Update - COVID-19 Screening Procedures

As you all have experienced, the COVID-19 situation is ever evolving and changing, as are best practices and health safety guidance. One such change Wild Whatcom is making for spring programming will be an update to our drop-off procedure. 

After careful consideration, research, and discussion with our staff team we will stop performing on-site COVID-19 screenings and temperature checks effective April 12, 2021 and instead will move to an "attestation model" for COVID-19 symptom screenings. This means that by bringing your child(ren) to Wild Whatcom programming, you are attesting that:

  • The participant(s) are symptom-free, including symptoms attributed to COVID-19, and

  • The participant(s) have not been in close contact with anyone with confirmed COVID-19 or had a positive COVID-19 test in the last 10 days, and

  • A public health or medical professional has not recommended the participant(s) or household members self-monitor, self-isolate, or self-quarantine due to concerns about a COVID-19 infection. 

Signs and symptoms of COVID-19:

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing 

  • New loss of taste or smell

  • New, persistent dry cough

  • Fever ≥ 100.4 F

  • Repeated shaking with chills

  • Muscle pain or body aches 

  • Nausea/vomiting

  • Persistent new diarrhea (longer than 24 hrs)

  • Congestion or runny nose (not related to seasonal allergies)

  • Headache

  • Sore throat

  • Significant fatigue

What does this change look like practically?

  • We will continue to ask that families either stay with their vehicles OR wait to check their child(ren) in by standing on the social distancing markers that will be placed prior to arrival.

  • Mentors will be greeting families to ask if participants or anyone at home are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 without listing individual symptoms or taking temperatures.

  • Mentors will still visually assess participants for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 pre-outing and during the outing.

  • If a participant displays or discloses any of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 without an alternative explanation or pre-existing condition, the participant will not be able to attend the outing. 

Why are we changing this process?

  • There is limited evidence such screenings are effective.

  • The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) does not currently recommend routine (such as daily) school-based COVID-19 symptom screening of all students. 

  • Children infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 are more likely than adults to be asymptomatic or to have only mild symptoms (source).

  • Even with repeated reminders, this screening process has led to families congregating at drop off, especially due to the length of waiting time required for us to complete a full screening for each participant.

  • Temperature/symptom checks require mentors to come into close contact with participants.

  • Our community is now more educated about COVID-19 signs and symptoms.

  • Symptoms questions are sometimes hard for children to understand or answer.

  • We have been encouraged by the fact that almost all disclosures or concerns about ill/symptomatic children have been offered voluntarily prior to drop-off screening.

An updated version of our COVID-19 Risk Management Plan for Families and Participants can be found on our COVID-19 page. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any comments, concerns, or questions to info@wildwhatcom.org.

Workshop - Outdoor Learning During COVID-19

Outdoor Learning During COVID-19

Join OSPI and panel members from the Port Townsend School District, Wild Whatcom, and North Cascades Institute. Panelists will share examples of in-person outdoor learning programs implemented during the pandemic. We will also learn tips and tricks for leading successful outdoor and nature based education experiences for K-12 students.

When: Tuesday, February 16th from 3:30 - 4:30 PM (PT)

Where: Zoom & pd Enroller. Registration through pd Enroller is required.

Please click here to Register.

Cost: Free workshop

Clock Hours: Teachers may earn one free clock hour for attending this workshop.

If you have trouble accessing the workshop, or have any questions please send an email to Sabrina.Reynolds@k12.wa.us.

Workshop - Teaching for the Climate

This online canvas course, for grade 3-5 teachers, brings together the knowledge and experience of our local outdoor education organizations and partners to give Whatcom County educators the confidence to connect the next generation of students to their surrounding community and the natural world.

Teachers will benefit from connecting remote learning to local phenomena. They will learn about place-based climate science through outdoor, hands-on activities while gaining skills in indigenous ways of knowing and social justice issues to incorporate into their teaching.

Participation and clock hours are paid for by the Washington State Legislature’s 2018 Climate Science Proviso or ClimeTime  - a statewide initiative of the Washington Governor, the Washington State Legislature, OSPI, and the Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD).

Register with PD enroller.

Bellingham Connections program featured on KNKX

Sixth-graders at Kendall Elementary in the Mount Baker School District have been studying life cycles and decomposition at a nature preserve near their school through the Connections program, a collaboration of outdoor education groups and the district.

Sixth-graders at Kendall Elementary in the Mount Baker School District have been studying life cycles and decomposition at a nature preserve near their school through the Connections program, a collaboration of outdoor education groups and the district.

Some kids have been learning outdoors for months in Whatcom County, but not in Seattle. Read more or listen.

Wild Whatcom is one of a number of area non-profits working with the Bellingham Public Schools on the Connections program.

Winter Appeal 2020 - Thank you for your generosity!

Wow! Thank you for all of your incredible generosity in the last several weeks.

Together you've donated more than $31,000 to help local youth and families stay connected with each other and nature!

Thanks to your support, we've been playing in local parks, practicing skills outdoors, supporting online learning in our public schools, and doing stewardship projects with the Parks and Recreation Department throughout the fall.

Your donations allow Wild Whatcom to offer free programming, free gear, and financial assistance so that all youth in our community have access to outdoor enrichment, nature connection, and social and emotional learning with peers.

Thank you to several generous sponsors who matched donations up to $30,000 during this giving season!

We could not do what we do in the community without the support of individuals, foundations, and business sponsors.

There is still time to give and the CARES Act may help you deduct more of your charitable contributions this year.

As part of the CARES Act that was passed due to COVID-19 this spring, a new special tax deduction is available to anyone who utilizes the standard deduction.

This year you can claim up to $300 in charitable contributions, and the income threshold has been eliminated so you can now deduct up to 100% of your income. There is also an increase in the amount of taxable income that can be deducted for corporate gifts. You can learn more about this on Fidelity's website. Happy giving!

Thank you for your continued support and we hope to see you outside soon!

Job Opening! Field Mentor

Wild Whatcom is hiring!

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

Field 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!