Wayfinder Cycle 1: Story
The Wayfinder 2023-2024 season theme is Nature Connection Through Story. Over the course of the season, Wayfinders will practice the art of storytelling, learn about the history of this beautiful place, and participate in the 2nd Annual Wayfinder Film Festival. The season will also include hikes in the North Cascades, a trip to Lummi Island, and a visit out to some of the oldest forests in our area.
As Wayfinders ramble through forests and along beaches, they will learn tools to connect with wildlife while reflecting on how to track who they are becoming in the world. Our outings will consist of nature explorations, skills practice, games, reflection, and community-building. Our hopes are for the Wayfinders to not only adventure in, and discover, our area, but also explore what it means to honor yourself and your truth while transitioning into young adulthood.
Standard outings and curriculum are below. Individual Wayfinder group schedules and curriculum may vary based on group needs, mentor discretion, previously canceled outings, group progress with technical skills, etc.
OUTING 1 | north cascades hike
For the first outing of the 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 in the Chuckanuts, 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 far different than our local mountains, 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 year together has in store. Please note that is an 8-hour outing and as such, please get a good night’s sleep and eat a big breakfast. Come prepared with extra snacks, a big lunch, and lots of H2O.
Yellow Aster butte or bagley lakes
OUTING 2 | Cedar & Eagles
This season our skills focus is all about storytelling and the story of place. On this day, we’ll travel up the Mt Baker highway to visit some of the oldest forests in our area and try to spot salmon and eagles along the way. We will immerse ourselves in our first collaborative storytelling activity and meet some of the oldest living beings in our area. We’ll also learn about the importance of Salmon, Eagle’s symbolism, and the role that Cedar has played in this area for time immemorial.
North Fork nooksack natural research area
OUTING 3 | Exploration & Story building
Throughout the season, we’ll make our way from the North Cascades down to the Salish Sea. For our third outing, we’ll be on an expedition to one of the most beautiful - and least travelled - waterfalls in the area, Racehorse Falls. Racehorse Falls is part of Racehorse Creek, which is one of the many tributaries to the North Fork of the Nooksack River. On this hike, we will learn about the various components of story, what makes a story great, and begin to compile the story that this group will film and preview at the end of the year. Please wear comfortable hiking shoes and Be Prepared with plenty of H2O, food, and warm, dry layers.
Racehorse Falls
OUTING 4 | History of Bellingham
Wow - we are SO EXCITED to be partnering with the Whatom History Museum for this (mostly indoor?!) outing. All three Wayfinder groups will meet on this day to discuss and learn about the enrvironmental and human history of our region. It is important to remember that history is a story too and that stories transform as years pass, perspectives shift, and the storytellers change. We hope that this specialized and interactive tour of the museum and their archives help provide a deeper understanding of the land we live on, the living beings who we share it with, and the human history of this place we call home.
Whatcom history museum
OUTING 5 | Pancakes, prep, & props
On this cold February day, we’ll meet for a day of pancakes, a campfire creation (we love fire x friction!), and filling in the details of the story that we’ve been creating. Do we need to get more ideas, lines, or directions down on paper? Do characters, storylines, or themes need to be tuned up? What props will we need to bring? To put or to not put chocolate chips in the pancakes? We’ll work together to get the whole story prepped so that our next outing, we’ll be able to get right into filming and production!
Birch bay
OUTING 6 | Salish Sea Film Set
The day has finally come for our journey to Lummi Island and the filming of our group’s submission to the Second Annual Wayfinder Film Festival. We’ll hop on our trusty bus and have a bit of a ferry ride and explore some new-to-us locations on Lummi Island. Once we’ve found a few spots that look good, we'll start filming our movie. Once we’re done, we’ll be sure to rewatch our work, do a bit of in-field, editing, and then get back on the bus and retrace our route home.
lummi island
OUTING 7 | campout
To celebrate the arrival of spring, we’ll have a combined group campout, big fire, and lots of s’mores! During this weekend trip, we will practice setting up camp, fire starting and safety, and team building. We will also have plenty of time to play games, tell stories, and spend unstructured time together. Additionally, we will be holding our 2nd Annual Wayfinder Film Festival Awards Show, so prepare your acceptance speeches and leave room for popcorn!