North Cascade Institute

Name

North Cascade Institute

Legal name

North Cascades Institute

Website

https://ncascades.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Interpretation & Ranger-Led Education Programs (Visitor Education) (THAAAOAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA), Mountain & Alpine Lodges (THAGAIAE), Hiking, Trekking & Mountain Guiding (THAJABAA), Outdoor Recreation & Adventure Programs (Trips, Climbing, Rentals) (EDALAIAG)

Keywords

• Environmental education programs
• Outdoor learning experiences
• Place-based education
• Wilderness youth programs
• Conference retreat venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Sedro Woolley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Revenue from overnight programs including Family Getaways, Base Camp Learning & Lodging, field excursions, workshops, and wilderness medicine courses. Fees vary by program type and accommodation level.
2. Skagit Tours: Boat tour revenue from Diablo Lake cruises (Afternoon Cruises, Lake & Lunch Tours, Fall Morning Cruises) operated in partnership with Seattle City Light. Tour fees range from $30-50 per person.
3. Conference & Retreat Venue Rental: Revenue from hosting retreats, board meetings, reunions, staff trainings, and special events for groups of 10-92 guests with lodging and dining services.
4. Donations & Grants: 501(c)(3) nonprofit receiving donations, corporate sponsorships (1% for the Planet members), foundation grants (M.J. Murdock Trust), and scholarship funding.
5. Merchandise Sales: Online store selling apparel, books, art, jewelry, and activities for kids with proceeds supporting youth education programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

North Cascades Institute operates a 38,500 sq ft Environmental Learning Center on Diablo Lake within North Cascades National Park, delivering overnight and day environmental education programs for youth, families, adults, and organizations. Core offerings include Mountain School (school-based outdoor education), Family Getaways, Base Camp lodging, Skagit Tours boat excursions run in partnership with Seattle City Light, online classes, field classes/excursions, youth leadership programs, and a graduate degree partnership with Alaska Pacific University, supplemented by retreats and venue rentals.

Product overview

North Cascades Institute operates as an environmental education nonprofit offering a diversified portfolio of programs centered around its North Cascades Environmental Learning Center on Diablo Lake. The core offerings include Mountain School (curriculum-based outdoor education for youth), Family Getaways (multi-generational camping-style experiences), Base Camp Learning & Lodging (independent overnight stays), and Skagit Tours (boat tours of Diablo Lake in partnership with Seattle City Light). Supporting programs include Online Classes (virtual educational content), Field Classes/Excursions (natural history programs), Youth Leadership Adventures, the Cascadia Pathway Graduate Program (in partnership with Alaska Pacific University), Wilderness Medicine Courses, Conferences and Retreats (venue rental), and the Nature of Writing Speaker Series. The Institute celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2026 and has received Charity Navigator's highest four-star rating for 21 consecutive evaluations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mountain School Residential outdoor environmental education program that brings fifth- and sixth-grade students into the North Cascades for curriculum-based learning in forests, watersheds, and natural settings, designed for school groups and educators.
• Family Getaways Multi-generational family programs at the Environmental Learning Center featuring lodging, meals, and naturalist-led outdoor activities on the shores of Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park, designed for parents, grandparents, and children of all ages.
• Base Camp Learning & Lodging Overnight accommodations, meals, and self-directed outdoor learning adventures at the Environmental Learning Center in the heart of North Cascades National Park for individuals and small groups seeking independent nature experiences.
• Skagit Tours on Diablo Lake Boat tours of Diablo Lake aboard the wheelchair-accessible Alice Ross IV, run in partnership with Seattle City Light, including Afternoon Cruises, Lake & Lunch Tours, and Fall Morning Cruises with naturalist-guided commentary on natural history, biodiversity, geology, and the hydroelectric project.
• Online Classes Zoom-based virtual educational programs featuring regional experts, artists, writers, and educators on topics including birds, geology, watercolors, wildlife, digital photography, poetry, and environmental issues, with recordings available for asynchronous access.
• Field Classes and Excursions Natural history excursions and Learning Center weekend programs featuring hands-on outdoor education with local experts in geology, birding, photography, and environmental science for adults and lifelong learners.
• Youth Leadership Adventures Summer programs for teens focusing on leadership development through outdoor experiences, stewardship activities, and environmental education in the North Cascades ecosystem.
• Cascadia Pathway Graduate Program Graduate program in partnership with Alaska Pacific University where students earn a Master's degree while gaining paid teaching experience at North Cascades Institute, combining graduate study with hands-on environmental education practice.
• Conferences and Retreats Event venue rental at the Environmental Learning Center for retreats, board meetings, reunions, and staff trainings, accommodating 10-92 guests with lodging, meals, and guided learning opportunities.
• Wilderness Medicine Courses Medical skills training for individuals working or playing in remote or wilderness settings, offered in partnership with Remote Medical International.
• Nature of Writing Speaker Series Author presentations featuring naturalists, artists, and writers sharing their works at Village Books in Bellingham and Third Place Books in Seattle.

Quantifiable outcome

• Thousands of participants annually experience hands-on environmental learning
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Skagit Land TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Conservation partnership placing 5.8 acres including 1,150 feet of creek and river shoreline in permanent conservation easement. Partnership protects salmon spawning habitat in Diobsud Creek watershed.
• National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership for the Environmental Learning Center within North Cascades National Park. NPS preserves unimpaired natural and cultural resources while the Institute operates educational programs and the campus.
• Seattle City LightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Skagit Tours boat excursions on Diablo Lake. Seattle City Light provides hydroelectric power and has offered tours for 90+ years. Partnership includes Environmental Learning Center co-development.
• Gear AidminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner providing in-kind gifts, gear repairs, and funding for over a decade. Has helped provide hundreds of students with outdoor experiences through youth programs.
• North DrinkwareminorGTM or Marketing Partner1% for the Planet member donating 1% from Mount Baker pint glass and tumbler sales to support the Institute's environmental education programs.
• 1% for the PlanetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal network of businesses committing 1% of annual sales to vetted environmental nonprofits. Institute is an Environmental Partner receiving member business donations.
• Skagit Fisheries Enhancement GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in habitat improvements including tree planting and in-stream structures for spawning salmon on Diobsud Creek easement.
• Village BooksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBellingham bookstore partner hosting Nature of Writing Speaker Series events and 40th anniversary author readings.
• Third Place BooksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeattle bookstore partner hosting Nature of Writing Speaker Series events and 40th anniversary author readings.
• Upper Skagit Indian TribeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on habitat improvements for salmon and included in Skagit Tours educational content about area's indigenous inhabitants.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• The Mountaineers: Pacific Northwest outdoor education and conservation nonprofit offering courses, trips, and mountaineering instruction. Comparable in regional outdoor education and adult learning programming.
• Cascadia Wildlands: Pacific Northwest regional conservation organization that shares the Institute's geographic focus and conservation mission. Comparable in regional advocacy and environmental programming, though more advocacy-oriented.

Broad incumbents

• Outward Bound USA: National experiential education nonprofit offering wilderness-based programs for youth and adults. Overlaps with the Institute's Youth Leadership Adventures and field-based learning offerings.
• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): Large national nonprofit specializing in outdoor skills and wilderness education courses with a much broader geographic footprint. Comparable in outdoor education mission and wilderness-based curriculum.

Direct peers

• Teton Science Schools: Wyoming-based nonprofit operating place-based environmental education in Grand Teton National Park with a graduate program (similar to Cascadia Pathway). Closely comparable in residency model, NPS co-location, and educator training programs.
• IslandWood: Pacific Northwest-based environmental education nonprofit offering overnight school programs, graduate training, and family learning on Bainbridge Island. Highly comparable in mission, school program focus, and residential learning center model.
• NatureBridge: National environmental education nonprofit operating residential learning centers in multiple national parks (Olympic, Yosemite, Golden Gate, etc.). Directly comparable in NPS-partnered environmental education and overnight school programs.
• Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES): Colorado nonprofit offering naturalists-led programs, school programs, and adult classes with a residential learning campus. Comparable in environmental education focus, youth school programming, and adult naturalist offerings.

Others

• 1% for the Planet: Global network of businesses and environmental nonprofits. The Institute is an Environmental Partner receiving corporate donations; comparable as an ecosystem participant in the environmental giving landscape.
• Seattle City Light (Skagit Tours): Municipal utility that co-operates Skagit Tours and the Environmental Learning Center with the Institute. A key partner and partial peer in delivering Diablo Lake tours and hydroelectric-themed education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ncascades
• Facebookfacebook.com/ncascades
• Instagraminstagram.com/ncascades
• Xx.com/ncascadeswa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North Cascade Institute