North Cascades Institute

INSPIRE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP THROUGH TRANSFORMATIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN NATURE.

MOUNTAIN SCHOOL - THIS PROGRAM IS AN IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR 5TH GRADE CLASSES THAT HAS BEEN SERVING REGIONAL SCHOOLS SINCE 1990. THROUGH HANDS-ON INTERDISCIPLINARY ACTIVITIES, STUDENTS ARE CONNECTED TO THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF OUR REGION, FORM CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR CLASSMATES AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND SHARPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR OWN IDENTITIES.IN SPRING 2023, THE INSTITUTE MODIFIED THE SCHEDULE TO SERVE STUDENTS WHO HAD THEIR PROGRAMS CANCELED IN FALL 2022 DUE TO SMOKE FROM TWO NEARBY WILDFIRES, WHICH RESULTED IN SERVING STUDENTS FROM 15 SCHOOLS WITH SHORTER PROGRAMS. THE INSTITUTE ALSO DEBUTED A NEW CURRICULUM, "NORTH CASCADES CONNECTIONS," WHICH PRESENTS A THEME OF INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN STUDENTS, THE NORTH CASCADES BIOREGION AND THE PLACES THAT THEY CALL HOME. IN TOTAL, 2,059 STUDENTS VISITED THE LEARNING CENTER THIS SEASON, WITH A TOTAL OF 5,285 LEARNER DAYS.THE FALL 2023 SEASON WAS CANCELED DUE TO THE SOURDOUGH FIRE. AN ADDITIONAL 1,500 STUDENTS, CHAPERONES, AND TEACHERS WOULD HAVE VISITED THE LEARNING CENTER THIS SEASON. SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN RESCHEDULED IN THE SPRING, AND OTHERS HAVE FOUND ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS FOR THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR.

ADULT AND FAMILY EDUCATION - THE INSTITUTE'S SUITE OF FAMILY GETAWAYS, BASE CAMP LEARNING AND LODGING, FIELD SEMINARS, ONLINE CLASSES AND SKAGIT TOURS CONTINUE TO BRING DIVERSE AUDIENCES TO THE NORTH CASCADES TO LEARN, RECREATE AND BE INSPIRED. THE NUMBER OF ADULT PROGRAMS OFFERED IN 2023 WAS COMPROMISED DUE TO CLOSURE OF THE LEARNING CENTER FROM THE END OF JULY THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR, RESULTING IN THE CANCELLATION OF SUMMER AND FALL PROGRAMS LIKE DIABLO BOAT TOURS. ADDITIONAL FIELD AND ONLINE PROGRAMS WERE ADDED TO HELP MAKE UP FOR THIS LOSS. IN 2023, THERE WERE 1,989 PARTICIPANTS AND 2,365 LEARNER DAYS.CONFERENCES AND RETREATS - CUSTOM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, LODGING AND MEALS AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER INSPIRE REFLECTION AND CONNECTION TO THE NATURAL WORLD AS WELL AS TO EACH OTHER. THE INSTITUTE WELCOMES CONFERENCES, EVENTS, RETREATS, WORKSHOPS, TRAININGS, REUNIONS AND OTHER GATHERINGS. IN 2023, THE INSTITUTE HOSTED 15 PROGRAMS INCLUDING WELLNESS RETREATS, BUSINESS AND ACADEMIC CONFERENCES, MEDICAL TRAINING COURSES AND OUTDOOR IMMERSION EXCURSIONS FOR DIVERSE YOUTH GROUPS. IN 2023, THERE WERE 552 PARTICIPANTS AND 902 LEARNER DAYS.BOOKSTORES - THE INSTITUTE OPERATES SEVEN RETAIL STORES AROUND NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK AND MT. BAKER SNOQUALMIE NATIONAL FOREST. IN 2023, THERE WERE NEW VISITATION AND SALES RECORDS, EVEN WITH STORE OPERATIONS GREATLY IMPACTED BY HIGHWAY CLOSURES DUE TO MASSIVE WILDFIRES. THIS PARTNERSHIP REACHES LARGER, BROADER AUDIENCES TO POSITIVELY AFFECT THEIR LIVES THROUGH A DEEPER CONNECTION WITH NATURE BY PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, INTRODUCES NEW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO THE INSTITUTE'S WORK AND HELPS FUND ITS PROGRAMS.

CONNECTIONS - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES WHATCOM COUNTY STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE, LEARN, AND CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER OUTDOORS NEAR THEIR SCHOOL. CONNECTIONS STARTED DURING THE SCHOOL CLOSURES IN 2020 WHEN NONPROFITS BANDED TOGETHER TO ADDRESS ACADEMIC INEQUITIES MAGNIFIED BY THE PANDEMIC, AND CONTINUES TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS AS IN-PERSON LEARNING RETURNS. THROUGH PROVIDING LOCALLY-FOCUSED OUTDOOR EDUCATION FOR ALL K-6 STUDENTS IN THE RURAL MOUNT BAKER AND BLAINE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CONNECTIONS FOSTERS ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND JOYFUL HABITS OF OUTDOOR EXPLORATION THAT ARE STRONGLY LINKED TO ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP - THIS PROGRAM ENGAGES LOCAL TEENS IN 9-DAY BACKPACKING AND CANOE CAMPING TRIPS IN NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK. IN ADDITION TO OUTDOOR SKILLS, YLA FOCUSES ON LEADERSHIP SKILLS, TEAM BUILDING, AND CLIMATE CHANGE SOLUTIONS, GIVING STUDENTS THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO BECOME STEWARDS OF THE NATURAL WORLD AND ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY ADVOCACY. OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT AFTER THE SUMMER INCLUDE YOUTH FOR PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT (YEP!) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RESOURCES. IN 2023, THE INSTITUTE OFFERED TWO CANOE-CAMPING TRIPS FOR 17 PARTICIPANTS (A PLANNED THIRD TRIP WAS CANCELED DUE TO THE SOURDOUGH FIRE) AND 9 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN YEP! ACTIVITIES REPRESENTING 200 LEARNER DAYS.