Program Staff
Students arrive at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center with their school group and are divided into small trail groups with approximately a one-to-five adult/student ratio. Teachers and chaperones are an integral part of Mountain School, participating fully in all activities. North Cascades Institute education staff design lessons, provide leadership and train instructors at Mountain School.
Leadership
Program Manager
Eric grew up in Skagit County, and first encountered North Cascades Institute as a Mountain School student in the late 90’s. He received a B.S. from Western Washington University, and taught high school mathematics for 10 years. Seeking to pursue teaching beyond the classroom, Eric returned to the Institute to complete a M.Ed in Environmental Education as a part of our 17th graduate cohort, C17. He has spent the last 3 years working as a Program & Camp Director for the local Boy Scout council. Returning once more to the Institute, Eric is excited to be leading the Mountain School program that continues to impact so many youth. In his free time Eric enjoys swimming, hiking, and reading a good book.
Mountain School Manager
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Megan Carter grew up in the Cascade foothills and spent summers on the Olympic Peninsula, cultivating a lifelong love for the outdoors. After studying outdoor recreation and environmental education at Western Washington University, Megan spent 8 years in Colorado, working in all kinds of outdoor leadership roles and being recognized as a 2022 NRPA “30 Under 30” award recipient for their work in outdoor recreation. Megan’s journey to the Institute began during a visit to our Environmental Learning Center in college, when she knew she wanted to contribute to the organization someday. Now, as Mountain School Manager, she oversees the program with a hands-on approach to logistics, leadership, and creating impactful experiences for all involved. Outside of work, Megan’s a backcountry skier, mountain biker, stand-up paddle boarder, ice cream lover, an avid trail runner and dog parent to Corduroy.
Mountain School Program Coordinator
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Victoria was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico. She developed a love for nature while growing up surrounded by mountains and deserts. With a degree in Biological Science, she focuses on wildlife ecology and management, scientific collections, and environmental education. She is excited to start her new role, using her experience with nature centers to inspire and educate people about the wonders of nature. She hopes to continue learning from conservation programs to bring back to her community back in Mexico. In her free time, Victoria loves outdoor activities like hiking, nature photography, and camping, as well as spending time with friends, watching movies, and playing board games.
Mountain School Program Coordinator
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Cate is from Oakland, California. As program coordinator for Mountain School, she supports the instructor team, works on developing our mountain school curriculum, and oversees weekly programming. Before the Institute, she worked in various educator and guiding roles up and down the west coast. She studied Sociology at Lewis & Clark College, with an academic focus on accessibility to outdoor recreation spaces. Cate found a profound love for the PNW during her undergraduate studies and was drawn to return and explore more of Washington!