The WhatcomTalk Events Calendar shares things to do around Whatcom County including Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, Blaine and beyond. Find fun activities and adventures throughout the region on our comprehensive events calendar. Have an event that isn’t listed? Click the green “Post your Event” button and our editors will review and approve within two business days.
Join botanist and naturalist, Jazmen Yoder on a walk at one of the most stunning trail systems in the Pacific Northwest. There will be an emphasis on learning lichens and moss, but we will ID any plant or fungi species of interest. Bring your camera, come for the knowledge, and stay for the views! This is a unique field trip offering you’ll remember forever.
Space is limited.
A guided walking tour of Bayview Cemetery, founded in 1887. We’ll explore the history of the cemetery and how it has changed over time, visiting the older sections of the cemetery and some of the most intriguing monuments. We’ll say hello to a lot of interesting folks who were laid to eternal rest in days of yore. This tour will last around two hours and covers less than one mile in distance. Terrain is mostly paved and level, however parts of the tour may include unpaved trails, uneven ground and slight inclines. (Tour Content Warning: Death, of course.) Meeting location and further details upon registration.
Join Naturalist, Jazmen Yoder on a day of foraging out in the woods. This course will take place on private and public property approximately 2 miles from of Maple Falls. Location is subject to change based on seasonal anomalies such as delayed sprouting.
This is a great event to be out in nature on Mothers Day!
We will be foraging nettles and other edible or medicinal plants, in addition to any edible mushrooms we may find. For each species, expect short discourse on it’s edibility or medicinal properties, how to prepare it for medicine or food, and information on its ecology.
Expect moderate walking/hiking with frequent stops, self-led exploration, and a lesson in ethical foraging on public lands.
The last half of the class, we will build a fire and cook together using nettles. I will show you 2 recipes and make suggestions for several others.
This will be a fun outing!
Please register via the website.
In this wildcrafting workshop you will learn how to weave a basket using the coil technique and Ponderosa Pine needles.
Baskets are thought to be one of the first art forms of ancient peoples, with basket fragments found in California and the Southwest dating to 9400 years, and coiled baskets from the earliest sites in Egypt dating to 7,000 years. The coil technique requires patience and attention to detail before it becomes a relaxing, repetitive stitching pattern. It is a skill that is more easily learned with a little guidance.
Dabblers, beginners, intermediate, and advanced weavers will enjoy this creative, social gathering.
In this course you will learn:
ID and Ecology features of Pinus spp. (various pine tree species).
Foraging techniques and where to harvest pine needles.
How to weave a coiled basket using pine needles.
All materials will be provided but you are welcome to bring your own too if you wish (e.g., thread, beads, decor, sewing kit).
Belling-history served salty, with tales from our maritime past. Explore Bellingham’s waterfront with a walking tour around the Old Town District. Learn about the evolution of our town’s shorelines, and hear tales of shipwrecks, sailors, smugglers, sea monsters and more! This tour runs around 1 – 1.5 hours, total distance less than one mile. More details upon registration.
A guided walking tour of Bayview Cemetery, founded in 1887. We’ll explore the history of the cemetery and how it has changed over time, visiting the older sections of the cemetery and some of the most intriguing monuments. We’ll say hello to a lot of interesting folks who were laid to eternal rest in days of yore. This tour will last around two hours and covers less than one mile in distance. Terrain is mostly paved and level, however parts of the tour may include unpaved trails, uneven ground and slight inclines. (Tour Content Warning: Death, of course.) Meeting location and further details upon registration.
Join Jazmen Yoder (Northwest Natura) & Madelaine Katz for an ecology crash course complete with captivating storytelling and bounteous wisdom-sharing on Southern Resident and Transient Killer Whales, and the Salish Sea Bioregion.
In this course you will learn:
Salish Sea natural history, including human history and the interconnectedness of species on land and sea.
Orca symbolism and lore within the Coast Salish region
Morphological traits, behaviors, and social structures of Orcas
Salmon species basic life history and phenology
Ecological roles, impacts, and new facts about Southern Resident and Transient Killer Whales
To hear and discern different Orca vocalizations
How to ID individual orcas by their unique features
How to support Orca conservation efforts
Tips for whale watching (where to go, what to look for, how to ID individuals, and more).
This course will be co-led by Madelaine Katz, a nature educator and student of the Salish Sea, and Jazmen Yoder, outdoor educator, naturalist, and founder of Northwest Natura.
The entire class will take place indoors at the Chuckanut Center near Fairhaven in Whatcom County, WA. The Chuckanut Center is heated and has access to facilities including a bathroom, full kitchen, and drinking water.
***** Please register via the website.
This series is designed for individuals at any skill level who are interested in learning more about trees and wildcrafting skills.
Each class will incorporate guided note-taking and hands-on experience that will familiarize you with various trees of the Pacific Northwest.
Overall, we will be moving at a slow pace during each outing as we focus on our surroundings and have mini lectures, and the second half of class will generally be stationary to engage in crafts and activities.
Expect some gentle to moderate hiking, and some kneeling or squatting.
Each class will build on the previous one. For more details, keep reading!
Day 1: An Evening at the Lake: Birch Bark Candles
Saturday June 1st, 2024
(Details on location will be sent to registered participants only).
This is an introductory class to common tree species and a wildcrafting course using several species of trees including Douglas-Fir, Paper Birch and Western Redcedar.
What to expect:
First Half: We will begin the series with an introduction to common trees and general concepts about tree adaptations to better appreciate the materials we’ll be working with in the second half of class.
Second Half: Each person will craft their own primitive candle using bark, resin, roots, and wood.
Please register via the website.
Stroll through one of Bellingham’s oldest neighborhoods with our guide and hear tales of pioneer families, Victorian houses, parks, schools, churches, stores, and more.
The tour runs around an hour to an hour and a half and covers less than 1 mile in distance.
More information upon registration.
This course will take place on Northwest Natura’s private forest land in Whatcom County off Highway 542 near Maple Falls, WA. Driving directions and details on what to bring with you will be provided in an email as the event date approaches.
Bushcraft is a term used to describe the practice of skills which aid in living outdoors. Here are the skills we will cover in this crash course:
Survival Basics focused on Shelter
Shelter – survival shelter construction
Fire making without a lighter
Knot-tying and lashing basics.
Tools of the trade and practice using them.
Knife and ax skills
We will practice all of these skills together in this full-day course. Knives and ferro rods provided for the day.
You are encouraged to bring your own outdoor tools such as a knife, ax, fire starter, tarp, containers (pots, water bottles), paracord, first aid kit, etc. so you can practice with your kit. I can answer any questions about your gear and help you troubleshoot issues you may have with them.
Space is limited to 10.
Please register via the website.
Belling-history served salty, with tales from our maritime past. Explore Bellingham’s waterfront with a walking tour around the Old Town District. Learn about the evolution of our town’s shorelines, and hear tales of shipwrecks, sailors, smugglers, sea monsters and more!
This tour runs around 1 – 1.5 hours, total distance less than one mile. More details upon registration.
This is day 2 of the series.
This series is designed for individuals at any skill level who are interested in learning more about trees and wildcrafting skills.
Each class will incorporate guided note-taking and hands-on experience that will familiarize you with various trees of the Pacific Northwest.
Overall, we will be moving at a slow pace during each outing as we focus on our surroundings and have mini lectures, and the second half of class will generally be stationary to engage in crafts and activities.
Expect some gentle to moderate hiking, and some kneeling or squatting.
Each class will build on the previous one. For more details, keep reading!
This is a deep dive into more mixed forest species and a wildcrafting course using Pacific Willow or Vine Maple, and Western Redcedar.
What to expect:
First Half: We will wander along a forest road and onto random footpaths along the Nooksack River, observing tree species and searching for the perfect materials to use in the second half of class. This class will be accessible while incorporating wandering and choosing paths at random based on resources and curiosity.
Second Half: Using Western Redcedar from the forest, learn how to make traditional cordage. Using willow stems from the riverbank, enjoy the view while you craft a decorative ring to be hung up in your garden, your front door, or elsewhere to be admired. Extra decorating materials will be provided. An email with ideas of what you may want to bring for decorations will be sent to you a few days prior to the event.
***Please register via the website.
Join botanist and naturalist, Jazmen Yoder on a walk at one of the most beautiful coastal parks in the Pacific Northwest. There will be an emphasis on learning about creatures in the tidepools, lichens and ferns, but you will learn a lot about other plants, fungi, edible seaweeds, and coast ecology through exploration of tidepools at low tide. Bring your camera, come for the knowledge, and stay for the views! This is a unique field trip offering you’ll remember forever.
Space is limited. Please register via the website.
A guided walking tour of Bayview Cemetery, founded in 1887. We’ll explore the history of the cemetery and how it has changed over time, visiting the older sections of the cemetery and some of the most intriguing monuments. We’ll say hello to a lot of interesting folks who were laid to eternal rest in days of yore. This tour will last around two hours and covers less than one mile in distance. Terrain is mostly paved and level, however parts of the tour may include unpaved trails, uneven ground and slight inclines. (Tour Content Warning: Death, of course.) Meeting location and further details upon registration.
This is day THREE of this series.
The series is designed for individuals at any skill level who are interested in having fun outdoors learning about PNW plants, wildlife, tidepools, bogs, natural history, foraging, and a bit of photography.
Each class will incorporate hands-on experience and photo prompts to deepen your awareness of the natural world and augment your curiosity.
Overall, we will be moving at a slow pace during each outing as we focus on our surroundings, have mini lectures, or engage in activities.
Expect some gentle to moderate hiking, and some kneeling or squatting.
Each class will build on the previous one. For more details, go to the website.
This series is designed for individuals at any skill level who are interested in learning more about trees and wildcrafting skills.
Each class will incorporate guided note-taking and hands-on experience that will familiarize you with various trees of the Pacific Northwest.
Overall, we will be moving at a slow pace during each outing as we focus on our surroundings and have mini lectures, and the second half of class will generally be stationary to engage in crafts and activities.
Expect some gentle to moderate hiking, and some kneeling or squatting.
Each class will build on the previous one. For more details, keep reading!
DAY 3-
First Half: Test your identification skills gained over the series.
Second Half: Harvest and process Red Alder and start a carving project with guidance. Bring a saw and a hatchet if you have one, and spoon-carving knives if you want to make a spoon. Bushcraft knives will be provided to everyone. Saws, axes, and spoon knives are limited but available to borrow.
—
Registered individuals will receive details in an event-reminder emails a few days prior to each event with driving directions.
Please register via website.
Belling-history served salty, with tales from our maritime past. Explore Bellingham’s waterfront with a walking tour around the Old Town District. Learn about the evolution of our town’s shorelines, and hear tales of shipwrecks, sailors, smugglers, sea monsters and more!
This tour runs around 1 – 1.5 hours, total distance less than one mile. More details upon registration.
A guided walking tour of Bayview Cemetery, founded in 1887. We’ll explore the history of the cemetery and how it has changed over time, visiting the older sections of the cemetery and some of the most intriguing monuments. We’ll say hello to a lot of interesting folks who were laid to eternal rest in days of yore. This tour will last around two hours and covers less than one mile in distance. Terrain is mostly paved and level, however parts of the tour may include unpaved trails, uneven ground and slight inclines. (Tour Content Warning: Death, of course.) Meeting location and further details upon registration.
The man known as “Dirty Dan” has become a local legend, with festivals, streets and businesses bearing his moniker. Who was this fellow with the catchy nickname? A short time after selling off his donation land claim as the town of Fairhaven, Daniel Jefferson Harris died on August 18 in Los Angeles, California. Now a quaint shopping district on the south end of Bellingham, Fairhaven has come a long way in the 100 plus years since Dan’s reign. We’re offering a special Dirty Dan History Hike on the anniversary of Dan’s Demise! We’ll explore his former stomping grounds and dive into Dirty Dan, the man, and the myth. This tour involves walking on sidewalks, hills, and trails. It is around 1 mile in distance and should last around an hour to an hour and a half.
Stroll through one of Bellingham’s oldest neighborhoods with our guide and hear tales of pioneer families, Victorian houses, parks, schools, churches, stores, and more.
The tour runs around an hour to an hour and a half and covers less than 1 mile in distance.
More information upon registration.
A guided walking tour of Bayview Cemetery, founded in 1887. We’ll explore the history of the cemetery and how it has changed over time, visiting the older sections of the cemetery and some of the most intriguing monuments. We’ll say hello to a lot of interesting folks who were laid to eternal rest in days of yore. This tour will last around two hours and covers less than one mile in distance. Terrain is mostly paved and level, however parts of the tour may include unpaved trails, uneven ground and slight inclines. (Tour Content Warning: Death, of course.) Meeting location and further details upon registration.
