Community Field Trips

All Ages | Quarterly(once per season) | 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!

Register & DONATe below

This program is offered for free with a suggested donation of $15/person or $30/family. It is pay-what-you-can, and while any donation amount is appreciated, donations are not required to register or participate. Registration is encouraged, but not required.

If you register online, you will receive an email about two (2) weeks before the program with more information. Accessibility information is listed below. If you have questions about location, accessibility, or anything else, please email communityprograms@wildwhatcom.org.

Accessibility Info

All Community Field Trips locations have the following:

Flat or very gently-inclined trails without barriers like boulders, fallen logs, gates, etc. Trails are usually hard-packed gravel, dirt, or pavement.
Trailhead Bathroom
No more than two (2) miles of walking; typically one (1) mile or less on outings.

Summer 2025 Field Trip

Low tide exploration & Beach Cleanup | Sat., July 12, 2025 | 12:00-2:00PM | Semiahmoo Park

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!

Location | Semiahmoo Park

Autumn 2025 Field Trip

fungus among us | 2025 Date TBA(Most Likely October 25th, 2025) | Noon-2:00pm | Lake Padden park WEST

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.

Location | Lake Padden Park - West entrance near tennis courts. Map link HERE.

Winter 2026 Field Trips

Low tide exploration | FRI., January 2nd, 2026 | 8:30-10:30pm | Marine Park

Stay up late, grab your headlamp and rainboots, and bundle up for a fun, late night exploration at one of our favorite local beaches, along with our friends from the Marine Life Center. The almost full moon will be causing a strong negative tide, so there will be a lot of intertidal zones to explore! We might see sea stars, nudibranchs, fish, clams, and more- you never know what you might spot tidepooling!

A good pair of waterproof boots (and warm wool socks!) is your ticket to safely exploring the beach, as the puddles are cold, the barnacles are sharp and the zooplankton is spiny! If you would like to borrow rainboots, email: communityprograms@wildwhatcom.org.

Location | Marine Park, 100 Harris Ave., Bellingham. Map link HERE.

Spring 2026 Field Trips

Beaver Prowl | Sat; April 25th,2026 | | Tennant Lake Fragrance Garden

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!

Location | Tennant Lake Fragrance Garden, 5200 Nielsen Rd., Ferndale. Map link HERE.