She Explores Podcast - Backpacking in the Superstition Mountains

Backpacking in The Superstition Mountains - Arizona

Meet ten women who are passionate about getting girls and young women outside, including our own Executive Director, Licia Sahagun. There's real magic in connecting with people who are united by a mission and driven by purpose. You'll hear that magic in this special episode from She Explores.

In the final episode of She Explores Podcast of 2019, we backpack in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona with the non-profit The Cairn Project, their grantees, and the one and only Sally Jewell.

Listen and learn more -> http://bit.ly/E138-CairnProject

Listen on Apple Podcasts -> https://apple.co/36npfTu
Listen on Spotify -> https://spoti.fi/2RDe6tL

Out of Office: Gone Exploring at the Adventure Learning Summit

The Adventure Learning Summit Crew

Earlier this month under the crisp Arizona sky and the ambient heat of a cheatgrass-lit fire, our Executive Director, Licia Sahagun, sat in dialog with what felt like an immensely powerful group of women. Hosted by the co-founders of The Cairn Project, the first-ever Adventure Learning Summit brought together executive leadership from organizations around the country working to get girls and women outdoors. They convened to share stories, hope and inspiration as they wound through the Superstition Mountains during a three-day backpacking retreat. In attendance were founders and directors from five other non-profit organizations focused on empowering young girls and women, including Women’s Wilderness, GirlVentures, Embark, makeSPACE, and San Juan Mountain SOLES. Special guests included Gale Straub, host and producer behind She Explores, a podcast about women who are inspired by the outdoors;  Sally Jewell, former Secretary of the Interior under President Obama and former CEO of REI; and Martha Wyckoff, emeritus Chair of the Board of the Trust for Public Land. 

“As I soaked up the moment, I appreciated the unique ability of a campfire to draw out vulnerability, create kinship, and nourish body and mind,” said Wild Whatcom Executive Director, Licia Sahagun. “This time is so often lost in our digital era when many spend evenings in front of screens and isolated from community. This growing disconnect from the outdoors is what led each of us to the Superstition Mountains that weekend, sharing in our successes and challenges to get more people, especially female-identifying young people, outdoors. Many of us discussed the barriers we still face as women in leadership, and the progress toward accessibility still required in the outdoor industry.  But the opportunity to be in fellowship, especially among mentors and inspiring leaders, was invaluable.”

Thank you to The Cairn Project for their on-going support of our mission and organization, and Sally Jewell and Martha Wyckoff for taking the time to join us. If you’d like to learn more, please visit The Cairn Project or reach out to us!

Job Opening! Boys Explorers Club Mentor

Wild Whatcom is hiring!

Please see full job descriptions and other application instructions on our Employment page.

Boys Explorers Club Mentor

Wild Whatcom is actively committed to social equity and justice and encourages candidates of all racial and gender identities, cultural and economic backgrounds, and of any sexual orientation to apply. Wild Whatcom is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, or marital status in employment or the provision of services.

Join our team today!

Cascadia Weekly - Adventures 101

Summer Adventure camp kids exploring at the beach

This recent issue of Cascadia Weekly is all about getting outside this summer. See our photos (cover and page 12) and short profile of our Summer Adventures camp program. Registration is open and spaces are still available. Come join us for big adventure days immersed in exploring the Northwest's mossy forests, wild rivers, mountain meadows, tumbling waterfalls, and pebbled beaches. 

Spring News! Wild Whatcom's new Executive Director has arrived

New Wild Whatcom Executive Director, Licia Sahagun

Hello Friends of Wild Whatcom!

With the arrival of spring, and all the brightness and new energy it heralds, Wild Whatcom is thrilled to introduce our new Executive Director, Licia Sahagun (pronounced Lee-shuh Suh-haggen).

Licia comes to Wild Whatcom with stellar experience and talents, and is ready to guide Wild Whatcom to its next stage of development and community impact. Her strategic thinking, keen intellect, and strong communication skills are a great match for our goals and values. As we welcome Licia, we say goodbye to Emily Highleyman. We are so thankful for Emily’s five fabulous years of leadership and see the passing of the baton to Licia as a continuum of that excellence.
 
Licia brings a decade of non-profit experience to Wild Whatcom, ranging from AmeriCorps volunteer, Program Manager, Executive Director, and Board Chair. Most recently, Licia has been the Deputy Director at the Green Energy Institute at Lewis & Clark Law School. Licia holds a degree in International Studies and Sustainable Development from the University of Illinois and received her master’s in Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy Law from Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon.
 
Though Licia was born in the Chicago suburbs, she joyously spent much of her childhood on a 10-acre non-working farm near her hometown. There she grew up exploring, playing, and just being outside on a regular basis, which fostered her love for nature and her drive to spend time outdoors. Licia is excited to join the thoughtful, welcoming, and compassionate team at Wild Whatcom. She can’t imagine a better way to spend her days than supporting an organization that connects young people with the awe-inspiring outdoor spaces in Whatcom County - and beyond.
 
When she’s not working, you’ll most likely find her hiking, gardening, birding, exploring, or camping with her partner, Ryan, and their pooch Hazel. Feel free to reach out to Licia if you’d like to welcome her or find a time to connect!
 
With sincerest gratitude,
 
The Wild Whatcom Board of Directors

Cascadia Weekly - From Students to Stewards

Hannah Newell, from Wild Whatcom, engaging in NSEA’s activity

This recent issue of Cascadia Weekly profiles the work Wild Whatcom and our partners have been doing to help teachers become trained and confident to extend their teaching beyond the walls of the classroom — getting kids outside, introducing climate science, and using curriculum that inspires and empowers students (and meets Next Generation Science Standards).

Wild Thyme Fundraiser - Wild at Heart

Join us Thursday, May 2, 2019 for Wild Whatcom’s 2nd Annual Wild Thyme dinner. This year's theme, Wild at Heart, highlights something we all have in common--falling in love with nature. How did it happen to you? 

You are invited to join us for this special evening at Ciao Thyme to support a shared vision of connecting kids to nature and creating future leaders and stewards of the earth. Funds raised will help us better serve all kids who want to explore outside. 

Ciao Thyme is developing an incredible menu for this multi-course dinner celebrating the season. Please join us in sharing in great company and conversations inspired by Ciao Thyme's exemplary dining space and the best food the Pacific Northwest has to offer. 

Early-bird special through March 31: $110/guest

Regular pricing begins April 1: $125/guest

Space is limited. Reserve your seat today!

Questions? info@wildwhatcom.org

2019 Climate Science K-12 Teacher Summit

Wild Whatcom is pleased to help support the 2019 Climate Science K-12 Teacher Summit. This partnership between Wild Whatcom and other Whatcom County organizations brings together their expertise teaching outdoor and place-based experiential education to our local teachers.

The summit is a chance for teachers to gain confidence to lead experiential, place-based science lessons beyond the walls of their classroom and come away with a better understanding of the Next Generation Science Standards and Climate Science in regards to the place we call home.

For questions or more info, contact: apeck@n-sea.org.