Nourished by Nature Retreat

Forest Walking, Mindfulness, and YOU Time

May 5-7, 2023 – Stay Tuned for Future Retreats

North Cascades Environmental Learning Center
On the shores of Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park

Let nature create the space…

Nourished by Nature Retreat offers you space to slow down and be fully present, with forest bathing & mindfulness activities sprinkled throughout to assist you in engaging all of your senses, looking closely, settling into yourself and the beautiful surroundings, and savoring this time you’ve given yourself.

Join us along the shores of Diablo Lake in Newhalem at North Cascades Institute at the Environmental Learning Center May 5-7 for forest bathing, guided mindfulness activities, and a naturalist-led hike. There will be plenty of time for your own rejuvenating pursuits as well – a good book, art project, journaling, or maybe even a nap. Our setting is the sheltering forested grounds of the Learning Center.

Forest bathing, cedar trees, Bellingham, WA

Our time together

Friday we will gather to meet each other, tour the campus and get unpacked. 

We’ll take a “wonder walk” along the lakeshore to begin settling into this slower pace and then enjoy conversation and the delicious food prepared by the Institute’s chef and team. 

We will wrap up our first day with a night walk and sit under the full moon. 

According to the Assiniboine, the May full moon is the Idle Moon – perfect for our time together. Other names for this moon are: Moon of Waiting (Hopi),  Leaf Budding Moon and Moon of the Green Leaves

Saturday we will delve deeper into Shinrin Yoku with two forest bathing walks and outdoor mindfulness activities. 

If you want to move a bit faster as well, one of the Institute’s naturalist staff will be offering a guided nature hike. 

In addition to your lodge room, we will have two common rooms available to our group all day, offering space for creating, movement, and quiet “alone together” time. You may want to join a group in the lodge for a guided meditation or journaling session, or head to a common room to set up your art supplies or yoga mat. Or perhaps head to your room for a nap, curl up in the Wild Ginger Library with a book or venture out onto the trails for a walk or hike.

All group activities are optional, and in addition there are times intentionally set aside for your own pursuits.  

We will enjoy three meals from the Institute’s kitchen and end our day around the campfire (weather permitting). 

 

Sunday we’ll fuel up with a nourishing breakfast, enjoy more “alone together” time and then wrap up with a final forest mindfulness session and time to reflect and share over lunch before heading home. You may want to linger and explore North Cascades National Park on the trails at the Learning Center or in nearby Newhalem.

Shinrin Yoku / Forest Bathing: means bathing in the forest atmosphere, or taking in the forest through our senses. Developed in the 1980’s in Japan as both a way to combat workplace stress and to preserve the nation’s forests. Not simply a walk in the woods, it is a conscious and contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds, textures and smells of the forest.

Alone Together: In a common space, in companionable silence, each focused on our own book, project, or thoughts – this is one of my favorite introvert-friendly ways of spending time together.  The first time I was conscious of it was when a group of friends and I got together after not seeing each other for a long time and (after lots of catch-up) we ended up spending hours on the beach, each doing our own thing, yet sitting together and feeling connected. 

Cozy Spaces

The Environmental Learning Center is a beautiful campus located along State Route 20 three hours northeast of Seattle & three hours southeast of Bellingham on Sauk Suiattle & Upper Skagit land. Featuring earth-friendly design and operations, the tree-sheltered campus features 16 buildings clustered on the north shore of Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park. Facilities include: a lakeside dining hall with a recycling/composting center, an amphitheater, outdoor learning shelters, trails leading into the surrounding wildlands, ADA-accessible facilities and pathways.

We will occupy one of the Learning Center’s three beautiful, eco-friendly guest lodges. The lodge has eight rooms with two shared restrooms and a comfortable group lounge with gas-lit stove. 

Each room has four twin beds (in the form of two bunk beds), two desks, reading lamps and wardrobes with lockable compartments. Rooms are double occupancy unless you opt for a single room.

Nourishing Meals

North Cascades Institute strives to deliver the highest quality meals for all participants at the Learning Center because the food choices we make impact not only our bodies, but our planet too. Meals are served buffet style and feature organic, sustainably-produced and locally-grown food whenever possible. Learn more about their Foodshed Initiative here.

The kitchen team is equipped with ingredients to accommodate the following food restrictive diets:

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Pescatarian
  • Dairy Free
  • Gluten-Free*
    *Gluten-free items are prepared in a common kitchen. While we take steps to minimize the likelihood of gluten exposure, we cannot guarantee that any menu item is completely gluten-free. Customers with celiac or extreme gluten sensitivities should exercise judgment in deciding whether to consume these items or bring their own food.
    We are a nut-free facility.

Please note any dietary restrictions or allergies during registration.

Registration

Regular Rates: $545
(The retreat is currently full. Please email april@amongthetreespnw.com if you would like to join the wait list)

Registration includes double accommodation, meals from dinner Friday through lunch Sunday and all group activities. 

A select number of single rooms are available for an additional $180.  (sold out)

Registration closes Friday, March 31st

Registration is non-refundable, though refunds are possible if your spot is filled. 

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FAQs

What time should I arrive? 
Check-in is at the Institute office between 3pm – 4pm on Friday.
If you plan to arrive earlier, let us know and we can arrange to meet you and store your bags until our rooms are ready at 3pm.
And if you need to arrive later, please let us know the approximate time so we can make arrangements for your check-in. 

When do we wrap up?
On Sunday we will wrap-up after lunch, around 1pm. You are welcome to stay and enjoy the grounds and trails before heading home. 

Where is the Learning Center and how do I get there?
The North Cascades Environmental Learning Center is located approximately 75 miles east of Interstate 5, at milepost 127.5 on the North Cascades Highway (Highway 20), on Diablo Lake in North Cascades National Park. The drive is slow but scenic as the highway winds through small towns along the Skagit River corridor. If traffic is light, we recommend allowing three hours travel time from Seattle, two hours from Bellingham. (Google Maps will recognize: “North Cascades Environmental Learning Center”)

From West of the Cascades: take Interstate 5 to exit 230, North Cascades Highway/State Route 20 East. Drive 65 miles to Diablo Dam Road, milepost 127.5. Turn left, drive over Diablo Dam and park at the end of the road in the lot to your right. 

Cell service is spotty in the National Park, so please note the milepost # before heading out. 
Remember to gas up, the nearest gas is in Marblemount, 21 miles from the Learning Center.

Can I drive to my room? Where do I park?
You will see the parking area on your right, along the lake. It’s about a 10-minute walk from here to the main campus and our lodging. If you’ve packed compactly, feel free to park and walk your items in. Otherwise, plan to drive up to registration, drop your stuff and then park your car. 

What do I need to bring?
Here are a few recommendations of things to bring to ensure you are comfortable: 

  • Slippers (the lodge is shoe free so slippers are nice for going to your room and hanging out in our lounge.)
  • Easy to slip on and off shoes (for going between buildings on campus)
  • Waterproof shoes (for forest bathing and our guided hike – it is spring in the PNW)
  • Raingear (you’ll want a raincoat and rain pants if you have them so you’ll be comfortable walking and sitting outdoors if we have May showers)
  • Cozy clothes (for under your rain gear and for all indoor activities – wear whatever helps you settle in and savor your downtime)
  • A headlamp or flashlight (for returning to your room after a campfire or full moon sit – it’s deliciously dark at the Learning Center)
  • Water bottle & personal coffee or tea mug (if you want to bring your warm beverage with you out of the dining hall)
  • Toiletry items such as shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste (towels are provided)
  • Small bag or backpack for some of our forest walks.
  • A blanket (a complete set of bed and bath linens are provided as part of your registration, however you might want a blanket for lounging)
  • Any art supplies, project materials, books, a journal, or other items for your “alone together” time

Is there cell service?
The remote location of the Learning Center campus is not conducive to cell phone reception. You can call out on the Institute’s phones – Seattle calls are considered local, but for all other calls, please bring a calling card with you.

How about Wifi?
We encourage you to disconnect during our time. However, if that is not an option for you, internet access at the Learning Center is supplied by wireless router in each dorm, classroom, library and dining hall. There are two power outlets in each room.

Do the rooms lock?
While we don’t provide keys to the lodge rooms, you can lock your room when you are inside it. There is a lock box in each room for your valuables with enough room for a purse, camera, laptop or other small valuables. We have padlocks to loan out.

Is there heat in the rooms?
Yes, there is radiator heat in each room with a thermostat so you can control the heat for individual comfort.

Can I swim in the lake?
Yes! We will review the allowed swimming locations during orientation. 
Also, please note that the lake is COLD in June from the increased glacial melt flowing into the lake during that time of year. 

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Here are a few reading suggestions if you want ideas on books to bring with you – or to read before the retreat to set the mood. 

Questions?