Community Calendar and Information Hub

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.

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Agenda
Agenda
May – June 2025 May – Jun 2025
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May
18
Sun
Spring Naturalist Series (Day 2): Plants of the Pacific Northwest with Northwest Natura @ Deception Pass State Park or Anacortes Community Forest
Tickets
May 18 @ 12:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Spring Naturalist Series (Day 2): Plants of the Pacific Northwest with Northwest Natura @ Deception Pass State Park or Anacortes Community Forest

This two-part series is designed for adults (16+) at any skill level that are interested in having fun outdoors learning more about flora, fauna, and natural history of the Pacific Northwest. We will meet two times during the month of May in Skagit County parks, focusing on universal botany wisdom, and ethnobotany of the PNW.

Each class will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the ecosystem, learn names of plants, lichens, mushrooms, and engage in hands-on learning to deepen your awareness of the natural world.

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.

Day 2: Ethnobotany of the Pacific Northwest Coast
This course will begin with a lecture-style intro to prehistory of the Pacific Northwest coupled with a robust acknowledgement of the peoples who have lived on and tended to the land for time immemorial.

Amble along the trail with breath-taking flora and coastal views and learn about traditional uses of plants, Indigenous agricultural practices, kin-centric ecological connections between plants and people, and so much more in this immersive walkabout focused on ethnobotany of the PNW Coast.

You can also expect:
-Foraging tips on edible species
-Wildlife and Bird sightings
-Relaxed community atmosphere
-Leisurely hiking in a beautiful park setting (expect some elevation gain but note that we will be pausing on the trail frequently)

Please register via the event website.

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Categories: Education Home & Garden Local History Outdoor Recreation Workshops, Classes and Lectures Tags: ethnobotany Foraging pnw hiking wildlife
May
24
Sat
Bushcraft Basics: Fire & Shelter Building with Northwest Natura @ Northwest Natura Private Land
Tickets
May 24 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Bushcraft Basics: Fire & Shelter Building with Northwest Natura @ Northwest Natura Private Land

This course will take place on Private Land in Whatcom County off Highway 542 next to Boulder Creek ~2 miles east of Maple Falls, WA.

The skills we will cover in this outdoor workshop include:
-An Introduction to Bushcraft in the Pacific Northwest
-Survival priorities

Activities:
-Knots
-Shelter construction from raw materials
-Second shelter construction: simple tarp deployment
-Knife, ax, and saw practice with guidance if needed
-Fire-making tutorial using foraged materials and no lighter
-Use a ferro rod or flint & steel.
*Optional to make tea over a fire using wild edible/medicinal plants.

We will practice all of these skills together in this full-day course.

Northwest Natura is providing day-use materials including:

Morakniv 511 knives
Ferrocerium rods and strikers
Fire resources (wood, tinder)
Saws (limited number)
Axes (limited number)
Tarps, paracord, and other shelter supplies
Demo Equipment; examples of several kit items

More details provided via the event website.
Please register via the event website.

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Categories: Education Food & Beverage Health & Wellness Home & Garden Outdoor Recreation Workshops, Classes and Lectures Tags: axe skills Bushcraft ethnobotany Foraging shelter building survival skills wildcrafting
Jun
17
Tue
Bone Arrowheads, Archery, & Bow Plant Ethnobotany w/ Northwest Natura & Firecraft Northwest @ Northwest Natura private land
Tickets
Jun 17 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Bone Arrowheads, Archery, & Bow Plant Ethnobotany w/ Northwest Natura & Firecraft Northwest @ Northwest Natura private land

Discover the ancient skill of archery with a focus on the plants of the Pacific Northwest!

In this 3-hour field session collaboration, join Jazmen Yoder of Northwest Natura and Ryan Johnson of Firecraft Northwest to study native and naturalized plants of the region that can be used for archery.

What to Expect:
-Learn how to identify the plants that can be used to wildcraft bows and arrows.
-Handcraft a deer or elk leg bone arrowhead to take home.
-Field archery practice session that will teach beginners how to handle, hold, and shoot longbows and recurve bows safely.

What to bring:
-Dress for the weather
-Snacks and water
-Notebook and pen (optional)
-Your own bow and arrows (optional; materials provided by instructors)

Directions and Location:
-Registered individuals will receive location details, driving directions, weather forecast details and other info in an event-reminder email a few days prior to the event.

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Categories: Local History Outdoor Recreation Workshops, Classes and Lectures Tags: archery arrowhead bowandarrow Bushcraft ethnobotany Foraging hiking hunting survival skills
May – June 2025 May – Jun 2025