north cascades institute 2009 catalog

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EXPLORE YOUR WILD BACKYARD WITH NORTH CASCADES INSTITUTE

andHERE!

I’M HEARTENED TO SEE PEOPLE

EXPRESSING a renewed inter-

est in getting to know their

own extended neighborhoods.

Families are rediscovering

the joys of simple vacations.

Couples are choosing to spend

their leisure time closer to

home. In 2008, North Cascades

Institute served a record number

of people at the Learning Center

and across the state; more fami-

lies communing at our Family

Getaways, more artists and writ-

ers participating in our creative

retreats, more friends enjoying

Diablo Downtimes and Field

Excursions, more adults taking

natural and cultural history

classes and more children learn-

ing about the North Cascades

ecosystem in Mountain School.

Yahoo News recommends

that we “chill out, stay green and

explore the wild side without

burning through your budget”

while Green Living Ideas notes

“with a little creativity, you can

create an affordable retreat in

your own backyard…staycations

allow you to explore the activities

in your area that you usually

brush aside, assuming that one

day you’ll have time for them.”

The popularity of staycations

is a positive trend for many rea-

sons—environmental, economic,

spiritual—and they dovetail with

our goals at the Institute. For 24

years, we’ve been working to

conserve and restore Northwest

environments through educa-

tion and hands-on experiences,

believing that learning about

and feeling the intimate details

of a place naturally lead to

caring about the integrity of

that place. Knowledge precedes

connection—we need both

before action.

We’ve seen it happen again

and again, and it never gets

old: the wonder that washes

over the faces of students as

they make a new discovery

alongside Deer Creek; families

forging memories on a hike

to Sourdough Waterfall, the

amazement of kids paddling a

canoe for the first time on Ross

Lake. Learning the names of our

neighbors—maidenhair fern,

pika, greenschist, lazuli bunting,

green darner—changes and

enriches our lives.

What are you waiting for?

Flip through this catalog (or visit

www.ncascades.org for expand-

ed listings) and find the program

that is right for you. Bring along

your family, your partner or your

friends. Rediscover the simple

pleasures of learning and playing

in nature. This year we offer more

ways than ever to rediscover

and reconnect with this amazing

place we are so fortunate to call

home. By choosing to explore

your own backyard, you’ll not only

benefit the environment and your

budget—you’ll also give yourself

the gift of connection, community

and hope for the future.

Saul Weisberg, Executive Director

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CO N T E N T SMarch

28-29 Sourdough Speaker Series I:

In the Company of Tony Angell

April10-12 Booklovers Weekend with

Nancy Pearl

17-19 A Sense of Place: Writing

about the Outdoors

The Secret Life of Lichens

Simple Elegance: Block

Printing in the North

Cascades

25-26 Sourdough Speaker Series II:

Abby Hill’s Legacy of Art and

Conservation

May1-3 Hands to Work: Learning

Center Stewardship

Weekend

9-10 Colors and Calls: Birding By

Ear and Eye

Sourdough Speaker Series

III: The Skagit River Dams

15-17 May Diablo Downtime

23-25 Memorial Day Family

Getaway

27 An Evening with Gary Snyder

30 Duwamish River Kayak

Excursion

Institute Annual Picnic

June 5-7 Landscape and Lens:

Photographing the North

Cascades

Spring Birding Weekend:

Neo-Tropical Migrants

6 Free Day Trip I

7 Wild Whatcom: The Nature

of Bellingham

12-14 Greening Your Garden

The North Cascades in Plein

Air Watercolor

Beats: The Rhythmic

Experience of the North

Cascades

San Juan Islands Botany

14 Field Sketching: Deception

Pass

19-21 June Diablo Downtime

21 Wild Whatcom: The Nature

of Bellingham

26-28 Late June Family Getaway

26-28 Methow Migrations: Birds

28-2 Grantwriting in the North

Cascades

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l ON THE WEB: WWW.NCASCADES.ORG/GET_OUTSIDE

www.ncascades.org 360.856.5700 x2092009

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July 2-5 Fourth of July Family

Getaway

9-12 Family Backpacking I

Ross Lake by Boat and Boot:

People and Places of the

Upper Skagit

10-12 July Diablo Downtime

12 Skagit Valley Farm Tour I

13-15 Mid July Family Getaway

16–19 Art Afield: Diablo Creative

Arts Retreat

17-19 The Night Sky in the High

Desert

19 Free Day Trip II

23-26 Late July Family Getaway

25 Geology of Mount Baker I:

Lake Ann

26 Wildflowers of Mount

Baker I

Skagit Valley Farm Tour II

30- Aug 2

Eleventh Annual Thunder

Arm Writing Retreat

August1 Wildflowers of Mount

Baker II

2 Free Day Trip III

6-9 Geology of Mount Baker II:

Easton Glacier Backpack

7-9 August Diablo Downtime

10-12 Early August Family Getaway

12-16 Easy Pass Backpack:

Thunder Creek to Fisher

Basin

Family Backpacking II

13-16 Beats on the Peaks: Lookout

Poets and Backcountry Tales

on Ross Lake

Northwest Naturalists

Weekend

17-19 Mid-August Family Getaway

21-23 Late August Family Getaway

22 Geology of Mount Baker III:

Ptarmigan Ridge

27-30 Sourdough Mountain

Celebration

28-30 Mutual Destinies: Human-

Corvid Interactions

September 4-7

Labor Day Family Getaway

11-13 Constructive Capitalism:

Opportunities of

Sustainability

Forest Carnivores of the

North Cascades

Digital Outdoor

Photography: Capturing the

Cascades

12 Shack Medicine: A Fishtown

Excursion

18-20 September Diablo Downtime

20 Skagit Valley Harvest Tour III:

Upriver Bounty

26 Seattle’s Wild Side: Natural

History in the Streets

26-27 Sourdough Speaker Series

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27 Free Day Trip IV

October2-4 Will Write for Change:

Communication Tools and

Techniques for Activists

3 Shades of Fall: Arboretum

Watercolor Expedition

10-11 Sourdough Speaker Series

V: Border Songs with Jim

Lynch

16-18 October Diablo Downtime

23-25 Sit, Walk, Write: Nature and

the Practice of Presence

24-25 Toadstools, Fairy Rings and

Witch’s Butter: Northwest

Mushrooms 101

November7-8 Sourdough Speaker Series

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25-28 Thanksgiving Family

Getaway

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elusive combination of adventure and comfort?

Searching for a way to experience the great outdoors without traveling too far afield? Want

to feel like you’ve left behind your day-to-day life without the burden of a large credit card or

carbon footprint?

In the spirit of eco-friendly “stay-cations,” North Cascades Institute offers a way to con-

nect with your family—and nature too—at our Learning Center on Diablo Lake. Spend time

together enjoying the invigorating mountain air and starry skies of the North Cascades, but

leave the tent at home because our lodges offer the excitement of camping without all the

complications! We’ve created a slate of activities perfect for introducing people of all ages to

nature, from hikes through ancient woodlands along Thunder Creek to story-telling, games

and arts and crafts to an exploration of forest life we call “Slugs, Snags and Sapsuckers.”

With the tastes of multiple generations in mind, our kitchen staff serves three scrumptious,

healthful, buffet-style meals a day in our lakeside dining hall. After evening campfires, you and

your family can retire to your private room, spend some time with a book in the Wild Ginger

Library or stay up late chatting with new friends in one of our comfortable lounges.

We welcome families that include parents, guardians, grandparents, children and extended

family. Three-day Family Getaways are $225 per adult (18 and older) and $155 per child

(ages 3-17); four-day Getaways are $295 per adult (18 and older) and $195 per child (ages

3-17). Children ages two and younger can be added to the “family” registration at no charge.

Children under the age of six are the responsibility of a parent throughout the program.

Make this summer’s close-to-home getaway one your family will look forward to year after year!

F A M I LY G E TA W AY SGATHER YOUR FAMILY IN THE NORTH CASCADES

May 23–25 (Memorial Day)

June 26–28

July 2–5 (4 day/4th of July)

July 13–15 (midweek)

July 23–26 (4 day)

Aug 10–12 (midweek)

Aug 17–19 (midweek)

Aug 21–23

Sept 4–7 (4 day/Labor Day)

Nov 25–28 (4 day/

Thanksgiving)

l ON THE WEB: WWW.NCASCADES.ORG/FAMILY

l FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER, VISIT WWW.NCASCADES.ORG/FAMILY OR CALL (360) 856-5700 EXT. 209.

www.ncascades.org 360.856.5700 x209www.ncascades.org 360.856.5700 x2092009

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Big Canoe: Adventure on Diablo Lake

“Big Trees and Big Views”

“Birds to Bears” Wildlife Tracking

Children’s Story Hour

“Geology Rocks!” Waterfall Hike

“Slugs, Snags and Sapsuckers” Forest Life Introduction

ON THE WEB: WWW.NCASCADES.ORG/FAMILY k www.ncascades.org 360.856.5700 x2092009

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a weekend to relax. Diablo Downtime is for anyone looking for

a break from the hurried life, a laid-back stretch in the mountains with only the simplest decisions

to make: What kind of adventure should I choose today? Paddling on Diablo Lake or the hike to the

Sourdough Creek waterfall? How about a little yoga in the morning? Should I have seconds of that

organic blueberry cobbler? Or just stroll to the dock to enjoy the sunset...

Named for the beautiful lake at our doorstep, Diablo Downtime is a getaway for adults—singles,

couples, siblings, friends, even parents looking for a hideout. Arriving Friday afternoon, you’ll settle

into our cozy lodges, and then gather as the sun sets over Diablo Lake for a welcome with hors

d’oeuvres. Each day, you can choose from a range of activities, from invigorating hikes with local

naturalists to canoe trips through pine-studded islands and fern-draped cliffs to beginning and

intermediate yoga.

You’ll also appreciate “slow food”—delicious meals that celebrate food gathered from the bounty

of the Skagit Valley. Our talented kitchen staff will offer an introduction to the Institute’s Foodshed

Project, our initiative to use local and organic products at the Learning Center and teach about food

choices, sustainable agriculture and culturally important foods in the Pacific Northwest.

Then, of course, there’s the peace and quiet of the North Cascades, which you’re more than wel-

come to indulge in. Just come upriver, settle in and relax. We’ll be waiting for you.

D I A B L O D O W N T I M EHIKING AND CANOEING, YOGA AND SLOW FOOD

Charles Claassen, Adam Russell,

Hannah Sullivan and Institute

Naturalists

(Fri eve–Sun)

Learning Center $325 includes 2

nights double-occupancy lodging and

6 meals

$80 DISCOUNT FOR TRIPLE OCCUPANCY

$160 PREMIUM FOR PRIVATE ROOM

Diablo Downtime yoga instructor Hannah Sullivan practices a headstand

l FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER, VISIT WWW.NCASCADES.ORG/DOWNTIME OR CALL (360) 856-5700 EXT. 209.


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2009

LEARNING CENTER DAY TRIPS

Ramble through the mossy woods. Hike to a hidden waterfall. Paddle on emerald-green Diablo Lake.

Learn more about the Institute, our programs and our eco-friendly Learning Center campus. Our free

Day Trips are easy to enjoy—just lace up your boots, pack your lunch and venture to our campus off

Highway 20. Bring personal gear, appropriate clothing, food and water. This is a day program only;

participants are responsible for their own lodging and meals off campus. Doors open for signup at

8:30 am for the following activities:

Gently paced, naturalist-led hikes departing from the Learning Center office. Visitors may hike

independently as well.

Voyager canoe trips are weather-dependent and first come, first served. Twelve passengers maxi-

mum per trip; must be over six years of age. Prior experience is not necessary and all canoeing

equipment will be provided.

l MORE INFORMATION, INCLUDING DRIVING DIRECTIONS, AT WWW.NCASCADES.ORG/DAYTRIPS.

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S O U R D O U G H S P E A K E R S E R I E SONE-NIGHT GATHERINGS AT THE LEARNING CENTER

an important part of the cultural

landscape of the North Cascades for centuries, from when the first native people

searched for trading routes through the crest to the colorful parade of miners, log-

gers, hikers, fire lookouts, climbers, rangers and dam workers that followed. Nestled

at the foot of Sourdough Mountain, our Learning Center is the latest venue in the

Upper Skagit for intimate gatherings of Northwest artists, writers, naturalists and

historians to share their own stories from the region.

Each Sourdough Speaker Series engagement begins Saturday around sunset

with wine and hors d’œuvres on the deck of our lakeside dining hall before moving

inside for an informal gourmet dinner of local and organic foods prepared by our

renowned kitchen staff. A presentation by our guest speaker will follow, with ample

time for questions, discussion and getting acquainted with others. Following Sunday

morning’s coffee and breakfast, we’ll offer an optional activity designed to get you

outdoors, exploring the Learning Center’s neighborhood.

Your ticket includes two meals, a one-of-a-kind presentation and overnight accom-

modations in our comfortable guest lodges, as well as access to the Wild Ginger

Library, our trail system and after-hours lounges. Dress is casual, of course. Your

ticket confirmation will include travel directions, check-in information and other

details. Attendance is limited to 40 guests; $95 per person for each event.

In the Company of Tony Angell Tony Angell, artist

(Sat–Sun)

Tony Angell’s remarkable sculptures celebrate nature in its many

forms and can be seen in public places throughout the Northwest—

the ravens guarding the entrance to the Mt. Baker Ski Area are a

local favorite—as well as in prominent public and private collections.

He is the illustrator of many books beloved by Northwest naturalists

including In the Company of Crows and Ravens, written with John

Marzluff and awarded a Washington State Book Award in 2006, and

the classic field guide Marine Birds and Mammals of Puget Sound.

Tony has served as a board member of Washington’s chapter of the

Nature Conservancy, is an elected Fellow of the National Sculpture

Society and retired in 2002 as Director of Environmental Education for

the state of Washington after 30 years. He is a longtime supporter of

North Cascades Institute as well as other nonprofits that work to con-

serve Northwest environments.

“My art is intended to be my aesthetic invitation to a broad audi-

ence,” Tony said. “My hope is that, through art, they will discover and

cherish the living systems of this special place — from the Cascade

watersheds to the open waters of Puget Sound.”

During this special evening, Tony will share images and stories of a

lifetime spent bringing people closer to nature through art.

“The setting and

the campus were

beautiful and the

other attendees

were so congenial.

Sourdough Speaker

gatherings offer a

relaxed, welcoming

atmosphere created

by the staff, the

delicious, healthy

food and, of course,

last weekend’s

perfect weather.”

l FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER, VISIT WWW.NCASCADES.ORG/SPEAKERSERIES OR CALL (360) 856-5700 EXT. 209.


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A Woman Lured West: Abby Hill’s legacy of art and conservationAndrea Moody, consulting curator, Abby Williams Hill

Collection; Molly Hashimoto, artist

(Sat–Sun)

Lured by a marketing campaign promoting the Northwest’s epic

landscapes and mountain scenery, Abby Williams Hill arrived

in Washington with her husband about the time the remote

territory became a state. Driven by an artistic desire to capture

the largely unknown landscapes, Hill rejected the conventional

expectations of women of her generation and went on to estab-

lish herself as a preeminent and widely exhibited landscape

painter. Along the way, she spent a good deal of her life in the

wilderness, raising and educating four children and working for

educational reform. She was a popular artist for promotional

railway commissions and, thanks to a special agreement, Hill

was able to retain much of the work she created. Today, the

intact collection resides at the University of Puget Sound where

it is curated and interpreted by art historian Andrea Moody.

Andrea will share the images and stories of this remarkable

woman. She will be joined by Molly Hashimoto, a popular

Institute instructor and artist with a passion for Hill’s work and

for her place in the history of the Northwest art and culture.

The Skagit River Dams: A story of water, rock and human imagination Jesse Kennedy, North Cascades National Park Archives

(Sat–Sun)

The three dams on the Skagit River—Gorge, Diablo and Ross—

generate about 17 percent of the electrical power consumed in Seattle

but, remote and inaccessible, they remain a mystery to many of

us. Planning for the dams began in the early 1900s, climaxed with

the completion of Ross in 1961 and continues even today. As one

historian noted, during those decades “the project had to overcome

competition, politics, international diplomacy, the weather and the

mountains themselves.” This massive hydroelectric project is inexo-

rably linked to the cultural history of the Skagit Valley and the North

Cascades and is rich with intertwined tales of visionaries, nature and

feats of engineering. Interpreting this history in story and rare achival

photos will be Jesse Kennedy, chief of Cultural Resource Management

for North Cascades National Park, who will be joined by Seattle City

Light experts who can answer most any esoteric question you may

have about dams and how they work. As a special bonus, we are

working with SCL to arrange a special Sunday-morning cruise aboard

the 50-foot Alice Ross III to see Ross and Diablo dams up close and

imagine, if concrete could talk, the stories they have to tell. (Optional

boat tour is pending and requires additional fee.)

AN EVENING WITH GARY SNYDERMAY 27, BENAROYA HALL, SEATTLE Join Seattle Arts & Lectures and North Cascades Institute in welcoming Gary

Snyder back to the Pacific Northwest for a very special engagement at Benaroya

Hall. Snyder is the author of several volumes of poetry, including Turtle Island,

Mountains and Rivers Without End and Danger on Peaks, and collections of

essays like The Practice of the Wild, A Place in Space and Back on the Fire. This

year marks the 50th anniversary of his landmark compendium of mountain

poetry, Riprap and Cold Mountain Poems. Snyder served as a fire lookout on

Sourdough and Crater mountains in the North Cascades during the summers of

1952-53, writing some of his most inspired verse on a ridge high above North

Cascades Environmental Learning Center. Join the Institute in giving Snyder a

warm welcome back to his old stomping grounds in Washington State!

l TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.LECTURES.ORG/BOXOFFICE OR (206) 621-2230 ext.10.

CAN’T MAKE IT TO SEATTLE? JOIN US FOR “BEATS ON THE PEAKS” AUG 13–16 (PG. 29) OR “SOURDOUGH MOUNTAIN CELEBRATION” AUG 27–30 (PG. 31)!

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pages, North Cascade Institute offers two

distinct routes for you to explore and interact with the natural and cultural history

of the Pacific Northwest.

One pathway leads to the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center, our

field campus on the shores of Diablo Lake in the heart of the North Cascades.

When you sign up for a program at the Learning Center, you are purchasing

more than a world-class educational experience. Along with hands-on instruction

from the Pacific Northwest’s finest artists, scientists, naturalists and writers, most

Learning Center programs include accommodations in one of our comfortable

ADA-accessible lodges, delicious, fresh and healthful meals served in our lakeside

dining hall, access to multimedia classrooms, the amphitheater and Wild Ginger

Library, intimate proximity to Diablo Lake, trails leading into the national park

and secluded shelters in nearby woodlands and personalized attention from our

dynamic staff of naturalists and educators. Considering the combined value of

instruction, content, lodging, meals and Learning Center amenities, our programs

are easily one of the greatest getaway deals in the Pacific Northwest!

Sign up for a Learning Center program–Diablo Downtime, adult seminars

and retreats, Sourdough Speaker Series, Family Getaways and more–and find out

why the Seattle Times, after visiting us in the summer of 2008, wrote “What in the

name of Eden had we stumbled upon?”

The other pathway winds throughout Washington State, from Seattle to the

Skagit Valley to Mount Baker to the Columbia Plateau, from mountaintops to

riverbanks to city streets. Field Excursions

explore the diversity of ecosystems and

communities that exist in our corner of

the planet in ways both educational and

entertaining. Register for a kayaking trip,

a backcountry hike, a visual art excursion,

a farm tour or a stroll through urban

woodlands and let the Institute and our

instructors–each a leader in their respec-

tive field–lead you to a deeper appreciation

of the Pacific Northwest.

Whether you choose a Field

Excursion, a Learning Center program

or both, we hope you’ll join us in 2009

to strengthen your connections with the

land, people and communities of this

amazing place we are so lucky to call

home. By choosing to explore your own

backyard this year, you’ll not only benefit

the environment and your budget, you’ll

be giving yourself the gift of connection,

community and hope for the future.

L E A R N I N G C E N T E RP R O G R A M S A N D F I E L D E X C U R S I O N S

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Explore the side canyons of Ross Lake on the Mule, July 9–12 or Aug 13–16


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Booklovers Weekend with

Nancy Pearl

Nancy Pearl, Christina Claassen

and Institute Naturalists

(Fri–Sun) 18 /1CP

Learning Center 2 nights lodging &

7 meals

$355 PER PERSON, SHARED OCCUPANCY


$160 PREMIUM FOR SINGLE OCCUPANCY

The Northwest has a reputation

as being one of the most liter-

ary or “bookish” regions in the

country. Some say it’s because

of our winters, when short days

and long stretches of drizzle

inspire many to stay inside with a

good read. Celebrate the dawn of

spring by emerging from hiberna-

tion to join Nancy at the Learning

Center for a celebration of all

things books. Nancy will share

selections from her popular series

Book Lust and open up pathways

to new books and authors of the

Pacific Northwest. Together with

Christina, our talented librarian,

we’ll get in touch with our inner

bookworms while enjoying a

weekend of reading, discussion

and inspiration with plenty of

time to stretch your legs on the

greening trails.

“Sunflower Bee.” Make block prints with Ruthy Porter, April 17–19


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A Sense of Place: Writing About

the Outdoors Nick O’Connell

(Fri–Sun) 18 /1CP

Learning Center 2 nights lodging & 7 meals




Writing is an abstract art, relying on

tiny black symbols against a white

background to re-create the physical

world in all of its color and complexity.

How can writers conjure a sense of a

place in their work? This workshop will

teach you how to make a place come

alive through the use of specific imag-

ery, concrete language, dramatic scene

and point of view to bring the reader

into the world you’re describing. We’ll

read travel and nature writing from

Paul Theroux, Edward Abbey, Brenda

Peterson and George Orwell and

discuss how these authors manage to

capture a sense of place in their work.

Through free writing, short exercises

and discussion, writers will complete

a short story of their own evoking a

strong sense of place. Nick O’Connell

is the author of On Sacred Ground:

The Spirit of Place in Pacific Northwest

Literature and At the Field’s End:

Interviews with 22 Pacific Northwest

Writers. Learn more about his work at

www.thewritersworkshop.net.

L E A R N I N G C E N T E R R E G I S T R AT I O N I N F O

Simple Elegance: Block Printing

in the North Cascades Ruthy Porter

(Fri–Sun) 18 /1CP





Emerging wildflowers, towering ever-

greens and jagged Cascade peaks

reflected in cool, rippling waters inspire

awesome works of art. Join us in an

amazing setting and try your hand at

the classic and elegant medium of block

printing with Ruthy, a graphic designer

and environmental educator. You’ll learn

about materials—we’ll use Safety-Cut

blocks, which cut like butter—as well as

pre-drawing planning and the consid-

eration of subject matter, composition,

technique, values and reverse images.

Ruthy will also address the challenge of

capturing the essence—or “is-ness”—of

your subject. On the first day, you’ll

carve and print one simple miniature

block to get the feel of the tools and

the process. During the next two days,

you’ll explore the site in search of

intriguing subjects, cut two card-size

blocks and experiment with printing on

various papers. Materials and tools will

be provided and you’ll go home with

everything you need to pursue your

newfound passion!

If you’ve never attended an

Institute adult program, you may be

eligible for a first-timers discount!

See page 36 for complete details.

Classes at the Learning Center

offer several enrollment options,

and pricing varies according to

sleeping arrangements. The campus

includes 23 rooms in three guest

lodges, each with one twin bed and

a set of twin bunk beds. Depending

on availability, you may choose one

of the following:

The standard price listed is

per person, sharing a room with

one other person. Triple occupancy

is sharing a room with two other

people. This may require use of an

upper bunk, accessible by an easy-

to-climb ladder. Single occupancy is

for a room for one person.

Shared occupancy is assigned

on a gender-specific basis unless a

particular roommate(s) is requested

at time of registration. Single

occupancy is limited and offered

on a space-available basis. If you

register for triple occupancy, please

be prepared to use the top bunk,

even though you might not be

required to.

All Learning Center classes

include meals prepared by our

kitchen staff and feature local and

organic foods. To learn more about

accommodations, visit

www.ncascades.org/learning_center .

Prices listed next to Field

Excursions are per person.

Participants in Field Excursions are

responsible for their own food and

lodging unless otherwise specified

in the course description.

To make programs available to a

wide audience, we have scholarship

funds available. Many Learning

Center classes are offered for option-

al academic credit through Western

Washington University and/or teach-

er clock hour certification approved

by the Office of the Superintendent

of Public Instruction. See page 36

for complete details.

ON THE WEB: WWW.NCASCADES.ORG/GET_OUTSIDE k

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The Secret Life of Lichens

Katherine Glew

(Fri eve–Sun)

15 /1CP


6 meals




Crustose, fruticose, foliose, squa-

mulose, thallus, medulla, apoth-

ecia—lichens are so unique that

they require their own special

vocabulary. True cooperators that

can be composed of members of

three different kingdoms, these

amazing organisms exist in plac-

es where other things can’t sur-

vive, like on arctic soil, building

stones or window glass. Lichens

are also becoming a valuable key

to unlocking mysteries of natural

history, providing time-clues for

geologic events, markers for mea-

suring air quality and displaying

the ability to repel insects. With

Katherine, a lichenologist, educa-

tor and researcher, we’ll learn

lichen ecology and identification

while discovering their economic

and social uses and the vital

roles they play in nutrient- and

mineral-cycling.

Learn about the microscopic world of lichens, like these “Pixie cups,” April 17–19

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2009

Duwamish River

Kayak Excursion

Cindy Updegrave and

Alki Kayak Tours

(Sat) 6

Seattle $160 includes box lunch,

kayak instruction & equipment

Emptying into Elliot Bay

south of downtown Seattle,

the Duwamish River is like a

historical document. Reading it

reveals a history of ice sheets,

earthquakes, lahars from Mt.

Rainier and thousands of years

of human occupation. Existing

simultaneously as both sacred

land and a Superfund site, the

river holds tales from the past

and promises for the future.

Come groundtruth its stories as

we explore the river by kayak,

talking with members of the

Duwamish tribe, examining

evidence of the Seattle fault,

observing restoration sites and

experiencing the waterway from

a rarely seen vantage point.

Alki Kayak Tours will provide

boats and keep us safe on the

water while Cindy, a University

of Washington ecologist, will be

the river’s interpreter on this

journey through restoration.

Colors and Calls: Birding

By Ear and Eye Libby Mills

(Sat–Sun) 12

Bellingham area $165 includes box

lunches & van transportation

As spring comes to Washington,

our location on the Pacific

Coast flyway provides a view

of feathered migrants arriving

on the wave of warmer weather

and longer days. Join Libby, who

has spent her life observing and

recording bird life across the

Americas, as she teaches us how

to identify different bird lan-

guages, including the distinctions

between the mating and territorial

songs that are so abundant in

the spring. Traveling as a group,

we’ll tune in to the rich breeding-

season display of song and plum-

age, using our senses to catch

glimpses of species arriving to

nest in the area as well as those

on their way to breeding grounds

in the north. We’ll spend one day

exploring shorelines looking and

listening for shore and water birds

and another in the hills searching

for forest- and mountain-dwelling

bird life of higher ground.

Participants are responsible for

lodging Saturday night.

Hands to Work: Learning Center

Stewardship Weekend

Mike Brondi and Staff Naturalists

(Fri eve–Sun) 15





During the months following the construc-

tion of the Learning Center, dozens of vol-

unteer Plant Stewards helped the Institute

hand-plant more than 22,000 native shrubs

and trees throughout the campus in an

effort to rehabilitate the long-used site. Four

years later, those plants are doing better

than we ever imagined. This spring, we’re

hosting a special gathering to express grati-

tude to the hands that put all of those vine

maples and Oregon grapes in the ground,

and offering new stewards the opportunity

to form a relationship to this piece of earth

by giving back to it. Join Mike, National Park

Service staff and Institute naturalists as we

tend to our native flora and the habitat sur-

rounding the Learning Center. There will be

projects for all abilities and interests, from

thinning, weeding and trail maintenance

to cataloging projects in the Wild Ginger

Library. Your hard work will be rewarded

when our talented kitchen crew serves up

delicious, locally grown meals and local

experts share evening presentations and

campfire discussions.


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Landscape and Lens:

Photographing the North

Cascades Brett Baunton

(Fri–Sun) 18 /1CP

Learning Center 2 nights lodging

& 7 meals




Rivers and ridges, blossoms

and buttes, summits and sky—

refine your skills in transform-

ing the beauty of our planet into

pixilated masterpieces. Learn

photography field techniques,

composition tips and digital-

processing strategies from an

award-winning photographer.

Brett will introduce you to the

North Cascades’ high country,

including sojourns to the alpine

realms of Rainy and Washington

passes. Over the weekend, in

an inspirational setting and

with a group small enough to

provide for one-on-one interac-

tions, you’ll share your work for

friendly feedback and experi-

ment with digital processing.

Open to all skill levels, but

a digital camera capable of

manual operation is required,

SLR preferred.

Wild Whatcom: The

Nature of Bellingham I

Megan McGinty

(Sun) 10 am–noon

Bellingham Marine Life Center $10

Nestled between Puget Sound

and Mt. Baker, Bellingham’s

charm is defined by its geogra-

phy. Easy access to urban green

spaces, wildlife and shorelines

are often touted as what makes

Bellingham a great place to live.

But how much do you really

know about the rich natural and

cultural history of the area? Join

the Institute for an illuminat-

ing stroll through the city with

a personable field naturalist.

Our specially priced excursion

begins and ends on the banks of

Whatcom Creek, the resurgent

pulse that courses through

Bellingham’s past, present and

future. Together, we’ll unbraid

the many stories the creek keeps

and learn about its major charac-

ters. Salmon running under side-

walks, falcons hunting overhead,

Chuckanut sandstone supporting

downtown buildings—the very

streets will come alive when

you begin to look at them with a

naturalist’s eye!

Learn how to master your digital camera while exploring the North Cascades with Brett Baunton, June 5–7

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Spring Birding Weekend: Neo-Tropical Migrants

Jim Alt, Libby Mills and Kent Woodruff

(Fri eve–Sun) 15 /1CP


$295 PER PERSON, SHARED OCCUPANCY $80 DISCOUNT FOR TRIPLE OCCUPANCY


Join us in the mountains for our third annual Spring Birding

Weekend and gain deeper awareness of those wonderful creatures

that bring beauty and song to our days. Led by skilled birders and

all-around naturalists, we’ll investigate forests, meadows and

meandering streams in the Methow and Skagit valleys. Because of

the gradient of rain from rainforest to shrub-steppe, these two val-

leys have great habitat and species diversity. Heading east to pon-

derosa pine forests, we may observe fire-dependant woodpeckers,

admire the cerulean blue of the lazuli buntings or hear the ethereal

flutings of veery and other thrushes. West, among the wetlands and

pastures of the Upper Skagit, we’ll keep our eyes and ears open for

songbirds, raptors and waterfowl seeking refuge in the wild lands

of the North Cascades. Each day, we’ll divide into instructor-led

groups with our attention directed at not only what birds we see but

also why and how they came to be in the Northwest. All skill levels

are welcome; plenty of binoculars, spotting scopes and field guides

will be on hand.

As an added bonus, Paul Bannick, author of the acclaimed

new book The Owl and the Woodpecker, will join us to present his

stunning photography and inspiring narratives from the field as

he studied these two families and how they define the habitats

they inhabit.

For those who would like more time in the field, join our

instructors to warm up your birding skills where the forest meets

the Skagit and Sauk rivers at Howard Miller Steelhead County

Park from 10 am-2 pm Friday before the Spring Birding Weekend

officially gets underway.

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Paul Bannick, photographer and author of The Owl and the Woodpecker, will present a slideshow for the Landscape and Lens and Spring Birding classes, June 5–7

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San Juan Islands

Botany Excursion

Thor Hanson

(Fri eve–Sun)

15 /1CP

San Juan Island $195

includes group campsite fee

The geographical location

of the San Juan Islands cre-

ates a complex of unusual

habitats unique to our state.

Subject to all the famous

moisture of the Pacific

Northwest, yet tucked

behind the rainshadow of

the Olympic Mountains, the

archipelago holds remnant

prairies, dry oak wood-

lands, coniferous forests

and tidal and freshwater

plant communities. Such

a wide range of variances

in a relatively small area

presents us an outstand-

ing opportunity to study

a bewildering diversity of

vegetation, including spe-

cies rarely found elsewhere

west of the Cascades. We’ll

camp together in San Juan

County Park, or participants

can opt to find their own

lodging on the island.

The North Cascades in

Plein Air Watercolor

Molly Hashimoto

(Fri–Sun) 18 /1CP


& 7 meals




Towering above the Learning

Center, the banded gneiss

monoliths of Colonial and

Pyramid peaks cradle snow-

fields and reflect light. With

Molly as our mentor, we’ll begin

our weekend modeling their

forms in watercolor before

traveling to the sunny side of

the crest to paint the soaring

granite walls of Liberty Bell and

the Early Winters spires. Back

at the Learning Center, we’ll

spend evenings refining our

plein air work in a supportive

community of artists both new

and experienced. A highlight

of the weekend will be Molly’s

slideshow presentation on her

recent research of historic paint-

ers in the national parks. Learn

about the connections between

art and conservation while exer-

cising your own creativity.

Greening Your Garden

Dave Sansone


Learning Center 2 nights

lodging & 6 meals




Growing your own food is a

great way to reduce the impact

of your ecological footprint,

increase your food security

and connect with the nature in

your own neighborhood. Home

gardens can be more produc-

tive, nutritious and sustainable

by following nature’s lessons

and using locally adapted plant

varieties and animals. Together

we’ll tour three ecologically

designed gardens in the Upper

Skagit that will inspire and

inform gardeners of all skill lev-

els. Learn about the sustainable

cultivation of veggies, fruits,

berries, perennial salad greens,

rare and superfood plants,

medicinal herbs, chickens,

ducks and goats. Whether you

are planning your first garden or

are a certified master gardener,

you’ll be able to create a food-

shed out your own backdoor.

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Beats: The Rhythmic

Experience of the North

Cascades

Keenan Webster

(Fri–Sun) 18 /1CP


& 7 meals




“In these mountains, the

Earth’s rhythm is strong,”

observed National Park Service

geologist Jon Riedel. Celebrate

the passion of music at the

crossroads where drumbeats

meet the peaks of the Beat

poets. Join multi-instrumen-

talist Keenan as he weaves

roots music with innovative

artistry and compassion at the

Learning Center. Together we’ll

create a diverse and vibrant

musical experience inspired

by jazz improvisation as

Keenan guides us through the

fundamentals of West African

drums, balafon and Afro-Cuban

drumming. Your weekend will

embody the gifts one seeks

in making music: clarity,

connection, spirituality and

inspiration.

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Methow Migrations:

Spring Birding

Libby Mills

(Fri–Sun) 18 /1CP

Methow Valley $195 includes

group campsite fee

Explore wetlands, sage-

lands and the meandering

Methow River while seeking

the melody and color of

the avian world east of the

Cascade Crest. As breeding

birds fledge their young,

we’ll investigate their hid-

den haunts and identify

a broad range of species

and their corresponding

birdsong. During breaks,

we’ll discuss adaptations,

habitat requirements and

the challenges migratory

birds face traveling across

continents. We’ll camp

together at Pearrygin Lake

State Park near Winthrop

and spend our days poking

around the Methow Valley.

Don’t miss this relaxing

summer weekend excursion

with one of the Northwest’s

most knowledgeable and

fun-loving birders. All levels

welcome!

Grant Writing in the

North Cascades

Eric Chambers

(Sun

eve–Thurs) 30 /1CP

Learning Center 4 nights

lodging & 13 meals




Part science and part

art, successful grant writ-

ing requires a generous

helping of passion, an

abundance of ingenuity and

knowledge of how to get

from “Application Available

Here” to “Congratulations on

Receiving Funding!” During

these uncertain economic

times, nonprofit organiza-

tions must work harder and

smarter to sustain worthy

programs and fund new

ones. Our interactive five-day

Grant Writing Workshop will

teach you the skills you need

to write and submit competi-

tive grant proposals. Led by

Eric, a Northwest Educational

Service District development

officer, we’ll spend four

Wild Whatcom: The Nature of Bellingham II

Megan McGinty

(Sun) 10–noon

Bellingham Marine Life Center $10

Nestled between Puget Sound and Mt. Baker, Bellingham’s charm is

defined by its geography. Easy access to urban green spaces, wildlife

and shorelines are often touted as what makes Bellingham, named

one of the “Best Outside Towns” by Outside Magazine, a great place

to live. But how much do you really know about the rich natural and

cultural history of the area? Join the Institute for an illuminating stroll

through the city with a personable field naturalist, visiting with local

experts and historians along the way. Our specially priced excursion

begins and ends on the banks of Whatcom Creek, the resurgent

pulse that courses through Bellingham’s past, present and future.

Together, we’ll unbraid the many stories the creek keeps and learn

about its major characters: fish, humans, hatcheries, birds, urban

living, art, commerce, fire and restoration. Salmon running under

sidewalks, falcons hunting overhead, Chuckanut sandstone support-

ing downtown buildings—the very streets will come alive when you

begin to look at them with a naturalist’s eye!

Field Sketching at

Deception Pass

Libby Mills

(Sun) 6

Deception Pass $95 includes

box lunch

Dramatic cliffs rising from the

sea. Tidepools teeming with

marine life. Seabirds in the air

and on the water. Windswept

grass bluffs. Gnarled shore

pines sculpted by storm. We’ll

find plenty of natural subjects

to study and sketch as master

naturalist and artist Libby

leads us on a plein air journey

through Deception Pass State

Park. Throughout the day, she’ll

introduce us to basic sketching

techniques—demonstrating how

pencils can make manifest the

play of light and shadows on

the landscape—as well as valu-

able tips for working outside in

the elements.

days and nights at the Learning

Center, drawing inspiration from

your dramatic wilderness sur-

roundings and enjoying fresh

and delicious meals in the Wild

Ginger dining hall.

Working in small groups

with plenty of personal coach-

ing, you’ll master four areas of

grantsmanship:

Session One: Program Planning

and Evaluation.

Session Two: Grant Writing

Fundamentals.

Session Three: Grant Research.

Session Four: Advanced Writing

Techniques. Held one month

after the first three sessions at

a different location, this follow-

up will give you an opportunity

to reflect upon and expand the

skills developed during the first

three sessions.

In addition to sharpening

your grant-writing skills, you’ll

enjoy plenty of down time to

explore your surroundings and

learn from Institute naturalists

about this hidden gem in the

North Cascades. You’ll return

home inspired, energized and

ready to save the world!

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Ross Lake By Boat and Boot: People and Places of

the Upper Skagit Gerry Cook and Bob Mierendorf

(Thu eve–Sun) 21 /1CP

Learning Center/Ross Lake $255 includes 1 night shared lodging & 3

meals at Learning Center, boat transportation and trailhead shuttle

Experience the wilderness setting of Ross Lake, a fjord-like jewel

in the international Upper Skagit River valley, and learn about the

cultural history that has crisscrossed this remote terrain for eons.

From a comfortable perch onboard the Ross Mule, at our lakeside

camp and on hiking trails, you will hear vivid accounts about

the ice age geology and 10,000 years of indigenous presence,

hardscrabble explorers, miners, dam builders, fire lookouts and

even Beat poets. With more than 60 years of National Park Service

employment between them, Gerry and Bob share a treasure trove

of local knowledge and intimacy with the North Cascades. The

generosity with which they impart their wisdom will make this a

backcountry adventure you’ll never forget.

We’ll get acquainted over dinner at the Learning Center

Thursday night before boarding the Ross Mule Friday morn-

ing, an open-decked boat helmed by Captain Cook. Camping

at Lightning Creek at the foot of storied Desolation Peak,

our group will share meals, campfires and starry night skies

unmarred by city lights. We’ll spend our days exploring fern-

draped canyons, balmy meadows and spirited waterfalls,

taking time for botanical forays, exploration of archaeological

sites and swims in the lake. Sunday will include an eight-mile

hike over gentle terrain to witness the immense, centuries-old

cedars along Big Beaver Creek.

Participants must provide their own equipment and food for

the camping portion of this trip and be able to carry personal

gear one mile down a steep trail to the boat dock Friday and

back up Sunday. Tuition includes boat transportation and

shuttle to and from the Ross Dam Trailhead.

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Family Backpacking Adventure I: Ross Lake

Adam Russell and Institute Naturalists

(Thu eve–Sun)

Learning Center $245 per adult, $170 per child includes 1 night shared

lodging & 3 meals at Learning Center and trailhead shuttle

Does taking the family on a backpacking adventure sound exciting,

but also challenging? Let our Learning Center naturalists take care

of the logistics to get you and your family in to the North Cascades

backcountry! Together, we’ll meet with park rangers for an orientation

to the landscape, learn about safety, Leave No Trace techniques and

camping skills and generate excitement for the natural world as we

hike through deep forests and across rushing glacier-fed rivers. Your

family will spend Thursday evening at the Learning Center meeting

fellow hikers over a meal. Come Friday morn, we’ll strap on our packs

and head out for three days and two nights of education and adven-

ture in the world-class terrain of Ross Lake. Along the way, your guides

will share stories from the mountains, making the natural and cultural

history of this place come alive in the imagination of your youngsters.

Skagit Valley Farm Tour I:

First Fruit

Charles Claassen and

Institute Staff

(Sun) 6

Skagit Valley $95 includes box

lunch & transportation

An interest in “farm-to-table”

shopping, cooking and eating is

on the rise—we’re all hungry for

fresher, healthier food and want

to know more about who grows

it and where. This excursion will

introduce you personally to the

Skagit Valley’s leading small

farmers and provide a behind-

the-scenes look at the practices

that sustain their operations.

Past trips have included a visit

to a farmer growing a bounty of

lush vegetables using remark-

ably little water, a tour of a

100-year-old family farm and an

introduction to a shellfish farm

nestled on the shores of Samish

Bay. We’ll stop for lunch and

enjoy a menu of fresh foods har-

vested from the farms we visited.

Don’t worry: we’ll taste samples

along the way, too! Your guide

for the day will be Chef Charles,

head of the Learning Center’s

culinary operations.

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Nature Journaling with Jocelyn Curry:

Create a handcrafted art journal and fill its pages with drawings and

nature notes using pen, ink, watercolor and light collage. We’ll learn

several handy bookbinding skills, decorative techniques, basic page

design and lettering tips. Jocelyn will also share sketching and water-

color methods handy for on-the-go use as we take special excursions

for field studies in the Learning Center’s wild neighborhood.

Watercolor with Molly Hashimoto:

Learn the basics of watercolor painting from choosing the paper,

brushes and paint that are right for you to plein air techniques for

trailside work. Emphasizing outdoor practice, we’ll focus on the

summertime landscape—sun-dappled forests, Diablo Lake’s emerald

green waters and rocky ridgelines shedding their snowy winter

coats. Beginners and veterans alike will enjoy Molly’s graceful bal-

ance of mentorship and independent work.

Silk Painting with Kristen Gilje:

Come and play with luxurious silk and beautiful bright dyes to make

colorful scarves or wall hangings. The techniques are easy to learn

and fun to practice. We’ll employ simple painting techniques, as

well as wax and gutta resists and salt, alcohol and other texturing

agents. Walks in the forest and along the lakeshore will provide

inspiration for color and design and you’ll leave the Learning Center

with at least three painted scarves.

Although participants must choose an area of emphasis, instructors

will offer short, communal workshops too. In addition to top-notch

instruction, the Diablo Creative Arts Retreat also offers comfortable

lodging, delicious and healthful meals, recreational opportunities

and interesting evening presentations. During your free time, you can

paddle a canoe, hike to a nearby waterfall or simply soak up the scen-

ery with a new friend. Known for its welcoming atmosphere, this retreat

will rejuvenate your spirit.

Art Afield: Diablo

Creative Arts Retreat

Molly Hashimoto, Jocelyn

Curry and Kristen Gilje

(Thu–Sun) 24 /1CP


10 meals




In the heart of the Cascadian sum-

mer, renew your artistic inspira-

tion at our fifth annual retreat for

aspiring and experienced artists.

Gather together with a community

of creative minds at our inspiring

lakeside getaway in North Cascades

National Park. With grand views

of Diablo Lake and Colonial and

Pyramid peaks, our campus offers

many inspiring vistas as well as

ready access to Thunder Creek’s

deep green woods, the wildflower

meadows and pink granite spires

of Washington Pass, and the tawny

fields and pine forests of the upper

Methow.

Upon registration, you’ll choose

one instructor and her area of

concentration for the duration of

the retreat (group sizes are limited;

all skill levels welcome). This year’s

options include:

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Skagit Valley Farm Tour II:

Summer’s Table

Charles Claassen and

Institute Staff

(Sun) 6


lunch & transportation

An interest in “farm-to-table”

shopping, cooking and eating is

on the rise—we’re all hungry for

fresher, healthier food and want

to know more about who grows

it and where. This excursion will

introduce you personally to the

Skagit Valley’s leading small

farmers and provide a behind-

the-scenes look at the practices

that sustain their operations.

Past trips have included a visit

to a farmer growing a bounty of

lush vegetables using remark-

ably little water, a tour of a

100-year-old family farm and an

introduction to a shellfish farm

nestled on the shores of Samish

Bay. We’ll stop for lunch and

enjoy a menu of fresh foods har-

vested from the farms we visited.

Don’t worry: we’ll taste samples

along the way, too! Your guide

for the day will be Chef Charles,

head of the Learning Center’s

culinary operations.

Wildflowers of Mt. Baker I: High Divide

Shelley Weisberg

(Sun) 6

Mt. Baker area $95 includes box lunch

Geology of Mt. Baker I:

Lake Ann

Dave Tucker and Megan McGinty

(Sat) 6

Mt. Baker/Lake Ann $95 includes

box lunch

Explore 225 million years of

geologic history on a hike

along the Shuksan Arm through

old-growth forest and beautiful

alpine meadows. We’ll pass

beneath a collonaded lava flow

that erupted from one of Mt.

Baker’s predecessor volcanoes,

examine intrusive dikes, wit-

ness folded metamorphic rocks

deposited as sea-floor sediment

and touch the contact zone of

one of the youngest granite bod-

ies in the Cascades. Meandering

across the margin of the one-

million-year-old Kulshan cal-

dera, we’ll search for rocks left

behind from the hot ash flows

that emerged from an ancient

catastrophic eruption. All the

while, Mt. Shuksan’s rumbling,

tumbling Curtis Glacier will

tower above us as we explore

the glacially sculpted basin at

Lake Ann. Round-trip distance

is eight miles, with 1,700 feet of

total elevation gain.

The Night Sky in the High

Desert Karl Schroeder

(Fri–Sun) 18 /1CP

Brooks Memorial State Park

$195 includes group camping fee &

admission to observatory

The night sky is an infinite

canvas painted with the ever-

changing moon, planets and

constellations. In the crisp

air of the high desert, far

from urban light pollution,

we’ll observe these and other

nighttime wonders. Guided

by an enthusiastic teacher

and former president of the

Seattle Astronomical Society,

we’ll learn to identify galaxies,

red giants, white dwarfs and

other celestial objects while

discussing their natural history

and sharing the stories that

people have told about them for

centuries. During the day, we’ll

learn about sundials, our solar

system and the Milky Way. A

highlight of the course will be a

visit to the Maryhill Stonehenge

replica and the Goldendale

Observatory to view the sky

through a 24.5-inch Cassegrain

telescope, one of the largest

public telescopes in the nation.

In the summertime, meadows

beneath the white-mantled

massif of Koma Kulshan are

beguilingly rich with wildflow-

ers, belying the true story of life

above the treeline. Plants found

in this fragile ecosystem have

developed unique strategies

for survival in this exceptionally

challenging habitat, adapting to

a short growing season, heavy

snows, arid summers, harsh

winds and dramatic fluctuations

in temperature. Join skilled field

botanist Shelley for a walk in

the high country surrounded

by spectacular peaks and

fragrant alpine meadows, and

investigate alpine habitats and

wildflower adaptation. Learn

the basics of alpine botany and

discover the habitat of your

favorite flowers. Expect to hike

six to seven miles round trip

with moderate elevation gain;

exact location will depend upon

access and snow levels.

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of our annual writing retreat

continues this summer at the confluence of four far-flung writers from the

Pacific Northwest gathering together to teach in the North Cascades. Rick Bass,

hailing from the Yaak Valley in remote northwestern Montana, is a master of

the short story form and renowned environmental nonfiction writer. Kathleen

Dean Moore composes essays rich with natural detail and philosophical

depths from her homebase in the Willamette Valley. Holly Hughes, who has

spent the past 28 summers working on southeast Alaskan waters, winters on

the Olympic Peninsula where she teaches and writes poetry and essays. Jim

Bertolino spent 14 years living on Guemes Island, 12 years teaching at Western

Washington University and now thrives near the woods east of Bellingham

writing poetry. Arriving from the near and far, Rick, Kathleen, Holly and Jim

represent one of our strongest writing teams yet!

The Thunder Arm Writing Retreat—so named for our location on Diablo

Lake near the mouth of Thunder Creek—takes place at our Learning Center in

North Cascades National Park, which has a distinct literary history of its own.

Our neighborhood includes Sourdough Mountain and Desolation Peak, where

writers Gary Snyder and Jack Kerouac served as fire lookouts during the 1950s.

From hardscrabble explorers and trail crew hands to Beat poets and park rang-

ers, the North Cascades have inspired many to put pen to paper.

Under the mentorship of four different writers with experiences in a wide

July

ELEVENTH ANNUAL

T H U N D E R A R M W R I T I N G R E T R E AT

Eleventh Annual Thunder

Arm Writing Retreat(Thurs–Sun)

24 /2CP


10 meals




diversity of genres, you’ll learn techniques

for crisp, powerful writing inspired by

nature. We strive for a nourishing, profes-

sional and noncompetitive atmosphere

in which student groups rotate through

instructors each day, enjoying a combina-

tion of presentations, discussions and

individual writing activities.

Throughout the weekend, our kitchen

staff will prepare delicious, nourishing

meals with local and organic ingredients,

and you’ll repair each night to comfortable

accommodations in our lodges. You’ll

also have ample time to enjoy our trails

or canoe on Diablo Lake, as well as quiet

moments to peruse our Wild Ginger

Library, filled with more than a thousand

different titles.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or

eager newcomer, we hope you’ll join us for

this unique literary mountain rendezvous!

James Berlotino

Rick Bass

Kathleen Dean Moore

Holly Hughes


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Explore the ancient geological story of Mt Baker, Aug 6–9

A U G U S T

Beats on the Peaks:

Lookout Poets and

Backcountry Tales on

Ross Lake

Gerry Cook and Jeff Muse

(Thur eve–Sun)

21 /1CP

Learning Center/Ross Lake $255

includes 1 night shared lodging & 3

meals at ELC, boat transportation &

trailhead shuttle

Venture up Ross Lake and hike

to the top of Desolation Peak

where Jack Kerouac penned

tales of his Cascadian adven-

ture in 1956. Led by a former

lookout and a book-toting

naturalist, we’ll gather at the

Learning Center Thursday to

share camaraderie. Friday, we’ll

board the open-decked Ross

Mule, the perfect floating venue

for backcountry storytelling

and adventurous scribbling.

Base camping for two nights

at Lightning Creek, we’ll hike

up to the Desolation Peak Fire

Lookout to share readings by

Kerouac and others who spent

time in these mountains. Don’t

miss this annual expedition

of books, rucksacks, campfire

tales and jaw-dropping views!

Easy Pass Backpack: Thunder Creek to Fisher Basin

Institute Naturalists

(Wed eve–Sun) 27

Learning Center $255 includes 1 night shared lodging & 3 meals at ELC & trailhead shuttle

Geology of Mt. Baker II:

Easton Glacier Backpack

Dave Tucker and Megan McGinty

(Thurs–Sun) 24 /2CP

Mt. Baker/Morovitz Meadows

$295

Welcome to Mt. Baker’s south-

west side, where igneous,

sedimentary and metamorphic

deposits abound and geologic

ages range from Precambrian

to the present. Join Dave and

Megan for an excursion focused

on the fascinating geology of Mt.

Baker. After a four-mile backpack

to our base camp near Easton

Glacier, we’ll explore evidence

of awe-inspiring geologic pro-

cesses, including cataclysmic

volcanic eruptions, gigantic

landslides and glacial dynamics.

We’ll explore the sharp crest

of the Railroad Grade moraine,

visit the Park Butte Lookout and

journey to a point overlooking

Baker’s dramatic Deming Glacier.

Learn about historic glacial

advances and recessions and see

the resulting landscape with your

own eyes. Beginners welcome,

but everyone is expected to be

reasonably fit and have basic

backpacking skills.

Wildflowers of Mt. Baker

II: Skyline Divide

Shelley Weisberg

(Sat) 6

Mt. Baker area $95 includes

box lunch

In the summertime, meadows

beneath the white-mantled

massif of Koma Kulshan are

beguilingly rich with wildflow-

ers, belying the true story of life

above the treeline. Plants found

in this fragile ecosystem have

developed unique strategies

for survival in this exceptionally

challenging habitat, adapting to

a short growing season, heavy

snows, arid summers, harsh

winds and dramatic fluctuations

in temperature. Join skilled field

botanist Shelley for a walk in

the high country surrounded

by spectacular peaks and

fragrant alpine meadows, and

investigate alpine habitats and

wildflower adaptation. Learn

the basics of alpine botany and

discover the habitat of your

favorite flowers. Expect to hike

six to seven miles round trip

with moderate elevation gain;

exact location will depend upon

access and snow levels.

Join our small, naturalist-led

backpacking group for a

memorable adventure in the

wild heart of North Cascades

National Park. After orienta-

tion at the Learning Center

Wednesday night, we’ll depart

for four days and three nights

camping beneath big trees and

starry skies. Together, we’ll

journey along Thunder Creek,

then head east under the flanks

of Mt. Logan, eventually reach-

ing the alpine wonderland of

remote Fisher Basin. Our trip

will pass through spectacular

old-growth forest as we follow

the most heavily glaciated

tributary in the Lower 48, and

we’ll search for wildflower

meadows, abandoned miner

cabins and animal tracks. When

we arrive at Easy Pass, eleva-

tion 6,524 feet, we’ll be greeted

by one of the most stunning

views anywhere in the country:

a panorama of glaciers, water-

falls and craggy peaks! This

late-summer sojourn into the

mountains, taken in good com-

pany and with an abundance

of storytelling and nature inter-

pretation, will be the trip of a

lifetime. Although beginners are

welcome to attend, participants

should be prepared for mod-

erately strenuous backpacking

(as many as eight miles per

day with 2,000-foot elevation

gains) and must provide their

own equipment and food for

Thursday through Sunday.

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Family Backpacking

Adventure II: Ross Lake

Adam Russell and Institute

Naturalists

(Wed eve–Sun)

Learning Center $265 per adult, $180

per child includes 1 night shared lodging

& 3 meals at Learning Center, boat

transportation and trailhead shuttle

Does taking the family on a back-

packing adventure sound exciting,

but also challenging? Let our

Learning Center naturalists take

care of the logistics to get you and

your family into the North Cascades

backcountry! Together, we’ll meet

with park rangers, learn about

safety, Leave No Trace techniques

and camping skills and generate

excitement for the natural world.

Your family will spend Wednesday

evening at the Learning Center

meeting fellow hikers over a meal.

Come Thursday morn, we’ll head

out for four days and three nights

of education and adventure as we

journey along the East Bank Trail of

Ross Lake. Your guides will share

stories from the mountains, making

this place come alive in the imagi-

nation of youngsters.

Northwest Naturalists Weekend

Ralph Haugerud, Dennis Paulson and Robert Micheal Pyle





Whether you are a novice to the natural world or a skilled natural-

ist, join the Institute in celebrating the 150th anniversary of Charles

Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, which introduced the theory of

evolution to the world, with a long weekend in the North Cascades

immersed in nature. We’ll provide you with tools you need to delve

into the “mystery of mysteries” that Darwin himself sought to unravel.

This annual retreat has been attracting eager learners from across

the country and our own backyard for more than two decades. Its

success is built on the expertise of remarkable naturalists and

this year’s team is one of our most exciting. Robert Michael Pyle,

who recently concluded his Butterfly Big Year in which he sought

out as many of the 800 species of butterflies in North America as

possible in one calendar year, has a passion for lepidoptera and

broad knowledge of native species and ecology. Ralph Haugerud,

co-author of Geology of the North Cascades: A Mountain Mosaic, is

a veteran researcher and skilled teacher with the U.S. Geological

Survey at the University of Washington. Dennis Paulson, one of the

most experienced biologists in the Northwest, will search lakesides,

wetlands and wildflower meadows for the diurnal “bats of the

skies”—dragonflies—while sharing his knowledge of birds, snakes

and large-scale ecosystem dynamics. Throughout the weekend, we’ll

divide into instructor-led groups to explore various topics in diverse

terrain. Possibilities include birds and butterflies of the Cascades,

wildflowers at Rainy Pass and the geologic history of the Pacific

Crest. Wherever we roam, you can count on spirited camaraderie and

plenty of mentorship on the use of field guides, hand lenses and

other equipment that will deepen your outdoors experiences.

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Mutual Destinies:

Human-Corvid Interactions

John Marzluff

(Fri–Sun) 18 /1CP


7 meals




A murder and unkindness are

more amicable than they might

seem when you find out that

a “murder” is a flock of crows

and an “unkindness” a flock of

ravens. These intriguing birds,

along with jays, magpies and

nutcrackers, comprise the corvid

family. The iridescence of their

black-blue plumage glimmers

with the mythology they embody

for many cultures across the

world. Visit Skagit forests, Methow

meadows and the passes in

between in search of the birds

in their various habitats. John,

professor of wildlife biology, will

be your guide, bringing to life

concepts from his book, In the

Company of Crows and Ravens.

Observe corvids’ personalities

firsthand and realize your part in

the “cultural co-evolution” corvids

and humans have long shared.

Geology of Mt. Baker III:

Ptarmigan Ridge

Dave Tucker and Lee Whitford

(Sat) 6

Ptarmigan Ridge $95 includes

box lunch

Experience time travel by foot

on the Ptarmigan Ridge trail

in Mt. Baker’s radiant late-

summer high country. Our field

excursion will begin above

treeline at Artist’s Point before

venturing out toward the sim-

mering, glaciated volcano.

Along the way, we’ll travel over

an ancient record of volcanism

as we traverse the one-million-

year-old Kulshan caldera, a cra-

ter that erupted cataclysmically

through the thick continental

ice sheet before the mountain

built itself from stacks of lava.

As we hike past lava domes,

we’ll lay hands on columnar

andesite that predates Mt.

Baker, discuss the origin of the

eroded table at Table Mountain

and examine layers of volcanic

ash preserved in the soil,

including the famous Mt.

Mazama layer. Our route can

be up to 10 miles round trip,

with minimal elevation gain.

Sourdough Mountain Celebration

Tim McNulty, Ron Dart and Jeff Muse





This year marks the 50th anni-

versary of Gary Snyder’s land-

mark compendium of mountain

poetry, Riprap and Cold

Mountain Poems. Snyder served

as a fire lookout on Sourdough

Mountain during the summer

of 1953, writing some of his

most inspired verse on a ridge

high above North Cascades

Environmental Learning Center.

Many decades later, Snyder

and countless other Cascadian

scribes’ work have accumulated

to form a fascinating literary

history informed by rock, river

and rain.

Join three dynamic instructors

who are passionate about the

North Cascades for a long week-

end of exploration—both physi-

cal and cerebral—in the rugged

wildlands of the Learning Center

neighborhood. Tim, the author

of many volumes of poetry

and natural history, a tree-

planter and former Sourdough

Mountain fire lookout, will lead

writing workshops on local

trails covering nature poetry,

journaling and the art of atten-

tiveness. Joining us from British

Columbia, author, scholar and

professor Ron will introduce

us to the little-known legacy

of John Muir in the Cascades,

the spiritual interconnections

of the Beat Poets and Thomas

Merton and the vast wealth of

Canadian mountain literature.

Finally, former Learning Center

director and NPS backcountry

ranger Jeff will offer the piece de

resistance: an optional guided

hike up Sourdough Mountain to

the world-famous fire lookout

immortalized in Snyder’s poetry.

Throughout the weekend,

we’ll explore these storied

mountains, share campfire

readings and canoe trips and

eat, drink and be merry.

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Explore the natural and cultural history of the Skagit Delta and Fishtown, Sept 12

“Fishtown existed on the edge of the world. It was a wild place,

with hawks and owls, snow geese and salmon, herons, loons,

coyotes often sighted. They were the denizens, your neighbors.

They appear frequently in poems written there.” ~Robert SundS E P T E M B E R

Digital Outdoor Photography: Capturing the Cascades

Benj Drummond

(Fri–Sun) 18 /1CP


$385 PER PERSON, SHARED OCCUPANCY $80 DISCOUNT FOR TRIPLE OCCUPANCY $160 PREMIUM FOR SINGLE OCCUPANCY

Shack Medicine: A

Fishtown Excursion

Institute Naturalists and

special guests

(Sat) 6

Lower Skagit Delta $95 includes

box lunch & canoe equipment

Among the brackish backwaters

of the Skagit delta in the 1960s

and 70s, a cultural oasis blos-

somed. A collection of writers,

artists, vagabonds and scholars

lived in a village of abandoned

fishermen’s shacks scattered

throughout the northern delta

of the Skagit River, a settlement

whose existence was always

dependent on permission from

the river. “Fishtown” — the name

used to refer to this region –

lives on in relics that still stand

today, as well as in the poetry,

pottery and paintings that

emerged from the creative com-

munity. Travelling in a giant voya-

geur canoe, we’ll seek out the

sloughs and shacks that inspired

painters and poets among

cat-tails and beaver dams,

investigate the ever-changing

topography of the delta and hear

stories of the characters and the

era they personified.

Forest Carnivores of the

North Cascades

Scott Fitkin and John Rohrer



& 6 meals




For the first time in nearly a

century, gray wolves have been

confirmed to have taken up

residence in Washington State.

Recently, a breeding pair of

wolverines was discovered miles

from the Learning Center, and

researchers are still searching

for signs of grizzly bear. Does

it sometimes seem the North

Cascades wilderness is getting

wilder? Come explore the haunts

of fascinating mountain carni-

vores and spend your weekend

with Scott and John, who have

been leading the research into

these elusive animals. We’ll learn

about their ecology and examine

a variety of habitats, take a

closer look at wolverine live traps

and check on the radio-collared

wolves to see if they are in the

neighborhood with the help of

radio-telemetry.

Constructive Capitalism:

Opportunities of

Sustainability

Casey Bates, Zac West, Jared

Silliker and Jessie Alan



& 6 meals




Strengthen your organization by

learning the tools to help reduce

your environmental footprint,

create positive social impact and

strengthen financial performance.

We’re bringing together local sus-

tainability leaders for a weekend

workshop focused on sustainabil-

ity benchmarking, sustainability

implementation, forming and

managing a “Green Team,” energy

and waste reduction and green

marketing. This class is devel-

oped with the business owner

and organizational leader in mind,

but anybody with an interest in

and passion for creating a green,

sustainable future is invited. We

hope you’ll join us for a weekend

of brainstorming, strategizing,

problem-solving and networking

with likeminded leaders!

You’ve tried your hand at captur-

ing the true colors of translucent

autumn skies, but were you

able to get every hue? Have you

truly recorded the burgundy of

bog blueberry leaves, the gold

of slide alder, the fire in a vine

maple? Venture into deep forests

and up mountain passes with

accomplished photographer

Benj. With his technical skills

and knowledge of field tech-

niques, he’ll help you compose,

execute and process your pho-

tographs at a higher level. After

shooting in locations throughout

the North Cascades, we’ll return

to the Learning Center each day

to practice RAW file processing

and digital workflow in our

computer lab. Individual instruc-

tion time will be plentiful in this

intimate class, and you’ll learn

from your fellow photographers

in a friendly review of your best

work at the end of the weekend.

Open to all skill levels, but

a digital camera capable of

manual operation is required,

SLR preferred.

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Shades of Fall:

Arboretum Watercolor

Expedition

Maria Coryell-Martin

(Sat) 6

Seattle $115 includes box

lunch & pocket watercolor kit

Autumn color is an ephemeral

spectacle, and learning to

capture it requires attention

and skill. Under the tutelage

of expeditionary artist Maria

Coryell-Martin, this day trip

will venture into Seattle’s

Washington Park Arboretum

to experience fall in its full

glory and set about sketch-

ing what we see in pencil,

ink and watercolor media.

Each participant will receive

a pocket-sized watercolor

field set custom designed

for this trip. Maria will share

suggested palette choices

and unique approaches to

field sketching that she’s

gained from her experiences

painting around the world,

from Africa to Greenland to

Antarctica. Learn more about

Maria’s work at www.expedi-

tionaryart.com.

Seattle’s Wild Side:

Natural History in the

Streets David Williams

(Sat) 6

Seattle $95 includes box lunch &

van transportation

You don’t have to drive to the

Cascades to engage your con-

nection with the earth—even in

the heart of the Emerald City,

we are surrounded by nature.

Explore Seattle’s wild side

with David, author of Stories in

Stone: Travels in Urban Geology

and The Street-Smart Naturalist:

Field Notes from Seattle. With

humor, enthusiasm and sharp

observation skills, he’ll open

our eyes to the secrets previ-

ously hidden beneath the hustle

and bustle of the city. The day

will begin beneath the Magnolia

Bluff, the perfect spot for seeing

coastal geological processes.

We’ll then proceed along the

Duwamish River, where we’ll

read the record of Seattle’s most

active earthquake zone. Next

we’ll head to Pioneer Square to

start a two-mile-long transect to

investigate 330-million-year-old

fossils and see where mam-

moths once roamed.

Skagit Valley Harvest

Tour III: Upriver Bounty

Charles Claassen

(Sun) 6


lunch & van transportation

Salmon, kale, carrots, oysters,

pumpkins, wine, cheese,

spinach, corn, tomatoes, beer,

broccoli, raspberries, lamb,

blueberries, potatoes, beets,

apples, pears, plums, cabbage,

peas, beef, cucumbers, cau-

liflower and radishes, oh my!

There’s no doubt, the Skagit

Valley is a rich and bountiful

place and we’d like to introduce

you personally to the farmers

and producers who feed us. In

addition to exploring the prac-

tices and places that sustain

their healthful, holistic opera-

tions, our popular behind-the-

scenes tour samples the fruits

of the land. We’ll enjoy a lunch

menu of fresh foods harvested

from the farms we visit as well

as indulging in samples along

the way. Your guide for the day

will be Chef Charles, head of

the Learning Center’s culinary

program and coordinator of the

Institute’s FoodShed initiative.

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Explore the wild side of Seattle with a “street-smart naturalist,” Sept 26


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BILL DIETRICH won a Pulitizer Prize at the Seattle Times for

his coverage of the Exxon Valdez disaster, is the author of

The Final Forest: The Battle for the Last Great Trees of the

Pacific Northwest and is currently the faculty editor of The

Planet, Huxley College’s renowned environmental magazine.

ERIC DEPLACE, senior researcher at the Seattle-based

Sightline Institute, contributes research and writing for the

annual Cascadia Scorecard. He also writes for the Daily

Score blog and contributes to a number of other Sightline

projects, especially climate policy in the western states.

KAREN UFFELMAN, director of client strategy at ONE/

Northwest, works with environmental organizations to

engage their audiences through smart use of technology

and the development of valuable content. She consults on

both format and substance, and combines the best prac-

tices of relationship marketing, grassroots organizing, and

analysis of web and email statistics to help organizations

tell their stories effectively.

BENJAMIN DRUMMOND AND SARA JOY STEELE are working

on a long-term documentary project called Facing Climate

Change, which combines photographs, field audio and

writing to tell the story of global change through local

people. Their work has appeared in Orion, Mother Jones,

American Photo, National Geographic and the Seattle Post-

Intelligencer.

Join us for a weekend of active learning, networking and

brainstorming, where together we’ll share tools and build

connections, getting ready for the challenges and opportu-

nities that lie ahead.

Sit, Walk, Write: Nature

and the Practice of

Presence

Kurt Hoelting and Holly Hughes

(Fri–Sun) 18 /1CP


& 7 meals




Experience a nourishing week-

end with meditation teacher

Kurt from the Zen tradition and

writer Holly. We’ll combine

meditation practice—both

moving and still—with time to

write and ponder the works

of several reflective authors.

We’ll start each day with sitting

meditation and Qi gong move-

ment, share poems and short

nature essays, and then put our

own thoughts into words fol-

lowing the freewriting practices

pioneered by Natalie Goldberg.

Outdoors, we’ll enjoy hiking,

meditation and gentle observa-

tions with Institute naturalists

as a way to deepen our con-

nection with the natural world.

After healthy, organic dinners,

our days will end with discus-

sion and silent reflection.

Will Write for Change: Communication Tools and

Techniques for Activists

William Dietrich, Eric DePlace, Karen Uffelman and Benj Drummond and

Sara Joy Steele





In a world hurtling toward the future, modes and methods of com-

munication are rapidly evolving and audiences are fragmenting into spe-

cialized peer groups. In this challenging environment, how can nonprofit

organizations and activists effectively communicate their message to the

masses? How do we successfully compete for, and then retain, the highly

prized attention of constituents? “Will Write for Change” gathers together

leaders of local environmental nonprofits at the Learning Center to share

techniques and tools of communicating their groups’ stories clearly, per-

suasively and in a way that reaches the largest audience possible.

In both large-group presentations and small-group breakout sessions,

this workshop will teach how to write for the Web (and how is it different

than writing for print) and how to use specific Web technologies, such as

RSS feeds, blogs, Twitter and dynamically-generated website content. We’ll

discuss the culture of the Internet, how it differs from other conversations

and how you can get your issue into the public discourse. Environmental

storytelling, photojournalism and Web-based presentations are other

genres we’ll examine. Benj and Sara will share their experiences with

working on a documentary project in a changing media landscape and

discuss their effort to distribute their work–through blogs, multimedia,

magazines, gallery shows, public art installations and live presentations–

to as wide an audience as possible. Finally, we’ll host a panel on some of

the nitty-gritty business of activist communications, including the business

of grant writing, partnerships, publicity and publication.

We’ve assembled an awesome team of Internet-savvy visionaries to

make this workshop as useful and productive for participants as possible:

Toadstools, Fairy Rings

and Witch’s Butter:

Northwest Mushrooms

(Sat) Lee Whitford

(Sun) Fred Rhoades and

Lee Whitford 6 /per day

Baker Lake Area $95/one day

$180/both days includes box lunch

Autumn rains nourish a

proliferation of mushrooms

in our region, and this field

excursion will venture in to

the forest to learn more about

the fungus among us. Institute

naturalist Lee, a member of the

Washington state key council

and expert in mushroom field

identification, will provide an

overview of fungi, their habitats

and helpful I.D. techniques.

Fred Rhoades joins us on

Sunday and we’ll delve deeply

into mycological mysteries such

as fungal structure, biology and

evolution as well as important

ecological roles like mycorrhizal

associations and decomposi-

tion. We’ll see a wide variety of

species and learn characteris-

tics that make each one unique.

Grab your rain gear, basket and

hand lens and learn more about

the fungus beneath our feet.


35

Register online at www.ncascades.org or by phone at (360) 856-5700 ext.

209. Mail-in registration forms are available online. Online registration is not

available for Family Getaways. Tuition is on a per-person basis and includes

a non-refundable registration fee (see Cancellations below). No discounts for

alternative lodging. Attendance is for paid registrants only.

If you’ve never attended an Institute program, you may be eligible for a

$30 discount! Our first-timer discount applies to new participants in adult

programs that cost $100 or more per person. Offer does not apply to Family

Getaways and may not be combined with other discounts or scholarships.

Standard cancellation policy applies.

If registration is cancelled 21 days or more before a program starts, we

will refund the tuition minus a registration fee. Fees are $25 for tuition of

$99 or less; $50 for $100-299; $75 for $300-799; $125 for $800 or more.

Cancellations received less than 21 days before the start of a program will

not receive a refund. If we are forced to cancel a program, participants will

receive a full refund or transfer option.

Many Institute classes are offered for optional academic credit through

Western Washington University. The number of credits available is listed

near the title of each seminar preceded by a “C.” (“CP” denotes credits

pending approval.) WWU will bill you $48/credit. The Institute is approved

by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to grant teachers

clock hour certification. The number of clock hours available appears with

a clock symbol ( ) near the title of each seminar. The Institute will bill you

$3.50/clock hour.

Scholarship funds are available for pre-service teacher education

students, teachers, seniors over 60, environmental educators, conserva-

tion professionals and low-income participants. Applications are available

online or by phone.

Accommodations range from our Learning Center to campgrounds. See

class descriptions for details.

The Learning Center has three guest lodges, each with shared gender-

specific bathrooms with showers. Guest rooms contain one twin bed

and a set of twin bunk beds and pricing varies according to the sleeping

arrangements—see class description for rates. Participants are asked to

bring their own bedding and towels. Overnight accommodations are for

paid registrants only. We cannot accommodate pets.

Delicious, healthy meals incorporating local and organic foods are pro-

2 0 0 9 R E G I S T R AT I O N I N F O R M AT I O NLEARNING CENTER AND FIELD PROGRAMS

vided for paid registrants in Learning Center programs. If you have special

dietary requirements or food allergies, we will gladly attempt to accommo-

date them with advance notice.

Participants in Field Excursions are responsible for their own food and

lodging unless otherwise specified in the course description.

Adult Learning Center and Field Excursion programs are for adults only.

Youth ages 14-17 may sometimes participate, pending approval by the

program coordinator prior to registration. Approved minors must be accom-

panied by a responsible, participating adult.

Most of our programs are conducted in the field; participants should

be in good physical condition and prepared to spend full days outdoors.

The Learning Center and most Field Excursions are more than one hour

from definitive medical care and those with medical conditions should con-

sult their physicians before enrollment. We may encounter insects, inclem-

ent 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 a health/risk and hold-

harmless waiver before the course begins. Please read and follow pre-trip

letter recommendations carefully.

Participants in backpacking classes must be in good physical condition,

have previous experience and provide their own gear and food. You must be

able to carry a full pack, weighing 50 pounds, for an average of 4-6 hours/

day. The exceptions are “Ross Lake by Boat and Boot,” “Beats on the Peaks”

and Family Backpack Adventures. Group success in a backcountry experience

is dependent upon how well each individual is prepared. Your class letter

will have an itinerary and a list of essential items. Anyone not appropriately

equipped may not be allowed to participate and no refund will be issued.


36

2009

2 0 0 9 I N S T R U C T O R P R O F I L E S


ALKI KAYAK TOURS guides sea kayak

tours exploring Puget Sound. They

are committed to the conservation

and preservation of Puget Sound as a

working marine ecosystem that sup-

ports the industries of Seattle as well

as the spawning salmon headed up

the Duwamish River.

JESSIE ALAN works at Sustainable

Business Consulting, a Seattle firm

that develops sustainability strate-

gies for businesses. Jessie worked for

several years in the environmental

nonprofit sector. She is a master’s

candidate at Bainbridge Graduate

Institute, an experienced public

speaker and an avid recreationist

with firsthand knowledge of the

outdoor industry.

JIM ALT, a “wet-sider,” keeps moss

off his back by birdwatching in the

Upper Skagit. He leads the Northwest

Interpretive Association’s bookstores

in North Cascades National Park and

conducts eagle counts for the Nature

Conservancy.

TONY ANGELL’S sculptures can be

seen throughout the Northwest. He

is the illustrator of books, including

his upcoming book Tony Angell; Puget

Sound and the Artist’s Eye, due out in

2009 from University of Washington

Press. Tony retired in 2002 as Director

of Environmental Education for the

state of Washington.

PAUL BANNICK is a naturalist and

photographer specializing in the wild-

life of North America. Paul’s first book,

The Owl and The Woodpecker, was

published by the Mountaineers Books

in October 2008. In addition to work-

ing as a professional photographer,

Paul serves as the director of develop-

ment for Conservation Northwest.

www.paulbannick.com

RICK BASS is the author of 24 books

of fiction and nonfiction that explore

the interconnections between humans

and nature, including the forthcoming

memoir, The Wild Marsh. He occasion-

ally teaches writing at the University

of Montana and is active in the efforts

to designate wilderness in Montana’s

Yaak Valley.

CASEY BATES is a member of the

Sustainable Outdoor Industry

Concentration at Bainbridge Graduate

Institute. He is the sustainability

advisor to Brooks Sports Inc. and

Feathered Friends where he has

been developing a sleeping bag for

Backpacker Magazine’s Zero Impact

Challenge.

BRETT BAUNTON is an award-winning

landscape and outdoor adventure

photographer whose work has been

published in magazines such as

National Geographic, National Wildlife,

Wilderness and Backpacker. A Seattle

native, he lives in Bellingham while

operating his scanning and printing

business, ArtScan. www.brettbaunton.

com, www.artscan.com

JAMES BERTOLINO’S work has

appeared in many journals and anthol-

ogies. His awards include a National

Endowment for the Arts fellowship and

the 2007 Jeanne Lohmann Poetry Prize

for Washington State poets. Jim taught

creative writing for more than 30 years

and now thrives in the forest east of

Bellingham.

MIKE BRONDI has worked for North

Cascades National Park for more

than two decades. He lives in Skagit

County and has worked as a logger,

carpenter, farmer and nursery-

man. Mike is an active volunteer and

currently serves as volunteer coor-

dinator and horticulturist for North

Cascades National Park.

ERIC CHAMBERS is a development

officer at the Northwest Educational

Service District and teaches courses in

nonprofit management and grant writ-

ing at Western Washington University.

He has more than 10 years experience

winning grants. Eric has a goal of

visiting each national park. He lives in

Skagit County.

CHARLES CLAASSEN is the Institute’s

chef, foodservice manager and

Foodshed Project leader. He has led

professional kitchens for more than

15 years, from hotels and private

restaurants to corporate dining rooms

and universities. An avid alpinist and

certified climbing instructor with the

American Mountain Guide Association,

Charles lives on campus at the foot of

Sourdough Mountain with his family.

CHRISTINA CLAASSEN is the librarian

for the Institute’s Wild Ginger Library.

She lives at the Learning Center with

her family. In addition to home-

schooling Olivia, freelance writing and

editing as a part-time gig, Christina

enjoys hiking, climbing, painting and

sitting on the deck with the wilderness

around her.

GERRY COOK is the most senior

employee at North Cascades National

Park. He is an artist and naturalist with

a passion for backcountry tales and

wilderness preservation. Captain of the

Ross Mule, a boat that shuttles students

and trail crew workers alike, Gerry loves

the lake as much as the high country.

From 1970-72, he served as a fire look-

out on Desolation Peak, Copper Ridge

and Sourdough Mountain.

MARIA CORYELL-MARTIN is an “expe-

ditionary artist” based in Seattle. She

explores polar and glaciated regions to

record climate change through art. In

the field, Maria works with pen, ink,

watercolor and gouache. In the studio,

she paints with oils on canvas.

www.expeditionaryart.com.

JOCELYN CURRY, a Seattle native, is

trained in the fine arts, traditional

calligraphy and contemporary let-

tering design. When not working on

assignments for diverse clients such

as Nordstrom, Seattle Chocolate and

Edmonds Community College, she

delights in creating personal artworks,

sketching, tending her garden or trav-

eling to inspiring destinations.

www.jocelyncurry.com

RON DART has studied mountaineer-

ing culture and literature in the

Cascadia region of North America,

from John Muir in the United States

to the Swiss Alpine Guide tradition in

Canada. Ron has taught at University

of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, BC

since 1990. He’s published more

than 20 books, including Thomas

Merton and the Beats of the North

Cascades, and Mountaineering and

the Humanities.

BENJAMIN DRUMMOND is a Seattle-

based freelance photojournalist and

graphic designer who explores the

connection between people and land-

scape. He is currently working with

his partner, writer and producer Sara

Joy Steele, on Facing Climate Change,

a long-term project that illustrates

global climate change through local

people. www.bendrum.com

KATHLEEN DEAN MOORE writes about

cultural and spiritual connections to

places. A new book, Wild Comfort, will

be published next year by Shambhala.

She is working on a book about the

ethics of climate change, collecting

stories from leaders around the world.

Kathleen is Distinguished Professor

of Philosophy and Writer Laureate at

Oregon State University.

ERIC DEPLACE, senior researcher

at Sightline Institute, contributes

research and writing for the annual

Cascadia Scorecard on sprawl, eco-

nomic security, wildlife and other top-

ics. He also writes for the Daily Score

blog and contributes to a number of

other Sightline projects, especially

climate policy in the western states.

WILLIAM DIETRICH won a Pulitizer

Prize at the Seattle Times for cover-

age of the Exxon Valdez disaster, is

author of The Final Forest: The Battle

for the Last Great Trees of the Pacific

Northwest and several best-selling

novels and is the faculty editor of The

Planet, Huxley College’s environmental

magazine.

SCOTT FITKIN, is a wildlife biologist

for the Washington Department of

Fish and Wildlife. Scott is a carnivore

expert and has studied animals all

over Washington state. His current

projects include international efforts

focusing on wolverines and gray

wolves, ranging from the Pasayten

Wilderness and North Cascades

National Park to Canada.

KATHERINE GLEW is associate cura-

tor of lichens and bryophytes at the

University of Washington Herbarium.

Presently curating historic collections

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and processing lichens collected from

the Russian Far East, her research

interests include studying alpine com-

munity structure on Mt. Rainier and

lichens from island ecosystems.

KRISTEN GILJE works in her

Bellingham studio, painting in oil,

acrylic, watercolor and silk dye on

silk. Kristen has lived in the North

Cascade Mountains and paints as a

way to share her love of the outdoors

with others.

THOR HANSON is a Switzer

Environmental Fellow, member of the

Human Ecosystems Study Group at

University of Idaho and an indepen-

dent conservation biologist based on

San Juan Island. He is the author of

The Impenetrable Forest: My Gorilla

Years in Uganda.

MOLLY HASHIMOTO is an artist and

teacher, appreciated for her patient

tutelage as much as for her paintings.

In addition to many years with North

Cascades Institute, she has taught at

the Haystack Institute, Sitka Center

for Art and Ecology and Yellowstone

Association Institute. She connects

students with nature and cultural his-

tory through watercolor workshops.

RALPH HAUGERUD, coauthor of

Geology of the North Cascades: A

Mountain Mosaic, is a geologist with

the U.S. Geological Survey at the

University of Washington. His maps

tell stories about some of the most

unique and complex landforms in

the world. Ralph maps the geology

of mountains as well as the Salish

lowlands.

KURT HOELTING is a wilderness guide,

meditation teacher and commercial

fisherman. For 15 years, he has taught

meditation during Alaska sea-kayaking

trips through his company, Inside

Passages. He has worked as a com-

mercial fisherman in Alaska and Puget

Sound for more than 30 years.

HOLLY HUGHES’ work has appeared in

several anthologies. Her poetry chap-

book Boxing the Compass won the

Floating Bridge chapbook contest in

2007. She teaches writing at Edmonds

Community College and spends

summers working as a naturalist in

Southeast Alaska and winters on the

Olympic Peninsula.

JESSE KENNEDY has worked in cul-

tural resource management for North

Cascades National Park for more than

20 years. A Pacific Northwest native,

he continues to explore its history

through the images, stories and struc-

tures of this environment.

JIM LYNCH is the author of The Highest

Tide, which won the 2006 Pacific

Northwest Bookseller Award. His second

novel Border Songs is due out in June.

JOHN MARZLUFF is an assistant

professor of wildlife science at the

University of Washington College of

Forest Resources and is the author of

In the Company of Crows and Ravens,

which was awarded a Washington

State Book Award in 2006. He’s

conducted long-term studies of

urbanization on songbirds in the

Seattle area, responses of predators

and songbirds to settlements, recre-

ation and forest fragmentation on the

Olympic Peninsula and endangered

species conservation.

MEGAN MCGINTY is the Institute’s

Community Programs naturalist. With

more than 20 years of experience of

teaching in the outdoors, she has

guided and taught in places such as

Mt. Rainer, the Florida Everglades,

Patagonia and Costa Rica. She has

conducted field research in glacier

monitoring, raptor migration and black

swift nesting sites. She oversees the

Institute’s field excursions.

TIM MCNULTY’S volumes of poetry

include Pawtracks, In Blue Mountain

Dusk, Reflected Light and, most

recently, Through High Still Air, A

Season at Sourdough Mountain. He is a

noted conservationist and the author of

two nonfiction books, Olympic National

Park: A Natural History and Mount

Rainier National Park. He has served as

a fire lookout in the North Cascades and

a tree-planter on the Olympic Peninsula.

BOB MIERENDORF has been an

archaeologist and anthropologist with

North Cascades National Park for more

than 20 years. One of the few experts

in alpine archaeology, Bob has taught

field seminars since 1986, emphasiz-

ing the connections all people have

with their environment.

LIBBY MILLS is a wildlife biologist and

artist who has studied birds for nearly

40 years. Respected for her knowledge

of the Skagit and Methow valleys, she

has taught natural history from Alaska

to Baja to Costa Rica. Libby records

the sights and sounds of nature in

field journals, sketchbooks and on

audiotape.

JEFF MUSE is an educator and writer

who splits time between his Skagit

Valley home and the Evergreen State

College, where he’s launching the uni-

versity’s sustainable prisons project

with the Department of Corrections.

Jeff worked a decade for the Institute,

and for the National Park Service as a

wilderness ranger.

NICHOLAS O’CONNELL is the author of

On Sacred Ground: The Spirit of Place

in Pacific Northwest Literature, At the

Field’s End: Interviews with 22 Pacific

Northwest Writers, Contemporary

Ecofiction and Beyond Risk:

Conversations with Climbers. Nick also

teaches writing classes from Seattle

for www.thewritersworkshop.net.

DENNIS PAULSON recently retired

as director of the Slater Museum of

Natural History at the University of

Puget Sound. He has researched birds

and dragonflies and taught classes on

wildlife, ecology and evolution. Dennis

is the author of six books, including

Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest,

and Dragonflies of Washington.

NANCY PEARL is the author of the

Book Lust series from Sasquatch

Books and serves as the inspiration for

the world’s only librarian action figure.

She is a regular commentator about

books on National Public Radio and in

2004 won the Women’s National Book

Association Award.

RUTHY PORTER is an artist, illustrator

and graphic designer whose primary

influences spring from her passion for

the details found in nature. With a back-

ground in environmental education and

educational publishing, Ruthy employs

art as a teaching tool—a window into

the natural sciences and interrelation-

ships between people and landscapes.

ROBERT MICHAEL PYLE is a full-time

writer and independent biologist and

teacher. His 15 books include Walking

Gerry Cook, the friendly Ross Mule

captain for “Ross Lake by Boat and

Boot” and “Beats on the Peaks”


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the High Ridge, Wintergreen and The

Butterflies of Cascadia. His recent

book, Sky Time in Gray’s River, won

the 2007 National Outdoor Book Award

for natural history literature. He

recently completed the first nationwide

Butterfly Big Year for a new book.

JOHN ROHRER studies wildlife man-

agement at Humboldt State University

and has held positions as a biologist

for both the Washington Department

of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Forest

Service. He currently works as a biolo-

gist for Methow Valley Ranger District

in Okanogan National Forest.

ADAM RUSSELL is the Learning

Center’s naturalist and specializes

in paddling canoes, hiking trails and

teaching about rocks and plants,

wildlife and history. An athlete and

aspiring mountaineer, Adam has spent

time conducting field research in the

Amazon, Galapagos Islands, Andes

and North Cascades.

DAVE SANSONE is a naturalist who

has a passion for sustainability.

Known for being outdoors as much as

possible, he has observed natural pro-

cesses and applied them to the design

of his homestead. Dave has experi-

ence in organic farming, permaculture

gardening and is a wild edible and

medicinal plant educator.

KARL SCHROEDER is an amateur

astronomer, former president of the

Seattle Astronomical Society and a

builder of telescopes. When he is not

teaching, working with the elementary

school science program Project Astro

or giving talks to astronomy clubs, Karl

enjoys hosting star parties to show

people the wonders of the heavens.

JARED SILLIKER works at the Cadmus

Group, an environmental consulting

firm, to encourage high-performance

building designs. For more than five

years, he has supported EPA’s Energy

Star program and currently splits his

time between new building design and

consumer electronics. He is a sustain-

able business MBA candidate at the

Bainbridge Graduate Institute.

SARA JOY STEELE is a freelance

writer based in Seattle, Washington.

She is currently working with pho-

tographer Benjamin Drummond on

a long-term documentary project

that tells the story of global warming

through local people. To learn more

about their print and Web media,

presentations and exhibitions visit

www.facingclimatechange.org.

DAVE TUCKER researches volcanic

stratigraphy in the North Cascades.

He is currently studying the Holocene

eruptive history of Mt. Baker, and will

soon begin a geologic mapping project

of volcanic rocks near Ross Lake. He

is a resident of Bellingham, retired

mountaineering guide and instructor

at Western Washington University.

CYNTHIA UPDEGRAVE studied biol-

ogy teaching at the University of

Washington, working closely with

Estella Leopold for many years in

the historic and biogeographical

aspects of regional floras. Cynthia

uses an interdisciplinary, place-based

approach to teaching, focusing on

bioregional literacy.

DANA VISALLI is a field botanist

specializing in rare plants. As director

of the Methow Biodiversity Project,

he coordinates a biological inventory

of the Methow River watershed and

publishes The Methow Naturalist, a

natural history journal. He is author

of Northwest Dryland Wildflowers,

Sagebrush-Ponderosa, Northwest

Coastal Wildflowers and Northwest

Mountain Wildflowers.

KEENAN WEBSTER began his music

studies with master teachers from

Africa and Cuba and concentrates

his studies on religion, history and

music. His musical influences include

John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Taj Mahal,

El Hadj Kouyate and music of Latin

America, Sumatra and India. He

extends experimentation and improvi-

sation to the balafon and kora.

SHELLEY WEISBERG is a field botanist

who delights in teaching about native

plants. She has studied plant communi-

ties throughout Washington, coordinat-

ed plant restoration projects for North

Cascades National Park and worked at

local nurseries. Shelley is the owner of

Moonstone Garden Design, specializing

in native plants and environmentally

responsible practices.

ZAC WEST is founding principal of

IDeologyfirm.com. He has more than

10 years experience in product design

and project management. Zac holds an

MBA in Sustainability from Bainbridge

Graduate Institute. His studies

examined optimizing profitability

through system streamlining. He is a

member of OIA’s Eco Working Group,

Access Fund and Carbon Concierge.

LEE WHITFORD has served the

Institute for many years as a naturalist,

coordinator for Institute Stewardship

programs and honorary mom at the

Learning Center. In 2004, she earned

her MEd in Environmental Education

through the Institute’s Graduate

Residency program with Western

Washington University. Lee resides in

Bellingham and can be found out and

about collecting fungi, observing sea

creatures or studying rocks.

DAVID B. WILLIAMS is a freelance

natural history writer and author of

The Street-Smart Naturalist: Field

Notes from Seattle. His next book,

Stories in Stone, is about the cultural

and natural history of building stone

from around the United States.

www.streetsmartnaturalist.com.

KENT WOODRUFF is an outstanding

naturalist and wildlife biologist with

the Okanogan and Wenatchee National

Forest. His classroom is where you can

smell and hear and feel the subjects

under investigation. His favorite

subjects are birds, bats and butterflies

and how they fit in the web of life.

YO U ’ R E I N V I T E D !INSTITUTE ANNUAL PICNICSaturday, May 30, FREECome to our Upper Skagit neighborhood party. Enjoy a day

at our Learning Center campus with sustainability tours, chil-

dren’s activities, naturalist walks, canoe trips, live music and a

scrumptious barbecue picnic buffet. Find out more about what

the Institute is up to in 2009 at this popular annual event.

l MORE INFORMATION AT WWW.NCASCADES.ORG/EVENTS HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

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that is 505,000 acres of pristine

wilderness—craggy peaks, cascading waterfalls, meadows full of wildflowers and

more glaciers than anywhere else in the Lower 48—located in the heart of the

beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Visualize studying in a community that includes the region’s best and bright-

est environmental educators, field scientists, writers, naturalists, artists, conser-

vationists and visionary leaders in the nonprofit sector.

Picture an academic experience that incorporates the rigorous training of a uni-

versity, the experience of teaching, the practicality of nonprofit organizational man-

agement and the organic insights born from wide-ranging outdoor explorations.

Envision yourself as a graduate student with North Cascades Institute and

Western Washington University, earning your Master’s in Environmental

Education and a Certificate in Leadership and Nonprofit Administration while

enjoying the very best the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

Working in partnership with Huxley College of the Environment at WWU, the

Institute offers an integrated Master of Education program that blends leadership

and nonprofit administration, curriculum development and instructional strategies,

natural and cultural history and residential program operations. Over the course of

our one-of-a-kind, seven-quarter program, you’ll live and work at the North Cascades

Environmental Learning Center, our wilderness campus in North Cascades National

Park, pursue coursework at WWU’s Bellingham campus, teach kids from all back-

grounds about their natural heritage through Mountain School, survey Northwest

environments from high alpine trails

to the Skagit Valley and the San Juan

Islands and make lifelong friends and

professional contacts in our close-knit

community.

The professional residency at the

Institute is the only one of its kind

that is fully integrated into a degree

program. Unlike other comparable

graduate programs, at the end of your

academic journey you’ll have secured

your M.Ed. degree from WWU, a

venerable institution that, for 10 years

in a row, was rated second among

Western-region public universities

that grant Master’s degrees by U.S.

News & World Report.

When you complete the Institute’s

integrated M.Ed. program, you are

ready for doors to open to an inspiring

career in environmental education

and nonprofit leadership!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE GRADUATE PROGRAM , VISIT

WWW.NCASCADES.ORG/GRADUATE OR CALL (360) 856-5700 EXT. 209.

M A S T E R ’ S O F E D U C AT I O NGRADUATE PROGRAM: LIVE, LEARN AND TEACH IN THE NORTH CASCADES LEARNING CENTER

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I believe the

experiences I gained

through my classes

at Western and the

Professional Residency

set me apart from the

other applicants and

will help me make a

real positive impact

on Palouse-Clearwater

Environmental Institute.

This is just the type of

position I wanted post-

graduation.

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believes children exposed

to nature and educated in the natural sciences gain a valuable connection

that will serve them their whole lives. Mountain School, which has served

more than 14,000 children since 1989, is our nationally recognized residen-

tial environmental education program offered in cooperation with North

Cascades National Park. Mountain School students come to the North

Cascades for three days and two nights with their school class to learn about

ecosystems, scientific investigation, geology and the natural and cultural

history of the mountains through hands-on, experiential-based activities.

In 2008, Mountain School served nearly 1,500 4th–12th grade students and

adults from Anacortes, Mount Vernon, Highline, the San Juan Islands,

Edmonds, Tukwila, Clover Park, Bellingham, Bellevue and Seattle.

North Cascades Institute offers Mountain School programs for

upper elementary through high school students at our expansive

Environmental Learning Center, a wilderness campus located on the

shores of Diablo Lake that includes well-equipped classrooms and

labs, a library and experienced staff and hike leaders. Mountain School

students come with their classmates, teachers and chaperones to learn

why Northwest mountains are important to our plants and wildlife,

our rivers and sea, and our communities and cultures. A unique net-

work of trails and shelters surrounding the Learning Center provides

quick and easy access to the surrounding wilderness and incredible

outdoor learning opportuni-

ties. Participants stay in guest

lodges and fresh, delicious

and nutritious meals featuring

local, fresh foods are served in

the lakeside dining hall.

The multi-disciplinary

Mountain School curriculum

is aligned with Washington

State’s EALRs and GLEs to

better facilitate the integra-

tion of information learned at

Mountain School into the class-

room curriculum and into each

student’s daily life. In addition

to academic lessons, students

develop important social skills

and a sense of respect for one

another and their surrounding

environment as they live and

work together in a cooperative

community.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW YOUR CHILD’S CLASSROOM

CAN EXPERIENCE THE TRANSFORMATIVE EFFECTS OF

MOUNTAIN SCHOOL, VISIT WWW.NCASCADES.ORG/SCHOOL

OR CALL (360) 856-5700 EXT. 209.

M O U N TA I N S C H O O LBRING YOUR CLASSROOM TO THE MOUNTAINS

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“I never knew I live in

such a cool place!”

~5th grade Mountain School student, Mount Vernon

in an Institute program, your

tuition dollars go toward helping us connect hundreds of young

people more closely with the natural world. A few of our notable

youth adventures include:

an exciting new venture for 2009 with the National Parks Foundation, North

Cascades National Park and Pacific Gas and Electric. High school youth from

communities around the country will convene in North Cascades National Park

for one month to study climate change. While here, the youth will spend four

weeks in the field exploring climate change issues with experts and learning

about energy conservation, national parks and stewardship. After leaving our

mountains, they’ll return to their local communities as youth ambassadors and

lead others in service projects in their local National Parks.

YO U T H A D V E N T U R E SCONNECTING THE NEXT GENERATION TO NATURE

a backcountry canoe, backpacking

and conservation service program for

underserved youth on Ross Lake in North

Cascades National Park. During the course

of 12 life-changing days, high school

students from the Seattle and Skagit

Valley areas complete service projects,

learn Leave No Trace, outdoor camping

and leadership skills and study wilderness

stewardship and the natural and cultural

history of the region with the Institute,

the Student Conservation Association and

North Cascades National Park.l FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HELPING THE NEXT GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE STEP OUTSIDE AND LEARN ABOUT OUR LOCAL

ENVIRONMENT, VISIT WWW.NCASCADES.ORG/GIVE OR CALL (360) 856-5700 EXT. 209.


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V O L U N T E E R S T E W A R D S ,like our popular Eagle Watchers and Mountain Stewards programs, are trained in

the natural history of eagles, salmon, the Skagit watershed, mountain ecosystems,

Leave No Trace practices and skills on how to teach these topics to the general

public. Stewards are asked to volunteer 20–40 hours during the winter or summer

months and provide valuable education for visitors to our state’s public lands.

l FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR VOLUNTEER STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS, VISIT WWW.NCASCADES.ORG/STEWARDS OR CALL

(360) 856-5700 EXT. 209.

a program that began last year in partnership with

the National Forest Service, Mount Vernon Police

Department, Skagit Youth and Family Services and

the National Park Service. This outreach initiative

engages youth from one of the Skagit Valley’s most

diverse neighborhoods in a variety of outdoor

activities including all-day field trips and after-

school programs. In 2008, more than 100 youth

learned about bears, marine biology, migratory

birds and the natural history of the Skagit Valley

through visits to local public lands with a variety

of educators.

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G R O U P R E N TA L SGATHER YOUR GROUP AT THE LEARNING CENTER

to the North Cascades

and host a group meeting or retreat at the Learning Center.

Our unique field campus inspires reflection, understanding

and connection to the natural world, as well as to each other.

Group rentals include:Lodging for as many as 69 guests

Delicious catering with local and organic foods

Conference rooms, trailside shelters and a library

Internet access, projectors and other supplies

Naturalist-led activities like canoeing and hiking exclusive to your group

Inspiring community of green-living and sustainable practices

The Learning Center primarily serves as a home for North

Cascades Institute’s educational programs. However, as our

calendar allows, we meet the needs of groups who want to

experience the North Cascades through their own retreats and

meetings. Conference fees help subsidize our youth education

programs and scholarships for low-income participants.

l FOR RATES, BOOKING AND OTHER INFORMATION, VISIT WWW.NCASCADES.ORG/RENTALS

OR CALL (360) 856-5700 EXT. 209. ©L

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2009

H E L P U SCONSERVE AND RESTORE NORTHWEST ENVIRONMENTS

Thanks to the support of people who care about our environment, our

programs are working. We’re connecting young people more closely with

nature right here in the Northwest.

This past year, we taught thousands of kids about this special place.

They know more about the environment; now they’re taking better care of it.

Here’s what donors helped us accomplish in 2008:

North Cascades Wild led 37 underserved teenagers onto Ross Lake

via canoes. These amazing kids from a broad diversity of cultural back-

grounds spent 12 days on Ross Lake doing arduous, hands-on steward-

ship work and learning about the environment.

The life-changing results were dramatic. One 16-year-old wrote,

“I now realize that the environment needs my help.”

In Mountain School, more than 1,800 young people spent three days

at North Cascades Environmental Learning Center learning about our local

ecosystem. A fifth-grade teacher wrote us, “Six months later, my kids are

still talking about what they learned about glaciers, plants and water—

even lichen!”

The Kulshan Creek Neighborhood Program connected dozens of

young residents of this urban Hispanic community in Mount Vernon with

nature, right in their own backyard. These enthusiastic kids and their

families—most of them new residents who speak Spanish as their first

language—are hungry for safe, stimulating experiences in nature.

Our current economy is presenting tough challenges for everyone, but

our dedication to our mission remains as strong as ever. With your sup-

port, we intend to come through this time a stronger organization poised

to achieve our mission to a greater degree than ever before.

Please help us conserve and restore Northwest environments through

education.

Give today!

GIVE TODAYYour support makes our work possible. Return

this form to North Cascades Institute, call us

at (360) 856 5700 ext. 209 or donate online at

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47

StaffKevin Biggs

Tom Borst

Debra Brodie

Amy Brown

Laura Busby

Charles Claassen

Christina Claassen

Jenny Cloutier

Manda Davis

Betsy Delph

Jeff Giesen

Kristofer Gilje

Angela Goodall

Anne Hubka

Brooke Larrabee

Orawan Layne

Christian Martin

Deb Martin

Danelle McGee

Mark McGee

Megan McGinty

Kris Molesworth

Adam Russell

Jason Ruvelson

Julie Toomey

Carolyn Waters

Saul Weisberg

Lee Whitford

Amy Wilcox

Board of DirectorsJim Bishop

David Bonn

Terry Conner

Gerry Cook

Pete Dewell

Carolyn Gastellum

Dunham Gooding

Peter Jackson

Nan McKay

John Miles

Stan Miller

Jeanne Muir

Therese Ogle

Brian Scheuch

Randy Self

Abby Sussman

Advisory CouncilThomas Lowe Fleischner

Art Kruckeberg

Estella Leopold

Richard Louv

Chip Jenkins

Rob Iwamoto

Robert Michael Pyle

John Reynolds

Chuck Robinson

I N S T I T U T E L E A D E R S H I P

Clockwise from top left: Brooke Larrabee,

Development Coordinator; Amy Brown, North

Cascades Wild Naturalist; Tom Borst, Caretaker

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48

2009

Christian Martin

www.moontrolling.com

Jesse Kinsman

www.kinsmancreative.com

Carolyn Waters

Lithtex Northwest

www.lithtex.com

Spring Aspens, watercolor, 2008.

Our cover art for this catalog was

generously provided by Seattle

artist Suze Woolf. She found this

particular grove of aspens in an

avalanche chute east of Cutthroat

Lake on State Route 20: “It had

begun to leaf out, but the under-

growth was still low enough to

scramble the bank and thrash

my way into the middle of the

grove.” Suze’s goal as an artist

is “to transport the viewer into

the world of the painting and

yet that viewer always remains

aware of the artist's hand.”

To see more of her work and a

schedule of upcoming exhibits,

visit www.suzewoolf-fineart.com.

We are also grateful to have the

opportunity to reproduce the

artwork of Ruthy Porter, Chris

Thornley, Jocelyn Curry, Katie

Roloson, Kristen Gilje and Nikki

McClure, and the photography of

Benj Drummond, John Scurlock,

Brett Baunton, Paul Bannick,

David Snyder, Lara Swimmer,

Marco Prozzo, Lee Rolfe, Anita

Boyle, Giuseppe Moretti and

Institute staff and graduate

students.

Special thanks to the National

Park Service for the use of Doug

Albee’s image of Diablo Dam

and to University of Puget Sound

for Abby Williams Hill’s painting

“Glacier Peaks.”

Copyright 2009 North Cascades

Institute. All rights reserved.

Art, photo and poetry copyrights

remain with creators and are

used by permission.

Major Partners Special Thanks

Catalog Credits

Clockwise from top left: Chaya and Angela Goodall, Head Housekeeper; Kristofer Gilje, Operations Director; Kris Molesworth, Donor Relations Manager

Special thanks to Foothills

Toyota in Burlington and

Toyota USA for their donation

of a new Toyota Highlander

Hybrid to the Institute!

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NORTH CASCADES INSTITUTE810 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, Washington 98284

(360) 856-5700 ext. 209 www.ncascades.org

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