Spring 2026 Mountain School Highlights
This Spring, Mountain School welcomed hundreds of students from across the region into the forests, watersheds, and communities of the North Cascades. Throughout the season, students hiked to Sourdough Falls, explored the woods, asked big questions about the natural world, and discovered that science is something they can do—not just something they learn in a classroom. Along the way, we saw students grow in confidence, build new friendships, connect with their unique individual identities, and find moments of wonder in places they may have never experienced before.
Some students left determined to spend more time outdoors. Others discovered a sense of calm during quiet reflection in nature, or found the confidence to share more of themselves with their peers. After waving goodbye to the last school bus of fifth-graders until Fall, Mountain School Manager Megan Carter shares some of our favorite photos and memories:
A student from Little Mountain wrote in a postcard to their future self: “I would like to experience more nature and realize that nature is amazing and that there are cool things to learn about and just enjoy this amazing place and the waterfall.”
A chaperone shared that a student who had attended Mountain School earlier in the year had done a “complete 180” afterward. According to the chaperone, the experience inspired the student, and their family was amazed by the positive changes they had seen.
One instructor reflected on a group that was initially skeptical of being outdoors. By the end of the program, those same students were asking questions about the forest, showing genuine curiosity, and connecting with nature in ways they hadn’t expected.
During a sit spot activity with a particularly energetic group, students became so engaged that they asked to do it a second time. Afterward, several shared that they felt calm and peaceful—a powerful reminder of how meaningful quiet time in nature can be for young people.
One instructor noted that a student who had been reluctant to participate became emotional about leaving at the end of the program, crying as they boarded the bus because they didn’t want Mountain School to end.
A teacher observed that the Indigenous storytelling program “Salmon Boy” created such a welcoming environment that one student felt comfortable sharing her identity as a Swinomish princess during the talent show—an example of how representation and belonging can open doors for students.
These are moments that remind us why outdoor education matters: meaningful experiences in nature can spark curiosity, foster belonging, and leave a lasting impact long after the bus ride home.
THANK YOU to our entire Mountain School Team for making this program possible: Mountain School Manager Megan Carter; Program Coordinators Annika Lee and Claire Demorest; and Instructors Jackson Boyle, Kat Fowler, Emily Mehalchin, Ryan Morton, Michael Mulvihill, Manali Rege-Colt, Bailey Shannon, Alexander Templeton, Ocean Tennant-McCubbin, and Grace Warner.
See more photos in our Spring 2026 Mountain School photo album.
