NORT H C A SC A DES I NST I T U T E
MOUNTA IN SCHOOL M
ountain School is our three-day, two-night environmental education program for 5th grade classes that has served tens of thousands of regional students since 1990.
While spending time at the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center, students are immersed in hands-on, interdisciplinary lessons and activities focused on ecosystems, naturalist skills, interconnectedness, and more. Participants develop connections to nature and their fellow classmates while becoming inspired to continue learning about public lands and the natural world. Mountain School was disrupted in the 2023-24 school year due to the Sourdough Fire, which unfortunately necessitated the cancellation of the first half of the program (see page 2 for details).
Student quotes are from reflective postcards, written to themselves and mailed after Mountain School.
2023/24 PROGRAM REPORT
INSPIRATION to continue learning and connecting with public lands and the natural world
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I love how the wind fills me up with energy and the view … it’s just beautiful! With the mountains and the lake. Oh! And the snow on the peaks. All I know is that I will miss Mountain School forever! – Roosevelt Elementary student
PROGRAM OUTCOMES SUPPORT SCHOOLS in meeting state
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and national education standards
Mountain School gives many students in our school the experience of a lifetime. It brings out another side in students and encourages perseverance, a love of nature, and an introduction to the amazing outdoors around us. – Centennial Elementary teacher
CONNECTION to nature and fellow classmates through cooperative learning
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I am leaving this place happy with new friends and life experiences. I will never forget this… I am so excited for what comes next! – Blaine Elementary student
KNOWLEDGE of North Cascades
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ecosystems and scientific processes Students really enjoyed learning and were making lots of connections between the curriculum being taught at Mountain School and what they had learned in their classrooms about ecosystems. – Madison Elementary teacher