Family Getaways

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!

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.

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. As public health guidelines evolve, we continue to assess and adjust operations accordingly. Modifications to Family Getaways for 2021 may include:

• take-out meal service (hot meals and sack lunches)
• self-guided learning adventures
• modified lodging arrangements
• "single-use" bathrooms
• limited access to campus facilities including dining hall, library and lab room

Review all our Coronavirus Safety Precautions here.