PARTICIPANT GROWTH DATA

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People come to the Environmental Learning Center to learn about the environment that shelters and sustains us … and those people grow up to be responsible citizens of a habitat, a food web and a planet.

— Barbara Kingsolver, author

FAMILY AND ADULT PROGRAMS have introduced tens of thousands of people to the natural and cultural history of the North Cascades through a wide variety of hands-on learning adventures. Family Getaways, art, writing and photography retreats, natural history classes and community events bring new audiences to the region to learn, explore and be inspired.

SKAGIT TOURS, offered in partnership with Seattle City Light and North Cascades National Park, provides public interpretation of the Upper Skagit Valley natural and cultural history through interactive boat tours, guided hikes and close-up views of the hydroelectric project. Staff also operate the Skagit Information Center in Newhalem, engaging with over 15,000 visitors annually.

3,660

3,710

2,140

Individuals served at the Environmental Learning Center (pre-COVID)

3,230

YOUTH LEADERSHIP ADVENTURES provide immersive wilderness experiences for local high school youth. Students canoe, backpack, camp and complete stewardship projects on public lands while discovering their leadership strengths, engaging in conversations about climate change and environmental justice, building inclusive communities, and creating visions of a hopeful and sustainable future.

25,000+ service hours contributed to stewardship projects in the North Cascades since 2006

GRADUATE M.ED. PROGRAM , a partnership with Western Washington University, trained 169 students in conservation, teaching strategies, nonprofit leadership, and natural and cultural history between 2001-2020 Alumni continued into successful careers with the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service, and on to leadership positions including Educational Directors, Sustainability Managers, Learning Center Directors, Interpretive Rangers and more across the country.

CONFERENCES AND RETREATS, events, trainings and other educational programs at the Learning Center inspire reflection and connection to the natural world amongst diverse groups. Groups include University of Washington, Doris Duke Conservation Scholars, Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, Bellingham School District, The Mountaineers, Remote Medical Training, Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle City Light, National Park Service, and many others.

North Cascades Institute introduces children —and reintroduces adults—to an increasingly remote outdoors. It reminds us why we should be amazed. Environmental education is not a luxury —it is the thing that can save us.

— William Dietrich, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist

Operations And Finances

North Cascades Institute is a 501(c)(3) education organization founded in 1986. The Institute depends on a robust business model with multiple revenue streams. Pre-COVID, the Institute’s budget was close to $4 million with 83% of revenue coming from a combination of philanthropic giving, returns on investments, and earned income and 17% from Seattle City Light as part of the 1991 Settlement Agreements and Skagit Hydropower License.

Seattle City Light funded the buildings and some ongoing program and maintenance support. The National Park Service provides critical in-kind support in the form of land management, water and septic systems, and visitor protection. The Institute leverages and magnifies Seattle City Light and Park Service support to develop and implement the educational programming envisioned in the 1995 FERC License.

On average, more than 85% of Institute revenue goes directly to programs. The Institute has 17 four-star ratings with Charity Navigator for exemplary fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency. Financial Reports and Audits, Annual and Program Reports are available at ncascades.org/reports

A Vision For The Future

The North Cascades Environmental Learning Center was the centerpiece of Seattle City Light’s Recreation Plan in the 1995 FERC License for the Skagit Hydroelectric Project. The Institute continues to believe that education and recreation are critical tools to help people understand and appreciate the history of the area: what was lost, what was gained and how to prepare for the future. The current license expires in 2025, with negotiations underway for a new one that could last 30-50 years.

Our goal is that the Environmental Learning Center will continue to expand and enhance environmental education, outdoor recreation and related activities as mitigation for the continuing impacts of the Skagit Hydroelectric Project. The Institute and the Learning Center will be change agents for the future of education, recreation and conservation in the North Cascades by:

• Helping students and visitors experience, understand and care for the natural and cultural resources of the Skagit Watershed

• Providing greater access and understanding through equitable and inclusive programming

• Supporting the interests of Tribes, Agencies and Organizations concerned with the future of the Skagit Watershed

• Giving back to local communities whose resources and economies have been impacted by the Project

• Engaging Seattle communities who benefit from the Project

• Educating for climate resiliency and a clean energy future