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stephanie_friesen

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March 2020 Photo Round Up!

March 2020 Photo Round Up!
Apr 8, 2020stephanie_friesen

Signs of Spring in the North Cascades As everyone can agree, so very much has happened this month. Since we’re all hunkered down in our homes and …
Read More of March 2020 Photo Round Up!

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Blog

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Recent Articles

  • The Mountains in Fall
  • Nature of Writing: Creative Process for “Mountainous”
  • YLA 2026: Growing Together in the North Cascades
  • Why Do Larch Trees Turn Gold? And Why Is That So Weird for a Conifer?
  • In the Range of Fire & Ice: Peopling the Passes

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Inspiring environmental stewardship through education, exploration and connection since 1986.
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Have you ever hugged a larch tree or even shaken i Have you ever hugged a larch tree or even shaken its “hand”? Did you notice how soft the needles were? 

🌲 Larches utilize traits from both coniferous and deciduous trees. Growing soft needles provides more room for photosynthetic components and costs less to produce than more rigid conifer needles. 

🌲 Because larches are deciduous and not evergreen, their needles don't need waxy cuticles to protect them in the winter making them soft. 
 
🌲 Growing needles like conifers reduces water loss and makes them less appealing to insects.

Next time you see a larch tree give it a handshake or even a hug, with those soft needles it’s like a hug from an old friend.

📸: @desereej

Enjoy dazzling Fall colors and discover the wonders of nature all around you 🍂 🍁 Bring your family to Open Enrollment Mountain School on Nov. 16-18. Sign up today: ncascades.org/signup/mountain-school/open-enrollment
The Nature of Writing Speaker Series brings commun The Nature of Writing Speaker Series brings community together in conversation to celebrate the creative minds illuminating the natural world with the turn of a page.

This Thursday, Oct 29, the Institute and Third Place Books welcome author Gavin Van Horn, as he and several contributors share fascinating insights into the sensory experiences of nature from the new book, "Sensoria." From the mating calls of chorus frogs to elephant funerary rites to the memory-rich tastes of place, "Sensoria" offers an immersion in the sensual experiences of seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling—and their interactions, combinations, and more-than-human manifestations. By exploring the sensorium among all forms of life, this volume highlights ecologically and socially diverse ways of touching the world with mind, and touching mind with the world.

📚 RSVP Today: http://ncascades.org/now
The Nature of Writing Speaker Series brings commun The Nature of Writing Speaker Series brings community together in conversation to celebrate the creative minds illuminating the natural world with the turn of a page.

This Thursday, Oct 29, the Institute and Third Place Books invite you to explore Cascadia’s seasons, species, and landscapes with artist-naturalist Emily Poole and her new book "Cascade of Life"! This stunning new work invites readers to step beyond the typical field guide and into a deeper dialogue with the natural world. Blending stunningly vivid paintings with personal anecdotes and field-based insights, Poole explores the wondrous variety of the Pacific Northwest--from rocky shorelines to alpine slopes to arid steppes--through the rhythms of the four seasons. Part field guide, part journal, "Cascade of Life" is a welcoming, inspiring exploration of Cascadia’s landscapes and the species that define them.

📚 RSVP Today: http://ncascades.org/now
As part of our 40th Anniversary, we’re celebrating As part of our 40th Anniversary, we’re celebrating North Cascades Institute’s Deep Roots by sharing stories from the people who helped shape the Institute over four decades. We digitized a VHS tape we found in storage with a documentary about our work at the time - we love the "early video tech" and 90s fashion! Enjoy this excerpt featuring Libby Mills, Saul Weisberg and the legendary botanist, author and UW Emeritus Professor Art Kruckeberg.

Deep Roots. Bright Future. Celebrating 40 years of North Cascades Institute. Learn more at https://ncascades.org/40
The Nature of Writing Speaker Series brings commun The Nature of Writing Speaker Series brings community together in conversation to celebrate the creative minds illuminating the natural world with the turn of a page.

Next Tuesday, Oct 27, the Institute and Village Books invite you to explore Cascadia’s seasons, species, and landscapes with artist-naturalist Emily Poole and her new book "Cascade of Life"! This stunning new work invites readers to step beyond the typical field guide and into a deeper dialogue with the natural world. Blending stunningly vivid paintings with personal anecdotes and field-based insights, Poole explores the wondrous variety of the Pacific Northwest--from rocky shorelines to alpine slopes to arid steppes--through the rhythms of the four seasons. Part field guide, part journal, "Cascade of Life" is a welcoming, inspiring exploration of Cascadia’s landscapes and the species that define them.

📚 RSVP Today: http://ncascades.org/now
Our first Open Enrollment Mountain School was a hi Our first Open Enrollment Mountain School was a hit! Last week, families from across the region gathered at the Environmental Learning Center for three days of outdoor discovery, hands-on learning, and connecting with nature and each other. From watershed modeling to discovering giant wasp nests, curiosity and wonder were around every corner!

🍂 Now it’s your family’s turn! Join us November 16–18 for our next Open Enrollment Mountain School and experience the magic of the North Cascades together. Explore, learn, make memories, and discover something new about the natural world.

🍂 Registration is open—reserve your family’s spot today!
ncascades.org/signup/mountain-school/open-enrollment
Pumpkin spice or golden larch? Which is your favor Pumpkin spice or golden larch? Which is your favorite autumn flavor? More fun larch facts:⁣

🌲 Larch require a cool and fairly humid climate and are usually found in the mountains of the temperate zones. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀​​​​​​​​
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀​​​​​​​​
🌲 Subalpine larch can be thought of as a pioneer species, establishing itself on rocky surfaces. It also proliferates after fire, avalanche or other site disturbances and are very long lived trees. 

📸: brandy___marie

We want to stay in touch. Sign up for our, Field Notes newsletter (link in bio) to stay up to date on upcoming classes, institute news/opportunities and natural history.
The Nature of Writing Speaker Series brings commun The Nature of Writing Speaker Series brings community together in conversation to celebrate the creative minds illuminating the natural world with the turn of a page.

This Sun, Oct 25, the Institute and Village Books welcome author Gavin Van Horn, sharing fascinating insights into the sensory experiences of nature in his new book, "Sensoria." From the mating calls of chorus frogs to elephant funerary rites to the memory-rich tastes of place, "Sensoria" offers an immersion in the sensual experiences of seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling—and their interactions, combinations, and more-than-human manifestations. By exploring the sensorium among all forms of life, this volume highlights ecologically and socially diverse ways of touching the world with mind, and touching mind with the world. 

📚 RSVP Today: http://ncascades.org/now
The Nature of Writing Speaker Series brings commun The Nature of Writing Speaker Series brings community together in conversation to celebrate the creative minds illuminating the natural world with the turn of a page.

This Saturday, Oct 24 at 3PM, the Institute and Village Books are thrilled to welcome award-winning author-illustrator Julia Kuo for the launch of her new book "Mountainous"—a wondrous exploration into mountains. Trek up, up, up, to where glaciers slide, volcanoes erupt, and meadow flowers burst into color. Discover all of the marvelous ways mountains sway and hum, wiggle and shake, and even make their own weather. This stunning picture book is perfect for introducing readers of all ages to the mysteries of mighty mountains and the wonders of our natural world. 

This family-friendly event will feature a reading of "Mountainous," plus fun activities like coloring sheets, hands-on rock matching and more! See you there!

📚 RSVP Today: http://ncascades.org/now

🏔️ And if you'd like to learn more about Julia's creative process and the inspiration behind "Mountainous," visit our blog at blog.ncascades.org to read her guest post.
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