North Cascades Institute
Founded in 1986, North Cascades Institute is a nonprofit conservation organization that helps people of all ages and backgrounds experience and enjoy the mountains, rivers, forests, and human communities of the North Cascades—so that everyone is inspired to care for and protect this special place. Our mission is to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature. Many of our programs take place at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center, located on Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park—a hub of discovery and adventure operated in partnership with the National Park Service and Seattle City Light.
Primary Programs
The Institute offers a wide range of environmental education programs about the natural and cultural history of the North Cascades region. From the North Cascades to the Skagit and Methow Valleys to the Salish Sea, we teach about the natural and cultural history of the region in small groups led by passionate instructors and naturalists. Programs for adults and families include Field Excursions, Family Getaways, Skagit Tours, Conferences & Retreats and more.
We believe that hands-on learning about the environment begins in childhood—that’s why serving young people is one of our top priorities. We provide equitable access to outdoor spaces, offering opportunities for young people to discover, reflect, learn, grow, and thrive. Our programs for students include:
Mountain School
A three-day, two-night hands-on outdoor school program for local fifth-grade students at the Environmental Learning Center. While at Mountain School students spend a majority of their time outside, hiking on trails and exploring the watershed, forest, plants and wildlife of the North Cascades ecosystems first-hand through interdisciplinary activities in science, math, art, social studies and conservation.
Youth Leadership Adventures
Youth Leadership Adventures (YLA) offers opportunities for diverse regional high school students to experience the benefits of time spent in nature, develop outdoor recreation and leadership skills, and engage in environmental stewardship and climate activism. At the heart of YLA are our backcountry trips. During five- and eight-day backpacking and canoe-camping adventures in the North Cascades, participants gain the skills, knowledge, and experience needed to feel confident and comfortable in the outdoors. Along the way, they build lasting friendships, practice collaborative leadership, and explore a range of pathways toward climate solutions.
Reason for Participating on the Skagit Watershed Council
The Institute is dedicated to educating the public about the natural resources of the Pacific Northwest by fostering meaningful connections to the natural world—connections that lead to deeper care and long-term stewardship. One of the region’s most vital resources is the Skagit watershed, which begins high in the North Cascades and flows through ecosystems, farmlands, and communities, sustaining salmon, agriculture, people and communities along the way. The health of this watershed is inseparable from the health of the broader landscape. As a member of the Council, the Institute values the opportunity to raise key issues, collaborate with like-minded partners, and contribute to the preservation of the river system. Through this work, we aim to serve as a voice for education and community engagement.
