Seasonal Positions Information

North Cascades Institute hires many seasonal positions each year. Most are based at the Environmental Learning Center and have options for subsidized housing and meals. See general descriptions below and visit our Jobs webpage for current openings.

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Outdoor Education

Seasonal Environmental Program Instructors

This position is designed for people who love nature and are early in their careers as educators and leaders. Based at the Environmental Learning Center, program instructors serve our Mountain School program in the Spring and Fall seasons. During the Summer season, they support Family Getaways and other Learning Center-based programs. Our goal is to provide a system of training, coaching, support, and experience that helps staff along their career paths in environmental education, conservation, and related fields. 

Spring/Summer Season:

  • Open for applications: November
  • Employment period: mid-February through mid-December (10 months)

Fall Season:

  • Open for applications: June
  • Employment period: September through November (3 months)

    Seasonal Youth Leadership Adventures Field Instructors

    Based at the Environmental Learning Center, this position spends a significant portion of time in the field leading high school students on 5- and 8-day backcountry courses. These trips focus on outdoor skill-building, community and leadership development, natural and cultural history of the North Cascades ecosystem, and climate change education. We seek to hire experienced instructors who are representative of or committed to supporting the diverse student population on our trips. Occasionally there may be opportunities for Learning Center-based program instructors to join the YLA team for the summer.

    • Open for applications: February
    • Employment period: June through August (3 months)

    Learn more about these outdoor education positions on our Program Instructor page.

    Operations

    Seasonal Cooks

    As a member of our kitchen team, this position helps support our wide array of educational programs by providing food service for program participants and campus guests of all ages in our lakeside dining hall.

    • Open for applications: December
    • Employment period: mid-February through mid-December (10 months)

    Seasonal Housekeepers

    This position helps provide a great experience for visitors at the Environmental Learning Center by maintaining guest lodges, facilities and premises to the high-quality cleanliness standards of our beautiful and earth-friendly campus.

    • Open for applications: December
    • Employment period: mid-February through mid-December (10 months)

    Seasonal Office Assistant

    This position works with Learning Center and Registration teams as a key interface between the public and the Institute—greeting and assisting visitors in-person and by phone, providing support for registrations, managing retail sales in our Learning Center gift shop, and providing administrative support for campus programs.

    • Open for applications: April
    • Employment period: June through September (4 months)

    Retail

    Seasonal Retail Assistants

    This position provides customer service and sales support in North Cascades National Park and Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest gift shops, operated in partnership with the National Park Service, US Forest Service and Seattle City Light. Work locations could include the North Cascades Visitor Center and Skagit Information Center in Newhalem, the Marblemount Wilderness Information Center, and Heather Meadows Visitor Center.

    • Open for applications: mid-February
    • Employment period: mid-May through September

    Conferences & Retreats

    Seasonal Program Service Specialist

    This position is for a customer service-minded person to serve as the on-site contact and host providing logistical support for Conference & Retreat programs. Group gatherings hosted at the Environmental Learning Center include workshops, trainings, retreats, reunions and fund-raising events. This position also helps with the Institute's Base Camp and Mountain School programs.

    • Open for applications: February
    • Employment period: April through mid-December (8.5 months)

       

    North Cascades Institute is committed to building an inclusive and culturally diverse workplace and strongly encourages candidates of all backgrounds to explore our opportunities and apply.