Skagit River Journal of History & Folklore Free Resources Stories & Photos

Covers from British Columbia to Puget sound. Counties covered: Skagit, Whatcom, Island, San Juan. An evolving history dedicated to the principle of committing random acts of historical kindness Noel V. Bourasaw, editor 810 Central Ave., Sedro-Woolley, Washington, 98284 Home of the Tarheel Stomp Mortimer Cook slept here & named the town Bug

• Updated schedule.
  
• Journal original introduction to NCI.
  
• Updated contact information.
  

An eagle searches for fish on the Skagit river

      Those who attended the ground-breaking in 2001 of the North Cascades Environmental Learning Center on the premises of the old Diablo Resort saw how creative these people can be. Saul Weisberg, NCI founder and its executive director, saw an opportunity when Seattle City Light sought a way to prove that it was a good neighbor. The Diablo Lake area near the dam in the North Cascades National Park was once a Mecca for hikers and nature lovers, but the resort was run down and was closed in the mid-1990s. So Weisberg planned a project called Reach For the Peaks, which would raise $2.5 million for a residential education center, classrooms, laboratory, library, amphitheater, dining hall, boathouse, overnight accommodations and a network of trails that would honeycomb the area but would not harm the environment. That project piggybacked onto the $11.75 million that the Learning Center Project had already raised by 2001. This whole plan was an unprecedented partnership between the non-profit NCI, the federal government and Seattle City Light, a project formed in the outcome of a mitigation settlement agreement for the re-licensing of the Skagit Hydroelectric Project. NCI's project was so well designed that some real heavyweights lent their name and energy, including author Barbara Kingsolver — who is also an NCI instructor, Jim Whitaker — the first American to successfully climb Mount Everest, and Paul Schell, former mayor of Seattle.
      That is the latest project of many launched by NCI, which has truly fulfilled its mission of educating people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. One ongoing program that is especially impressive is their coordination of classes with local schools. While teaching students to love and respect our special place here around the Skagit river, NCI has created a series of books that have compiled the history of the area going back centuries before modern man recorded it. Some of these books that are a valuable basic part of our library include:

• Voices Along the Skagit, teaching the history of the First People in the Skagit river Watershed
  
• Sharing the Skagit, an Educator's Guide to the Skagit river Watershed
  
• Skagit river Watershed Journal
  

• Completely updated contact information. Email the company to get on their E-List for upcoming offerings, classes and appearances.
  
• Mail address: North Cascades Institute, 810 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284-1239
  
• Phone: 360 856-5700 ext. 209
  
• Fax: 360 856-1934
  
• nci@ncascades.org
  
• http://www.ncascades.org
  

You can read about our prime sponsors: Read the history websites of our sponsors and supporters, who help fund research of local history: Heirloom Gardens Natural Foods at 805B Metcalf street, the original home of Oliver Hammer Oliver Hammer Clothes Shop at 817 Metcalf street in downtown Sedro-Woolley, 82 years Bus Jungquist Furniture at 829 Metcalf street in downtown Sedro-Woolley, 36 years Schooner Tavern/Cocktails at 621 Metcalf street in downtown Sedro-Woolley, across from Hammer Square Peace and quiet at the Alpine RV Park, just north of Marblemount on Hwy 20 Park your RV or pitch a tent by the Skagit river, just a short driver from Winthrop or Sedro-Woolley College Way Antique Mall, 1601 E. College Way, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, (360) 848-0807 Where you will find wonderful examples of Skagit county's past, seven days a week DelNagro Masonry Brick, block, stone — See our work at the new Hammer Heritage Square See our website www.4bricklayers.com 33 years experience — 15 years as a bonded, licensed contractor in the valley Free estimates, reference, member of Sedro-Woolley Chamber (360) 856-0101

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Email us at: journal@stumpranchonline.com Mail copies/documents to street address: Skagit River Journal, 810 Central Ave., Sedro-Woolley, WA, 98284.