North Cascade Institute’s Youth Leadership Adventures (YLA) programs are about many things: outdoor adventure, climate action, leadership opportunity, stewardship, and, most importantly, building community. In early July, …
Read More of Building Community in Youth Leadership Adventures
With eight students and two instructors packed in the Institute van at the start of a Youth Leadership Adventures trip, we drove up the bumpy forest road …
Read More of On the trail with Youth Leadership Adventures
As soon as you step into a forest, you step into a different space. Depending on the type of forest, the trees may be growing together so …
Read More of “Total Immersion” from Forest Walking
After being inspired by the mission and vision of the Youth Leadership Adventures program, I joined North Cascades Institute’s seasonal staff in June of 2021. I’ve continued …
Read More of Why I Love North Cascades Institute (and you should too!)
The world is changing around us and I want to do my part to help and make a positive impact. — 2021 YEP! Participant, grade 10 The …
Read More of Youth come together for community climate solutions
Exciting news! Don Striker has joined North Cascades National Park as the new Superintendent. Striker most recently served as the superintendent of Denali National Park and Preserve …
Read More of Welcome Don Striker to the North Cascades!
Since the start of the pandemic, North Cascades Institute has offered dozens of online learning experiences exploring the natural and cultural history of the North Cascades ecosystem.
Read More of Best of 2021 Online Classes – rent a playlist!
From the Environmental Learning Center dining hall kitchenette where we were all awaiting the arrival of the 5th graders from Burlington-Edison School district, Mia began yelling “the …
Read More of My first day at (Mountain) School
If you can imagine a grayish-brown, rabbit-like creature the size of a grapefruit and nearly as round, that is an American pika. They inhabit mountain slopes, often …
Read More of “Buying Time for Pikas” by Thor Hanson
With the myriad of closures and cancellations surrounding the Covid pandemic over the past year-plus, the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center’s kitchen team has had to find …
Read More of The Search for the Perfect Trail Bar
