NORTH CASCADES
Celebrating 25 years
INSTITUTE 1986-2011
CONNECTING PEOPLE, NATURE AND COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION SINCE 1986
2011
nick mikula
CONTENTS 3-6 7 8 9 10 11-21 22 23 24 25 26 27-28 29-30 Back Cover 1
Welcome to our 25th Anniversary Base Camp Family Getaways Diablo Downtimes Sourdough Speaker Series Seminars & Field Excursions Registration Information Mountain School Youth Adventures M.Ed. Graduate Program How You Can Help Group Rentals & Bookstores Institute Leadership Skagit Tours www.ncascades.org
2011 Calendar of Programs MARCH 26-27: Sourdough Speaker I: Hiking with Judy Bentley
22-24: Late July Family Getaway
8-11: Writing Retreat
28-31: Naturalists Retreat
16-18: Diablo Downtime III
APRIL 9-10: Sourdough Speaker II: Natural Beekeping with Darren Gordon & Pam Woods
31-Aug 2: Wildflower Pocket Camera Photography
24: 25th Anniversary Celebration at the Learning Center & Streetsmart Naturalizing in Seattle
AUGUST 4-7: Artistic Weaving with Western Red Cedar
24-25: Sourdough Speaker IV: Chef Debra Daniels-Zeller
29-30: Reptiles & Amphibians of the Methow MAY 7-8: Sourdough Speaker III: Making Mandolins with Stan Miller & John Reischman
OCTOBER 7-9: The Art of the Essay & Landscape Watercolor II
5-7: Dragonflies & Damselflies 12-14: August Family Getaway 19-21: Diablo Downtime II
22-23: Sourdough Speaker V: TBA
12: Richard Louv in Seattle 13: Richard Louv in Bellingham
22-24: The Art of the Quest Narrative
29: Northwest Mushrooms
14-15: Spring in the Methow & Bunchgrass Dreams
27: The Story of Northwest Volcanoes
20-22: Learning Center Stewardship Weekend
SEPTEMBER 2-4: Labor Day Family Getaway
NOVEMBER 5-6: Sourdough Speaker VI: TBA 24-26: Thanksgiving Family Getaway
24: Wendell Berry, Benaroya Hall, Seattle 1
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8-10: Diablo Downtime I & Birds & Bugs of the East side
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JULY 1-3: Fourth of July Family Getaway
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SKAGIT VALLEY
25: Free Day Trip in Seattle
20-21: History of Skagit Dams
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10-12: The Artful Map & Landscape Watercolor I 17-19: In the Company of Corvids
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JUNE 3-5: Spring Birding Weekend
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Most offerings take place at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center, 2.5 hours from Seattle or 2 hours from Bellingham.
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28-30: Memorial Weekend Family Getaway
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North Cascades Institute
1986-2011
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Mountain School begins in “Big Green” at Newhalem Campground with students from Bellingham & Seattle
1992
North Cascades Institute’s first year of natural history classes in the North Cascades
Stewardship Program begins with Skagit River Stewards
Institute awarded first National Park Service “Wilderness Education Leadership” award
2001
1996
1990
1986
Celebrating 25 years in the field
Graduate M.Ed. Program launches in partnership with Western Washington University
www.ncascades.org
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have always been drawn to simple landscapes. The sparse silence of the land above the trees. The dark ribbon of light at the edge of the shore. And I remember a simpler time – 25 years ago – when North Cascades Institute was a dream in the minds of friends. We didn’t imagine the thousands of children who have walked and learned along these mountain trails. We couldn’t envision a Learning Center full of families and students on the shores of Diablo Lake. Climate change had not reached public consciousness. Computers were a rarity and cell phones never interrupted…anything. Simpler times. Good times. While many things are different from the start of the Institute, two things have not changed in the past 25 years. The first is our commitment to the value of getting people – especially children and families – into deep, intimate contact with wild nature. The magic of shared experiences in the natural world brings forth wonder, a lifelong love of learning and a connection with place that transcends generations. The second is our commitment to the practice of natural history, the bedrock of all the –ologies, the study of birds and bugs and plants and rocks, as well as people and our interactions with nature through art and literature and music. We still believe in this power of focused attentiveness to nature, using all of our senses, as a pathway that helps us know, touch and feel the world. Simple things: observe, learn, communicate, inspire. Welcome to our 25th year. Take your curiosity outside and join us for a voyage of discovery, a stroll through the mountains and rivers and stories of the North Cascades, and a deep plunge into natural history. It represents our collective memory, and our dreams for the future. I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of North Cascades Institute over the past 25 years – our amazing staff, volunteers, graduate students, partners, board of directors, donors and especially all of our students and participants. It wouldn’t work, and it wouldn’t be fun, without all of you. I can’t wait to see what the next 25 years look like. ©benj drummond
I hope to walk with you on the trail this amazing year.
North Cascades Environmental Learning Center opens on Diablo Lake
360.854.2599
North Cascades Wild begins on Ross Lake, introducing local youth to conservation and the outdoors
2011 Cascades Climate Challenge starts training youth to become leaders in climate change education
2010
2005
2006
2009
Executive Director
Institute opens 5 park bookstores, is awarded 6th straight 4-star rating from Charity Navigator
Institute partners with Seattle City Light to lead Skagit Tours natural history interpretation
credits l-r: archives, john miles, benj drummond, amy brown, institute staff, scl
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WELCOME
Twenty-five years of lacing up muddy hiking boots. Twenty-five years of campfire smoke and birdsong. Twenty-five years of butterfly nets, wildflower keys and topo maps.
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ack in 1986, when the founders of North Cascades Institute consulted the I Ching for advice on their new environmental education nonprofit, they received the message “Perseverance Furthers.” All these years later, the results of their perseverance are evident: tens of thousands of students introduced to the natural and cultural history of the North Cascades in Mountain School and our summer youth programs, thousands of adults connected to wild wonder through seminars and field excursions, over 60 graduate students having earned a Master’s of Education degree, the establishment of the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center in the heart of North Cascades National Park, strong partnerships with the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Seattle City Light and Western Washington University...the list seems to go on and on. To celebrate our accomplishments over the past two-and-a-half decades, we’ve planned a very special year of events, programs and celebrations.
Highlights include: • Richard “Last Child in the Woods” Louv sharing his new book The Nature Principle in Seattle, May 12, and Bellingham, May 13 • Wendell Berry discussing sustainability in Seattle, May 24 • A 25th Anniversary Celebration at the Learning Center, September 24 • Over 40 programs exploring the North Cascades, many led by instructors who have been with the Institute since the early days, including Gerry Cook, Molly Hashimoto, Tim McNulty, Bob Mierendorf, Libby Mills, Dennis Paulson, Robert Michael Pyle, Dana Visalli and Saul Weisberg • An expanded Base Camp season, our most flexible and affordable option for staying at the Learning Center • A new partnership with Seattle City Light to lead interpretive tours on Diablo Lake and across the North Cascades Highway • Expanded merchandise, books and gift selection in our bookstores in Marblemount, Newhalem, Stehekin, Sedro-Woolley and the Learning Center • A renewed commitment to customer favorites like Family Getaways, Diablo Downtimes and the Sourdough Speaker Series. Keep reading to learn more about all of these opportunities, or browse our website at ncascades.org for expanded details, multimedia and online registration. We also encourage everyone to visit chattermarks.org, our blog on living, learning and teaching in the North Cascades, as well as our Facebook page at facebook.com/ncascades to find out the latest news, special offers, cool links and photographs. Head to the North Cascades this year and celebrate twenty-five years of conserving and restoring Northwest environments with us.
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www.ncascades.org
360.854.2599
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amy brown
amy brown
jessica haag
Šrick allen
nick mikula
institute staff
institute staff
Šrick allen
institute staff
overnight learning adventures and accommodations
BASE CAMP
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ase Camp, our most flexible and affordable program, offers the opportunity to explore and learn about “the American Alps” from skilled naturalists while enjoying the comforts of our campus in the heart of North Cascades National Park. Choose your own dates and length of stay to create a vacation that fits your schedule!
©rick allen
Every Base Camper will enjoy accommodations in our comfortable lodges, three meals and an invitation to our daily learning adventures on the natural and cultural history of the North Cascades. Learning adventures will be offered three times every day and will vary through the seasons. Options may include guided hikes, games, art activities, canoeing on Diablo Lake, natural history presentations, wilderness skills, campfires and more. BASE CAMP DATES: June 17-August 26 and weekends in September & October, on a space available basis. PRICING depends on accommodation choices: private room: $125 single shared room: $95 double: $160 triple: $195 quad: $230 Register with a family or group and save: a group of four sharing a room costs $230 a night, or less than $58 a person!
Base Camp, open to families and people of all ages, offers weekly learning adventure themes, including: Lakes, Streams and Glaciers of the North Cascades Adventure Week: Big Hikes, Canoeing & Fly Fishing Night Life: Crepuscular, Nocturnal & Diurnal Animals Base Camp in the Field at Newhalem Creek Campground. Sign up in advance by calling (360) 854-2599. For day-of registration, call (206) 526-2561 to check availability. Visit our website for theme week details and FAQs. credits top-bottom: ©rick allen, institute staff, ©rick allen
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connect with your family – and nature too!
FAMILY GETAWAYS
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ome experience the great outdoors with your family on a vacation you and your loved ones will never forget! Situated on the wooded shores of beautiful Diablo Lake, our green-built campus offers comfortable lodges, delicious, healthy meals, and engaging naturalist-led activities like canoeing, hiking, outdoor games and nature ©david snyder crafts. In the evening, we’ll gather around the campfire with stories and songs beneath the innumerable stars of the North Cascades night sky. While you make new family friends, you’ll also have opportunities to enjoy free time however you please. Call (360) 854-2599 to register. Families of all sizes and shapes are welcome, including grandparents, guardians, aunts and uncles, nontraditional families and friends. extended night option available for some getaways —ask our registrar for more information.
FAMILY GETAWAY DATES: Memorial Day Family Getaway May 28-30 Early July Family Getaway July 1-3
©rick allen
Late-July Family Getaway July 22-24 August Family Getaway August 12-14 Labor Day Family Getaway September 2-4
www.ncascades.org/family
©rick allen
Institute Staff
Thanksgiving Family Getaway November 24-26 PRICES: $225 per adult (18 and older); $155 per child (ages 3-17); children two and younger are free
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relax, reflect, recharge on diablo lake
DIABLO
July 8-10, August 19-21, September 16-18 Triple $245, Double $325, Single $485
DOWNTIMES
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tranquil getaway for adults looking to get away from it all and enjoy a peaceful weekend in the North Cascades, Diablo Downtimes offer the opportunity to explore our wild and scenic neighborhood at one’s own pace. ©rick allen Each day, staff naturalists will offer a variety of activities ranging from yoga classes to guided hikes to a voyage in our 18-person canoe. You may also choose to spend the day on your own timeline, exploring local trails, marveling at the scenery and communing with friends old and new. In the evenings, you are invited to enjoy presentations on the natural and cultural history of this unique region, gaze at the stars and sit around a campfire exchanging stories, poetry and music. Throughout the weekend, you’ll become acquainted with the Institute’s Foodshed Project — our initiative to use as much fresh, organic ingredients from local farms of the Skagit Valley as possible and to teach about sustainable agriculture, wild edibles and culturally important foods of the Pacific Northwest. Join us for a Downtime – “nature camp for grown-ups,” as The Seattle Times dubbed it – and let the mountains inspire relaxation, reflection and recharging of your mind, body and soul. www.ncascades.org/downtime
SPECIAL EVENTS
more details & ticket info at www.ncascades.org/events
Richard Louv
Thursday, May 12, 7 pm at Town Hall, Seattle Friday, May 13, 7 pm at Sehome High School, Bellingham The immediacy of the message in his best-selling book Last Child in the Woods galvanized an international movement to reconnect children with nature. With The Nature Principle, Louv offers a powerful call to action for the rest of us. Co-presented by REI, supported by the Sierra Club & US Forest Service.
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www.ncascades.org
overnight gatherings at the learning center
SOURDOUGH
SPEAKER SERIES
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torytelling has been an important part of the cultural landscape of the North Cascades for centuries, from the first native people to the colorful parade of explorers, miners, fire lookouts, rangers and dam workers that followed. Nestled beneath Sourdough Mountain, the Learning Center is a perfect venue for intimate gatherings of writers, naturalists and historians to share their own stories from our remarkable region. Your admission includes a dinner featuring locally-grown foods, a unique presentation by our speakers, overnight accommodations in our comfortable lodges, a hearty breakfast and a naturalist-led morning activity. www.ncascades.org/speakerseries
judy bentley
Hiking Washington’s History with judy bentley
March 26-27
jessica haag
jessica haag
Natural Beekeeping
Making Mandolins
with darren gordon & pam woods
with stan miller & john reischman
April 9-10
May 7-8
Northwest Vegetarian Cookbook author Debra Daniels-Zeller, Sept 24-25 October 22-23 and November 5-6 speakers to be announced $125 per person based on double occupancy $95 per person based on triple occupancy
Wendell Berry
Tuesday, May 24, 7:30 pm at Benaroya Hall, Seattle Critics and scholars have acknowledged Wendell Berry as a master of many literary genres, but whether he is writing poetry, fiction, or essays, his message is essentially the same: humans must learn to live in harmony with the natural rhythms of the earth or perish. Co-presented by Seattle Arts & Lectures.
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n curry ©jocely
SEMINARS & FIELD EXCURSIONS N
estled between Sourdough Mountain and Diablo Lake and bounded on either side by Deer and Sourdough creeks, the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center is a hub for discovery in the heart of the North Cascades. North Cascades Institute has operated the Silver LEED-certified Learning Center in partnership with the National Park Service and Seattle City Light since 2005. The wilderness campus features 16 buildings, outdoor shelters, a trail system and dock access to the lake. Our facilities include:
• Three comfortable lodges with ADA-accessible accommodations for 92 guests • A dining hall serving fresh, local and organic meals in tune with the seasons • Multimedia classrooms, science labs and the Wild Ginger Library Located along Washington’s State Route 20 just past Newhalem, 2.5 hours from Seattle or two from Bellingham, the Learning Center is the home base for most of the Institute’s programs, including Family Getaways, seminars and retreats, Base Camp, Mountain School, Diablo Downtimes, the Sourdough Speaker Series, Graduate M.Ed. Program and Group Rentals. Visit www.ncascades.org/learning_center for a slideshow of our campus, FAQs on visiting and useful links. Our blog Chattermarks, written by resident graduate students, shares stories and images of living, learning and teaching at the Learning Center – read their wonderful work at www.chattermarks.org
©rick allen
In 2011, we’ll also venture away from Diablo Lake to explore other nooks and crannies of our region, including the Methow and Skagit valleys, Seattle, the Arid Lands Ecology Reserve and the North Cascades backcountry.
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www.ncascades.org/get_outside
REGISTRATION KEY SEE PAGE 22 FOR COMPLETE DETAILS
Programs at the Learning Center offer several enrollment options based on accommodations. The campus includes 23 rooms in three guest lodges, each one with two sets of twin bunk beds. Depending on availability, you may choose one of the following: t (Triple occupancy): sharing a room with 2 other people, which will require use of an upper bunk. Our most affordable option. d (Double occupancy): sharing a room with one other person. s (Single occupancy): a private room. When you sign up with friends or family, you can request specific roommates at the time of registration. Otherwise, shared occupancy is assigned on a gender-specific basis. More information about our accommodations at ncascades.org/learning_center Credits and Clock Hours Most seminars offer optional academic credit through Western Washington University. The number available is signified by a “C.” Additionally, most seminars offer clock hours for teachers. The number available is signified by a “CH.” Please visit our website or call for additional information. Scholarships & Students To make programs available to a wide audience, we have scholarship funds available. We also offer a student discount of 50% off most Institute programs for actively enrolled students. Information and conditions are available on our website or by calling.
360.854.2599
Reptiles and Amphibians of the Methow Scott Fitkin and John Rohrer
April 29-30 (Fri pm-Sat) | Methow Valley $125 9CH Join biologists John and Scott for an intimate look at Eastern Washington’s reptiles and amphibians in the beautiful Methow Valley. We’ll hunt for breeding amphibians in local wetlands, search for reptiles and visit an active rattlesnake den. saul weisberg After a brief classroom introduction to our coldblooded neighbors, plan on spending Saturday in the field searching for these remarkable and often misunderstood critters in their native habitat.
Bunchgrass Dreams: Exploring Washington’s Sagebrush-Steppe Mark Darrach
May 14-15 (Sat-Sun) | Arid Lands Ecology Reserve $175 12CH/1C Join us for a weekend at the Arid Lands Ecology Reserve to experience the largest remnant of native sagebrush-steppe habitat in the state. Traveling with Mark by special permit, a botanist and geologist, we’ll explore the terrain by foot. An unspoiled saul weisberg refuge for an indigenous landscape disappearing throughout the West, the Reserve is home to an entire community of unique plants, reptiles, birds and mammals, including burrowing owls, sagebrush lizards, Swainson’s hawks, Rocky Mountain elk, Piper’s daisies and more than 45 species of butterflies.
www.ncascades.org / 360.854.2599
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Naturalists’ Delight: Spring Magic in the Methow Dana Visalli
May 14-15 (Sat–Sun) | Methow Valley $175 12CH/1C
benj drummond
Mid-May is the apex of spring in the Methow Valley: wildflowers carpet the foothills, neotropical migrants are flooding in from the south and morels emerge from beneath the aspen duff. Join us for a weekend with naturalist Dana, editor of The Methow Naturalist and an attentive resident of the valley for four decades. Meandering through the aspen-laced hills with all of our senses open, we’ll learn the basics of identifying the bewildering array of plants, mushrooms and mosses at our feet, while keeping an eye to the sky for birds, butterflies and bugs.
Hands to Work: Learning Center Stewardship Weekend Mike Brondi and Institute staff May 20-22 (Fri eve-Sun) | Learning Center
$50
Suggested donation includes 2 nights lodging & 6 meals 15CH
This spring, the Institute welcomes individuals eager to lend a hand and engage in a weekend of valuable stewardship work in the national park. Join us as we tend to our native flora and the habitat surrounding the Learning Center by way of shovel, shears and some elbow grease. We’ll provide all of the tools for a variety of projects for all abilities. Your hard work will be rewarded when our kitchen staff serves up hearty and delicious meals. After a satisfying day of stewardship, head out for a sunset stroll, relax in our library or spend an evening around the campfire sharing stories of this place.
Migration and Song: Spring Birding Weekend
Libby Mills and Tim Manns June 3-5 (Fri-Sun) | Learning Center and Methow Valley
t$215, d$295, s$455 15CH/1C
©roger iverson
Cost includes 1 night lodging, 3 meals at the Learning Center & a campsite in the Methow
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Discover the diversity of avian life that wings into the Pacific Northwest every spring during its annual migration. Joining expert birders Libby and Tim, we’ll explore forests, meadows and streams in the Methow and Skagit valleys, spending the first night at the Learning Center on Diablo Lake and the second night camping in the Methow. Each day, we’ll divide into instructor-led groups with our attention directed at not only the birds we’ll see, but also the awakening landscapes that support them.
www.ncascades.org
Landscape Watercolor in the North Cascades I: Summer Glory Molly Hashimoto June 10-12 (Fri-Sun) | Learning Center
t$275, d$355, s$515 18CH/1C
Cost includes 2 nights lodging & 7 meals
Learn an entire repertoire of techniques to capture the North Cascades with a medium that seems designed especially for the Pacific Northwest. Teaching to all levels, Molly will lead the group as we carve out the deep shadows of early morning on Pyramid Peak, dab our brushes wet-on-wet to express the mid-day chartreuse of vine maples, glaze the limitless light of summer skies and drybrush the late afternoon waves on Diablo Lake. The Learning Center’s neighborhood offers endless inspiration and subject matter to practice our plein air painting in a supportive environment of fellow artists and nature lovers.
The Artful Map: A One-Page Nature Journal Jocelyn Curry
©rick allen
June 10-12 (Fri-Sun) | Learning Center t$281, d$361, s$521 18CH/1C
Cost includes 2 nights lodging 7 meals & materials fee
A personal map presents your observations and knowledge of landscapes in creative and insightful ways. Whether literal or leaning more towards the abstract, you’ll create your map with the aid of a special art kit while exploring the Learning Center’s wild neighborhood. Instruction will include basic map iconography, drafting and coloring tips and the unique flourished calligraphy of old maps. We’ll work indoors and out, utilizing the Wild Ginger Library and an extensive collection of preserved nature specimens and antique maps. Jocelyn will lead group lessons as well as individual coaching in page design. ©jocelyn curry
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In the Company of Corvids John Marzluff
June 17-19 (Fri-Sun) | Learning Center t$245, d$325, s$485 18CH/1C Cost includes 2 nights lodging & 7 meals
Visit Skagit forests, Methow meadows and the passes in between in search of ravens, crows, jays, magpies and nutcrackers in their various habitats. John, professor of wildlife biology and foster parent to crows, will be your guide, bringing to life concepts from his award-winning book, In the Company of Crows and Ravens. Observe corvids’ habits and personalities firsthand and realize your part in the “cultural co-evolution” corvids and humans have long shared.
Methow Wings: Birds and Bugs of the Eastside Libby Mills and Saul Weisberg
July 8-10 (Fri-Sun) | Methow Valley $195 18CH/1C Our days will begin with the morning chorus and, as insects become active, we’ll follow nature’s opportunity with birding and insect study with the Institute’s executive director and a long-time instructor. We’ll learn about different habitats and enjoy the biological diversity of the Methow in early summer. The relationships between the plant and animal worlds will figure into our examinations. Migratory birds will be feeding their families, butterflies working the wildflowers for nectar – need we say more? institute staff
Gorge, Diablo and Ross: History of the Skagit Dams Jesse Kennedy
July 20-21 (Wed eve-Thu) | Learning Center t$125, d$150, s$225 9CH Cost includes 1 night lodging & 3 meals
Since the 1880s, the abundant waters of the Skagit River have provided power for the city of Seattle. The three dams on the Skagit – Gorge, Diablo and Ross – are inexorably linked to the cultural history of the North Cascades and are rich with tales of visionaries, forces of nature and feats of engineering. Join us when Jesse, Chief of Cultural Resource Management for North Cascades National Park, offers a behind-the-scenes look into the unique Skagit Hydroelectric Project. As a bonus, Seattle City Light is offering a rare opportunity to tour the Diablo Powerhouse! ©rick allen
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www.ncascades.org
Northwest Naturalists Retreat Robert Michael Pyle, Jennifer Hahn, Scott Fitkin and John Rohrer
July 28-31 (Thurs eve-Sun) | Learning Center t$305, d$385, s$545 21CH/1C Cost includes 3 nights lodging & 9 meals
An annual tradition in the North Cascades, this year’s Northwest Naturalists Retreat features four of the most interesting naturalists and field biologists working in the Pacific Northwest today. Author of The Butterflies of Cascadia, Mariposa Road, Wintergreen and many other books, Robert Michael Pyle has taught butterfly classes for the Institute since our very first field season in 1986. Twenty-five years later, Bob will once again lead us afield to a variety of productive butterfly habitats in the North Cascades. Once among the flowers and butterflies, we will watch, catch, examine, ID, release and watch some more all of the species that we can find. WWU professor, author and adventurer Jennifer Hahn learned the art of wild food foraging on extended wilderness trips like a 1000-mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail and a solo paddle from Alaska to Washington. Teaching from her new book Pacific Feast: A Cook’s Guide to West Coast Foraging and Cuisine, she’ll pass on whats she’s learned when we take edible plant walks, learn to identify the “food at our feet” and how to sustainably forage it and prepare delicious treats from “forest to fork.”
©eddie rivers
chris moench
Agency wildlife biologists Scott Fitkin and John Rohrer will draw on their 20+ years of ongoing fieldwork with rare Cascadian carnivores to share with us the fascinating ecology of the elusive gray wolf, wolverine, lynx and grizzly bear. Out and about in the field, we’ll visit an active camera station, DNA hair snag site and wolverine research trap as we explore the wilderness haunts of these charismatic species. Join us for a long weekend of field excursions, classroom presentations, hands-on learning and community at the Learning Center. scott fitkin
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Digital Wildflower Photography with a Pocket Camera Mark Turner July 31-August 2 (Sun-Tues) | Learning Center
t$215, d$295, s$455 18CH/1C
Cost includes 2 nights lodging & 7 meals
Do you have a pocket digital camera but aren’t quite sure how to make the most of it? Join award-winning photographer Mark to better maximize what your camera is capable of, identifying what features you really need and what your camera’s strengths are. Best of all, we’ll focus on the North Cascades’ annual bloom of wildflowers as our artistic subject. Mark, photographer for Timber Press’ popular Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest field guide, will introduce techniques before we head into the field, traveling to different areas along jessica haag the North Cascades Highway, to put them into practice. Our emphases will include creative composition, separating subjects from distracting backgrounds and controlling natural lighting.
Artistic Weaving with Western Red Cedar Melinda West
August 4-7 (Thurs-Sun) | Learning Center t$305, d$385, s$545 + $65 materials fee 24CH/1C Cost includes 3 nights lodging & 10 meals
melinda west
institute archives
Do you have a valued tool that deserves its own woven bark pouch? Would you like to create a purse that reflects your own artistic nature as well as the Pacific Northwest landscape? Join Melinda to learn the basics of the traditional art of weaving with plant fibers, from gathering and preparing the materials to weaving techniques such as twining and cordage making. You’ll learn about First Peoples’ traditional knowledge of plants, acquired and passed along over thousands of years of living in this place. Most of the materials you’ll use will come already prepared by the instructor, allowing time for you to practice the skills necessary to design, weave and complete a woven satchel.
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www.ncascades.org
Dragonflies and Damselflies of the North Cascades Dennis Paulson
August 5-7 (Fri-Sun) | Learning Center t$215, d$295, s$455 18CH/1C Cost includes 2 nights lodging & 7 meals
Shadow Darner, Boreal Bluet, Autumn Meadowhawk — Washington State harbors 76 species of dragonflies and damselflies. Join Dennis, the Northwest’s foremost authority on Odonates, to search lakeshores, wetlands and fields for the “diurnal bats of the skies.” With nets at the ready, we’ll search sloughs and fields along the Skagit River, wildflower meadows near Washington Pass and hidden wetlands in the Methow Valley. We’ll document our findings, bring specimens back to the lab for inspection under microscopes and help establish a permanent teaching collection for the Learning Center. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore alongside one of the most experienced and personable biologists and allaround naturalists in the Northwest. christian martin
Writing in the North Cascades I: The Art of the Quest Narrative Nick O’Connell
August 22-24 (Mon-Wed) | Learning Center t$275, d$355, s$515 15CH/1C Cost includes 2 nights lodging & 6 meals
A quest narrative is one of the oldest and most steadfast ways of telling a story. The Odyssey is a quest narrative, and there have been countless written since: Moby Dick, The Lord of the Rings, The Snow Leopard, Arctic Dreams. Join Nick to practice writing the quest narrative, an adaptable form that can be used to craft personal essays, travelogue, memoir, fiction and nature writing. Working together and individually, we’ll learn how we can employ the form to write about seeking to reconcile with your family, searching christian martin for the perfect glass of wine or attempting to scale Mt. Rainier. Our descriptions of the quest’s goal — whether a ring, redemption or communion with nature — will propel readers forward into our story. All skill levels and genres welcome!
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Mount Baker: The Story of Northwest Volcanoes Dave Tucker
August 27 (Sat) | Mount Baker area $95 6CH
©roger iverson
Experience time travel by foot on the Ptarmigan Ridge trail in Mount Baker’s late-summer high country. Dave is a leading geological expert on the Mount Baker region and will share his intimate knowledge of the natural and cultural history of the area. Our field excursion will begin above tree line at Artist’s Point before venturing out toward the glaciated volcano herself. Along the way, we’ll travel over ancient records of volcanism as we traverse the 1-million-year-old Kulshan caldera, discuss the origin of Table Mountain and examine layers of Mount Mazama volcanic ash preserved in the soil.
12th Annual Thunder Arm Writing Retreat Tim McNulty, Ana Maria Spagna and Langdon Cook September 8-11 (Thurs eve-Sun) | Learning Center
t$305, d$385, s$545 21CH/1C
Cost includes 3 nights lodging & 9 meals
The decade-long tradition of the Thunder Arm Writing Retreat continues with three gifted writers gathering to share their craft in the North Cascades. Long-time Institute instructor Tim McNulty is a poet and nature writer who lives and writes in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains. His work reflects an attentive regard for wild nature. Ana Maria Spagna has spent 20 years in tiny Stehekin deep in the North Cascades, where she crafts narratives that weave history, philosophy and wilderness politics into personal experiences with quirky insight and humor. Langdon Cook is a writer and blogger who writes about the intersection of food, foraging, family and exploring the outdoors. Under the mentorship of these writers with experiences in a diversity of genres, you’ll learn techniques for powerful writing inspired by nature. We strive for an inspiring supportive atmosphere where student groups rotate through instructors each day, enjoying a combination of craft talks, discussions, readings and individual writing activities.
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www.ncascades.org
Street-Smart Naturalizing in Seattle David Williams
Sept 24 (Sat) | Seattle $95 6CH From downtown to down by the Sound, explore Seattle’s wild side with David Williams, author of Stories in Stone: Travels in Urban Geology and The Seattle Street-Smart Naturalist: Field Notes from the City. With sharp observation skills and plenty of wit, he’ll open our eyes to the natural wonders of the urban environment and reveal secrets previously hidden beneath the hustle and bustle of the city. The day will begin beneath the Magnolia Bluff before proceeding along the Duwamish River, carolyn waters where we’ll read the record of Seattle’s most active earthquake zone. Towards the end of the day, we’ll head to Pioneer Square to start a two-mile-long transect to investigate 330-million-year-old fossils and see where mammoths once roamed.
Writing in the North Cascades II: The Art of the Essay Lyanda Lynn Haupt
October 7-9 (Fri-Sun) | Learning Center t$275, d$355, s$515 18CH/1C Cost includes 2 nights lodging & 7 meals
christian martin
The essay is a wondrous form and can contain anything a writer brings to it — obscure connections, questions without answers, observations, information, inspiration. It is the perfect form for exploring and deepening the human connection with the natural world and has been used exquisitely by nature writers including Aldo Leopold, Annie Dillard, Barry Lopez, Henry David Thoreau and Michael Pollan. Join Lyanda, author of Crow Planet and Rare Encounters with Ordinary Birds, in this inspiring class for writers of all experience levels. Essays offer freedom of expression, but in order to be good, an essay must also have clarity of vision, a consistent voice, a well-woven structure and a solid sense of craft. Work on all of these through writing exercises, readings and one-on-one coaching with Lyanda to invigorate your writing practice.
360.854.2599
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Landscape Watercolor in the North Cascades II: Autumn Bounty Molly Hashimoto October 7-9 (Fri-Sun) | Learning Center
t$275, d$355, s$515 18CH/1C
Cost includes 2 nights lodging & 7 meals
©molly hashimoto
Paint the vivid hues of autumn and learn an entire repertoire of techniques to capture the North Cascades with a medium that seems designed especially for the Pacific Northwest. Teaching to all levels, Molly will lead the group as we paint on location and experience the beauty of vine maples and other fall colors of the forest, as well as travel to higher elevations in search of glorious golden larches. In the evenings, we’ll paint in the classroom, modeling the rich forms and savoring the bright colors of a harvest cornucopia made from our local bounty. The Learning Center’s neighborhood offers us endless inspiration and subject matter to practice our plein air painting in a supportive environment of fellow artists and nature lovers.
Toadstools, Fairy Rings and Witches Butter: Northwest Mushrooms Lee Whitford Oct 29 (Sat) | Baker Lake Area
$95 6CH
kacey shoemaker
One of the planet’s most efficient recyclers, fungi work quietly to return nutrients and minerals to our ecosystems. Autumn rains nourish a proliferation of mushrooms in our region. Together, we’ll venture into the forest to learn more about the fungus among us. Lee Whitford, Program Director at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, a member of the Pacific Northwest Key Council and expert in mushroom field identification, will provide an overview of fungi, their habitats and helpful I.D. techniques. In the foothills of the North Cascades, delve deeply into mycological mysteries such as fungal structure, biology and evolution as well as important ecological roles like mycorrhizal associations and decomposition.
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www.ncascades.org
Register online at www.ncascades.org Register by phone at (360) 854-2599 Register by email at nci@ncascades.org
REGISTRATION
Online registration is not available for Family Getaways or Base Camp programs – please call for assistance. Šrick allen
Pricing and accommodations Pricing for Learning Center programs varies according to sleeping arrangements. Each room in our three guest lodges has two sets of twin bunk beds, with shared, gender-specific bathrooms with showers down the hall. Depending on availability and program, you may choose single, double, triple or quadruple occupancy. Single occupancy is limited and offered on a space-available basis. If you register for triple or quadruple occupancy, be prepared to use the top bunk. Shared occupancy is assigned on a gender-specific basis unless a particular roommate(s) is requested at the time of registration. All Learning Center programs include meals featuring local and organic foods when available. More info on accommodations, including FAQs and a slideshow tour, can be found at www.ncascades.org/learning_center. Cancellations If a registration is cancelled 21 days or more before a program starts, we will refund the tuition minus a cancellation fee. Fees are $25 for tuition of $99 or less; $50 for $100-299; $75 for $300-799; $125 for $800 or more. Cancellations that occur less than 21 days before the start of a program will not receive a refund. Scholarships, academic credit and clock hours To make programs available to a wide audience, we have scholarship funds available. Many Learning Center programs offer for optional academic credit through Western Washington University and/or teachers clock-hour certification approved by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Call us or visit our website for complete details. Student discount Students ages 14 and up receive 50 percent off most Institute programs with tuition over $100 (Family Getaways, Diablo Downtimes and Base Camp not included). Student must provide a copy of current student ID and pay balance in full at time of registration. Young adults Responsible youth 14-17 years are welcome in our programs, accompanied by a participating adult, with the exceptions of Diablo Downtimes and the Sourdough Speaker Series. Risk and responsibility Many of our programs are conducted in the field and are led by staff trained in risk management and safety. Participants should be in good physical condition and prepared to spend full days outdoors. The Learning Center is more than one hour from definitive medical care and those with medical conditions should consult their physicians before enrollment. We may encounter insects, wild animals, inclement weather and other unpredictable circumstances. Participants assume full responsibility for their own safety and must provide their own health and accident insurance. You will be required to sign an assumption of risk/hold-harmless waiver before the course begins.
360.854.2599
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connecting the next generation to nature
YOUTH PROGRAMS W
hen you enroll in an Institute program, your tuition dollars go toward helping us connect hundreds of young people more closely with the natural world. Our notable youth programs include:
nick mikula
nick mikula
elizabeth penhollow
Mountain School Established in 1990 with North Cascades National Park, Mountain School has become a national model for teaching young people about the natural world through handson learning experiences in the wilderness setting of the North Cascades. Over 2,000 students, parents and teachers each year come to the Learning Center to learn about the geology, forest ecology and natural and cultural history of the mountains.
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www.ncascades.org
amy brown institute staff institute staff
North Cascades Wild, a leadership development and wilderness conservation program for underserved youth, takes place on Ross Lake in North Cascades National Park and Baker Lake in Mount BakerSnoqualmie National Forest. The heart of the program is a backcountry canoe-camping, backpacking and service trip. During the course of 12 life-changing days, high school students from the Seattle area andSkagit and Whatcom counties complete restoration projects; learn Leave No Trace principles, outdoor camping and leadership skills; and study wilderness, stewardship and the natural and cultural history of the region. The tuition-free program includes spring and fall field trips and the opportunity to attend a 3-day Youth Leadership Conference at the Environmental Learning Center in November. Cascades Climate Challenge, a partnership with North Cascades National Park and Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest with support from The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, gathers high school youth from communities in Oregon and Washington to study climate change and leadership development for three weeks. The students explore climate change field science with experts and learn about energy conservation, national parks and forests, and stewardship. Upon returning home, they transform what they’ve learned about climate change to teach and lead service projects in their communities. Community and Neighborhood Programs, serving youth and adults throughout northwestern Washington, offer a variety of free stewardship and education opportunities. The youth portion of this program, a partnership between the Institute, US Forest Service, Mount Vernon Police Department and National Park Service, works with two of Skagit’s most diverse neighborhoods, youth from Seattle Catholic Community Service tutoring programs and the International District in Seattle in a variety of outdoor activities including field trips to local public lands. Adults are engaged as volunteer North Cascades Stewards, a year-round program focusing on conservation projects in the Skagit River watershed. Projects include eradicating invasive species, planting native plants, trail restoration and other activities to help conserve and restore the watershed.
360.854.2599
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live, learn and teach in the north cascades
M.Ed. GRADUATE PROGRAM North Cascades Institute offers a Master of Education program in partnership with Western Washington University’s Huxley College of the Environment that blends leadership and nonprofit administration, curriculum development and instructional strategies, natural and cultural history and program operations. Graduate students live and work at the Environmental Learning Center, pursue coursework at WWU’s Bellingham campus, teach kids and adults from all backgrounds, explore varied Northwest environments and make lifelong friends and professional contacts in our close-knit community. Upon graduation, students receive a M.Ed. degree from WWU and a Certificate in Leadership and Nonprofit Administration from the Institute.
nick mikula
nick mikula
jason ruvelson
www.ncascades.org/graduate
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credits
HOW YOU CAN HELP For 25 years, North Cascades Institute has taken tens of thousands of kids outdoors so they will fall in love with the natural world. Through place-based education and hands-on exploration, these young people know more about the environment and they are taking better care of it. They go on to become teachers, resource managers, scientists, farmers, doctors, rangers and public servants. We hear from many of them that their time with the Institute was the single most pivotal experience that inspired them to care about the environment and learn how to protect it. A teen who participated in a recent North Cascades Wild trip wrote: “I learned the skills to be a leader and how to be patient. I remember hiking as a group and hiking Desolation Peak. All of us were so proud of ourselves when we got up there. I remember how tough it was. I felt like I could do anything. I knew I could get my grades up after hiking in the mountains. I never thought I could do that. After my trip, I thought anything is possible. I had increased confidence and better leadership skills.” Powerful experiences like these are free or very low cost for the diverse populations of kids who participate. Your support makes this possible. We’ve been inspired, humbled and grateful for the support we’ve received from donors since the Institute was founded in 1986. The current economy presents tough challenges. But our dedication to our mission to conserve and restore Northwest environments remains steadfast and we need your support more than ever. Your gift, of whatever amount, will help more young people connect with the outdoors regardless of their ability to pay. They are the next generation who must take care of the environment. “The child in nature is an endangered species,” writes Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods, “and the health of children and the health of the Earth are inseparable.” Please help keystone programs like Mountain School, Cascades Climate Challenge and North Cascades Wild continue their vital work with diverse youth and give today! You can give online at www.ncascades.org/give by calling us at (360) 8542596 or sending a check to North Cascades Institute, 810 State Route 20, SedroWoolley, WA 98284.
360.854.2599
Photography: Rick Allen is a St. Paul, MN-based portrait photographer, advanced retoucher and research scientist with nearly 50 U.S. Patents and applications. Rick was the Artist in Residence at North Cascades National Park in 2009. His passion for education and communication led him to volunteer to photograph the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center, staff, students and programs the following summer. www.rickallenphoto.com Sketches: Clint Hensley is an Institute M.Ed. graduate student from Bowdoinham, ME, where he studied figurative art for many years with the painter Carlo Pittorre. It wasn’t until he arrived in the North Cascades that he began to draw from nature. He is now hooked. Edited by Christian Martin. Designed by Jessica Haag. Printed by Lithtex NW, Bellingham, WA.
institute staff
Thank you.
Cover: Loon Pair, Diablo Lake. Seattleite Molly Hashimoto teaches art and art history for North Cascades Institute, Yellowstone Association Institute and Sitka Center for Art and Ecology. Molly believes that sharing her knowledge of painting in America’s wild places helps to foster a community which works to preserve our treasured parks and wilderness areas. She is published by Pomegranate Communications. www.mollyhashimoto.com
Copyright 2011 North Cascades Institute. All rights reserved. Art and photo copyrights remain with creators and are used by permission.
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bring your group to the north cascades
GROUP RENTALS
Group rentals may include: • Lodging for up to 92 guests in our Silver LEED-certified lodges • Delicious catering featuring local and organic foods • Use of meeting conference rooms, trailside shelters and library • Internet access, projectors and other audio-visual equipment • Naturalist-led activities including canoeing and hiking • Excellent and personalized customer service • Inspiring community of green-living and sustainable practices The proceeds from your rental of the Learning Center help subsidize our youth education programs. Rates, booking and other information at (206) 526-2565.
©rick allen
www.ncascades.org/rentals
©daniel sheehan www.abeautifuldayphotography.com
Want to spend time at the Learning Center for your own activities? Bring your group to the North Cascades and host a group meeting, retreat or celebration at the Learning Center. Our unique field campus in North Cascades National Park inspires reflection, understanding and connections to the natural world, as well as each other. We welcome business conferences, weddings and reunions, board retreats, staff trainings and other gatherings.
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www.ncascades.org
shop to support the conservation of northwest environments
bookSTORES
GIFTS • MAPS • FIELD GUIDES • PASSES • CLOTHING When you explore the North Cascades this year, browse our visitor stores conveniently located at the North Cascades National Park headquarters in SedroWoolley, Wilderness Information Center in Marblemount, Visitor Center and Skagit Information Center in Newhalem, Golden West Visitor Center in Stehekin and Environmental Learning Center at Diablo Lake. At all of these diverse locations you’ll find books, maps, passes, trail guides, gifts, educational toys for kids and other resources to help you enjoy and learn more about the North Cascades. Your purchases will help fund tuitionfree education programs for young people. Bookstore Locations: ©rick allen
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Bellingham
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Winthrop
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Sedro-Woolley
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25th Anniversary Celebration
1. Sedro-Woolley 2. Marblemount Wilderness information center 3. Newhalem Visitor Center 4. Skagit Information Center 5. Environmental Learning Center 6. Stehekin
Major Partners:
Saturday, September 24 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
carolyn waters
North Cascades Environmental Learning Center
360.854.2599
You’re invited to help us celebrate 25 years of conserving and restoring Northwest environments through education. Join us for a BBQ picnic, naturalist activities on Diablo Lake and trails, Learning Center tours and a chance to meet Institute staff, grads and board members.
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Šbenj drummond
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www.ncascades.org
Institute leadership 2011 staff Jeff Anderson Tanya Anderson Dan Barrett Erin Bennett Kevin Biggs Tom Borst Debra Brodie Amy Brown Laura Busby Katie Chipko Mike Cuseo Ian Fair Jeff Giesen Kristofer Gilje Jessica Haag John Harter Jan Healy Anne Hubka Brooke Larrabee Orawan Layne Tasha Lexin Myles Lindstrom Karen Marks Christian Martin Deb Martin Hannah McCabe Megan McGinty Justin McWethy Kris Molesworth Amy Ortiz Katie Roloson Jason Ruvelson Rusty Shirley Kacey Shoemaker Aneka Singlaub Shelby Slater Julie Stone Mike Thamert Julie Toomey Justin Wallace Hannah Weisberg Saul Weisberg Amy Wilcox
board of directors Jim Bishop David Bonn Sterling Clarren Gerry Cook Dunham Gooding Peter Jackson Nan McKay John Miles Stan Miller Jeanne Muir Therese Ogle Byron Ricks Brian Scheuch Abby Sussman Tom Venable advisory board Pete Dewell Thomas Lowe Fleischner Rob Iwamoto Chip Jenkins Art Kruckeberg Estella Leopold Richard Louv Michael Napier Robert Michael Pyle John Reynolds Chuck Robinson
photos by institute staff
360.854.2599
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btus of energy, 679 pounds of solid waste and 1,335 pounds of greenhouse gases
printed on 100% cover & 40% text pcw with electricity offset renewable energy. by choosing recycled fiber, we saved 14 trees, 6,129 gallons of water, 10 million
For more information, visit www.skagittours.com For reservations, call (206) 684-3030.
• Diablo Lake boat tours on the Alice Ross and lunch at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center • Walking tours of historic Newhalem and Gorge powerhouse • Lunch and guided shuttle tours exploring highlights of the North Cascades Highway
North Cascades Institute, in partnership with Seattle City Light and North Cascades National Park, is offering interpretive tours of the fascinating natural and cultural history of the Upper Skagit Valley this summer.
photo courtesey of seattle city light
July & August 2011
SKAGIT TOURS