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 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 are hired on a seasonal basis, with each season lasting approximately three months. Instructors have the opportunity to continue from one season to the next based on performance, program needs, and mutual interest.

Instructors typically serve our Mountain School program in the Spring and Fall seasons, and support Family Getaways and other Learning Center-based programs during the Summer. Our goal is to provide a strong system of training, coaching, and hands-on experience that helps staff grow in their careers in environmental education, conservation, and related fields.

Spring Season:

  • Open for applications: November
  • Employment period: mid-February through early June

Summer Season:

  • Open for applications: March
  • Employment period: early June through early September

Fall Season:

  • Open for applications: June
  • Employment period: early September through early December

        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 

        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 sales support, customer service, and visitor information 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, Heather Meadows Visitor Center, and Glacier Public Service Center.

        • Open for applications: mid-February
        • Employment period: mid-May through September (or October depending on location)

           

        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.