Give BIG and #GivingTuesdayNow

Join a nationwide effort to support non-profits! May 5th and 6th mark two days of state and nationwide giving to support non-profits.

Today is the 10th anniversary of GiveBIG Washington, a statewide fundraising campaign led by 501 Commons. This year, GiveBIG is teaming up with #GivingTuesday, a nationwide event that normally happens each year in December.

However, due to the detrimental effects COVID-19 has had on non-profits around the country, the Giving Tuesday team decided to launch #GivingTuesdayNow, today on Tuesday, May 5th. These two giving efforts provide an opportunity for people around the world to stand together in unity—to use their individual power of generosity to remain connected, support vital organizations in their communities, and begin to heal together. If you would like to support us on these days of giving, you can do so directly through our website or on our GiveBIG page.

For those considering giving, you should also know that the CARES Act (the stimulus bill) that passed a few weeks ago, also included incentives for giving. The bill makes a new charitable deduction available for up to $300 per taxpayer ($600 for a married couple) if you take the standard deduction when filing your taxes. In other words, you can give and save at the same time!

Thank you in advance for your support of Wild Whatcom.

Nature Activity - Make a Like-A-Scope

We are getting a lot of practice in shifting our perspectives right now. Here's a simple craft that illustrates one way to explore nature using a more specific point of view.

Looking at the big picture can feel overwhelming, like when you're looking at a whole forest and trying to pick out individual trees. We find it very satisfying to simplify the landscape, pick one thing to focus on, and hone in on it. In this case, we're taking a close up look at lichens to see the incredible structures, colors, and the beauty of nature as it is.

We call this craft a "Like-o-scope" because we like looking through it, and what we see through it we like (including you!). Also, it's a handy tool at narrowing your field of view so it's easier to focus and really SEE lichens! We love lichens!

Diane Garmo's Land Donation - Whatcom Land Trust

Thanks to our friends at Whatcom Land Trust for posting this on their Facebook page:

Our Resilient Nature, both as a people and Nature herself, adapts to unexpected changes, including this virus. That resilience is due in part to the selflessness of individuals who think of the greater good and also in part due to this LAND WE LOVE that feeds us, filters our drinking water and the air we breathe.

Diane Garmo's land donation and coordination with Wild Whatcom to educate future generations of leaders and land stewards will continue this legacy of resilience, through this unusual time in history and beyond as protectors of the land.

Take a look at just one example of how land protected through Whatcom Land Trust will nourish and ensure the resilience of our shared future.

COVID-19 Organization Update - April 10, 2020

Over the last few weeks we have missed the silliness, wonder, and curiosity you and your families bring to our programs. 

Although we would love to spend time outdoors with you right now, we have decided to cancel all programming until we hear from health officials that it is safe to gather again. 

For the time being, we will continue to operate virtually and remotely, focusing on developing our curriculum, fortifying our policies and procedures, and preparing for that joyous time when we will reopen and welcome you back to our programs. We will be posting activities and nature-related tidbits on our Facebook and Instagram pages and our Blog. Please join us in the conversation and/or feel free to reach out to us via email—we’d love to hear from you! 

What does this mean for summer? Like you, we are watching the notices from health officials closely to try and understand the timeline for required social distancing to keep us all safe. At this point, it is still unclear when we will be able to safely gather indoors or outdoors. 

We will keep our summer registration open in hopes that it will be safe for us to run our summer trips and camps. However, we ask that you register as normal for a camp or backpack trip but without making any payment. Your spot will be held as soon as you select a product and add it to your cart. This will let us know you are interested if we can run the program, without any cost to you. As the date gets closer and/or it becomes clear that it will not be safe to run programming during the summer, we will notify you about cancellations.

We hope you and your families are safe, healthy, and as happy as you can be during such uncertain times. We are so grateful to all individuals who are still working right now to continue to provide essential services, as well as those caring for loved ones who may be struggling. We are also appreciative to all those who are working to bring light, joy, and laughter to their communities during a time when we need it the most. 

We look forward to the time when we can be outside with you again!

Nature Activity - Color Matching

Nature Activity - Color Matching

What have you been noticing in your neighborhood or nearby trail this spring? We've been seeing red-flowering currant and salmonberry flowers, busy birds, and lots of shades of green.

Go out today and see what colors of spring you can find with our Color Matching activity: grab paint chips, crayons, markers, or anything with multiple colors and see if you can find a match in nature.

COVID - 19 Organization Update - March 20, 2020

Dear Wild Whatcom Community –

First of all, we miss seeing you!
 
Secondly, our team is feeling full of gratitude and practicing “attitude of gratitude” regularly during this time of uncertainty. We are very grateful to be connecting with many other groups in town that are working hard to adapt, plan, and prepare for this dynamic situation and support each other and the community around us.

We are grateful to everyone who has reached out to send support our way through great nature photos and tidbits, ideas for ways to keep in touch, and kind words about the value of our programming. We cannot say thank you enough. We are grateful for you and this wonder-full community.

As you may have seen on our social media or through other communications, we are cancelling all programs until further notice, at least through April 15, 2020, but possibly longer. Our offices are also closed during this time. However, we are online, continuing to work, connect, laugh, share, and learn together. If you’d like to connect, feel free to reach out directly to staff or to our info@wildwhatcom.org account.

We are working on preparing any and all digital resources we can for you during this time of school closures. This may look like lesson plans, activities to try at home, interactive prompts and quizzes, and more.

Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram or check back here on our Blog to keep up with resources we will be sharing. Read this complete newsletter here.

Stay well!

Licia Sahagun (she/her/hers)
Executive Director

COVID 19 (Coronavirus) Organization Update

Calming stream on Two Dollar trail

Until further notice, Wild Whatcom offices are closed to visitors.

All Wild Whatcom programming is cancelled until further notice including:

  • Explorers Club

  • Wild Things

  • Ladies Night Out

  • Nature Outings

  • All school-based programming (both during and after)

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we all work to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Our staff are working remotely so reach out to us by email or phone, visit other pages on our website and continue to connect with us on Facebook.

Registration is open for summer camps and backpack trips and spaces are still available.

Take care, stay well, wash your hands, get outside, do the social distance thing and we'll look forward to being together again soon!

Project Neighborly Grant - Outdoor Exploration Volunteer Program

Whatcom Community Foundation's Grant Catalog is live! Community members can support projects applied for under Project Neighborly, an initiative to build community and bring neighbors together.

Wild Whatcom applied for an Outdoor Exploration Volunteer Program. Each year, we bring thousands of youth outdoors to explore the inspiring natural areas Whatcom County has to offer. This year, we plan to jumpstart our volunteer program so that adults in our community (like you!) have the opportunity to join us in raising a generation of youth that care about each other and the planet. Our programs blend outdoor education with stewardship and long-term mentoring, and we'd love to have more community members join us in this effort!

Head to the grants catalog to support our project or other projects in our community to foster neighborliness! The catalog closes at the end of March. 

Wild Whatcom Programming - Coronavirus Update

Photo Credit: Holly Roger

We know that you may be concerned about COVID-19 (also known as the coronavirus) and how it may affect our community, including your participation in Wild Whatcom programs. We are so grateful that we get to bring our community together to explore, play, and adventure with one another, but this also means we are monitoring the situation closely and doing everything we can to prevent risk. 

Wild Whatcom’s Risk Management Team is keeping up-to-date with the latest information available. If you are also trying to keep up to speed, please look to health officials for the most accurate and up-to-date information: the Whatcom County Health Department and/or the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) both have regularly updated web pages.

Currently, health officials are not recommending closures of schools, child care facilities, or other child care programs. Thus, all of our programs will continue to run as scheduled unless we notify you otherwise. We are doing our best now to stay informed, take preventative measures, and plan for potential closures/cancellations.

Here’s how you can help:

  • Keep informed with the above-linked resources. Though this situation is dynamic and changing daily, the best thing you can do is to stay informed and be prepared.

  • Please heighten your hygiene practices during, prior to, and after all Wild Whatcom activities to reduce risk. Wash your hands regularly and use hand sanitizers in between washes. Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing and remember to cough/sneeze into your elbow and to wash hands afterward! Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched.

  • Stay home if you or your child is feeling sick. Communicate with your child about how to use these precautionary practices and avoid unnecessary physical contact with others. 

Here’s how we will notify you of any cancellations:

  • Email: email communication will be our first line of communication with you, similar to other program cancellations or rescheduling. Please respond when requested so we know you’ve received our notifications.

  • Phone: those who do not respond via email will receive phone calls to ensure all participants are aware of cancellations.

  • Social media: We will post announcements on our social media pages (Facebook and Instagram).

  • Website: see this Blog page for more information.

It is worth noting that the Washington Department of Health is currently reporting that the risk of exposure is still relatively low. We are just doing our best to be prepared and help health officials and health care providers by taking all precautionary measures possible. We hope you will join us in doing the same. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have questions or concerns.