Chantotes 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

Stormie Romero (she/they) | stormie@wildwhatcom.org

Shelby Kita (she/her) | shelby@wildwhatcom.org

Kay Taylor (she/her) | kay@wildwhatcom.org

OUTING 1 | Saturday, SEPTEMBER 23 | 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 | Saturday, OCTOBER 28 | 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 | Sunday, NOVEMBER 19 | 9:30-3:00PM

SKILLS | CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE | Marine Park

For our first of two Create-Your-Own-Adventure outings of the year, we’ll be focusing on skills. After two outings of Collaborate and Compromise, our group has come up with a great plan for the day. We’ll be meeting at the Fairhaven Village green at 9:30AM for our opening circle and discussing the plan for the day. We’ll take a quick circle around Village Books and maybe the gelato shop and then walk down to Marine Park. At Marine Park, we’ll spend the day working on outdoor skills and crafts both old and new - Salve making, candle pouring, carving, and gratitude gifting. Pick up will be at Marine Park. Please remember to pack any craft supplies that you would like to use or share and 1, 4oz (or smaller) jar or tin for your candle. You are also welcome to bring a sleeping bag or blanket and any other cozy items.

Drop Off: 1207 10th St, Bellingham. From I-5, take exit 250 (Old Fairhaven Parkway/Chuckanut Dr). Head west on Old Fairhaven Parkway. Turn north at 12th St. Turn west on Mill St and the Village Green will be one block down. Map.

Pick Up: 100 Harris Ave, Bellingham. From I-5, take exit 250 (Old Fairhaven Parkway/Chuckanut Dr.). Head west on Old Fairhaven Parkway. At intersection with 12th St, continue through light onto Donovan Ave. and veer right onto 10th St. Turn left at Harris Ave. and proceed to the end of Harris Ave. and park entrance on your left. Map. Or Ride WTA.

OUTING 4 | Sunday, JANUARY 14 | 2:00-6:00PM

EXPLORATION | NIGHT OUTING | Sehome Arboretum

*Please note the end time of this outing was changed due to extreme weather*

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: Pick up and drop off at the student parking lots below the WWU Wade King Rec Center. From I-5, take exit 252 (Samish Way). Follow signs to Western Washington University (WWU) heading south west on Bill McDonald Parkway. Follow Bill McDonald Parkway for ~1 mile. Turn R into S College Dr and after passing the soccer fields, Turn L into the WWU C-Lot parking lot. Free parking after 4:30PM and on weekends. Map.

OUTING 5 | Saturday, FEBRUARY 10 | 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 | Saturday, MARCH 16 | 10:00-3:00PM

EXPLORATION | CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE | Clayton Beach Via lost lake parking lot

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 and any goodies you’re hoping to share with the group. Please remember to keep things vegan-friendly.

OUTING 7 | Saturday, MAY 18 - Sunday, May 19 | 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.