Wayfinder Cycle 4: 2026-2027
The Wayfinder 2026-2027 season theme is Nature Connection Through Fire. Over the course of the season, Wayfinders will practice the art of fire creation, go in depth into fire ecology, and learn about how cycles of destruction and rebirth are seen both in wildfires and in our own lives.
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.
OUTING 1 | Team building and transitions
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 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 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 come prepared with sturdy hiking shoes, a nature journal, and as many of the 10 Essentials as you can. This will be a longer day in rugged terrain, so be especially generous with food and water, enough to sustain energy and outlook throughout the day.
North cascades
OUTING 2 | Fire ecology
This season our skills focus is all about fire. We’ll practice not just fire creation but also learn about fire’s role in this land’s ecology. On this day, we’ll visit a recently burned area and witness the observable effects of wildfire. Though our ecosystem has evolved to include fire as a key contributor to its vitality, many decades of wildlife suppression, the encroachment of human habitation, and global climate change have led to unforeseen consequences. What lessons can we learn from visiting a recent burn site, both ecologically and metaphorically - in our own lives?
TBD
OUTING 3 | Bow drill creation
Fire is one of humanity’s oldest and most important tools, but creating it without matches or lighters requires patience, focus, and resilience. On this outing, we’ll craft our own bow drill sets from natural materials and begin learning the art of friction fire. Through carving, problem solving, and lots of practice, we’ll discover that success rarely comes all at once. Instead, it grows through persistence, adjustment, and the willingness to keep trying even when things feel difficult.
Yew street woods
OUTING 4 | fire creation
For this evening outing, we will participate in a tradition as old as humankind - gathering around the fire as the sun sets and night rises. Human history and fire creation go hand-in-hand and on this outing, we’ll learn about some of the ways that fire has changed the course of our species’ evolution. We’ll also engage in other age-old, traditional fire activities, storytelling and campfire cooking.
larrabee state park
OUTING 5 | washington trails association
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 this year’s service outing, 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.
tbd
OUTING 6 | forest bathing
Being alone doesn’t have to be lonely. Once you make friends with yourself, time in solitude can be a treasured gift. Today, we’ll spend some time with ourselves in nature. Depending on the group’s need, mentors will decide just how much time that will be - but please expect at least an 1 hour of solo time. This day will also include a decent hike, team activities, and depending on interest, lake dipping.
Fragrance lake
OUTING 7 | campout
To welcome spring in true Wayfinder style, we’ll gather for our annual overnight campout, a weekend full of laughter, campfires, and community. We'll sharpen our outdoor skills by setting up tents, practicing fire safety, and building our team bond through games, stories, and plenty of unstructured time to just be together in nature.