Alligator Lizards 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

Adam Yost (he/him) | adam@wildwhatcom.org

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

OUTING 7 | Saturday, MAY 4 - Sunday, May 5 | 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.

Wayfinders 2024-2025

OUTING 1 | SEPTEMBER | 9:00 - 3:00 PM

NAT GEO WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT | WHATCOM MUSEUM

We are SO EXCITED to partner once again with the Whatom History Museum for this outing. All of our Wayfinder groups will meet on this day to visit the National Geographic’s “The Greatest Wildlife Photographs” exhibit and gain some inspiration for the art of wildlife photography. We hope that this specialized and interactive visit to this exhibit will help Wayfinders to start making the keen observations that inform a seasoned tracker. Following this visit we will move outside for the Wayfinders to all create their own personalized tracking journal to use throughout our year. Please note that there will be an outside component to this day, so don’t neglect to send your Wayfinder with a nice hat and sunscreen.

Drop-off Directions: 210 Central Ave. From I-5, take exit 253 for Lakeway Dr. Head west on Lakeway Dr. and continue as it turns into Holly St towards for 0.5 miles. Turn right onto Commercial St. and follow for 0.3 miles. Turn left onto Central Ave. and the Bellingham Public Library-Central District will be found to your right. Map.

Pick-up Directions: 1100 Ellsworth St., Bellingham. From I-5, take exit 256 (Meridian St). Head south on Meridian St. for 1.1 miles. Continue onto Girard St. and turn right onto H St. or G St. (Fouts Park is a few doors down from the Wild Whatcom office). Map.

OUTING 2 | OCTOBER | 10:00 - 4:00 PM

**INTRO TO TRACKING | TBD (FIDALGO ISLAND AREA)**

Today sees the Wayfinders venturing out to practice some of the basics in our outdoor skill theme for the season-- wildlife tracking! After setting our group’s Community Agreement and intentions for the season, we will begin learning about this technical skill. We’ll sharpen our senses and delve into the fascinating world of wildlife tracking, discovering the hidden stories written in the tracks and traces left by the creatures that call this island home. Through observation, journaling, and hands-on activities, we'll hone our skills and unlock the secrets of the natural world around us.

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 3 | NOVEMBER | 10:00 - 3:00 PM

COMBINED GROUP OUTING | TRACKING GAMES | 100 ACRE WOODS

On this day of fun, Wayfinder groups will come together to put our heightened nature-awareness and tracking skills to work. We’ll embody the wildlife that lives in our forests through games of stealth, observation, and camouflage! Wayfinders will use the routines of Invisibility and seeing the world from a different perspective to track each other through the forest. We'll also practice leadership skills that build executive function, like collaborative decision-making (and play itself!) and finish our day with fun, new memories, and more connected as a group.

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 Drive. Turn east into the Fairhaven Park entrance. Turn right into the second parking lot at the end of the road. Map.

OUTING 4 | JANUARY | 10:00 - 3:00 PM

COMBINED GROUP OUTING | BIRDING & BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY | SAMISH FLATS

The winter months are ideal for watching the movement of birds. With our eyes and lenses pointed to the sky we head south to the Skagit Valley where migrating geese and swans gather. We’ll learn about the Trumpeter Swans comeback from near extinction and will also be joined by a professional wildlife photographer, Lauren McClanahan, from the Bellingham Youth Media project. Lauren will provide us with the basics of photography and wildlife tips and tricks. Aided by our local wildlife photographer and the cameras we already carry in our pockets, Wayfinders will learn how to capture a moment of wildlife without needing to buy any fancy equipment.

OUTING 5 | FEBRUARY | 10:00 - 3:00 PM

PANCAKES & PREP | BIRCH BAY

On this cold February day, we’ll meet for a day of pancakes, a campfire creation (we love fire x friction!), and making a plan for our wildlife documentary. What wildlife will we follow, and how will we coax it on screen? What story do we aim to capture? Who can do the best impression of David Attenborough? We’ll work together to get the whole plan prepped so that our next outing, we’ll be able to get right into filming and production!

Directions: 5105 Helweg Rd. From I-5, take exit 266 for WA-548 N/Grandview Rd. Turn west onto WA-548 N/Grandview Rd. After approx. 6 miles, continue on Grandview Rd. at the traffic circle for 1 mile. Turn right onto Jackson Rd. for 1 more mile. Turn left onto Helweg Rd. and the main entrance to Birch Bay State Park. Drive through the campground and arrive at the main campsite parking lot. If you’ve driven out to the beach, you’ve gone too far. Map.

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

OUTING 6 | MARCH | 10:00 - 3:00 PM

NATURE DOCUMENTARY FILMING | TBD

Ah yes, the humble Wayfinders. Here we see them in their natural habitat - crawling clumsily through the woods just as muddy as they are content. Today this pack has decided to capture memory of their natural world through the use of a smartphone camera. Technology of this kind makes a somewhat rare but important appearance in the life of a Wayfinder so it will be paramount that they take great care in exposing these devices to the wind and rain. But they will find success if they can brave cold fingers in pursuit of the perfect shot.

Directions: TBA

OUTING 7 | APRIL | 12:00 PM SATURDAY - 3:00 PM SUNDAY

CAMPOUT | RASAR STATE PARK

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 3rd Annual Wayfinder Film Festival Awards Show, so prepare your acceptance speeches and leave room for popcorn!

Please review this packing list thoroughly and make sure your Wayfinder has all the gear they need to be safe + comfortable. The temperature for this weekend is forecasted to be dry and warm, with cool overnight temperatures, please see the NOAA forecast here. If your Wayfinder would like to borrow gear and you have not requested, please reach out ASAP.

Questions

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