North Cascades Institute hosts free 30th Anniversary Picnic on Diablo Lake, July 17 - Visit Skagit Valley - North Cascades National Park to Farmlands to Salish Sea

North Cascades Institute hosts free 30th Anniversary Picnic on Diablo Lake, July 17

north_cascades_institute_picnicWhat national park holds more glaciers than any other landscape in the lower 48, is the second most biodiverse national park in the country, is home to rare wolves, grizzlies and wolverines, and boasts one of the densest ancient forests in the world, yet receives less visitors in a year than the Gettysburg National Battlefield gets in one weekend?

North Cascades National Park, the “wild nearby” is on the east side of Skagit County.  You will drive through the Skagit communities of Burlington, Sedro-Woolley, Concrete and Marblemount on your way.

The North Cascades Institute is an award-winning conservation education nonprofit with a stunning green-built wilderness campus on Diablo Lake in the heart of North Cascades National Park — the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center, one of only two overnight lodging options inside this hidden gem of a park.

The Institute is celebrating its’ 30th Anniversary birthday party at the Environmental Learning Center on July 17. Gather your friends and family for a BBQ picnic lunch highlighting local farms, naturalist-led activities on Diablo Lake and local trails, live music, Learning Center tours, Diablo Lake boat cruises and a chance to mingle and visit with Institute staff and board members.

The Learning Center is “a beloved backcountry hub thanks to the programs geared for adults, families and even weary summer hikers looking for a place to unwind with a meal, a hot shower and educational activities,” writes the Everett Herald, “In short…a modern-day summer camp for all ages, including opportunities for hiking, yoga, canoeing, campfire songs and, most of all, learning about the outdoors.”

If you haven’t yet experienced this gem in the North Cascades, plan to make a trip up to the mountains July 17 and enjoy a locally-sourced picnic, outdoor adventures and fun for the whole family!