I attended school at Portland State University with the intent of becoming a teacher. My degree in child, youth and family studies gave me a broad lens when looking at education and youth work. I found that I was eager to combine my knowledge of working with children and getting outdoors. That is what brought me to the Public Lands Stewards program. I am really looking forward to joining a program that allows me to facilitate teaching the importance of the outdoors and being stewards to our land with kids in the community. I can’t wait to see all that the kids have to teach me, too!

The post Meet Juliana Gay, our 2020 Cascade Mountain School educator! appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

At-Home Adventures (A-HA!) brings camp right to your home. Each week, campers receive a themed activity kit coupled with on-line instruction and project sharing with our expert instructors and other campers.

A typical camp day will look like:

• 10am – 1045am: Morning circle- online Zoom meet-up with campers and instructors for games and activities.
• 11am – 2pm: Independent project/activity time.
• 2pm – 3pm: Closing circle- online Zoom meet-up to share projects with other campers (length of meet-up will vary based on camp).

Sadly, we could not shift ALL of our camps into this format. We chose camps based on the following criteria:

• An equal offering of the number of camps for 6-8 year-olds and 8-12 year-olds
• What we believe to be as minimal parent/guardian involvement as possible
• SAFETY
• Topics that would invite kids to connect with one another (even if it is virtually)
• Activities that are fun, accessible for all, have clear instructions, and inspire kids to get outside!

For all A-HA! Camps, we recommend having colorful drawing utensils, pens, pencils, paper, glue, tape, scissors, and any other art supplies your camper likes readily available. We will provide the rest of the materials in the A-HA! kits.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Thursday before camp, activity kits will need to be picked up. Pick-up locations are:

• Trout Lake, WA at 3:30pm
• Husum, WA at 3:55pm
• Bingen/White Salmon, WA (Park & Ride) at 4:15pm
• Hood River, OR at 4:35pm

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to summer camp coordinator, Dana Rivkin at dana@mtadamsinstitute.org. We are excited to kick off summer with you all!

The post At-Home Adventures (A-HA!) Summer Camp Registration is Open! appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

In these ever changing times, we unfortunately cannot provide a definitive answer just yet, BUT we can tell you how we plan to proceed:

May 15th is our decision date for how camps will occur this summer. We’ll let the latest guidance from the state of Washington inform that decision.

At this point we continue to plan for camps to run in their original fashion — in person, at our facility in Trout Lake. Registration is open, so get your campers excited and sign-up!!! If camps are cancelled, your registration fee is 100% refundable (Less the 3rd party processing fee — they aren’t refunding those yet, but we are working on them).

In the event that we’re not ready to gather together in person this summer, we are developing a new camp model, At-Home Adventures. At-Home Adventures brings camp activities to your doorstep. Each week, campers will receive a themed box of activities to help them engage in creative play and learning in your own home. Every day will start with a digital, morning circle led by our summer camp instructors that will highlight the day’s activities, share discoveries from the prior day’s fun and have kids connect with each other. After this brief moment of on-line time, it will be time to turn off the screen and get busy outside.

Since At-Home Adventures is a new development, we would like to practice the model by offering two, free At-Home Adventure Camps to the first ten campers that respond to our summer camp coordinator, Dana Rivkin. These two pilot camps are just being offered to families in the Gorge and will occur the week of May 11th.

The two camps are:

Budding Birders (Ages 6-8), May 11th and 12th, 10 AM Start Time

Let’s celebrate spring time together….you, me, and the birds! Get out your binoculars and take a look around you. Spend some time observing the birds in your backyard, neighborhood or nearby park. What birds or bird sounds do you hear and what might they be saying? What would you sound like as a bird? And food, what are those birds eating? Can you find where those birds are living? So many bird questions that inspire us to get curious, discover and create! This camp will first ask campers to draw, paint, sculpt, or build the birds they see. Second, listen and play with bird calls. Third, make bird feeders. Lastly, build bird nests. 
Backyard Explorers (Ages 9-12), May 13th and 14th, 10 AM Start Time

Why not bring the adventure world of nature trails into your very backyard! During these two days campers will explore their ecosystem; taking a closer look at a specific outdoor area such as their yard, neighborhood, or nearby park. Observing these spaces near by, learning about who and what shares in their natural habitat. Campers will be asked to construct a micro-trail (an outdoor model version of a life size trail) considering the potential users, obstacles and impacts. They will share their trail virtually with the group the following morning. Diving deeper, that next day, campers will be asked to make a nature guide for their trail. Choosing 4 points of interest, plants, trees, or flowers that they want to study and describe to others through a medium of their choice. If time, students will be asked to make a map, so if one day a mini-friend, family member or even stranger might want to use the trail, they would not get lost! 

If interested, email Dana at Dana@mtadamsinstitute.org and let her know what camp you want to register for.

Thank you for your patience and continued support!

The post Cascade Mountain School Summer Camp Update appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

I found Cascade Mountain School through the Google search: “semester schools Pacific Northwest”, surprising me when a result actually turned up. A close friend from college had attended Chewonki, a semester school in Maine where students attend for one semester their junior year of high school to study environmental science, farming, and ecology. Her stories and experience seemed to seep into her everyday life, providing direction and inspiration for next ventures. As I struggled to find where my passion for environmental engineering and water resources could intersect with my love for STEM education and the Pacific Northwest, finding Cascade Mountain School through a spontaneous internet search miraculously fit the bill.

I walked home along the teal-blue waters of the Bosphorus, jellyfish camouflaged with six-pack plastic rings. The flat sidewalk rose into a flight of steps shaded by an arch of budding trees, connecting the metropolitan bustle to academic grounds. Here I dove deep for a semester into the physics of ocean waves and engineering solutions for coastal erosion; the impacts of climate change on regional politics; and elementary STEM education curricula as a tool to build resiliency to climate change. Through this climate change project in particular, I reaffirmed that a position as an educator with Cascade Mountain School for the summer was a path I was willing to invest in.

Fast forward a few months, a flight halfway around the world took me from 17 million to 7,000 new neighbors in the heart of the Columbia Gorge. I wedged myself between two mountains in a landscape carved by floods, lava flows, and lahars. And I let the tendrils of community that had just begun to form in Istanbul set root in a new, yet familiar, home.

In June 2016, I wrote in my first blog: If finding my sense of place and purpose in this new community were slow and challenging, I [knew I] could always fall back on nature and trees – forgiving and resilient, embracing and nurturing, accepting and grounding.

Two years later, I am still humbled by the process of building community. I’ve worked with over 300 students and committed upwards of 2000 hours of service. I’ve biked countless times around Trout Lake Valley, prompting students to see the layers of water, soil, public health, culture, history, unique ecology, and geologic time that are interwoven into this place. I’ve stir-fried perhaps one-too-many pots of veggies for burritos.

Yet the work I invest to discover new layers to the Columbia Gorge—and to instruct and coordinate experiences that allow students to uncover the forgiving and resilient, embracing and nurturing, accepting and grounding facets of this place for themselves—is indescribably rewarding. Just as much for Cascade Mountain School’s programming and philosophy have I stayed as for the community itself, which is complimentary and crucial to the core of our programs. I’m drawn to the uplifting and supportive work environment, the exploration and curiosity of participants, the strategic and challenging nature of wearing many “hats”—educator, program coordinator, curriculum developer, bilingual communicator, website editor, first aid administrator, community member. Many times I have felt challenged to my boundaries, only to grow through evaluating ways to be a better educator and putting them to action in our next program.

The teal-blue waters of the Bosphorus are no longer my home as they were when I first clicked “submit” back in 2016. Instead, the glacial streams that wind down from Mt. Adams to the Columbia River hydrate my keenness for community-based environmental education programs. I measure time by the number of cars I pass with kayaks strapped to their roofs. And I allow those tendrils of community that began to take root two years ago to really tap into this place and history; into the ecosystems and people; into being present and here.

The post Public Lands Stewards: Being Present and Here appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

A community contra dance, appropriate recipe for celebrating amazing program partners, raising money for scholarships, building community, enjoying an early spring day, and much more!

Ingredients:

• 1 band of talented musicians
• 1 seasoned Caller
• 1 Grange Hall (or other community building of choice)
• 60+ children, adults, families (from up & down the Gorge, Mt. Adams to Mt. Hood)
• 500 ft of string lights
• 13 quart-sized mason jars
• 3 gallon-sized mason jars
• 20 printed pictures
• Tamales con salsa (hecho por mano en Trout Lake)
• Salad greens (seeds and shredded veggies as garnish)
• Fruit salad (medley of your choice)
• Desserts (made by 2017 Trout Lake Fair Baking Contest Winner, Erica Bingham)
• E-vites, Facebook Posts
• 25 colorful printed posters
• 7 floral table cloths
• Handful of tables and chairs
• 1 roll duct tape
• 3 sharpies

Extra Spices for the Adventurous:

• Raffle (stickers, t-shirts, water bottles, gift certificates, or whatever is available on hand)
• Half-time wooden sword dance or other talent show performed by local kids
• Muy picante salsa

Instructions:

Note: This recipe is appropriate for any time of year, any day of the week, any time of day. We chose a Saturday evening in March; the inklings of spring and warm sun encouraging folks and friends to venture out from cozy homes, put on their dancing shoes, and join the fun. Mix well and add spice as desired.

Advanced Prep:

For best results, start these “Advanced Prep” tips one-two months early. Just like baking a cake, having everything out before you dive in will make your week-of prep (and the cake) go much smoother.

1. Call up local musicians and Callers two months in advance, and ask for their contributions as the two essential ingredients.

Thank you Sappy Fir Cones and Sue!

2. Choose a location that’s easy for folks to access and has lots of dancing space! Book early, depending on the season.

We love our Trout Lake Grange Community Hall!

3. Draft up a colorful poster. Print and post two weeks prior to event.

We like to support our local student-run printing business, Glacier Graphics.

4. (Optional) Modern-era Media Push: send out a Facebook invitation and email E-vite to all your friends, neighbors, community members, and supporters. Look for local newsletters and websites to post on to reach out far and wide, beyond your regular circles. Invite anyone and everyone in the community to this awesome evening!

Many thanks to the Gorge Current, White Salmon Enterprise, Hood River News, Trout Lake Newsletter, Columbia Gorge STEM Hub, Gorge Owned, and others who helped share our event.

5. Call a local tamale shop and place an order for 13 dozen tamales—chicken, veggie, pork, veggie & cheese—to pick up the day of the dance.

Mil gracias a Margarita! A huge thank you for your time and effort to make delicious tamales, salsa, and rice.

Day-Of:

1. Turn the Trout Lake Sunshine meter on high for good vibes
2. Arrange tables and chairs around your space, as they fit best
3. Engage a vibrant 5-year-old to help set up photos, donation jars, tablecloths, and snacks.

Sampling the first tamale is a great incentive…

4. Decorate mason jars with photos and sprinkle around the space
5. Hang string lights around the front porch, if there is one

May need to find a tall person to help, or a tall chair to stand on.

6. Pick up piping hot tamales from down the road
7. Toss a salad, garnish with seeds and cranberries if wanting a little extra spice.
8. Sit on the porch, soak up the five o’clock sunshine while waiting for folks to arrive
9. Strike up the band, watch local kids practice their wooden sword dance for the half-time show.
10. Eat a tamale (before you get swept away in greeting guests)

Mix well, add a few dashes of*:

• Warm greetings: Hugs, smiles, waves, handshakes, etc.
• Dancing: Your heart out with every one of all ages, from all over!
• Gratitude: For a community who supports your work and each other, who is excited to spend their evening contra dancing for a cause!

*For extra spice, throw in a shake or two of raffle items, lemon water, extra hot salsa, or whatever else your heart desires.

Enjoy!

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There is a certain personal power that possesses me and I believe it has propelled me through most of my bold, ill-advised, far-off and ultimately life-shaping experiences. That spirit goes along nicely with a sentiment from T.S. Eliot that I’ve come to own privately, “If you aren’t in over your head, how do you know how tall you are”. T.S. Eliot was a seemingly depressed pessimist and not my ideal role model to quote but here he captures a playful optimism that guides me and fits nicely in the context of explaining the shift that my second AmeriCorps term has taken, serving as a Public Lands Steward from Mt. Adams Institute (MAI) where I am an environmental educator and outreach coordinator for Cascade Mountain School (CMS).

There are several handfuls of experiences I could recount, where I have charged headfirst into uncharted water; the common thread being that I sought them out. I applied for college, studied abroad in India, traveled while wwoofing, hiked El Camino trail, returned to India to teach, and finally served with AmeriCorps. Through it all, I have been fortunate to have staggering amounts of help from friends, family, and amazing strangers, who I should have known were friends. Looking at the patterns, as I like to do in my life, I get the sense that this ‘knowing how tall I am” is a big motivator in my life. Having the opportunity to prove to myself that I am capable…more than capable when involved in new challenges is kind of fun, when I don’t take myself to seriously. Recognizing the pattern is like recognizing a really bold friend in myself, one who believes in me and my ability to grow as tall as I please.

Cascade Mountain School fit in so nicely with my past experiences with children, education and environmental studies. I could see that there would be new material to learn, but I didn’t feel ‘over my head’. I worried, not about enjoying my summer, I knew that becoming an outdoor educator and instructor would be fun and help me grow as a leader; but I have always worked with children. From one to twenty-one, I have tried my hand at managing their needs and expectations, while I was in charge. I worried that as a 24-year-old woman I would be pigeonholed by employers as inexperienced in professional roles. Not having worked in an office setting, save for internships, and having worked so many roles with kids I started to think there was a border on the path I was taking, and it was steering me.

I loved my summer educator position; I grew in the role and remembered why it is I have worked so closely with children in my life. And as the summer ended, I started looking around for something new but with a nagging feeling that I was not really finished with Cascade Mountain School. I was offered a position to stay on for 11 months. I would be an educator and would become a Wilderness First Responder, but wondered what would fill the other months? I felt the water rise a little bit. The uncertainty of everything I would be asked to do and the opportunities I would encounter was creating an excited anticipation. There was a lining of nervousness: could I do it? What was it going to entail? Would the daily hum of the office routine get to me? And when? But this nervous uncertainty was that same intoxicating pattern of testing my medal that I had thrived under. I accepted the position with a happy-nervous-excited-curious bubble in my chest.

In the past 6-months, since I began my 11-month term, I have been tasked with and completed many things that I did not know how to do before. I’ve learned that there are many steps in the staircase to every CMS program. Most of it is juggling interpersonal communication and learning how to do it well, coordinating schedules (only by the power of doodle polls) and finding the best way to share events with the most people: is it Facebook? Posters? Soapbox? By tasking me with these ongoing projects, I have learned how to execute an event or program, as I expected; but there are many lessons that I’ve learned, which surprised me. Time management is one, although it may be my new life-long-learning task; I’ve recognized methods and practices that I’d keep and/or break in myself. Learning different work styles: from working individually, to on a team and always existing within the larger office scope is something that takes some time getting used to because it requires that I evaluate my role in different group contexts. I’ve found that in all these tasks I am learning the cycles of office work and getting to work in the professional office environment where I felt I was lacking experience. To sum it up, slightly, learning in this workplace over 6-months has made me confident that it’s not the tasks that I do not know how to do, it’s the system of work that I need to learn. Systems will change wherever I work but knowing that it’s not the work that is the challenge but finding out how it all works and how I can be productive in that system. This realization and seeing it in action at Mt. Adams Institute encourages me to find the places in this system for my own learning, growth and voice.

There are also several exciting new endeavors for CMS, that grow from the existing system but I have been part of envisioning, planning and moving these new projects forward. STEAM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Art, Math) in the Columbia River Gorge area has come up, in a big way, and CMS is right there. We are creating new projects like STEAM kits, which would inspire kids to check out a kit and explore the world of STEAM. We are developing new custom programs, and tweaking systems for our robust summer camp programs to run even better this year. We have six news camps, including a field research course that I will be instructing and working with CMS educator Ingrid Dahl to develop the flow for a new two-week camp. The anxious part of all the new territory has subsided but it’s there as a reminder for me to be motivated. Now the motivation comes less from not knowing and more from knowing that I am part of a system or team that supports me and has helped me grow personally and professionally. The more time I invest in MAI, CMS, and the large community that continues to grow, the more I receive in return. Knowing that my AmeriCorps service is helping MAI grow is so fulfilling because I have felt welcome, appreciated and encouraged throughout both terms and I might never have known how tall I was if I hadn’t been given this chance.

In the remaining months of my term I have a good sense of how I’ll be serving. Planning ahead is a part of the whole time management lesson; there is still so much to do to transition back into spring custom programs and summer camps. I am beyond lucky to have the MAI team to give me guidance and Erynne van Zee, a real-life rock star, working with me everyday, to make all of it happen. I know I will plan for and instruct on three custom programs; help create STEAM Kits for Oregon and Washington; teach in-classroom STEAM lessons in O’Dell, OR; organize many CMS adult and family events; travel to schools in Portland to promote CMS; meet two new CMS educators; and instruct overnight camps as a newly certified Wilderness First Responder. All this and so much more.

The post Public Lands Stewards: A New Year, A New System appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

I read this post just as I was about to embark on the last overnight camp of Cascade Mountain School’s summer season, Girls Rock! I realized that 10 years later, I had come full circle from participant to educator. Girls Rock!, a six-day introduction to leaderships and geological sciences for young women, explores the southern Washington Cascade Mountains through backpacking, rafting, and teambuilding. Designed to empower young women to confidently explore the natural world around them, whether for a sense of adventure or a love of glaciers, I found myself reflecting often that week on my own experience at Opal Creek. I cannot attribute the work I do now as an environmental educator to one singular experience, but rather myriad opportunities, places, and role models who encouraged me to dive deeper into my affinity for marveling at how rivers meander, fungi and algae live symbiotically as lichen, and creative ideas can come to life.

My job with Cascade Mountain School allows me to learn some of the secrets behind the pivotal experiences, like backpacking with Opal Creek Ancient Forest Center programs in 2007, which influenced me to pursue my work as an environmental science educator today. I love now being on the flip side as the instructor: brainstorming each week which creative technique to pull from my “educator’s toolbox”, realizing the mechanics behind a teaching trick to encourage a quiet student to open up and share, and incorporating my love for water systems into exploration and observation.

As the seasons change and the crisp leaves turn to snow turns to wildflowers, I look forward to deepening my connections with the many layers of the Columbia Gorge communities through working at Cascade Mountain School. Each time I push my own boundaries as an educator, captivate a group for even just a few minutes, backpack to Round-the-Mountain trail on Mt. Adams, and laugh with students as we dive into a compost pile to measure its temperature, I find myself wondering if 10 years down the road, one of my students will be in a similar role I am today.

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To succinctly describe service or, more specifically, serving for AmeriCorps would be missing the point of the organization. My recent month and a half of experience does not resemble that of friends or other members, it does not resemble any idea or notion I maintained about AmeriCorps, and though it most certainly is service it is too rewarding and too fun to feel much like I am serving in the common use of the word. It is a privilege to have this space, which allows me to call attention to the ways in which serving with the right organization through AmeriCorps has brought so much abundance into my life.

Cascade Mountain School and I happened upon each other in what might be called the eleventh hour. I knew I wanted to serve with AmeriCorps and for months I had been furiously emailing my resume and various forms of a cover letter to the positions that fell into my interests and skills. I read the Mt. Adams Institute mission statement and positions plenty of times; I had applied to the Public Lands Stewards program before hearing about Cascade Mountain School. As I heard more about the school and the opportunity with AmeriCorps, I knew I was a good fit, and even though I had other offers I did not hesitate to confirm that if it seemed right for Cascade Mountain School it was certainly my first pick.

I could describe my roles in many ways, one that I recently heard is, “willingness to tackle without complaint a million different tasks that arise”. To unpack that daunting mission it is helpful to know that Cascade Mountain School (CMS) is a series of experiential education programming for children and adults. CMS partners with community members who have the knowledge to develop a camp, along with AmeriCorps to facilitate life changing outdoor learning. My million different tasks arise mainly in the children realm; I work with several camps over the summer, mostly overnight camps.

So far I have worked with…

MacGyver overnight camp, where we spent a week with middle school students building a seasonal shade structure, from the ground up. We spent days trying to break through huge basalt slabs before devising a plan of rock cribs instead. We cut down and stripped trees for poles. We hoisted our shade sails and spent the better part of the afternoon making adjustments. We built picnic tables and benches. We made a mess, we cleaned it up, we eat together, laughed together, went caving together. And together we made a shady area that can be used every summer, and already is constantly in use as each new group comes to Cascade Mountain School. Just to be very clear I say we, but the seven young adults who came to participate in the camp were responsible for the lion’s share of the work that went into this structure; and behind the curtain was the true mastermind behind the concept, Jack Perrin, of the Gorge MakerSpace. The list of what we accomplished and the fun we had is extensive; luckily pictures will lend some more vibrant explanations:

I learned so much working with the MacGyver Camp; it was an absolutely perfect way to kick off the summer camp season.

Following that camp I had time to do some more development for my upcoming Intro to Backpacking Camp; it required a lot of organizations of gear and learning about curriculum that I would need to pass along to the students. The time before camp began dragged along slowly and suddenly arrival day was upon us, and just as suddenly it was over. How can it be that we did so much and yet it flashed by faster than a breath? Everyday we had a new adventure planned, from our day one hike to the top of sleeping beauty, to packing up and getting ready to head up Mount Adams. We spent two nights camped out, carrying all of our gear, food and water. These middle school students had the opportunity to learn glissading, cooking in the woods, we facilitated lessons on glaciers and off-trail navigation, as well as solo contemplative time on the mountain. They also experienced the flow of glacial springs, one day gushing the next day frozen solid; and the occasionally frustrations of camping stoves and other gear. Though it took us almost an entire day to reach our resting place on the third day each student bounded down the mountain with a silent determination that truly impressed me. We followed backpacking with white water rafting on both the Klickitat and the White Salmon rivers. And in true experiential learning style, we wrapped up the week having the students present their week to their parents, from the mountain to the valley and every game and riddle in between. Again I was lucky to have students who were tough and cooperative and an instructor, Kenji Stasiewicz, who I trusted and admired as a leader; and again I found myself learning and leading at once.

Part of my service is spent being on call at any time of day, but the other is under the support and guidance I receive from the Mt. Adams Institute staff. They are truly a community of caring individuals, all working toward the mission statement that drew me in from a sea of opportunity, “strengthening the connection between people and the natural world through education, service, career development & research”. I feel very blessed to have found myself in a place of such natural beauty and such strength of spirit and heart. Unbelievably, the summer if now half way through, I have more camps to lead and more hours to serve but even if it had to end today I would be so grateful to AmeriCorps for seeing the potential to partner with great organizations like Mt. Adams Institute and Cascade Mountain School.

The post Public Lands Stewards: The Right Fit appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

Hello from Trout Lake! My name is Monika and I am currently working with Cascade Mountain School (CMS) as a camp educator. We’re going to talk about purpose today! More specifically, my purpose, which feels good to type. My purpose.

I am at a point in my life where I can take time to explore my top tier in Maslow’s hierarchy. Self-actualization. Right now, I have all of my other tiers met and I can focus on what brings my life meaning.

How do you determine your purpose? How do you approach that daunting task of figuring out how to put vibrancy in your life? Well, I knew I needed to base my vibrancy on nature. I’m not happy unless I’m outside. I knew that whatever my purpose ended up being, it would be tied to the natural world in some form or another.

Last year, I received an illustrated book called How to Be a Wildflower (https://goo.gl/4yw9rC). It contains four sections with “instructions” on how to be a wildflower. The four sections are Wander, Ponder, Gather, and Savor. It’s basically a book about how to be a free spirit and how to slow life down to an enjoyable pace. When I got the book, I decided that that was how I was going to find my vibrancy. My purpose. I have spent time exploring each section, what it means to me, and how I can incorporate those sections into my daily routine to make my life more fulfilling. I wander, I ponder, I gather, and I savor with intent, using each section to make a conscious effort to improve my life.

Now, through Cascade Mountain School, Mt. Adams Institute, and the Public Lands Stewards program, I am getting the chance to add one more section to my personal version of How to Be a Wildflower. Educate. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been passionate about the outdoors. Through CMS, I get to pass down my passion, knowledge, and values regarding the environment. I get to help kids grow into good stewards of nature. I get to work with them everyday and help them understand new concepts about the world around them. It’s easy to feel like you’re floating through life and like what you’re doing in your day-to-day isn’t important. When I’m working with kids, I feel present and like I’m making an impact.

In the month that I’ve been here, I’ve worked two camps. My first camp was Little Trackers. We taught kids about the relationships between predators and prey, how to use their senses to connect with the animal world, and how to slow down and enjoy nature just for the sake of enjoying it. The best part of Little Trackers was watching the kids absolutely relish in camouflaging themselves in mud.

My second camp was a MacGyver camp. We taught kids basic building skills and sent them off to build boats…out of CARDBOARD. At the end of the third day, they had built four boats that actually floated and could take passengers downstream. It’s amazing what kids can do when they’re given a little instruction and a lot of trust.

Through my additional fifth wildflower section, I have the opportunity to assist kids in finding their own potential as future environmentalists, builders, and scientists. I love to watch the wheels in their heads turn as they come up with creative solutions to problems we present them with. I’m looking forward to a summer of finding my own purpose and potential through educating.

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Our overnight programs for middle and high schoolers explore the ecosystems of Mt. Adams and the Columbia Gorge.  Our students engage with the geology of the Cascade Mountains, watershed science, and climate change resiliency while honing their backpacking, leadership, and rafting skills.

We’ll wrap up our summer camp season in mid-August with a free camp for Mid Valley Elementary School 4^th graders on Mt. Hood, where we’ll experience the flora and fauna of the Columbia Gorge’s backyard. In addition to our custom outdoor school programs and summer camps, we are offering monthly Saturday Adult & Family Excursions. Bring friends and family to learn about compassion and mindfulness at the Trout Lake Abbey on July 15 or hunt for wildflowers to dye your own scarf with Julie Beeler from Oregon College of Arts and Crafts on August 12.

We are so appreciative of the amazing community members, expert “-ologists”, and beautiful natural landscape that support our programs and learning. Looking forward to exploring with you this summer!

The post Cascade Mountain School Season 6 appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

Funding will support 58 AmeriCorps members who will assist our public lands management agencies address the backlog of unmet needs while launching their own careers in natural resources and public lands management.

Trout Lake, WA– The Mt. Adams Institute has received a $499,000 AmeriCorps grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to support 58 AmeriCorps members in the successful career development programs: VetsWork Environment, VetsWork GreenCorps and Public Lands Stewards. These members will support the efforts of public lands management agencies in a broad range of roles designed to improve access, use and conservation of our natural resources.

This grant will support AmeriCorps members in eleven states across the country.

AmeriCorps members will tackle the critical challenges faced by our natural resources/public lands management agencies while supporting the Mt. Adams Institute’s mission to strengthen the connection between people and the natural world. Additionally, the VetsWork programs directly assist veterans seeking a career transition from the military to the civilian work force.

“Our AmeriCorps programs are a fundamental component of our organization. Not only do they help veterans and young adults find purposeful careers in the environment and natural resource management sector, they support our country’s public lands” said Brendan Norman, executive director of the Mt. Adams Institute. “We’re thrilled that the Corporation for National and Community Service has recognized the value that our AmeriCorps members offer to communities. These AmeriCorps members will meet pressing local needs as they develop civic and leadership skills that last a lifetime.”

In addition to the grant funding, CNCS will make $261,151 in education scholarships for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants to help pay for college, vocational training, or pay back student loans. After completing 1,700 hours of service, AmeriCorps members earn an education award of $5,815.

AmeriCorps operates as a public-private partnership that leverages significant amounts of outside resources to stretch the federal dollar and increase community impact.

This grant will generate an additional $832,500 in local matching support and other outside resources from businesses, foundations, and other organizations.

AmeriCorps engages more than 60,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations at more than 21,000 locations across the country. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.

Since 1994, more than 1 million men and women have served in AmeriCorps, providing more than 1.4 billion hours of service and earning more than $3.3 billion in scholarships, more than $1 billion of which has been used to pay back student loan debt.

Below is a listing of where Mt. Adams Institute’s AmeriCorps members will serve: Gifford Pinchot National Forest (NF), Mt. Hood NF, Deschutes NF, Wallowa-Whitman NF, Umatilla NF, Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, Mark Twain NF, Hoosier NF, Shawnee NF, Monongahela NF, Chattahoochee-Oconee NF, George Washington and Jefferson NF, Pisgah NF, Nantahala NF, Sumter NF, Ouachita NF, Willamette Resources and Educational Network, Pacific Northwest Trails Association, Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, King Conservation District, and Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

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Mt. Adams Institute is a nonprofit organization with a mission to strengthen the connection between people and the natural world through education, service learning, career development and research. More information about the organization and its AmeriCorps programs can be found at: www.mtadamsinstitute.org and www.facebook.com/Mt.AdamsInstitute

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, and leads the President’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov .

To download this press release, click here.

The post Mt. Adams Institute Receives $499,000 National AmeriCorps Grant appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

Funding will support 58 AmeriCorps members who will assist our public lands management agencies address the backlog of unmet needs while launching their own careers in natural resources and public lands management.

Trout Lake, WA– The Mt. Adams Institute has received a $499,000 AmeriCorps grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to support 58 AmeriCorps members in the successful career development programs: VetsWork Environment, VetsWork GreenCorps and Public Lands Stewards. These members will support the efforts of public lands management agencies in a broad range of roles designed to improve access, use and conservation of our natural resources.

This grant will support AmeriCorps members in eleven states across the country.

AmeriCorps members will tackle the critical challenges faced by our natural resources/public lands management agencies while supporting the Mt. Adams Institute’s mission to strengthen the connection between people and the natural world. Additionally, the VetsWork programs directly assist veterans seeking a career transition from the military to the civilian work force.

“Our AmeriCorps programs are a fundamental component of our organization. Not only do they help veterans and young adults find purposeful careers in the environment and natural resource management sector, they support our country’s public lands” said Brendan Norman, executive director of the Mt. Adams Institute. “We’re thrilled that the Corporation for National and Community Service has recognized the value that our AmeriCorps members offer to communities. These AmeriCorps members will meet pressing local needs as they develop civic and leadership skills that last a lifetime.”

In addition to the grant funding, CNCS will make $261,151 in education scholarships for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants to help pay for college, vocational training, or pay back student loans. After completing 1,700 hours of service, AmeriCorps members earn an education award of $5,815.

AmeriCorps operates as a public-private partnership that leverages significant amounts of outside resources to stretch the federal dollar and increase community impact.

This grant will generate an additional $832,500 in local matching support and other outside resources from businesses, foundations, and other organizations.

AmeriCorps engages more than 60,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations at more than 21,000 locations across the country. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.

Since 1994, more than 1 million men and women have served in AmeriCorps, providing more than 1.4 billion hours of service and earning more than $3.3 billion in scholarships, more than $1 billion of which has been used to pay back student loan debt.

Below is a listing of where Mt. Adams Institute’s AmeriCorps members will serve: Gifford Pinchot National Forest (NF), Mt. Hood NF, Deschutes NF, Wallowa-Whitman NF, Umatilla NF, Okanogan-Wenatchee NF, Mark Twain NF, Hoosier NF, Shawnee NF, Monongahela NF, Chattahoochee-Oconee NF, George Washington and Jefferson NF, Pisgah NF, Nantahala NF, Sumter NF, Ouachita NF, Willamette Resources and Educational Network, Pacific Northwest Trails Association, Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, King Conservation District, and Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

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Mt. Adams Institute is a nonprofit organization with a mission to strengthen the connection between people and the natural world through education, service learning, career development and research. More information about the organization and its AmeriCorps programs can be found at: www.mtadamsinstitute.com and www.facebook.com/Mt.AdamsInstitute

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, and leads the President’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov .

To download this press release, click here.

The post Mt. Adams Institute Receives $499,000 National AmeriCorps Grant appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

Cascade Mountain School is proud to announce the second annual Farm to Table Bike Camp. From July 7-13, middle and high school students will explore Trout Lake, a quiet agricultural valley, by bicycle. Our ‘base camp’ will be Trout Lake Abbey, a beautiful working organic farm.  Each day, we will adventure by bike to a different farm, getting our hands dirty farming while learning about food production and organic agriculture.  Afternoons will be dedicated to recreation, relaxation, and care taking of the animals at the Abbey.  In the evenings, we will create delicious meals from what we have harvested during the day. Participants will have a chance to learn about a diverse spectrum of agriculture–organic dairy, artisan cheese making, beekeeping, vegetable and herb growing, as well as pastured livestock for wool and meat production. While working and playing, conversations will concentrate on the challenges and opportunities of farming and dive into relevant science and policy topics. If you (or a teenager you know) love food, the outdoors, learning and trying new things, and are curious about organic farming–this week is for you.

Cascade Mountain School, a project of Mt. Adams Institute, is a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) focused educational program for middle and high school students grounded in ecological and community values.  Cascade Mountain School offers students the opportunity to apply scientific and mathematical concepts to real-world issues in an academically rigorous learning environment that is kinesthetic, healthy, and holistic. Cascade Mountain School students develop skills for a changing world in which they must be able to act nimbly, think creatively, and synthesize information.

Cascade Mountain School is also offering two other residential programs for middle and high school students this summer.

• Hood River Valley Science Camp July 21-36 | Students will explore the Hood River Valley learning about salmon, climate change, and watersheds while backpacking, camping, and kayaking along the Hood River.
• Field Ecology Academy August 4-17 | Students will conduct meaningful ecological research while hiking, backpacking, and camping near Mt. Adams. Students will spend time exploring alpine meadows, lakes, and glaciers of Mt. Adams, and collaborating with local scientists on relevant ecological studies.  Students will walk away with a full semester’s worth of high school science credit.

One student who attended the Farm to Table Bike Camp last year had this to say about her experience, “I loved being able to experience a local food community.  I learned that food brings people closer together.”

Gorge Grown Food Network is a supporting partner.  For more information about Cascade Mountain School and/or to register for summer courses, please visit www.cascademountainschool.org.  For more information about the Mt. Adams Institute, please visit www.mtadamsinstitute.com.

The post Cascade Mountain School to Host Farm To Table Bike Camp for Middle and High School Students in Columbia River Gorge appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

Mt. Adams Institute (www.mtadamsinstitute.com) announces a new source of funding for Cascade Mountain School (www.cascademountainschool.org) programs.  The recently received funds from the Orange County Community Foundation will provide scholarship opportunities for local youth to participate in innovative summer programming combining science and outdoor adventure.

Cascade Mountain School is a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) focused educational program for middle and high school students grounded in ecological and community values. Cascade Mountain School offers students the opportunity to apply scientific and mathematical concepts to real-world issues in an academically rigorous learning environment that is kinesthetic, healthy, and holistic.  Cascade Mountain School students develop skills for a changing world in which they must be able to act nimbly, think creatively, and synthesize information.

The recently received scholarship funds will allow at least a third of Cascade Mountain School participants to receive full or partial scholarships, making the programs and science courses accessible to a wide variety of students.  Last year, Cascade Mountain School programs attracted students from throughout the Pacific Northwest, including the Gorge.  With the scholarship funding provided by the Orange County Community Foundation, Cascade Mountain School will be able to offer additional opportunities for local students to participate.

“Accessibility is a core value of Cascade Mountain School and without scholarship opportunities, summer educational programs can be out of reach for many families.  I am grateful for the foundation’s support for scholarships and welcome additional support from the community” remarks Emily Goodwin, Director, Cascade Mountain School.

For more information about Cascade Mountain School and/or to register for summer courses, please visit www.cascademountainschool.org.  For more information about the Mt. Adams Institute, please visit www.mtadamsinstitute.com.

The post Grant Funding = Scholarships for Cascade Mountain School Students appeared first on Mt. Adams Institute.

Cascade Mountain School is a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) focused educational program for middle and high school students grounded in ecological and community values.  Cascade Mountain School offers students the opportunity to apply scientific and mathematical concepts to real-world issues in an academically rigorous learning environment that is kinesthetic, healthy, and holistic.  Cascade Mountain School students develop skills for a changing world in which they must be able to act nimbly, think creatively, and synthesize information.

Cascade Mountain School is offering three distinct residential programs for middle and high school students this summer.

• Farm to Table Bike Camp July 7-13 – students will explore Trout Lake, a quiet agricultural valley, by bicycle and get their hands dirty farming while learning about food production and organic agriculture. Afternoons will be dedicated time for recreation, relaxation, and enjoyment.  In the evenings, students will create delicious meals from what they have harvested during the day.

• Field Ecology Academy August 4-17 – students will conduct meaningful ecological research while hiking, backpacking, and camping near Mt. Adams.  Students will spend time exploring alpine meadows, lakes, and glaciers of Mt. Adams, and collaborating with local scientists on relevant ecological studies.  Students will walk away with a full semester’s worth of high school science credit.

• Mt. Hood Science Camp August 18-23 – students will explore the Hood River Valley learning about salmon, climate change, and watersheds, while hiking and camping in beautiful locations.

“We’re excited to collaborate with Cascade Mountain School and Emily Goodwin, CMS Director.  Our partnership will allow both organizations to operate more efficiently and effectively in fulfilling our missions”, said Brendan Norman, Mt. Adams Institute Director.  Mt. Adams Institute is a Trout Lake, Washington based nonprofit organization with a mission to strengthen the connection between people and the natural world through education, service learning, career development and research.

For more information about Cascade Mountain School and/or to register for summer courses, please visit www.cascademountainschool.org.  For more information about the Mt. Adams Institute, please visit www.mtadamsinstitute.com.  Click here to support this program.

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