Family Getaways

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Now registering for 5 weekends in July and August!

Connect with your family—and nature too—on the  shores of Diablo Lake. Spend quality time together while enjoying the invigorating mountain air and starry night skies of North Cascades National Park, one of the most spectacular wilderness landscapes in all of North America. Situated on the wooded shores of Diablo Lake in the heart of North Cascades National Park—3 hours from Seattle or 2 from Bellingham—the Environmental Learning Center beckons with inspiring design, cozy lodges, access to the lake and network of trails. Institute naturalists provide daily hands-on activities to engage people of all ages. You'll return home knowing more about this special place and feeling inspired, refreshed and grateful for new family memories!

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Family Getaways Sample Activities

  • Hike to Sourdough Waterfall
  • Learning about the old-growth forest
  • Treasure hunt in the surrounding forest and lakeshore
  • Learn how to navigate by map and compass
  • Discover the tiny critters living in Diablo Lake
  • North Cascades natural history trivia
  • Learn about nocturnal animals on a nighttime adventure
  • Find the Big Dipper in the night sky using a star wheel

Activities change throughout the year depending on the weather, seasonal opportunities, group interest and abilities.

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We welcome groups that include parents, grandparents, children, guardians, aunts and uncles and nontraditional families. Children ages two and younger can be added to the family registration at no charge. Children are the responsibility of a parent throughout the program.

Scholarships are available for Family Getaways! Please visit our Scholarship page for more information or call (360) 854-2599.

   

Coronavirus Safety during your stay

Participant and staff safety are our priority. Vaccination, and pre-travel testing of non-vaccinated participants, is the best way to limit the spread of COVID-19. We strongly recommend that Institute participants complete vaccination or be tested negative for COVID-19 within 3 days of arriving at Institute programs based at the Environmental Learning Center. If you have a positive test result or are exhibiting any COVID-19 symptoms, please cancel your registration to receive a full refund.

Please review our Coronavirus Safety Precautions to learn more about how we are are working to keep Institute participants and staff safe.