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Recent Articles

  • Valley kids learn about natural connections at Mountain School
  • Mountain School Reflections: “Teaching is a Two-way Street”
  • Anne Crandall’s Art Journey
  • Summertime at the Institute
  • Nature of Writing Speaker Series at Village Books

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“I need soup.” ~ @_matty.mill_​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ Winter adventures require a bit more preparation than summer ones, but taking the extra time to pack and prepare the right gear will reward you with more fun times in the snow and cold. ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ A few tips:​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ ❄️ Dress in layers. Winter temperatures can change quickly. Dress in multiple layers to make it easy to remove or add clothing to stay comfortable. If you plan on hiking to a higher elevation, take into account that the temperature on the summit will be much colder than the trailhead. ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ ❄️ Hike with a buddy. If something goes wrong, getting stranded alone can put you in a dangerous situation. Hiking partners can also help with navigating the trail, go for help if needed and help keep morale up if conditions worsen. Along with taking a buddy, always tell someone where you will​​​​​​​​ Be going and when you plan on returning. ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ ❄️ Be prepared for the worst. Pack the ten essentials, trail map, compass, first aid kit and GPS device. You may also consider a sleeping bag if you are going on longer hikes. ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ ❄️Always check road and weather conditions. Storms, limited visibility, and icy roads can change where you can go and if you should go. Checking before you go can help you avoid getting into a not so fun situation. ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ What are tips do you have for winter adventuring? Leave them in the comments. ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ 📍Ancestral homelands of the Nooksack, Nlaka’pamux & Coast Salish people ​​​​​​​​ 📸: @_matty.mill_
Did you know that food waste is big contributor to Did you know that food waste is big contributor to climate change? Learn more in this Whatcom Talk article submitted by Youth for People and the Environment (YEP!) students Addison Felty, Arden Trachta-Magruder, Kirra Horton, and Megan Jewell. https://www.whatcomtalk.com/2022/12/07/area-teens-come-together-to-educate-about-composting-as-a-climate-solution/ YEP!, run In partnership with RE Sources, is an opportunity for students to share ideas and passions, learn about climate change solutions, and engage together in local stewardship by planning and implementing an action project.
Support youth education in the North Cascades when Support youth education in the North Cascades when you shop in our online gift store! 🎁 Enjoy 20% OFF STUFFED ANIMALS and HEATHER MEADOWS / ARTIST POINT gifts for a limited time. Browse these and all sorts of North Cascades-inspired gifts at 🎄 ncascades.org/shop 🎁 Get $100 value for only $80 with North Cascades Institute Gift Certificates to be used toward 2023 programming. Call (360) 854-2599 or visit ncascades.org/gift-certificate Thank you for supporting North Cascades Institute this holiday season! #northcascadesinstitute #shopforgood #environmentaleducation #giftsfornaturelovers #holidaygifts
“I first heard about the term “cotton candy sk “I first heard about the term “cotton candy skies” from a college friend and since then, it’s been my absolute favorite. It’s funny how you go from never paying attention to something to becoming obsessed with it. That’s me with pastel colors and alpenglow.”~ @alpine_explorer​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ Cotton candy skies are the best! Would you agree? Leave a 🌄 in the comments. ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ If you want to know the science behind cotton candy skies read on. ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ Cotton candy skies is due to a phenomenon called scattering. Molecules and small particles in the atmosphere change the direction of light rays, causing them to scatter, affecting the color of said light rays. ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ When there aren't a lot of particles to scatter the sun's rays, like in the mid-afternoon, short-wavelength colors like blue and violet are scattered creating the blue and violet light we see during the day. ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ When the sun is low, however, sunlight passes through more air meaning more molecules are present to scatter the violet and blue light away from your eyes. If the path is long enough, all of the blue and violet light scatters out of sight and other colors continue on to our eyes like the pinks and purples, thus cotton candy skies! ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ 📍Ancestral homelands of the Nooksack, Nlaka’pamux & Coast Salish people​​​​​​​​ 📸: @alpine_explorer
At Mountain School this fall, students learn about At Mountain School this fall, students learn about rocks on the shore of Diablo lake, surrounded by dramatic visual aids like Pyramid Peak! Hands-on, field-based education like this helps kids flourish outside the normal classroom structure and creates a “we’re all in this together” type of community. Research backs this up and after Mountain School, teachers report significant improvements in students’ respect for nature and peers, teamwork and cooperation, and awareness of how personal choices affect their environment. Thank you for making a year end gift to foster these transformative learning experiences in nature! 💚 ncascades.org/donate 📸: Lesson led by Liz Lozinger, photos by "Poz" Pozarycki 📍The Environmental Learning Center is located on the ancestral homelands of the Upper Skagit, Nlaka’pamux, Sauk-Suiattle and Swinomish peoples #outdoorlearing #outdooreducation #northcascades #learningisfun #mountainschool #environmentallearningcenter #learnoutside #teachoutside #outdoorsforall #northcascades #northcascadesinstitute #nonprofit #environmentaleducation
An ode to winter all this week. With less than thr An ode to winter all this week. With less than three weeks to official winter it’s safe to say winter conditions have arrived.​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ The Western side of the Cascades receive between 400-600 inches of snow in the higher elevations and between 50-75 inches in the lower elevations. ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ As winter approaches, it is important to check weather, avalanche and road conditions before heading out into a winter wonderland. ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ Make sure to bring extra layers, water and food for the cold conditions. ​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ Snow fun times await! ❄️❄️​​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​ 📸: @alexmontgumery
Join our team! 🙌 🙌 🙌 We are looking to fi Join our team! 🙌 🙌 🙌 We are looking to fill these positions as soon as possible: • Environmental Program Instructors • Mountain School Program Coordinator • Youth Leadership Coordinator • Sous Chef • Cook • Seasonal Cook • Housekeeper North Cascades Institute is an educational non-profit focused on inspiring environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature. These positions support Institute programs based at the Environmental Learning Center in North Cascades National Park. LEARN MORE: ncascades.org/jobs 📍The Environmental Learning Center is located on the ancestral home lands of the Upper Skagit, Nlaka’pamux, Sauk-Suiattle, and Swinomish peoples #hiring #nowhiring #jobopportunity #environmentalcareers #environmentaleducation #northcascades #northcascadesinstitute #northcascadesnationalpark
Feb 13-17: Remote Medicine Upgrade & Recertificati Feb 13-17: Remote Medicine Upgrade & Recertification (RMUR) This intensive 5-day course fulfills all educational requirements to recertify an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and upgrade to Remote Emergency Medical Technician (REMT). Hosted at the Environmental Learning Center in North Cascades National Park, students enjoy the ideal remote setting for learning, lodging and scratch-made meals, and access to nearby winter recreation. Instruction provided by @remotemedicaltraining. LEARN MORE: ncascades.org/rmur 📍The Environmental Learning Center is located on the ancestral homelands of the Upper Skagit, Nlaka’pamux, Sauk-Suiattle, and Swinomish peoples #remotemedicaltraining #remoteemt #emttraining #wildernessmedicine #emergencymedicine #beprepared #wfr #wildernessfirstresponder #wildernessfirstaid #safetyfirst #outdoorsurvival #learnoutside #teachoutside #northcascades #northcascadesnationalpark #northcascadesinstitute
What a beaut! Can you name this fire lookout? Hin What a beaut! Can you name this fire lookout? Hints: 🏔️ If you are lucky enough to stay in this first come, first served fire lookout you will be rewarded with panoramic views of Koma Kulshan (Mount Baker) the Twin Sisters, Black Buttes, Lincoln Colfax and the Nooksack River valley. 🏔️ The lookout was built in 1932 and is maintained by Skagit Alpine Club volunteers 🏔️ The lookout is located just inside the Mt. Baker Wilderness boundary and wilderness regulations apply. #packitinpackitout 🏔️ It is located on the ancestral homelands of the Nooksack & Nlaka’pamux people 📸: @wjlphoto
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