North Cascades Institute

North Cascades Environmental Learning Center (the Environmental Learning Center or the Learning Center) is a hub of discovery for all ages in one of the wildest, most biologically diverse landscapes in North America. Opened in 2005 in partnership with the National Park Service and Seattle City Light, the Learning Center is situated on Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park and includes a natural history library, aquatic and terrestrial classrooms, dining hall, amphitheater, overnight accommodations for 92 participants and 14 staff, outdoor learning rooms and access to trails.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. The Institute hosted 14 programs with a range of goals including accessibility for underserved groups, hiking, conservation, school groups and a wedding. In 2024, there were 419 Participants and 1317 Learner Days.Retail Operations - The Institute operates seven retail stores in and around North Cascades National Park and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. In 2024, there were new visitation and sales records as visitors from around the world came to explore and learn about the North Cascades. This partnership reaches a large and diverse audience and fosters deeper connections with nature via educational resources while also helping fund Institute and National Park Service programs.Community Programs - The Institute contributed staff, resources, and educational programming to regional community groups in the Skagit Valley in 2024.Kulshan Creek Neighborhood Youth Program is a year-round educational program that engages young people ages 5-18 from the Mount Vernon, WA neighborhoods of Kulshan Creek, Casa de San Jose and Harrison Apartments. It offers a series of monthly field trips to explore the outdoors and encourages positive social interactions with peers, adult mentors, community members and local organizations. The Institutes contribution served 28 people for 56 learner days.Concrete Summer Learning Adventure is a program for Concrete Elementary students run in partnership with the Concrete School District, Community Health Outreach Program at United General Hospital, Western Washington University and North Cascades National Park. Institute staff worked with an Environmental Science class on a semester-long project to learn the science of composting and aid students in designing more effective composting systems to manage food waste at Concrete High School. We served 17 students over 116 learner days.

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.The 2024 Mountain School season was the first uninterrupted season since 2019. The program served 2,026 participants with a total of 6,078 Learner Days. The Institute implemented several refinements to the curriculum that addressed staff requests and allowed for the streamlining of student experiences during their stay.