and decision-making in avalanche terrain. Know your gear and know your limits. Let people know where you’re going. Make choices that allow you to get back on your own. Get avalanche educated or hire a guide before you venture into the backcountry.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Find more tips for how to #recreateresponsibly at www.recreateresponsibly.org/winter

📸: Christian Martin
North Cascades National Park is renowned for its v North Cascades National Park is renowned for its varied and rugged climbing terrain.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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With countless peaks and over 300 glaciers you’re guaranteed for a variety of challenges and rewards. Approach routes are often cry worthy (both in suffering and views), requiring strenuous crosscountry travel, sometimes for days through all the things you can think of that don’t sound like a literal walk in the park. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The physical and mental challenge can push climbers to their limits, and changes in the weather can foil a summit bid, but when you finally stand on top of a summit gazing out into the sea of peaks that is the North Cascades you’ll forget all about that sufferfest and begin planning your next climb. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What has been your favorite climb in the North Cascades or what climb is on your future summit goals list?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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📸: @davidtryan⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
📍Ancestral homelands of the Nlaka’pamux & Syilx tmix (Okanagan) people
We're excited to invite people back to the Environ We're excited to invite people back to the Environmental Learning Center for BASE CAMP in 2021! 

Base Camp offers overnight learning adventures, meals, and accommodations in the heart of North Cascades National Park. Come explore “the American Alps” while enjoying the comforts of our award-winning campus. Each night includes:
• Self-guided outdoor learning adventures
• Private accommodations in our comfortable lodges
• 3 delicious meals made with local, organic ingredients⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Visit ncascades.org/basecamp for details, availability, and to review our coronavirus safety precautions.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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📍The Learning Center is located on the ancestral home lands of the Upper Skagit, Nlaka’pamux, Sauk-Suiattle, and Swinomish peoples. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
📸: Kiley Kielland
We joined @wa_wild and 108 organizations, Tribes, We joined @wa_wild and 108 organizations, Tribes, and elected officials to urge the Canadian Government to #stopimerialmetals from mining the Skagit River Headwaters. The iconic Skagit River Watershed provides freshwater, critical salmon habitat, and is central to many Native communities' cultures and treaty rights. Decisions made by our neighbors to the north affect us downstream. Moving forward with mining is a direct threat to one of our state's most beloved natural resources. #Protectskagit Photo credit: The Wilderness Committee
Buckle up once more for the final episode in our v Buckle up once more for the final episode in our video series “A Cultural History of the Upper Skagit” highlighting historical figures with special relevance to this region.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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In this episode you’ll meet J.D. Ross, the “Father of Seattle City Light,” and businessman who set out to create a series of dams with hydroelectric power-generating stations on the Skagit River beginning in 1917. Throughout J.D.’s long career—which included being appointed by FDR to the Securities & Exchange Commission and becoming the first administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration—he kept returning to the Skagit River. Perhaps more than any other person to pass through the area, J.D. Ross drastically changed the face of the North Cascades.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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👀Find this video series and all our #mountainschoolathome resources at ncascades.org/ms-at-home

📍Ancestral home lands of the Upper Skagit, Nlaka’pamux, Sauk-Suiattle & Swinomish peoples
Winter is in full effect in the North Cascades, bu Winter is in full effect in the North Cascades, but isn’t everyone’s favorite time of year. Sure you can shred the gnar, need no excuse to break out the hot chocolate, can layer all the warmest clothing on until you look like a roly poly with no judgement, and can have epic snowball fights. 🤔 winter doesn’t sound too bad, but for those of you who aren’t into it here is a picture of it not being winter. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Do you love winter, what’s your favorite wintertime activity?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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📸: @sarina_pizzala⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
📍Ancestral homelands of the Syilx’ tmix (Okanagan), Wenatchi, Coast Salish & Yakama peoples
NOW HIRING: North Cascades Institute is recruiting NOW HIRING: North Cascades Institute is recruiting for a Youth Leadership Assistant Coordinator to support our 2021 @youth_leadership_adventures program!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We are seeking a candidate who is passionate about breaking down barriers to access to the outdoors and wants to support high school students getting involved with our Youth Leadership Adventures program. The Assistant Coordinator will lead recruitment, registration, and enrollment of students for this program, as well as support with logistics and administrative support while trips are out during the summer season.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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👉Visit ncascades.atsondemand.com for a full job description and to apply.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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📸: Sarah Parker
Happy #wildlifewednesday! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Happy #wildlifewednesday! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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OMG somebody is prepared for that snow life and lookin good to boot!!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Did you know you can take your pup on any trail within Ross Lake recreation area & in nearby Forest Service lands?! The recreation area resides within the North Cascades National Park Service Complex and there is forest service land bordering much of the park. But once you hit that park boundary, no dogs allowed. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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If you choose to take your dog on the trail with you, please keep them on a leash & pick up after your precious fur babe 💩. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Do you take your dog on adventures with you? What’s your favorite dog friendly trail? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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📸: @adventures_of_lil_roo
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