Explore the Natural World.
Discover Your Connection.
MAI will cease operations and formally dissolve effective December 31, 2026
It has been an honor to serve this wonderful community. Thank you for your support these many years.
About
Mt Adams
Institute
Mt. Adams Institute provides programs that strengthen the connection between people and the natural world through education, service, career development & research.
VetsWork
VetsWork is an eleven month career development internship program for military veterans in the natural resources management, public lands, and environment sector.
Sense of Place
Sense of Place features speakers with unique knowledge of the Columbia River Gorge. These stories deepen our understanding and connection to nature and each other.
Land Stewards
Land Stewards is a career development program for young adults, ages 21-30, interested in learning more about public lands and natural resources management.
Summer Camp
Our Summer Camp is a place-based outdoor science education opportunity for youth curious about exploring and understanding the natural world.
Lodging
Join us at Base Camp, our facility in Trout Lake, Washington, adjacent to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
Latest News
Questions?
If you have questions about our opportunities, please contact us.
Thank you.
Some of our happiest memories are filled with muddy boots, curious questions, and the excitement of discovering something new.
Over the years, our education programs took many forms. Summer camps, outdoor school, after-school programs, in-school learning, and even virtual camps when the world looked a little different. No matter the format, the goal was always the same: to help young people build a meaningful connection with the natural world.
Watching a child discover a salamander, identify a tree for the first time, or proudly share what they had learned was a reminder of why this work mattered.
To every camper, student, educator, volunteer, and family who was part of these programs, thank you for making every season unforgettable. We hope the curiosity you found outdoors has stayed with you long after camp came to an end.
#summercamps #camp #giffordpinchot
No two days as a Land Steward looked exactly the same, and that was part of what made the experience so meaningful.
Some days meant long hours in the field. Others brought new projects, new places, and new challenges. Every day was a chance to learn from experienced professionals, care for public lands, and grow in ways that couldn’t be taught in a classroom.
These photos capture Raina during her time as a Public Lands Steward with Mt. Adams Institute. Like so many of our interns over the years, she brought curiosity, dedication, and a willingness to jump in wherever she was needed.
Looking back, it’s the people like Raina who made these programs so special. Their passion, hard work, and commitment left a lasting impact on the landscapes they cared for and on everyone who had the chance to work alongside them.
Thank you, Raina, for being part of our story.
#landstewardship #giffordpinchot #nationalforests
To every intern who has been part of Mt. Adams Institute,
Thank you.
Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of watching people arrive from all different backgrounds and walks of life. Some of you came with a clear sense of where you were headed. Others were still figuring it out. No matter where you started, each of you left your mark on this place.
You brought fresh ideas, new perspectives, hard work, kindness, and a genuine desire to make a difference. You celebrated the wins with us, worked through the challenges, and reminded us that this work has always been about people.
It’s easy to think of an internship as something you receive. But the truth is, we received so much from you, too.
You helped shape our programs, strengthened our community, and became part of the story we’ll carry with us long after our final chapter.
Thank you for trusting us with a piece of your journey. It has been an honor to be part of yours.
With gratitude,
The Mt. Adams Institute Team
#landstewardship #stewardsinternship #giffordpinchot #troutlake
As we reflect on the past 15 years, we’ve found ourselves coming back to the same thought again and again.
It isn’t the programs we’ll remember most.
It isn’t the milestones.
It isn’t even the places.
It’s the people.
The conversations that turned into friendships. The mentors who shared their time and wisdom. The participants who inspired us with their passion and determination. The partners who believed in what we were building.
Thank you for trusting us to be part of your journey. We hope Mt. Adams Institute gave you something you’ll carry with you for years to come, just as we’ll carry these memories with us.
Thank you for being part of our story.
#giffordpinchot #nationalforest #landstewardship #troutlake
