Base Camp

Overnight learning adventures and accommodations

Flexible, affordable, enriching and fun, Base Camp offers you the opportunity to explore and learn about “the American Alps” from skilled naturalists while enjoying the comforts of our award-winning campus in the heart of North Cascades National Park. Everyone is invited to stay for Base Camp at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center for a day, a weekend or an extended stay -- you choose! -- on a space-available basis during our peak summer season from June 15 until the end of September.

Each night of Base Camp includes:

• Accommodations in our comfortable lodges

• Three delicious meals made predominately with local, organic ingredients

• Three activities offered daily (morning, afternoon, evening) which may include: guided naturalist hikes, canoeing on Diablo Lake, art activities, natural history presentations, campfires, wilderness skills and more.

Read a review of Base Camp from NWTripFinder.com

Whether passing through the North Cascades for a day or a week, Base Camp is a great way to explore and learn about this amazing ecosystem, from the comfort of our award-winning campus. Stay with us after your adventure in the national park and refuel with delicious meals made predominately with local, organic ingredients, a hot shower and stimulating community. Extend the length of your stay for an Institute class to enjoy more time in the mountains. Reserve a spot for a rejuvenating stopover during your national park road trip, cross-country motorcycle tour or Cascadian bike ride.

We're also offering a special week of "Field Base Camp" at Newhalem Campground in North Cascades National Park.

Pricing depends on accommodation choices: private room, $125; single shared room, $95; double, $160; triple, $195; quad $230

Register with a family or group and save: A group of four sharing a room costs $230 a night, or less than $58 a person—lodging, meals and programs included!

Register by calling (360) 854-2599 or emailing nci@ncascades.org. Space is limited and fills fast, so contact us today!

Each week, Base Camp has a theme around which we'll focus our learning adventures. You can participate in any of these sessions for a day, a weekend or even an extended stay, depending on your schedule.

May 25 – 26:  Memorial Day Weekend

June 15-21:  Family Mountain School:  Ecosystems Explorations

Bring your family up for a fun and educational experience in the North Cascades.  This week, our Institute Naturalists will lead hands-on educational activities that introduce students of all ages to mountain ecosystems and provide an up close look at diverse ecological communities in the North Cascades.  We’ll learn about glaciers, rocks, plants, and animals while hiking through Douglas fir forests and paddling on Diablo Lake.  This is a great opportunity to meet other families!

June 24 – 29:  Stories of the Upper Skagit: People and Places of our Past

For almost 10,000 years, Native people have lived in the rugged terrain of the Upper Skagit and developed a deep knowledge of the plants, animals, rivers, and peaks.  In more recent history, explorers, trappers, miners, and fire lookouts came to these mountains seeking riches or inspiration.  During this week of Base Camp, we’ll visit culturally significant sites, share stories by the campfire, and learn how this rich and diverse history has shaped North Cascades National Park today.

July 1-9:  A Water World: Snowflake and Stream

North Cascades National Park receives an average of 80 inches of rainfall each year, creating hundreds of glaciers, pristine alpine lakes, and countless cascades trickling down mountainsides.  Graceful yet powerful, this water has carved these seemingly unchangeable mountains inch by inch.  During this week of Base Camp, we’ll paddle in the turquoise waters of Diablo Lake, explore streams, and hike to alpine lakes while learning about the creatures who depend on this water for their home.

July 11-20: Adaptation: Wildlife of the North Cascades

Wolverines, mountain goats, tailed frogs, pileated woodpeckers, and bull trout can all be found in the North Cascades.  During this week of Base Camp, we’ll focus on the fascinating wildlife that can be found in this National Park and the adaptations that allow them survive in such a unique habitat.  Activities may include wildlife tracking, participating in park research projects, and hiking or paddling to diverse habitat types.

July 23-27:  Natural History Week: Firs, Fungus, and Feathers

During this week of Base Camp, Institute naturalists will share their passions in natural history whether it be for the butterflies and bees pollinating native plants, the charismatic megafauna that occupy these mountain landscapes, or the soil organisms that keep the cycle of life moving.  The wonders of the North Cascades are exciting for all ages, so families are welcome.

July 30-August 6:  Rivers to Ridges: Exploring Mountain Ecosystems

Did you know that North Cascades National Park is the second most biodiverse National Park in the country?  With a vertical relief of over 9000 feet and the weather patterns these mountains create, more than 1600 vascular plant species are found here.  During this week of Base Camp, we’ll hike our favorite National Park trails to explore multiple life zones, including low-elevation forests and mountain meadows.

August 5-12:  Field Base Camp: Nights on the Skagit

For those looking for a camping-based program with some added comforts, we will be offering Field Base Camp based out of Newhalem Creek Campground.  Camp along the shores of the Skagit River, in one of the most historically-rich areas in the park.  We’ll do the cooking and provide naturalist activities each day, exploring the natural and cultural history of the area.  In the evening, we’ll enjoy campfires, Ranger Programs and, if we’re lucky, the Perseid meteor shower on August 12^th.  North Cascades Institute can provide tents and other camping gear, with advance notice. Cost: $45 for adults and $30 for children.

August 11-24:  Adventure Week: Big Hikes, Canoeing, and Fly Fishing

The North Cascades are an adventure lover’s paradise. With the turn of summer, our favorite trails will melt out and wildflowers will carpet the mountain meadows.  During this week of Base Camp, we’ll take advantage of long summer days with naturalist-led hikes into the high country, long paddles on Diablo Lake, and fly fishing (select dates only, fishing license required).  Institute-led hikes will be between 6-10 miles and vary between moderate to difficult.

September 2-3: Labor Day Weekend

September 28 – 29:  Sourdough Speaker Series: Early Arrival

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