Community Field Trips

All Ages | Monthly | Max. Participants: 30 | Price: Suggested Donation

Explore nature nearby!

Discover the secret lives of wildlife in our local parks and wild areas. Dig into the mysteries of the season as we foster a sense of wonder. Observe wildlife, ask questions, cultivate your curiosity, and have fun exploring outdoors!

Registration & DONATION

This program is offered for free with a suggested donation of $15/person or $30/family. It is pay-what-you-can, and while any donation amount is appreciated, donations are not required to register or participate. Registration is encouraged, but not required.

If you register online, you will receive an email about two (2) weeks before the program with more information. Accessibility information is listed below. If you have questions about location, accessibility, or anything else, please email communityprograms@wildwhatcom.org.

Accessibility Info

All Community Field Trips locations have the following:

Flat or very gently-inclined trails without barriers like boulders, fallen logs, gates, etc. Trails are usually hard-packed gravel, dirt, or pavement.
Trailhead Bathroom
No more than two (2) miles of walking; typically one (1) mile or less on outings.

Winter Field Trips

Spring Field Trips

Summer Field Trips

Fall Field Trips

Bird Brains | 2025 Date TBA | 1:00-3:00PM | Whatcom Falls Park

Have you ever wondered why some birds migrate while others do not, or how woodpeckers slam their heads into trees all day without hurting themselves ? Everyone is welcome to get curious about the feathered friends all around us. Learn to identify a handful of common species, go on a gentle walk to search for birds and the evidence they leave on the landscape, and discover neat resources to help you identify and learn about the birds you see in your daily life. Come by yourself, with a friend, or bring the whole family, this field trip is great for everyone!

We will have some binoculars to share, but if you have some at home, we highly recommend bringing them with you!

Max. 30 participants

fungus among us | 2025 Date TBA | 10:00AM-12:30PM | Lake Padden park

The Pacific Northwest looks like Mushroomlandia in the fall! Our area is well known for its diverse bounty of incredible fungus. Join our favorite fun folks from the Northwest Mushroomers Association, Pam Borso and Fred Rhoades, for a morning of forest exploration and mushroom identification.

This is an event for adults and children ages 4 and up. Bring a handled basket for collecting the fungus you find. Mystery yard mushrooms are welcome to attend and be identified.

Location | Lake Padden Park - West entrance near tennis courts. Map link HERE.

Max. 30 participants

Salmon’s Journey | 2025 Date TBA | 1:00-3:00PM | North Lake Whatcom Park - Ken Hertz Trail

Did you know that nitrogen from the bodies of salmon can be found inside some trees, even ones that aren't growing next to the water? So much of our local ecosystem is dependent on the migration of salmon across the landscape. Join us to explore North Lake Whatcom and learn about the salmon life cycle, why they migrate, and why they are important to so many other animals, including humans! This field trip is great for all ages, so feel free to come alone, bring a friend, or bring the whole family!

Location | North Lake Whatcom Hertz Trailhead. Map link HERE.

Max. 30 participants

Winter Field Trips

December - NO field trips in December

Low tide exploration | Sat., January 11, 2025 | 8:45-10:45PM | Marine Park

Stay up late, grab your headlamp and rainboots, and bundle up for a fun, late night exploration at one of our favorite local beaches, along with our friends from the Marine Life Center. The almost full moon will be causing a strong negative tide, so there will be a lot of intertidal zones to explore! We might see sea stars, nudibranchs, fish, clams, and more- you never know what you might spot tidepooling!

A good pair of waterproof boots (and warm wool socks!) is your ticket to safely exploring the beach, as the puddles are cold, the barnacles are sharp and the zooplankton is spiny! If you would like to borrow rainboots, email: communityprograms@wildwhatcom.org.

Location | Marine Park, 100 Harris Ave., Bellingham. Map link HERE.

Max. 30 participants

Swans at Sunset | Sat., February 1, 2025 | 4:30-6:00pm | Tennant Lake (Fragrance Garden)

Join us for a relaxed sunset walk to appreciate the swans stopped there this time of year! We will be thinking about how swans and other birds thrive along their migrations and why they end up here in Whatcom County in the winter.

Come dressed for the chilly weather, and bring your binoculars if you have them. We will also have some to share!

Location | Tennant Lake Fragrance Garden, 5200 Nielsen Rd., Ferndale. Map link HERE.

Max. 30 participants

Spring Field Trips

Wings Over Water northwest birding festival | SUN., March 16, 2025 | Session 1 10:30-12:00PM | Session 2 1:00-2:30PM (Identical sessions) | BP Heron Center - Birch Bay State park

Join us in celebrating birds at the annual Wings Over Water Northwest Birding Festival in Blaine. Naturalists and experienced birders from Wild Whatcom will facilitate a family-friendly bird investigation program at the Wings Over Water Birding Festival We will be doing a hands-on "lab" exploring why different species have different beak shapes, and then heading out on a guided bird walk to look and listen for birds and the evidence they leave behind! We will be running two identical sessions-pick which time works best for you!

Wild Whatcom is a community partner for the Wings Over Water festival and will only be providing the free, family-friendly, all ages programming. If you are interested in more advanced birding classes/outings for adults, check out the festival website for more detailed information on the range of other programs being offered during the 3-day festival!

Location | Semiahmoo Park, 9261 Semiahmoo Parkway, Blaine. Map link HERE.

Max. 30 participants

No registration required for this community field trip

Beaver Prowl | Sat., April 5, 2025 | 6:30-8:30PM | Tennant Lake (Fragrance Garden)

This gem of a park is mighty popular with beavers! Join us for a fun, interactive exploration of beaver ecology and perhaps a personal view of these busy rodents of unusual size. We will be thinking about beaver’s as a keystone species who create new wetland habitats, learn about the unique adaptations which allow them to thrive, and discuss how to identify a stick or tree that has been chewed on by a beaver! Bring your binoculars for silent spying on the beavers as they swim to and fro in their search for breakfast by moonlight.

Come dressed for the weather, it might get very chilly in the dark!

Location | Tennant Lake Fragrance Garden, 5200 Nielsen Rd., Ferndale. Map link HERE.

Max. 30 participants

INSECT and Flower Safari | Sat., May 3, 2025 | 1:00-3:00PM | Tennant Lake (Fragrance Garden)

Join us with the whole family to get curious about all things insect! Did you know that different types and colors of flowers attract different pollinators, or that there are over a million species of insects on planet earth!? We will learn about the importance of insects, bugs and arachnids for the entire ecosystem, and explore the complex relationship between pollinators and plants. After exploring (and smelling) the Fragrance Garden, we'll hit the trail with our bug boxes and magnifying glasses in hand to search for 6-8 legged critters and appreciate the springtime flowers which depend on insects to reproduce.

Location | Tennant Lake Fragrance Garden, 5200 Nielsen Rd., Ferndale. Map link HERE.

Max. 30 participants

Summer Field Trips

Low tide exploration | Sat., June 14, 2025 | 1:00-3:00PM | Marine Park

The Coast Salish Elders say, "When the tide is out, the table is set".

Whatcom County has an amazing diversity of marine life, so many beaches bring unlimited opportunities for exploring. A good pair of waterproof boots is your ticket to safely exploring the beach, especially Marine Park, as those barnacles are sharp and the zooplankton is spiny! We'll bring tiny tide pools and nets, and field guides. We may see crabs, jellyfish, sea stars, and possibly some baby herons!

Location | Marine Park, 100 Harris Ave., Bellingham. Map link HERE.

Max. 30 participants

Low tide exploration & Beach Cleanup | Sat., July Date tBA | 11:00-1:00PM | Location tBA

Ready to check out the Sand Dollar bank? Imagine living in a forest that goes completely flat, twice a day. This happens to sand dollars in eelgrass meadows! Sea creatures have such mysterious lives it’s difficult to imagine how they can survive in these tough conditions.

The local beach we're exploring at Semiahmoo Park has a surprising variety of places that creatures call home, and each has its favorite nook to hide, lay eggs, rear its young, and have lunch. Come discover who lives on the rocks, in the sand, and within the eelgrass meadows. Pack a picnic and plan to stay afterward, this beach has many treasures to explore!

Location | Semiahmoo Park, 9261 Semiahmoo Parkway, Blaine. Map link HERE.

Max. 30 participants

Night Prowl | Sat., August date tBA | 7:00-9:00PM | Location tBA

Creatures of the night, unite! Let’s go searching for bats, owls, and beavers during this nocturnal exploration of a local park. Expect fun and games that awaken the senses you’ll need for a nocturnal exploration, including a “raccoon picnic” (does not include actual raccoons). Enjoy a silent period of wildlife watching and time to appreciate the wonders of the nighttime world using all of your senses to observe.

Location | Hovander Homestead Park, 5299 Nielsen Rd., Ferndale. Map link HERE.

Max. 30 participants