Pacific Sea Nettles 2024-2025

Welcome to Explorers Club Season 3! Mentors are excited for a season filled with nature exploration and group connection. The technical skills that we will be focusing on this year are navigation II, traversing, and bird language. Our socio-emotional skill focus will be storytelling, team building, collaborative decision-making, and challenge by choice.

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 Parsons (he/him) | nickp@wildwhatcom.org

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

OUTING 1  |  Sunday, SEPTEMBER 22  |  10:00 - 3:00 PM

Nature Mysteries and Observation |  HOVANDER

On this first outing of the year our Explorers will break into their nature journals and attempt to track down the elusive animals of Hovander park. Will they spy squirrels scurrying through tree tops? Will they recognize robins racing through the sky? We will note all of our observations diligently as we greet friends, old and new, and get our new year off to a grand start.

Directions: 5299 Nielsen Ave, Ferndale. From I-5, take exit 262 toward W Axton Rd/Main St. Drive west on Main St for ~.5 mile. Turn south onto Hovander Road and then turn west onto Nielsen Ave and follow for ~.7 miles. Turn south onto River Lea Rd and the Hovander Homestead parking lot will be at the end of the rd, ~.5 miles. Map.

OUTING 2  |  Saturday, OCTOBER 26  |  10:00 - 3:00 PM

EXPLORATION  |  SALMON JOURNEY  |  WAYPOINT PARK

As salmon swim upstream, so too will we travel upstream on this urban exploration, following Whatcom Creek through downtown. We'll begin near the creek's mouth at Waypoint Park and follow it up into the city, discussing the history of both creek and human habitation, making observations and asking questions about what we encounter along the way. We’ll work together to navigate both physical and emotional landscapes as we traverse across space and time on this very special outing. 

Directions: From I-5, take Exit 253 for Lakeway Dr. Head west on Lakeway Dr. until it turns into Holly St. Drive for .6 miles, then Turn L onto Bay St. At the light Turn R onto W Chestnut St. At the light, Turn L onto Granary Ave. Please park in the lot on the L. Map. 

OUTING 3  |  Sunday, December 8  |  10:00 - 3:00 PM

SKILLS  |  MAPS, TRACKING, AND TRAVERSE  |  LAKE PADDEN 

Navigation is an essential skill to master when exploring. Whether you are out for a day or a week, on or off the trail, far away or close to home, knowing where you are and where you are going is essential. But what happens when your map gets wet? Or if your compass breaks? The skill of navigating without these aids is a practice in tracking the land and learning to use other tools. As the group winds its way through Galbraith, the Art of Navigation will help us see the trail with fresh eyes and will lead us from one side of the park to another.

Drop off Directions: From I-5, take exit 252 (Samish Way). Drive south on S. Samish Way for 3.6 miles. Go past the main entrances for Lake Padden Park and the Lake Padden Golf Course. Continue on and look for the large paved parking lot on the right. If you reach Galbraith Lane, you’ve gone too far. Map.

Pick up Directions: 4882 S. Samish Way, Bellingham. From I-5, take exit 252 (Samish Way). Drive south on S. Samish Way for approx. 2.4 miles. Turn west onto Lakeshore Dr. (same as Lake Padden Golf Course entrance). Continue to park and the first shelter near the playground. If you’ve gone to the dog park and road end, you’ve gone too far! Map.

OUTING 4  |  Saturday, JANUARY 18  |  2:00 - 7:00 PM

EXPLORATION  |  STARS & STORIES  |  SEHOME ARBORETUM

On this very special night outing, we will get to know the forest from dusk to dark and focus our attention on the transition from light to dark. Weather permitting, we will observe constellations, reflect on how people have related to the night sky throughout time, and hear stories from the group about their lives and lineages. Important: Please send your Explorer to this outing with dinner, a sleeping bag, and a sleeping/sit pad. The forest at night is much colder than in the day, so dress and pack as if it were a snow day. We also ask that you touch base with your Explorer about what story they’d like to share, whether it be a myth or legend from their ancestry, a story of their ancestors, or an important chapter of their own lives.

Directions:  Pick up and drop off at the student parking lots below the WWU Wade King Rec Center. From I-5, take exit 252 (Samish Way). Follow signs to Western Washington University (WWU) heading south west on Bill McDonald Parkway. Follow Bill McDonald Parkway for ~1 mile. Turn R into S College Dr and after passing the soccer fields, Turn L into the WWU C-Lot parking lot. Free parking on weekends. Map.

OUTING 5  |  Sunday, FEBRUARY 23  |  10:00 - 3:00 PM

EXPLORATION  |  TEAM BUILDING  |  CORNWALL PARK

In Explorers Club, we learn and practice many different types of skills. On this day, the group will work to deepen their socio-emotional skills, in particular. We’ll do this by engaging in activities designed to enhance communication and teamwork, and by playing games that build connections to each other and ourselves. Above all else, this day is meant to be filled with laughter, questions, and reflection. Hopefully, Explorers will leave this outing knowing a little more about their friends and themselves. Make sure to pack warm layers and your nature journal.

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 6  |  Saturday, March 22  |  10:00 - 2:00 PM

SERVICE  |  International Coastal Cleanup | TBD

On this day of service, we’ll join with many thousands of other volunteers around the globe to clean up the world’s beaches. During last year’s cleanup, over 400,000 people around the world removed nearly seven million pounds of debris from more than 17,000 miles of coasts, shorelines, and underwater sites - the total weight of the garbage collected matches the weight of 18 blue whales! Explorers will be a part of this global effort and contribute in our own small, yet meaningful way. Please send your Explorer to this outing with gloves and waterproof shoes.

Directions: Location details to come

OUTING 7  |  Saturday, May 3  |  10:00 - 3:00 PM

BIRDING TRAVERSE  |  FAIRHAVEN PARK - MARINE PARK

For our first birding outing, we’ll have our own migration from Fairhaven Park to Marine Park. Along the way, we’ll practice listening for birds, learning their calls, and using specific features to identify them in bird books. From the forest, we’ll walk past the heronry and talk all about nesting great blue herons. If we’re lucky, we may even spot some heron chicks at feeding time! We’ll end at Marine Park, where we’ll see plenty of waterfowl and other marine wildlife. Please pack your nature journal and if you have them, a pair of binoculars.

Drop off 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 east again at the next light onto Chuckanut Drive. Turn north into the Fairhaven Park entrance. Turn right into the first parking lot. Map.
Pick Up Directions: 100 Harris Ave, Bellingham. From I-5, take exit 250 (Old Fairhaven Parkway/Chuckanut Dr.).  Head west on Old Fairhaven Parkway. At intersection with 12th St, continue through light onto Donovan Ave. and veer right onto 10th St. Turn left at Harris Ave. and proceed to the end of Harris Ave. and park entrance on your left. Map.

OUTING 8  |  Sunday, June 1  |  10:00 - 3:00 PM

SKILLS  |  LARRABEE CLAYTON CONNECTOR

We'll put our motto, "It's About the Journey, not the Destination" into practice as we wander from Larrabee Park to Clayton Beach on a little-known connector trail. For our last outing of the season, we’ll get great views of the Salish Sea, discover hidden waterfalls, and identify many different tidal creatures. We’ll travel with fox feet and owl eyes and perhaps we’ll even wander across a Dragon’s Spine. Either way, this last outing will provide us with plenty of opportunities for free exploration, games, and seaside adventuring. Please remind your Explorer to pack closed-toe watershoes and a bathing suit.

Drop-off Directions: 245 Chuckanut Dr, Bellingham. From I-5, take exit 250 (Old Fairhaven Parkway/Chuckanut Dr.).  Head west on Old Fairhaven Parkway to 12th St. Turn left at 12th St and then veer left onto Chuckanut Dr. for approx. 5.0 miles. Turn right into the main park entrance and follow the road around to the left to the day use/amphitheater parking lot. Map.

Pick-up Directions: 100-104 WA-11. From I-5, take exit 250 (Old Fairhaven Parkway/Chuckanut Dr). Head west on Old Fairhaven Parkway. Turn left at 12th St, then left again at next light onto Chuckanut Dr. for approx. 5.5 miles. The parking lot is a short distance past the main Larrabee State Park entrance. It will be on your left and is signed Lost Lake Parking Lot. Map.     
Reminder: A Discover Pass is required for all parking at Larrabee State Park. If you do not have a pass, please stay with your vehicle and plan to make drop-off and pick-up quick.

Questions

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