Programs

  • Mountain School Environmental Education

    MOUNTAIN SCHOOL - THIS PROGRAM IS AN IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR 5TH GRADE CLASSES THAT HAS BEEN SERVING REGIONAL SCHOOLS SINCE 1990. THROUGH HANDS-ON INTERDISCIPLINARY ACTIVITIES, STUDENTS ARE CONNECTED TO THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY OF OUR REGION, FORM CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR CLASSMATES AND THE ENVIRONMENT, AND SHARPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR OWN IDENTITIES. IN SPRING 2022, THE INSTITUTE CONTINUED MOUNTAIN SCHOOL: CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE, A HYBRID PROGRAM THAT OFFERED STUDENTS AND TEACHERS FROM 25 SCHOOLS IN WHATCOM AND SKAGIT COUNTIES A VIRTUAL SESSION FOLLOWED BY A DAY TRIP TO EITHER THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER OR WHATCOM FALLS PARK IN BELLINGHAM. IN FALL 2022, WE RETURNED TO THE FULL OVERNIGHT PROGRAM FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN AND PILOTED OUR NEWLY-REDESIGNED CURRICULUM, A PROJECT THAT BEGAN IN 2018. DESPITE CHALLENGING LATE-SEASON WILDFIRES, 12+ SCHOOLS PARTICIPATED. IN 2022, THERE WERE 2,125 PARTICIPANTS AND 3,487 LEARNER DAYS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $863.5K

  • Outdoor Connections for Students

    CONNECTIONS - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES WHATCOM COUNTY STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE, LEARN, AND CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER OUTDOORS NEAR THEIR SCHOOL. CONNECTIONS STARTED DURING THE SCHOOL CLOSURES IN 2020 WHEN NONPROFITS BANDED TOGETHER TO ADDRESS ACADEMIC INEQUITIES MAGNIFIED BY THE PANDEMIC, AND CONTINUES TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY NEEDS AS IN-PERSON LEARNING RETURNS. THROUGH PROVIDING LOCALLY-FOCUSED OUTDOOR EDUCATION FOR ALL K-6 STUDENTS IN THE RURAL MOUNT BAKER AND BLAINE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CONNECTIONS FOSTERS ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND JOYFUL HABITS OF OUTDOOR EXPLORATION THAT ARE STRONGLY LINKED.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $774.6K

  • Youth Leadership Program

    YOUTH LEADERSHIP - THIS PROGRAM ENGAGES LOCAL TEENS IN 9-DAY BACKPACKING AND CANOE CAMPING TRIPS IN NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK. IN ADDITION TO OUTDOOR SKILLS, YLA FOCUSES ON LEADERSHIP SKILLS, TEAM BUILDING, AND CLIMATE CHANGE SOLUTIONS, GIVING STUDENTS THE KNOWLEDGE AND TOOLS THEY NEED TO BECOME STEWARDS OF THE NATURAL WORLD AND ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY ADVOCACY. OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT AFTER THE SUMMER INCLUDE YOUTH FOR PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT (YEP!) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RESOURCES. IN 2022, THE INSTITUTE OFFERED SIX TRIPS (THREE CANOE-CAMPING, THREE BACKPACKING) FOR 44 PARTICIPANTS. IN 2022, THERE WERE 48 PARTICIPANTS (YLA AND YEP!) AND 444 LEARNER DAYS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $597.5K