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 Naturalist, Jazmen Yoder on a gentle walk at the stunning Padilla Bay Research Reserve to learn about traditional and modern uses of PNW native plants, and traditional agricultural practices advanced by indigenous peoples for time immemorial.
Padilla Bay Reserve has incredible plant diversity. This tour will focus on the historical significance of Coastal Prairies, estuarine, and forest plant species, and the importance of restoration projects and accessibility to these areas.
Things to bring with you to class:
-Dress for the weather (warm outdoor clothing)
-Snacks and water
-Notebook and pen (optional)
-Camera (optional)
-Your favorite field guide (optional)
-You will need good shoes for walking, but they don’t necessarily need to be hiking boots; the trail is well maintained.
*Registered individuals will receive an event-reminder email a few days prior to the event.
*Please register via the event website.
Bellingham Public Library is partnering with WWU’s Sustainability Engagement Institute and the Center for Community Learning to bring back another round of the popular Learning Together Forums. These events bring our community together to talk about sustainability. All are welcome. Share your hopes and challenges related to creating a more sustainable region and meet others doing inspirational work. Participants will leave with new connections and opportunities for action. Forums are free and open to all. Snacks provided! No registration required. At this session, we’ll focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.
Year Seven of Scarecrow Academy presents “Visions of America on Film,” an ambitious ten-week online discussion series built around buoyant and bracing cinematic views of America. Each week we’ll consider how some of the greatest filmmakers have pictured the US of A, through a variety of genres and eras.
Discussions are led by National Society of Film Critics member Robert Horton, author of the Seasoned Ticket column at the Scarecrow blog and Scarecrow’s “Programmer-Historian in Residence.” The Zoom sessions are free and open to all; there’s no homework, but we encourage you to watch that week’s movie, and please register online in advance. We meet on Saturdays at 2pm Pacific Time, beginning March 15, 2025.
Please register here: https://bit.ly/scarecrowacademy
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.
Come join us for this fun introduction to the art of wet felting! In this class, we will explore the characteristics of felt and will make our own wet felted wool balls and flowers, too! We will brainstorm and share ideas for finished project options such as book markers, hat bands, wall decor and necklaces. Come join the fun!
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.
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.
Year Seven of Scarecrow Academy presents “Visions of America on Film,” an ambitious ten-week online discussion series built around buoyant and bracing cinematic views of America. Each week we’ll consider how some of the greatest filmmakers have pictured the US of A, through a variety of genres and eras.
Discussions are led by National Society of Film Critics member Robert Horton, author of the Seasoned Ticket column at the Scarecrow blog and Scarecrow’s “Programmer-Historian in Residence.” The Zoom sessions are free and open to all; there’s no homework, but we encourage you to watch that week’s movie, and please register online in advance. We meet on Saturdays at 2pm Pacific Time, beginning March 15, 2025.
Please register here: https://bit.ly/scarecrowacademy
Did you sing in school or in the church choir when you were younger and would love to sing again? Do you sing in the shower or with the radio or just love to sing and want to meet new people? Then join the All-Voices Pop-Up Chorus put on by the Mount Baker Toppers. Learn to sing 4-part acapella harmony from award-winning teachers for six weeks on Tuesdays and then perform A Night of Acapella on June 21st at the Fairhaven Green. It’s free and it’s fun. Ages 12-99 welcome!
Do you know what salmon need for healthy stream habitat? Salmon need the “three C’s” – cold, clean, and clear water!
During this workshop, you will discover how to determine if water is healthy for salmon by meeting the bugs that tell the story of the stream – and serve as an important food source for salmon fry. Become a salmon scientist and learn how NSEA educators teach students to test the water quality of local creeks, then draw your own conclusions based on what we find.
Join NSEA’s Education Program Manager, Nathan Zabel, for this workshop on our campus at 3057 E Bakerview Rd, Bellingham, WA, on Thursday, May 15th from 3:30–4:30 PM. Stick around afterward for an exclusive look at NSEA’s outdoor classroom, open discussion, and hands-on activities!
This workshop is free and family-friendly! All ages are welcome. Registration is appreciated to let us know you’re coming, but it’s not mandatory to attend. Learn more at www.n-sea.org/upcoming-events.
In this wildcrafting workshop you will learn how to weave a basket using the coil technique and Ponderosa Pine needles.
Weaving with pine needles and other coiled plant material is a practice ancient peoples from all continents implemented in day-to-day survival, conventional living, and art.
The 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 with Northwest Natura.
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).
What to bring:
-Snacks/lunch
-Pliers
-Scissors
-A plastic bag for storing your work
-A larger bag for taking home handfuls of soaked pine needles
-A hand towel
-Journal and pen (optional)
-Your own sewing kit and/or embroidery thread (optional)
This course 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 event website.
Year Seven of Scarecrow Academy presents “Visions of America on Film,” an ambitious ten-week online discussion series built around buoyant and bracing cinematic views of America. Each week we’ll consider how some of the greatest filmmakers have pictured the US of A, through a variety of genres and eras.
Discussions are led by National Society of Film Critics member Robert Horton, author of the Seasoned Ticket column at the Scarecrow blog and Scarecrow’s “Programmer-Historian in Residence.” The Zoom sessions are free and open to all; there’s no homework, but we encourage you to watch that week’s movie, and please register online in advance. We meet on Saturdays at 2pm Pacific Time, beginning March 15, 2025.
Please register here: https://bit.ly/scarecrowacademy
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.
Did you sing in school or in the church choir when you were younger and would love to sing again? Do you sing in the shower or with the radio or just love to sing and want to meet new people? Then join the All-Voices Pop-Up Chorus put on by the Mount Baker Toppers. Learn to sing 4-part acapella harmony from award-winning teachers for six weeks on Tuesdays and then perform A Night of Acapella on June 21st at the Fairhaven Green. It’s free and it’s fun. Ages 12-99 welcome!
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.
The Bushcraft Basics series by Northwest Natura teaches students practical outdoor skills like fire-making, shelter-building, knot-tying, and wildcrafting skills like weaving, making cordage, and more.
In this course you will learn how to make cordage using different plants that you forage.
Practice self reliance skills in this half-day course.
Key takeaways:
-Ethnobotany of various species of fiber plants
-How to harvest and process fiber from multiple species of plants
-Learn two techniques of twisting plant fibers into cords and ropes
-Improve your self-reliance skills in a casual group setting where you will meet folks who share your interests and love for nature.
***Please register via the event website.
More info available on the website as well.
Did you sing in school or in the church choir when you were younger and would love to sing again? Do you sing in the shower or with the radio or just love to sing and want to meet new people? Then join the All-Voices Pop-Up Chorus put on by the Mount Baker Toppers. Learn to sing 4-part acapella harmony from award-winning teachers for six weeks on Tuesdays and then perform A Night of Acapella on June 21st at the Fairhaven Green. It’s free and it’s fun. Ages 12-99 welcome!
Did you sing in school or in the church choir when you were younger and would love to sing again? Do you sing in the shower or with the radio or just love to sing and want to meet new people? Then join the All-Voices Pop-Up Chorus put on by the Mount Baker Toppers. Learn to sing 4-part acapella harmony from award-winning teachers for six weeks on Tuesdays and then perform A Night of Acapella on June 21st at the Fairhaven Green. It’s free and it’s fun. Ages 12-99 welcome!
Did you sing in school or in the church choir when you were younger and would love to sing again? Do you sing in the shower or with the radio or just love to sing and want to meet new people? Then join the All-Voices Pop-Up Chorus put on by the Mount Baker Toppers. Learn to sing 4-part acapella harmony from award-winning teachers for six weeks on Tuesdays and then perform A Night of Acapella on June 21st at the Fairhaven Green. It’s free and it’s fun. Ages 12-99 welcome!
Did you sing in school or in the church choir when you were younger and would love to sing again? Do you sing in the shower or with the radio or just love to sing and want to meet new people? Then join the All-Voices Pop-Up Chorus put on by the Mount Baker Toppers. Learn to sing 4-part acapella harmony from award-winning teachers for six weeks on Tuesdays and then perform A Night of Acapella on June 21st at the Fairhaven Green. It’s free and it’s fun. Ages 12-99 welcome!
Join local mindfulness teacher Carolyn McCarthy for an exploration of mindfulness practices that promote self-compassion.
Interested in learning to be kinder to yourself when you’re suffering? Wish you had better tools for handling difficult emotions? Want to be able to motivate yourself with encouragement rather than criticism and start to leave that harsh inner-critical voice behind? Start here!
Join local mindfulness and self compassion teacher Carolyn McCarthy on a 1-hour journey to becoming a friend to yourself. We will explore how mindful self-compassion practices open the door to a supportive and kind relationship with ourselves, reducing stress and enhancing well being. Carolyn will introduce you to the principles of mindful self-compassion and teach some basic practices, and you’ll leave with a handout and a tool kit of simple practices to use at work and home.
Mindfulness Northwest was founded in 2011 as a way to offer the benefits of mindfulness meditation and practices to the greater Pacific Northwest and is now offering courses and staff trainings at sites from Seattle to Bellingham. Carolyn is a lifelong writer and performer who cultivates attentiveness and joy. With a degree in Latin American Studies and Women’s Studies, she uses mindfulness to support the work of social justice, turning toward the difficult within and without. Carolyn is a certified teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Zest, warmth, and wit enliven her teaching. Core practices: sitting meditation, time outside, solo living room dance parties. Visit her online at www.carolynmcc.com.
