Graphics — North Cascades Institute

Donate

Mountain-School-Classroom.jpg

Mountain-School-Curriculum.jpg

Mountain-School-Staff.jpg

Mountain-School-Program-Staff.jpg

Mountain-School-Staff3.jpg

MSatHome_Lesson1_Thumb.jpg

MSatHome_Lesson2_Thumb.jpg

MSatHome_websiteHero.jpg

YLA-RoundBio.jpg

MSathome_Lesson4-Thumb.jpg

MSathome_L4_WalkingWonder_Thumb.jpg

MSatHome_L5_Phenology_Thumb.jpg

MSatHome_L6_TrailCookies_Thumb.jpg

2022_MS-ChooseAdventure_inset1.jpg

2022_MS-ChooseAdventure_inset2.jpg

2022_MS-ChooseAdventure_inset3.jpg

Mountain School makes the magic of the wilderness real for kids

The concept behind Mountain School, run by nonprofit North Cascades Institute, sounds simple: In a three-day mountain camp experience, imbue in school children a visceral connection with this special place — the thumping, mountainous heart of Northwest wilderness. Make its magic real to them at a micro level, in the hope that some of them will feel the pull to return as powerfully as a salmon headed home to spawn. Slip into their consciousness rudimentary skills of a naturalist — the ability to observe and make the same personal connections to other wild lands.

This is how it’s done at Mountain School. Has been, in fact, for 25 years as a program that sprouted in leaky Army surplus tents at Newhalem Campground matures into a national model for wilderness education on public lands."

— The Seattle Times, August 2015