Alligator Lizards 2023-2024

Welcome to Explorers Club graduation season! Mentors are excited for our final year together exploring as a group. This season will be focused on reflection, thriving, and adjournment. We’ll cap off our time together with a celebratory graduation weekend and ceremony. Please mark down the date of your graduation as soon as possible as it is an important milestone.

All outings, including dates, times, locations, and staffing are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances and without notice. We will notify you of any changes as soon as possible.

Resources

Explorers Club Pack List

Mentor Contact Info

Adam Yost (he/him) | adam@wildwhatcom.org

Adam Brayton (he/him) | adamb@wildwhatcom.org

OUTING 1  |  Sunday, SEPTEMBER 24 |  9:00-5:00PM

HIKE  |  NORTH CASCADES

For the first outing of our final year, we’ll strap on our packs and lace up our boots for an epic hike in the North Cascades. For many years, we have honed our hiking skills on Chuckanut mountain, but it is time to take one step further and head into the backcountry. This hike will challenge our bodies and our minds, but we’ll have each other’s support and the surety that we can do hard things. As we explore a landscape that is unlike anything else we’ve experienced in EC, we’ll prepare ourselves for similar, upcoming transitions in life. Don’t worry though, this day won’t be all hard hikes and on-the-nose metaphors, we’ll also have lots of time to connect and talk about what our final year together has in store. Please note that is an 8-hour outing and as such, get a good night’s sleep and eat a big breakfast. Come prepared with extra snacks, a big lunch, and lots of water. 

Directions: 3424 Meridian St., Bellingham. From I-5, take exit 256A (Meridian St). Head south on Meridian St. for three blocks and turn north at the Squalicum Parkway intersection entrance. Map. 

OUTING 2  |  Sunday, OCTOBER 22  |  10:00-3:00PM

SKILLS  |  MUSHROOM IDENTIFICATION  |  NORTH LAKE WHATCOM PARK

For our first skills outing of the year, we thought we would take a deeper dive into something we’ve only skimmed in the past! This outing will be focused on the finer points of mushroom identification, which will hopefully give us the confidence to identify a few common mushrooms in our area. We won’t be identifying with the purpose of eating, but rather to hone our naturalist’s eyes and expand our awareness and knowledge of our fungi kin. Please remember to bring your nature journal to this outing. 

Directions: 3220 N Shore Rd. From I-5, take exit 253 for Lakeway Dr. Drive east on Lakeway Dr for ~1.5 miles. Turn L on Electric Ave and follow for ~1 mile. Continue onto Northshore Dr. and follow for ~1.8 miles. Northshore Dr becomes N Shore Rd. Follow N Shore Rd for 5.3 miles. At the sign for N. Lake Whatcom Park, turn L to stay on N Shore Rd. The trailhead will be on your left in 0.5 miles. Map.

OUTING 3  |  Saturday, December 2  |  10:00-4:00

SKILLS  |  CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE  |  Alger Alps Traverse

*Please note that this outing has been extended by 1-hour*

For our first of two Create-Your-Own-Adventure outings of the year, we’ll be focusing on skills. Which skill will the group choose to review, practice, or learn brand new? Explorers in the past have chosen to review medicinal plants, practice making debris huts, or move further into their carving skills. Our group has had two outings so far to Collaborate and Compromise about what skill to focus on and to come up with a plan for the day. Mentors will provide inspiration and materials and will help to facilitate this Choose-Your-Own-Adventure outing! 

Pick Up Directions: Alger Alp Trail. From I-5, take exit 240 for Alger and Lake Samish Road.  Head East through downtown Alger on Lake Samish Road.  At .7 miles, Lake Samish Road becomes Cane Lake Road.  Continue on for .2 miles.  Parking is on both sides of the road, just past the trailhead.  Map.  

Pick Up Directions: 170 Old Hwy 99 N.. From I-5, take exit 242 for Nulle Rd/S. Lake Samish. Head east on Nulle Rd. for approx. 0.75 miles and the Squires Lake parking lot will be on your left. Map.

OUTING 4  |  Saturday, JANUARY 27  |  2:00-7:00PM

EXPLORATION  |  NIGHT OUTING  |  LARRABEE State Park

On this evening, we will revisit an old favorite outing and go adventuring into the night! During our last night outing (four years ago!), we worked on Stretching Our Edge by becoming comfortable exploring the woods in the dark. This time around, we’ll spend more time making a campfire, sharing favorite EC stories, and enjoying each other’s company. Please come prepared with a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, warm layers, and dinner. 

Directions: 245 Chuckanut Dr, Bellingham. From I-5, take exit 250 (Old Fairhaven Parkway/Chuckanut Dr.).  Head west on Old Fairhaven Parkway to 12th St. Turn left at 12th St and then veer left onto Chuckanut Dr. for approx. 5.0 miles. Turn right into the main park entrance and park in the first lot on the left. Map.

Reminder: A Discover Pass is required for all parking at state parks. If you do not have a Discover Pass, please stay with your vehicle and plan to make drop-off and pick-up quick.

OUTING 5  |  Saturday, FEBRUARY 17  |  9:00-3:00 PM

SERVICE  | WASHINGTON TRAILS ASSOCIATION | LOST LAKE TRAIL

For many years, Wild Whatcom has joyfully explored and learned about the forests, beaches, and mountains of Bellingham. Today, we will return the many gifts that this land has provided us through hard work and service. For our last service outing together as a group, we’ll do something a little different and work alongside a trail crew from Washington Trails Association. We look forward to this day of service and contributing to the well-being of our community.

Directions: 100-104 WA-11. From I-5, take exit 250 (Old Fairhaven Parkway/Chuckanut Dr). Head west on Old Fairhaven Parkway. Turn left at 12th St, then left again at next light onto Chuckanut Dr. for approx. 5.5 miles. The parking lot is a short distance past the main Larrabee State Park entrance. It will be on your left and is signed Lost Lake Parking Lot. Map.    

OUTING 6  |  Sunday, MARCH 24  |  10:00-3:00PM

EXPLORATION  |  CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE  |  Lake Padden

On our second Create-Your-Own-Adventure outing, the group will enjoy a full and glorious day exploring in nature. Will the group choose a hike on Galbraith, a day by the ocean, a traverse on Chuckanut mountain? Mentors will provide inspiration and materials and will help to facilitate this Choose-Your-Own-Adventure outing! This is our last proper outing before graduation and we’ll want to make it special. Please bring your nature journal.

Directions: 4882 S. Samish Way, Bellingham. From I-5, take exit 252 (Samish Way). Drive south on S. Samish Way for approx. 2.4 miles. Turn west onto Lakeshore Dr. (same as Lake Padden Golf Course entrance). Continue to the park and the shelters near the playground. Please note that there are multiple shelters in this area, so look for mentors at both if you do not immediately see them. If you’ve gone to the dog park and road end, you’ve gone too far! Map. Or Ride WTA.

OUTING 7  |  Saturday, MAY 4 - Sunday, May 5 |  11:00AM SATURDAY - 4:00PM SUNDAY

GRADUATION WEEKEND + CEREMONY  |  SKAGIT RIVER MAPLE 

The time has come for the parting of ways. While every graduating Explorer is invited to join Wayfinders, our program for high schoolers, this will be our lasting outing together as a group. Graduation is upon us, so get ready for s’mores, fireside chats, and a weekend together full of celebration and connection. The bulk of this weekend will be largely dependent on what the Explorers choose to do, but we plan on spending plenty of time on reflection, acknowledgment, and merry-making. The menu and packing list will be sent via email prior to graduation.

Our weekend will conclude with an outdoor graduation ceremony that will include reflection and affirmation from the Explorers and mentors. Families are invited to join us for this ceremony. To ensure the comfort of everyone, this event will take place outdoors and we ask every family to bring their own camp chairs and picnic/snack rather than potluck style. Please plan on arriving between 1:30-1:45PM for a 2:00PM start to the ceremony. We’ll end our time together with a final, big group Attitude of Gratitude and from there, Explorers will depart with their families.

Drop Off: 3424 Meridian St., Bellingham. From I-5, take exit 256A (Meridian St). Head south on Meridian St. for three blocks and turn north at the Squalicum Parkway intersection entrance. Map. 

Pick Up: To protect the privacy of Skagit River Maple’s residents, directions will be sent via email in the outing reminder.

Questions

Please contact your group’s mentor(s) listed above or explorersclub@wildwhatcom.org.