Community Field Trips
All Ages | Monthly | Max. Participants: 30 | Price: Suggested Donation
Explore nature nearby!
Discover the secret lives of wildlife in our local parks and wild areas. Dig into the mysteries of the season as we foster a sense of wonder. Observe wildlife, ask questions, cultivate your curiosity, and have fun exploring outdoors!
Cost | Registration
This program is offered for free with a suggested donation: $15/person or $25/family.
Cash, check (payable to Wild Whatcom), or donate online.
Already know what you are registering for? Register here.
Fall Field Trips
Bird Brains | 2024 Date to come | 1:00-3:00PM
Have you ever wondered why some birds migrate while others do not, or how woodpeckers slam their heads into trees all day without hurting themselves ? Everyone is welcome to get curious about the feathered friends all around us. Learn to identify a handful of common species, go on a gentle walk to search for birds and the evidence they leave on the landscape, and discover neat resources to help you identify and learn about the birds you see in your daily life. Come by yourself, with a friend, or bring the whole family, this field trip is great for everyone!
We will have some binoculars to share, but if you have some at home, we highly recommend bringing them with you!
Max. 30 participants
fungus among us | 2024 Date to come | 1:00-3:00PM
The Pacific Northwest looks like Mushroomlandia in the fall! Our area is well known for its diverse bounty of incredible fungus. Join our favorite fun folks from the Northwest Mushroomers Association, Pam Borso and Fred Rhoades, for a morning of forest exploration and mushroom identification.
This is an event for adults and children ages 4 and up. Bring a handled basket for collecting the fungus you find. Mystery yard mushrooms are welcome to attend and be identified.
Max. 30 participants - ***This program is full. No spaces available at this time***
Salmon’s Journey | 2024 Date to come | 1:00-3:00PM
Did you know that nitrogen from the bodies of salmon can be found inside some trees, even ones that aren't growing next to the water? So much of our local ecosystem is dependent on the migration of salmon across the landscape. Join us to explore North Lake Whatcom and learn about the salmon life cycle, why they migrate, and why they are important to so many other animals, including humans! This field trip is great for all ages, so feel free to come alone, bring a friend, or bring the whole family!
Max. 30 participants
Winter Field Trips
December 2023 - NO field trip this month
Low tide exploration | Fri., January 12, 2024 | 9:30-12:00AM
Rescheduled due to weather.
New date! Fri., February 9, 2024 | 9:30-12:00AM (Midnight)
This outing is FULL! Please join us for another Community Field Trip.
Stay up late, grab your headlamp and rainboots, and bundle up for a fun, late-night exploration at one of our favorite local beaches, with our friends from the Marine Life Center. The new moon is pulling a minus so there will be a lot of intertidal zone to explore! Join Wild Whatcom staff and perhaps a special guest or two for this once-a-year evening outing.
Bring your curiosity and dress for the weather. A good pair of waterproof boots is your ticket to safely exploring the beach, as those barnacles are sharp and the zooplankton is spiny!
Max. 30 participants
Swans at Sunset | Sat., February 3, 2024 | 3:30-5:30pm
Join us for a relaxed sunset walk to appreciate the swans stopped there this time of year! We will be thinking about how swans and other birds thrive along their migrations and why they end up here in Whatcom County in the winter.
Come dressed for the chilly weather, and bring your binoculars if you have them. We will also have some to share!
Max. 30 participants
Spring Field Trips
Wings Over Water northwest birding festival | SUN., March 17, 2024 | Session 1 10:30-12:00PM | Session 2 1:00-2:30PM
Join us in celebrating birds at the annual Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival in Blaine. Naturalists and experienced birders from Wild Whatcom will facilitate a family-friendly bird investigation program at the Wings Over Water Birding Festival We will be doing a hands-on "lab" exploring why different species have different beak shapes, and then heading out on a guided bird walk to look and listen for birds and the evidence they leave behind! We will be running two identical sessions-pick which time works best for you!
Wild Whatcom is a community partner for the Wings Over Water festival and will only be providing the free, family-friendly, all ages programming. If you are interested in more advanced birding classes/outings for adults, check out the festival website for more detailed information on the range of other programs being offered during the 3-day festival!
Max. 30 participants
Beaver Prowl | Sat., April 6, 2024 | 6:00-8:00PM
This gem of a park is mighty popular with beavers! Join us for a fun, interactive exploration of beaver ecology and perhaps a personal view of these busy rodents of unusual size. We will be thinking about beaver’s as a keystone species who create new wetland habitats, learn about the unique adaptations which allow them to thrive, and discuss how to identify a stick or tree that has been chewed on by a beaver! Bring your binoculars for silent spying on the beavers as they swim to and fro in their search for breakfast by moonlight.
Come dressed for the weather, it might get very chilly in the dark!
Max. 30 participants
INSECT Safari | Sat., May 4, 2024 | 1:00-3:00PM
Join us with the whole family to get curious about all things insect! Did you know that different types and colors of flowers attract different pollinators, or that there are over a million species of insects on planet earth!? We will learn about the importance of insects, bugs and arachnids for the entire ecosystem, and explore the complex relationship between pollinators and plants. After exploring (and smelling) the Fragrance Garden, we'll hit the trail with our bug boxes and magnifying glasses in hand to search for 6-8 legged critters and appreciate the springtime flowers which depend on insects to reproduce.
Max. 30 participants
Summer Field Trips
Low tide exploration | Sat., June 8, 2024 | 12:00-2:00PM
The Coast Salish Elders say, "When the tide is out, the table is set".
Whatcom County has an amazing diversity of marine life, so many beaches bring unlimited opportunities for exploring. A good pair of waterproof boots is your ticket to safely exploring the beach, especially Marine Park, as those barnacles are sharp and the zooplankton is spiny! We'll bring tiny tide pools and nets, and field guides. We may see crabs, jellyfish, sea stars, and possibly some baby herons!
Max. 30 participants
Low tide exploration & Beach Cleanup | Sat., July 6, 2024 | 1:00-3:00PM
Ready to check out the Sand Dollar bank? Imagine living in a forest that goes completely flat, twice a day. This happens to sand dollars in eelgrass meadows! Sea creatures have such mysterious lives it’s difficult to imagine how they can survive in these tough conditions.
The local beach we're exploring at Semiahmoo Park has a surprising variety of places that creatures call home, and each has its favorite nook to hide, lay eggs, rear its young, and have lunch. Come discover who lives on the rocks, in the sand, and within the eelgrass meadows. Pack a picnic and plan to stay afterward, this beach has many treasures to explore!
Max. 30 participants
Night Prowl | Sat., August 3, 2024 | 7:00-9:00PM
Creatures of the night, unite! Let’s go searching for bats, owls, and beavers during this nocturnal exploration of a local park. Expect fun and games that awaken the senses you’ll need for a nocturnal exploration, including a “raccoon picnic” (does not include actual raccoons). Enjoy a silent period of wildlife watching and time to appreciate the wonders of the nighttime world using all of your senses to observe.
Max. 30 participants
Community Field Trips Pack List
Participants should be prepared to safely and comfortably spend several hours outdoors. Living in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) means we can start our adventure in the sun and end in the rain.
Participants should bring the following. Additional items specific to the event will be detailed in the reminder email:
Appropriate clothes (i.e., rain boots, rain jacket/pants, hat/gloves, and warm layers). See our Essentials of Layering for more information.
Individual hand sanitizer
Snack
Water bottle
LOANER GEAR
Wild Whatcom has loaner gear available. You do not need to purchase gear to participate in our programs. To request loaner gear, please fill out this form and we will reach out to you. Please let us know at least five (5) days prior to your outing if you need to borrow gear/clothing.
Gear Discounts
Visit Outdoor School Shop and use code: WHATCOM for 15% off your order.