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red elderberry

Gifts of Spring: Flowering Plants of the Skagit Valley

Gifts of Spring: Flowering Plants of the Skagit Valley
May 10, 2019Special Guest

Paying attention is a form of reciprocity with the living world, receiving the gifts with open eyes and open heart.” – Robin Wall Kimmerer A certain power …
Read More of Gifts of Spring: Flowering Plants of the Skagit Valley

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Recent Articles

  • “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
  • From the Trail: Spring Hiking in the North Cascades

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ncascades

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

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
🌲 Registration is now open for our 3rd Annual Week 🌲 Registration is now open for our 3rd Annual Weekend for All: Come As You Are. Be Outside Together.

Weekend for All is a 3-day, 2-night gathering at Diablo Lake for people of color and partner organizations—a chance to be in community, get outside, and connect in a way that feels comfortable and welcoming. Whether you’re just starting to explore outdoor spaces or have years of experience, you’re welcome here.

Over the weekend, you can join guided hikes, paddle on the lake, try hands-on art activities, learn about local ecosystems, or simply relax and enjoy shared meals and great conversation. There’s no set schedule—just time to enjoy nature and community.

📍  North Cascades Environmental Learning Center
📅  August 28–30
👉  Learn more + register: https://ncascades.org/retreats/weekend-for-all-2026
In June, we made the most of longer days with lear In June, we made the most of longer days with learning adventures from Sauk Mountain to the Puget Trough. From flowers and field journalling to foraging to frogs, salamanders & more, see more memories from our June field excursions at https://www.flickr.com/photos/ncascades/
Planning on visiting, camping, recreating or doing Planning on visiting, camping, recreating or doing anything around or in the park on Fourth of July? Great! And some important things to note:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🎇 Fireworks are not allowed anywhere in the park, this includes campgrounds. Some surrounding towns also have bans in place, so know before you go. 

🎇 Campfires are banned in all portions of North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area, and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area.
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🎇 Trailheads will be busy and parking lots will fill up. Try to arrive as early as possible and have a back up plan if there is no parking available and be sure to check road/trail conditions. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🎇 Pack your patience. All campgrounds in the park are reservation only. Campgrounds will most likely be full, have a backup if you plan to camp. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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🎇 Enjoy the North Cascades! #recreateresponsibly⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

📍Ancestral homelands of the Upper Skagit, Swinomish & Sauk Suiattle 
📸: @pnw.onfilm
Check out these two Cedar waxwing buds seen hangin Check out these two Cedar waxwing buds seen hanging out during our Spring birding in the Methow class. 

If you're exploring the North Cascades, keep an eye out for these lookers. Here’s some fun facts about one of the region's most eye catching songbirds! 

🍒 Berry specialists: Cedar waxwings can eat dozens of berries in a single sitting and often rely heavily on fruit year-round.

🎁 They share food 🥹: During courtship, a male may offer a berry or flower petal to a female, sometimes passing it back and forth several times before she accepts it.

🎩 Nature's fashionistas: The bright red, wax-like tips on their wing feathers are unique among North American birds and give cedar waxwings their name.

Have you ever seen a flock of Cedar waxwings or watched them expertly snatch berries from a tree? 

📸: Jeff Brennan
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