Chuckanut Wayfinders 2024-25

The Wayfinder season theme is Nature Connection Through Self and Wildlife Observation. Over the course of the season, Wayfinders will practice the art of wildlife tracking, learn about and practice wildlife photography, make and utilize their own nature journals, and participate in the 3rd Annual Wayfinder Film Festival. The season will also include outings to the National Geographic 100 Best Wildlife Photos exhibit, an outing with a local wildlife photographer, and a trip down to Fidalgo Island.

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

Nick Engelfried (he/him) | nick@wildwhatcom.org

Sam Thiele (she/her) | sam@wildwhatcom.org

OUTING 1 | Saturday, SEPTEMBER 7 | 10:00 - 3:00 PM

Tracking Seminar and community Building | Cornwall park - Rose Garden

We are SO EXCITED to welcome the Wayfinders back for another excellent year of skills, outdoor exploration, and community building. Unfortunately, the Whatcom Museum closed their wildlife photography exhibit a week early due to maintenance issues. So, we’ll Wayfinders will be diving right into our skills-focus of the season- wildlife tracking! We'll be gathering with all three Wayfinder groups to kick off our season with a tracking seminar, where we'll learn the basics of tracking and start crafting our wildlife journals.

Bring your current nature journals, pens, colored pencils, etc, and your rain gear (just in case). Mentors are excited to see returning faces and welcome new members as we dive into our first outing of the year. Let’s make this an epic start to the season!

Directions: 3000 Cornwall Ave. From I-5, take exit 255 for WA-542 E/Sunset Drive. Turn west onto Sunset Drive and follow for ~1 mile. Turn north onto W Illinois St and then turn east onto Cornwall Ave. Pass the Cornwall Rose Gardens on your left and turn north into Cornwall Park. Follow the road until dead ends at the cul-de-sac at the south end of Cornwall Park and park in the adjacent lot. Map

OUTING 2 | Sunday, November 10 | 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 3 | Saturday, December 7 | 10:00 - 4:00 PM

INTRO TO TRACKING | deception pass State Park - Via wild whatcom bus

*Rescheduled from a cancelled outing on 10/20*

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 4 | Saturday, January 11 | 10:00 - 3:00 PM

COMBINED GROUP OUTING | BIRDING & BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY | SAMISH FLATS - Via wild whatcom bus

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 | Sunday, February 2 | 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 | Saturday, March 8 | 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 26 - 27 | 12:00 PM SATURDAY - 3:00 PM SUNDAY

CAMPOUT | RASAR STATE PARK - Via wild whatcom bus

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.