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 2025 May 2025
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May
4
Sun
Spring Naturalist Series (Day 1): Plants of the Pacific Northwest w/ Northwest Natura @ Washington Park
Tickets
May 4 @ 12:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Spring Naturalist Series (Day 1): Plants of the Pacific Northwest w/ Northwest Natura @ Washington Park

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.

We’ll begin with an intro to botany so we can comfortably start using botanical terminology during this series. You will use samples of flowers and leaves to make observations of various structures and sketch them into a field notebook.

The second part of the class will be a walk in the woods, finding “signs of spring” while focusing on two plant families, the Roses and the Heaths (two very diverse and abundant groups).

During this segment you can expect to gain experience in:
-Plant ID
-Plant anatomy
-Plant taxonomy

You can also expect:
-Ethnobotany lesson
-Optional tidepool exploration
-Foraging tips on edible species
-Coastal views
-Wildlife and Bird sightings
-Relaxed community atmosphere
-Gentle walking in a beautiful park setting

Please register via the event website.

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Categories: Education Health & Wellness Home & Garden Local History Outdoor Recreation Workshops, Classes and Lectures Tags: ecosystem ethnobotany Foraging lichen moss pnw pnw hiking wildlife
May
9
Fri
Edible Plant Identification in the Chuckanuts with Northwest Natura @ Chuckanut Mountain (Trail TBD)
Tickets
May 9 @ 12:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Edible Plant Identification in the Chuckanuts with Northwest Natura @ Chuckanut Mountain (Trail TBD)

Join Naturalist,Jazmen Yoder on a hike along one of the Chuckanut Mountain trails to get outdoors in early spring and learn the names and flavors of edible plants as we go.

The trailhead is TBD based on abundant species. Expect some elevation gain but keep in mind we’ll be stopping frequently to botanize and learn about edible plant species.

Things to bring with you to class:
-Dress for the weather (warm outdoor clothing)
-Hiking shoes
-Snacks and water
-Notebook and pen (optional)
-Camera (optional)
-Your favorite field guide (optional)

Registered individuals will receive an email a 3-5 days prior to the event with trail info, driving directions, weather forecast, and a reminder of what to bring with you.

Please register via the event website.

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Categories: Education Food & Beverage Health & Wellness Home & Garden Local History Outdoor Recreation Workshops, Classes and Lectures Tags: #getoutdoors edible plants Foraging pnw ethnobotany spring survival skills
May
10
Sat
Ethnobotany Tour at Sugarloaf Mountain w/ Northwest Natura @ Sugarloaf Mountain Trailhead
Tickets
May 10 @ 12:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Ethnobotany Tour at Sugarloaf Mountain w/ Northwest Natura @ Sugarloaf Mountain Trailhead

Join Salish Sea Naturalist and Outdoor Educator, Jazmen Yoder on a hike to Sugarloaf Mountaintop while learning about traditional and modern uses of PNW native plants.

Anacortes Community Forest has incredible plant diversity. This tour will focus on edible and medicinal coastal prairie and mixed forest plant species and show you how to identify them. You will learn a ton about each plant including edible and medicinal uses, and traditional harvest, cooking, and agricultural techniques.

There is some elevation gain on this hike, but we will be stopping frequently to botanize.

Key takeaways:
-Plant identification skills
-Learn which species would be appropriate to forage for food or medicine and which should be left alone and admired based on their ecological role, restoration status, and/or cultural significance to indigenous peoples.
-Guided plant identification notes from the instructor using a whiteboard at each stop
-Find community outdoors with nature-loving folks on this hike through the forest to Salish Sea vistas!

Please register via the event website.

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Categories: Education Health & Wellness Home & Garden Local History Outdoor Recreation Workshops, Classes and Lectures Tags: agriculture ethnobotany Foraging harvesting herbs hiking local plants survival skills
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
May 2025 May 2025