Click to download a PDF program description.

The professional residency takes place at North Cascades Environmental Learning Center nestled on the shores of Diablo Lake off of Highway 20 in North Cascades National Park. The Learning Center opened in 2005 and serves as the residential field campus for North Cascades Institute. It features comfortable lodges for program participants, library, terrestrial and aquatic labs, classroom, administrative building and dining hall. Hiking trails connect the campus with the 684,00 acres of public lands of the North Cascades mountains.

In the living classroom of the North Cascades, students act as professional teaching naturalists in our residential school programs, Mountain School. Students will explore all aspects of curriculum design and working with schools to meet grade level learning standards. In addition, students undertake many responsibilities under the supervision of North Cascades Institute faculty and staff – from planning, teaching and evaluating programs to nonprofit administration, risk management, marketing and community relations.

Students will participate in natural and cultural history seminars and professional development trainings, complete individual projects in curriculum development and non-profit administration and complete a practicum in Learning Center operations. In doing so, students collaborate with many of the Northwest's best educators, naturalists and conservation leaders, including rangers and researchers with North Cascades National Park.

The scope of each student's experience is a blend of individual interests and meeting the Institute's need to serve the public. Central to this success is the certificate work plan, which outlines residency requirements, including a series of projects with support and guidance from Institute staff.

Residency course list  |  Certificate requirements