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firefighters

Firecrews arrive at the Learning Center

forest
Aug 28, 2015North Cascades Institute

The Goodell Fire in North Cascades National Park has expanded and totalled 6,716 acres on Aug 27, burning on both sides of State Highway 20 and the …
Read More of Firecrews arrive at the Learning Center

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Recent Articles

  • Guardians of Life: Vancouver Island Rebuilding Indigenous Sovereignty
  • “The Earth Said Remember Me” by Jason Dove Mark
  • Leave No Trace in the North Cascades: Protecting a Wild Place During Peak Adventure Season
  • Spring 2026 Field Programs Highlights
  • Spring 2026 Mountain School Highlights

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ncascades

Inspiring environmental stewardship through education, exploration and connection since 1986.
⬇️ 🌲Help youth Take Root & Rise - DONATE TODAY🌲 ⬇️

Trade busy schedules for mountain trails, lakeshor Trade busy schedules for mountain trails, lakeshore discoveries, and evenings beneath brilliant star-filled skies.

Family Getaways invite families of all kinds to spend a memorable weekend together at North Cascades Institute’s Environmental Learning Center on the shores of stunning Diablo Lake. Nestled in the heart of North Cascades National Park, you’ll enjoy comfortable lodging, delicious meals, and a welcoming community while Institute naturalists lead hands-on activities designed to engage curious minds of every age.

Hike to a hidden waterfall, explore ancient old-growth forests, search for wildlife, bond over art projects and nature games, and uncover the fascinating natural history of the North Cascades. After dinner, venture out on a nighttime adventure to learn about nocturnal animals and find the Big Dipper beneath some of Washington’s darkest skies.

“We wanted a new experience to be out in nature and enjoy many components of “camping” without having to deal with all the logistics, supplies and cooking. It was a perfect introduction to hiking and being in nature. We continue coming back every year because it’s such a magical place. It is a treat to travel and have all our needs taken care of.” — Rebecka Family Getaways participant

Family Getaways offers a rare opportunity to unplug, learn together, and create lasting memories in one of North America’s most spectacular landscapes.

🌲 Explore upcoming weekends and register today: ncascades.org/family
Join us at Village Books this Thursday, July 16th, Join us at Village Books this Thursday, July 16th, as we welcome Jason Dove Mark with his latest book "The Earth Said Remember Me," as part of the Nature of Writing Summer Series. 

As climate change accelerates and biodiversity declines, we risk adapting to loss without noticing—a phenomenon scientists call “shifting baseline syndrome.” In "The Earth Said Remember Me", environmental activist and former Sierra editor-in-chief Jason Dove Mark offers a hopeful antidote, built around four simple practices: go outside, bear witness, make a record, and pass it on. Through stories of citizen scientists, birdwatchers, and outdoor enthusiasts, Mark shows how everyday actions can help us reconnect with the natural world and support conservation, one person at a time.

📌 Reserve Your Seat at ncascades.org/now
Hiking and backpacking season are in full swing! Hiking and backpacking season are in full swing! 

🥾🏕️ With adventures through lush forests, slogs to high alpine lakes, sufferfests climbing up remote and rugged peaks, there’s something for everyone in the North Cascades!

🥾🏕️ North Cascades National Park is over 95% wilderness and is surrounded by several National Forests. Being able to recreate in these places means we also have to take care of them. Remember to practice Leave No Trace principles when you are out on the trail. 

What hikes and/or backpacks are you looking forward to this season?

📸: @bluemrb
What if you could go to Mountain School, too? Thi What if you could go to Mountain School, too?

This fall, bring your family to the North Cascades for a shared outdoor learning experience inspired by our award-winning program. Spend three days exploring forests, watersheds, and wildlife together—through guided hikes, hands-on science investigations, nature journaling, games, and creative activities.

Set along the shores of Diablo Lake, this 3-day, 2-night experience invites families to learn side by side, build confidence and curiosity, and connect more deeply with each other and the natural world. The cost for this unique learning experience is subsidized by donor support in order to welcome as many learners as possible!

🌲 Openings available Oct 12-14, and Nov 16-18. Register online today! 

https://ncascades.org/signup/programs/open-enrollment-mountain-school-october-12-14-2026

https://ncascades.org/signup/programs/open-enrollment-mountain-school-november-16-18-2026
NEW ART AND POETRY CLASS! On Saturday, Sept 5, joi NEW ART AND POETRY CLASS! On Saturday, Sept 5, join Methow Valley–based writer and artist Sarah Gilman for a field course on crafting an illustrated poem in conversation with the land. 

Starting from the Environmental Learning Center, we'll explore the edges of burn scars from the Goodell and Sourdough fires, gathering reference photos and sketches, writing notes and impressions, and learning about the area's natural history and renewal. Back in the classroom, Sarah will help participants shape their observations into a final illustrated piece, capturing the beauty and resilience of the North Cascades. 

>> Sign up today at https://ncascades.org/signup/programs/wild-and-fire-illustrating-poetry-about-our-dynamic-landscapes

(images by artist and writer Sarah Gilman @hiddendrawerdesigns )
North Cascades Institute, Village Books and Settin North Cascades Institute, Village Books and Setting Sun Circle invite you to join us for the Nature of Writing Summer Series, featuring Jason Dove Mark and Kiliii Yüyan!

On July 16, we'll welcome environmental journalist Jason Dove Mark to Village Books to share his new book "The Earth Said Remember Me"—an invitation to go outside, bear witness, make a record, and pass it on. 

Then, on July 18, enjoy a slideshow and conversation about "Guardians of Life" with National Geographic photographer Kiliii Yüyan. Through vivid portraits of Indigenous communities—youth and elders, hunters and farmers, spiritual leaders and craftspeople—this new book from Braided River offers powerful perspectives on relationships to land and care for our planet and one another. 

📚 Get Tickets Today! >> ncascades.org/now
The Washington State Wilderness act turned 42 last The Washington State Wilderness act turned 42 last week. Happy belated anniversary/birthday? Either way it’s something to celebrate 🥳! 

🌲 Signed on July 3, 1984 the act permanently protected over one million acres of Washington State land, designating them as wilderness areas. 

🌲 This act established or expanded 23 wilderness areas, including notable locations like Mount Baker, Glacier Peak, and Henry M. Jackson. It also created the Mount Baker National Recreation Area and the North Cascades Scenic Highway.

🌲 The act aimed to preserve these areas for their natural character, offering opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation while prohibiting  development, motorized and mechanized equipment, with some exceptions for managing agencies.

Let's continue to celebrate and care for our Washington wilderness areas!

📸: @awilsondc
We are incredibly grateful to the Community Food C We are incredibly grateful to the Community Food Co-op for selecting North Cascades Institute as the recipient of their upcoming Community Shopping Day on Saturday, July 18! 

The simple act of grocery shopping can have a profound impact. The co-op will donate 2% of sales from both Bellingham store locations, and every dollar raised will go directly towards supporting Whatcom County 5th grade students attending Mountain School.

#NCISupporterSpotlight #support #shoplocal
One of our Spring Mountain School instructors, Kat One of our Spring Mountain School instructors, Kat, recently took us on a mountain adventure, camping beneath the magical Colonial and Pyramid Peaks. Both of these mountains you can see right from the Environmental Learning Center on a clear day. 

Experiences like these remind us how connected we are to the landscapes we learn in and from. Whether you’re exploring nearby trails, heading into the mountains or re-visiting your favorite trail, we love to see where your adventures take you.

Bring us along on your journey by tagging us in your photos and stories. Thanks for being a part of our community. We can’t wait to see where you go next!

📍Ancestra homelands of the Nlaka’pamux, Upper Skagit, Swinomish & Sauk Suiattle people
📸: @katfowl3r
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