Buffleheads 2023-2024

Welcome to Explorers Club Season 4! This year, our technical and socio-emotional skill building will go hand-in-hand. We’ll begin the year learning about shelter building and how it takes a team to complete one full debris hut. We’ll move forward onto the art of carving and the prerequisite skills of body awareness, tool safety, and patience. Next, we’ll hop into medicinal plants and recall what we’ve learned about ethical harvest and plant ID. Our season will end with a challenging rock scramble along the coast that will deepen our connection to the wild and hone our sense of group support. 

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

Maia Kreis (she/her) | maia@wildwhatcom.org 

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

OUTING 1  |  Sunday, October 1  |  10:00-3:00PM

EXPLORATION  |  Team Building  |  Lake Padden Park

Our first outing of the year will be all about reconnecting as a group, diving into leadership activities, and exploring the nature that surrounds us. There will be plenty of opportunities for free exploration, games, and socio-emotional skill-building. We will also revisit activities, tools, and language that we’ve worked on in the past to strengthen our inter/intrapersonal communication and problem-solving skills. Make sure to pack 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 park and the first shelter near the playground. If you’ve gone to the dog park and road end, you’ve gone too far! Map.

OUTING 2  |  Saturday, October 28  |  10:00-3:00PM

SKILLS  |  Debris Hut Shelter  |  Hundred Acre Woods 

Today we will tap into the universal childhood passion of fort-building, but with a twist. Instead of blankets and pillows, we’ll be using what dead and downed materials we can find in the forest. With some finessing, we’ll learn to harness the love of fort-building and turn it into a helpful survival skill. This day will also teach us the power of teamwork, showing us what strength lies in our group when we work together. And of course, there will be plenty of time for exploring and games to get us back in the groove of the Explorers Club.

Directions: 107 N. Chuckanut Dr, Bellingham. From I-5, take exit 250 (Old Fairhaven Parkway/Chuckanut Dr). Head west on Old Fairhaven Parkway. Turn south at 12th St., then veer east again at next light onto Chuckanut Dr. and turn east into the Fairhaven Park entrance. Turn right into the second parking lot at the end of the road. Map.

OUTING 3  |  Saturday, November 18  |  10:00-3:00PM

SKILLS  |  Tarps & Harvest  |  Yew St Woods 

*Please note that this outing theme + location was switched with Outing #4*

Last outing, we learned all about how to make a shelter with debris found in our forests. On this day, we’ll continue diving into our skills theme of shelter-building by learning how to tie different types of knots and how to pitch a tarp. As always, there will be lots of time for games, challenges, and free exploration. Don’t forget that our first level of shelter is always our clothing. So don’t forget to Come Prepared for a PNW winter with rain gear and warm, dry layers. The group will also be leaning into our skills of Honorable Harvest and Tree ID by introducing ourselves to Cottonwood and collecting the sticky buds that come down in the autumn winds. We’ll soak these buds in olive oil and use that oil next year(!) to create a medicinal salve.

Directions: 853-881 San Juan Blvd. From I-5, take exit 253 (Lakeway Dr.). Head east on Lakeway Dr. for 1.1 miles. Turn right on Yew St. and drive for 0.7 of a mile. Turn right onto San Juan Blvd. with street parking on your left. Map. 

OUTING 4  |  Sunday, February 18  |  10:00-3:30PM

SKILLS  |  Medicinal Plants  |  Whatcom Land Trust Homestead

Explorers know that plants give many gifts, providing food, clothing, tools, and medicine. As we ramble and roam throughout the forest, we'll discover some of the powers of plants to heal (& harm). Part of our time will be spent making a simple, yet ancient skin salve called the Balm of Gilead and perhaps also some forest tea. Each Explorer will come home with their own small jar of salve that can be used as chapstick, lotion, or sunburn cream. Please make sure that your Explorer packs an empty mug for tea and let us know if they have any known allergies to cottonwood, bees or soywax.

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 5  |  Saturday, February 24  |  10:00-3:00PM

SKILLS  |  Carving I  |  Whatcom Falls Park (Electric Ave Entrance)

*Please note that this outing originally scheduled for January but was cancelled due to extreme weather conditions*

Whatcom Falls Park is the crown jewel of Whatcom County’s urban parks. With spectacular sandstone formations, awesome waterfalls, and a gorgeous second-growth forest, we’re bound to have a truly epic day of exploring. If the group is ready, we will also embark on a very special skills journey: carving! This skill requires lots of demonstrated patience, safety, and body awareness skills, but the rewards are worth it. Once we find a good spot for our basecamp we will take the momentous step of responsibility into knife usage. Please make sure that your Explorer has watched the Knife Safety video before this outing.

Directions: 1401 Electric Ave. From I-5, take exit 253 (Lakeway Dr.). Head east on Lakeway Dr. for approx. 1.6 miles. Turn left onto Electric Ave. and drive 0.2 miles. Turn left onto Arbor St. and then turn right onto Sunset Lane until you reach the parking lot near the tennis courts and playground. Map.

OUTING 6  |  Sunday, March 17  |  9:30-1:30PM

SERVICE  |  Connelly Creek Restoration Sites

Explorers Club has two official restoration sites that we work on every year in partnership with the Bellingham Parks Department. In the decade-plus that EC has worked at Connelly Creek trailhead and Happy Valley park, the landscape of each site has changed dramatically. Explorers of all ages have helped to remove Himalayan blackberries and dig out their persistent roots. We’ve planted over 100 native plants, shrubs, and trees. Existing plant life has been freed of ivy, reed canary grass has been covered in mulch, and morning glory has been dug out by the root. Explorers have removed hundreds of pounds of trash and hauled almost 100 yards of mulch. 

With the help of Bellingham City Parks and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA), we are contributing to the very important work of salmon habitat restoration. Salmon are keystone species of the Northwest, playing important roles in every ecosystem and community they interact with. They are economically, culturally, and spiritually significant to Indigenous peoples, including our Lummi and Nooksack neighbors. Our restoration work creates a positive ripple effect that is felt in communities beyond just salmon and gives us an incredible opportunity to be part of a legacy of stewardship and protection. Please remember to print, sign, & bring the Park and Recreation’s Risk and Liability form to drop off.

Directions: South Bellingham Park and Ride (West). From I-5, take exit 250 (Old Fairhaven Parkway/Chuckanut Dr.). Head west on Old Fairhaven Parkway for 0.1 mile. Turn north onto 30th St. for 0.3 mile. Turn east on Donovan Ave. and drive for 0.1 mile. Turn south onto 32nd Ave. and drive for 0.2 of a mile. Turn east into Bellingham Park & Ride (WSDOT) westside lot. Map.  

OUTING 7  |  Saturday, April 20  |  10:00-3:00PM

EXPLORATION  |  Point Whitehorn  

We'll head northwards this day to explore a coastal gem of Whatcom County. Point Whitehorn is nestled right below Birch Bay State Park and is home to heron, otter, and herring. From the shores, we’ll see views of the Cascades and San Juan Island. If it’s low tide, we may be able to walk to the mudflats and if it’s high tide, we’ll wiggle our toes in the Salish Sea. But mostly, we'll run arms wide and feet flying into expanses of sand and sea, driftwood and round rock, exploring our way around this beautiful beach. Be sure to pack closed-toed water shoes, a towel, sunscreen, a swimsuit, and extra H2O. 

Directions: 6899 Koehn Rd #6601, Blaine. From I-5, take exit 266 for Grandview Rd/WA 548 N. Turn west onto Grandview Rd. and follow approx. 8.5 miles until it veers sharply left and becomes Koehn Rd.. Follow Koehn Rd. for approx. 0.5 miles and turn left into the parking lot. Map.

OUTING 8  |  Sunday, May 12  |  10:30-4:30PM

EXPLORATION  |  LARRABEE COAST TRAVERSE 

Previous Explorers have made the momentous journey along the Salish Coast between Clayton Beach to Larrabee State Park and it is now time for our group to do the same. We'll embrace the low tide and get around a few jutting bluffs first thing. Once around the corner, the group will enter a rare section of wild space that is sheltered within the map of civilization. The route along the coast is so seldomly travelled by humankind that we’ll be bound to spot numerous eagles, crabs, herons, and seals. This day is unlike any of our other outings due to the challenging nature of rock scrambling and mentor guided climbing. It will require our Explorers to maintain a backcountry mindset as we move Slow and Low over the slippery, barnacle covered sandstone. It is very important to wear good hiking or walking shoes and may be helpful to have rubber gardening gloves to prevent barnacle cuts. Please pack closed-toed water shoes, a towel, and a bathing suit.

Drop-off 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.

Pick-up Directions: 245 Chuckanut Dr. From I-5 N, take exit 250 for Old Fairhaven Pkwy and turn west onto Old Fairhaven Pkwy.  At the traffic light, turn south onto 30th St and follow for ~1 mile. Turn west onto Old Samish Rd. After ~.5 miles, turn south onto WA-11/ Chuckanut Drive. Follow Chuckanut Dr for ~3.5 miles and then turn west on Cove Road. Turn south on Pleasant Bay Road, follow signs to the boat launch. Map.      

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

Questions

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