Service Days in Action: How Institute Staff Are Showing Up for Community, Conservation, and Care
At North Cascades Institute, service is not an abstract value—it’s something we practice. Through our Service Day program, staff are encouraged to volunteer their time and talents with organizations that strengthen communities, protect ecosystems, expand access to the outdoors, and support people and wildlife across our region.
Over the past several months, Institute staff put that commitment into action in diverse and deeply meaningful ways. Their service took place in forests and fairgrounds, on shorelines and islands, in shelters and warehouses, behind the scenes in committee meetings, and out in the public eye—each experience reflecting a shared ethic of care, stewardship, and engagement.
Supporting Wildlife and Ecological Research
“Being part of long-term wildlife monitoring reminds me how much careful, behind-the-scenes work goes into protecting species over time.”
— Eva Araujo
Several staff members used their Service Days to directly support wildlife monitoring and conservation science.
Eva volunteered with the Skagit Land Trust on the annual March Point Heronry nest count, carefully documenting nest numbers and tree use while minimizing disturbance to the birds. Working in teams through dense underbrush, Eva helped gather long-term data that supports understanding heron population trends and how habitats shift over time.
Victoria contributed her professional wildlife biology skills to bat monitoring efforts in the San Juan Islands, volunteering alongside biologists from North Cascades National Park, USGS, and Fish & Wildlife. Over two overnight field sessions, Victoria assisted with bat captures and health assessments to monitor for white-nose syndrome—a devastating fungal disease affecting bat populations. The work provided encouraging signs of colony health while reinforcing the importance of continued monitoring for these ecologically vital insect-eaters.
Climate Action and Conservation Education
“Climate work can feel abstract—being part of a net-zero project made the progress feel tangible and real.”
— Britt
Service Days also supported climate solutions and environmental education.
Britt volunteered with the Mountaineers’ Carbon Footprint Reduction Committee, contributing to a blog post and creating data visualizations documenting progress toward a net-zero facility at the Mountaineers Tacoma Program Center. Her work helped communicate complex climate goals clearly and accessibly, supporting broader efforts to reduce organizational carbon emissions.
Kim supported environmental education and future leadership through her role as Chair of the Skagit Audubon Society’s Scholarship Committee. She reviewed student essays, helped select scholarship recipients, updated committee records, and wrote a summary article for the organization’s newsletter—helping connect young scholars with opportunities to pursue environmental studies and stewardship.
Caring for Community in Times of Need
“Food access is about dignity, connection, and community—not just meals.”
— Christian Martin
Several Service Day experiences centered on immediate community care and human well-being.
During a prolonged period of extreme winter cold, Hannah volunteered extensively at the Kingston Severe Weather Shelter, working across nearly every shift type—from evening intake to overnight support and early-morning cleanup. Her service helped ensure that community members had access to warmth, food, showers, and a safe place to rest during dangerous conditions.
Christian volunteered weekly with the Bellingham Food Bank, delivering food boxes to homes across Bellingham and assisting with sorting and packing food in the warehouse. His efforts supported an organization that provides more than 50,000 meals each month to families throughout Whatcom County—work that underscores how food security is deeply connected to community health and resilience.
Kim also volunteered with the Anacortes Pride Parade, helping line up participants and break down event infrastructure. Her service supported a welcoming, inclusive community celebration—another reminder that service includes helping create spaces where people feel seen, safe, and celebrated.
Youth Mentorship and Access to the Outdoors
“Helping more people feel confident and welcome in outdoor spaces is deeply aligned with why I do this work.”
— Kate
Service Days also highlighted the power of mentorship, youth engagement and inclusive recreation.
Kate volunteered with Shifting Gears, an outdoor recreation nonprofit in Whatcom County dedicated to expanding access to outdoor sports for women. As a member of the Programs Committee, she supported seasonal program planning, recruitment, and enrollment—bringing experience from the North Cascades Institute to help a growing organization connect more people with outdoor adventure. During Wild Women Week, Kate helped host a film screening about women in adventure sports, tabled and recruited instructors at an event at Loam Equipment, and co-hosted a craft night fundraiser at Structures Brewing that welcomed about 50 participants.
Jason volunteered at Burlington–Edison High School, teaching an introductory lesson on Buddhism for a World Literature class. He engaged students in discussion about compassion, wisdom, and resilience, and offered meditation instruction that allowed students to experience mindfulness practices firsthand.
Few stories illustrate long-term commitment more clearly than Darcie’s service with 4-H at the Skagit County Fair. As Superintendent of the Cat Barn, Darcie devoted months to planning and preparation, followed by long fair days centered on animal care, youth mentorship, and public education. She supported young people across multiple age groups and project areas, helping them build responsibility, resilience, and pride in their work—often behind the scenes, and always with heart.
“Watching young people grow in confidence and responsibility is the most rewarding part of volunteering.”
— Darcie Lloyd
A Shared Thread
Taken together, these Service Day stories reveal the many ways Institute staff live out our mission beyond our formal roles. Whether tracking wildlife, mentoring youth, supporting climate action, feeding neighbors, or helping communities gather safely, each act of service reflects a shared belief: that learning, care, and stewardship are inseparable.
Service Days remind us that the skills we use at work—observation, organization, creativity, empathy, and leadership—can ripple outward in powerful ways. We’re proud of our staff for showing up with generosity and intention, and grateful to the partner organizations and communities who welcomed their time and talents.
This is what service looks like at NCI: grounded, relational, and deeply connected to the places and people we care about.