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Recent Articles

The Power of Trees
New books: “Jesintel” and “The Power of Trees” reviewed
Alma Busby-Williams: Why I Support Outdoor Education as a Mother
Walk Deep: Poetry of Place
Nature of Writing Speaker Series ⎸ Spring 2023

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June 17, 9am - 3 pm: Forest Bathing & Sketching at

June 17, 9am - 3 pm: Forest Bathing & Sketching at Rockport State Park

Forest Bathing is a practice adapted from Japanese culture and beyondd to develop a profound sensory awareness of the forest. Sketching is an easy way to record observations, expressively capture an experience, and reinforce the memory of a natural space. In this special dual-aspect workshop, we’ll learn how we can combine these practices to enhance our relationship to a place—even after we leave.

We’ll gather for a day among lush old growth trees at Rockport State Park where our instructors—forest bathing teacher, April Claxton and landscape artist, Beverly Choltco-Devlin—will guide us through mindful walking, sitting, and sketching to enhance our ability to see, listen, smell, and feel our way to a deeper relationship with nature and ourselves.

SIGN UP: Follow link in Bio
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📍Ancestral homelands of the Upper Skagit, Nlaka’pamux, Sauk-Suiattle and Swinomish peoples

#springtimeinthenorthcascades #forestbathing #sketching #naturejournal #northcascades #northcascadesnationalpark #northcascadesinstitute #environmentaleducation #learnoutside #getoutside #timeinnature

All aboard for Skagit Tours! 💦 North Cascades I

All aboard for Skagit Tours! 💦 North Cascades Institute and Seattle City Light offer fun, interactive boat tours aboard the Alice Ross IV in 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.

Tickets range from $15 to $45 for 3 tour options:

⚓️ DIABLO LAKE & LUNCH CRUISE
Includes a delicious meal at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center
Thursday-Monday, June 29-Sept 4

⚓️ DIABLO LAKE AFTERNOON CRUISE
Friday-Sunday, June 30-Sept 3

⚓️ DIABLO LAKE FALL MORNING CRUISE
Saturdays & Sundays, Sept 9 - Oct 1

REGISTER >> Follow Link in Bio

All ages are welcome and tours are wheelchair accessible. Call 360-854-2589 for group bookings or other special requests.

📸: Kiley Kielland

📍Ancestral home lands of the Upper Skagit, Nlaka’pamux, Sauk-Suiattle, and Swinomish peoples

#skagit #skagittours #upperskagit #seeskagit #northcascades #wanderwashington #optoutside #exploremore #pnwonderland #diablolake #skagitriver #pnw #explore #travel

“If you’re flying over Washington, make sure t

“If you’re flying over Washington, make sure to book a window seat.”

Flying over Washington rocks! From above you can see the amazing geology that formed Washington and the Pacific Northwest.

🪨 There are at least five geologic provinces in the Pacific Northwest: the Cascade Volcanoes, the Columbia Plateau, the North Cascades, the Coast Mountains, and the Insular Mountains.

🪨The Cascade Volcanoes are an active volcanic region along the western side of the Pacific Northwest.

🪨 The Columbia Plateau is a region of subdued geography that is inland of the Cascade Volcanoes.

🪨 The North Cascades are a mountainous region in the northwest corner of the United States, extending into British Columbia.

🪨 The Coast Mountains and Insular Mountains are a strip of mountains along the coast of British Columbia, each with its own geological history.

Have you experienced flying over Washington? What was your favorite part?

📸: @brandy___marie
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#northcascades #exploremore #northcascadesinstitute #washington #wanderwashington #explorewashington #pnw #pnwonderland #ourpnw #staypnw #thatpnwlife #getoutstayout #findmeoutside #optoutside #environmentaleducation #learning #teachoutside #learningisfun #outdoorsforall #pnwcollective #pnwadventures #northwestisbest #pnwlife

Happy #WildflowerWednesday! Arrowleaf Balsamroot (

Happy #WildflowerWednesday! Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) are popping off in the Methow Valley!

🌻 Arrowleaf balsamroot, a plant of the Asteraceae (sunflower family) is fairly common in cold, dry areas of the West. Commonly found in mountain fields, but can also be found in the understory of conifer forests.

🌻 Seen from May to July, Arrowleaf balsamroot has beautiful, bright yellow flowers, which are actually inflorescences composed of numerous tiny flowers (florets).

🌻 The leaves are large and arrow shaped, meaning that the blades are triangular and pointed. The leaf blades are fuzzy, especially on the top.

🌻 A large, deep, thick taproot completes the name, and can root up to 6 feet below the soil. The thicker portions are covered with bark. The balsam portion of the name refers to a resin in the root.

🌻 Nearly all parts of this plant were used as food by many Indigenous tribes including the Salish people. The roots may be baked or steamed and eaten, as well as the young shoots. The immature flower stems could be peeled and eaten. Balsamroot seeds are nutritious and oil-rich. The root could be used as a coffee substitute. It also has medicinal uses.

Have you seen Arrowleaf Balasmroot this year? 🙋🏻‍♀️

📍Ancestral homelands of the Methow, Syilx (Okanagan), Cayuse, Umatilla, Walla Walla & Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
📸: @ejbroughton
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#northcascades #exploremore #northcascadesinstitute #washington #wanderwashington #explorewashington #pnw #pnwonderland #ourpnw #thatpnwlife #staypnw #getoutstayout #findmeoutside #optoutside #environmentaleducation #learning #teachoutside #learningisfun #outdoorsforall #pnwadventures #pnwcollective

“I’d write this in the sky, ‘I’ll never fo

“I’d write this in the sky, ‘I’ll never forget that marvelous summer night 💖.’”
With over 400 miles of trails containing a rugged and remote backcountry, the North Cascades are a prime place to make memories and take trips of a lifetime.

Where and with whom have been some of your most memorable trips in the North Cascades? Tag your adventure bud in the comments to let them know they’re unforgettable.

📸: @ms_elanie

June 4, 9am - 3 pm: PLEIN AIR WATERCOLOR ADVENTURE

June 4, 9am - 3 pm: PLEIN AIR WATERCOLOR ADVENTURE

Fans of Claire Giordano—environmental artist and popular Institute guest instructor—will be excited to join our first in-person workshop with her, Plein Air Watercolor Adventure on June 4!

Our group will gather at Seahurst Park near Burien, Wash. for a colorful day in the heart of the Salish Sea ecosystem, exploring our world with watercolor. We will spend the day connecting to and painting classic PNW land- and sea-scapes as we learn watercolor techniques for water, woods, and mountains. Claire will walk us through a landscape painting (or two!) with a follow-along demo so we can put our new skills into practice.

This class is for all levels with time for students to share creations with the group, ask questions, and receive feedback. At day’s end, you’ll return home with a couple finished paintings to show off!

SIGN UP: ncascades.org/classes

📸 @claireswanderings

MINDFUL PHOTOGRAPHY AT BAKER LAKE // June 3, 9am -

MINDFUL PHOTOGRAPHY AT BAKER LAKE // June 3, 9am - 4pm

📸 Photographers—join us for an exciting workshop at Baker Lake with renowned regional landscape and nature photographer, Alan Majchrowicz! Mount Baker and the surrounding area provide the perfect setting to learn new techniques and tricks that make the most of your digital camera and new ways of seeing the natural world.

Alan will lead us along easy hikes, stopping for photo opportunities and teaching us how to see and relate to the environment before channeling the experience into images. He’ll cover technical skills like how to work in different weather and lighting conditions, and discuss composition techniques for landscapes, forests, streams and waterfalls, and macro. Filters, focus stacking, exposure stacking, and manual settings will also be covered.

This class will surely enhance both your experience as a photographer in nature and the power of your resulting images.

SIGN UP: ncascades.org/classes

📸: Alan Majchrowicz
#landscapephotography #naturephotography #northcascadesinstitute #environmentaleducation #digitalphotography #photographyworkshops

“When the rain forest vibes show up in the North

“When the rain forest vibes show up in the North Cascades!”

📸: @lj_discovers
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#pnw #pnwonderland #optoutside #naturephotography #choosemountains #sheisthewild #sheadventures #thetrek #pnwpeakbaggers #getoutside #outsidevibes #pnwdiscovered #alltrails #pnwadventurers #northcascades #upperleftliving #pacificnorthwest #washingtonstate #northcascades #washingtondiscovered #wanderwashington #mountaintravel_ #washingtonunpaved #shejumps #andshesdopetoo #pnwoutsiders #ncascades

Happy #WildflowerWednesday!
“Let's be wildflowers; let our souls be scattered by the wind. Let us grow, wild and free, tall and brave, in the places that we dream, in the places where our longings are filled. Let us grow between the cracks of brokenness, and we will make everything beautiful.”

📸: @explorewithnam

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