Sculpins

2019-20 Season

Congratulations Sculpins on completing your second year of Explorers Club (EC)! We appreciate your willingness to play and connect with each other and the natural world. As the group moves into their third year in Explorers Club, mentors look forward to the group continuing to deepen both sides of their Explorers toolbox: socio-emotional and technical skills. The Sculpins' skill focus for this year will be Art of Shelter and Art of Carving, through which we'll learn teamwork, leadership, patience, discipline, and responsibility, in addition to taking some time to learn and talk about beauty, art, and storytelling.

Please look over the schedule upon registration and give us as much advance notice as possible if there are any conflicts for your child attending. For more information, please visit our Missed Days and Make Up Policies. Please know that these dates are subject to change due to inevitable circumstances. We will update you if any dates do change!

Be sure to use the Be Prepared Checklist when getting ready for each Explorers Club outing. Wild Whatcom Mottos guide much of our program so please read them over with your Explorer.

Mentors

Benjamin Schieber (he/him/his) | (503) 583-1117 | benjamin@wildwhatcom.org

Nathan Drake (he/him/his) | (360) 431-9408 | nathan@wildwhatcom.org

Sculpins 2019-2020 Schedule

OUTING #1: Sunday, September 29, 2019: 10:00-3:00PM

EXPLORATION: Clayton Beach (via Lost Lake Parking Lot)

Explorers groups have been meeting at this magical beach for years. We’ll ramble down this wooded trail in the Explorers Club way, noticing nature, moving slowly, and seeing things with new eyes. We’ll make friendships with plants and trees along the trail, eating some & making face paint with others. By playing games and following hidden trails, we'll begin to discover all the ways we can explore our connections to nature and one another. Please remember to pack a bathing suit, extra H2O, sunscreen, and closed toed water shoes!

Directions: Follow Chuckanut Drive from Fairhaven, driving south. The parking lot for Clayton Beach (at the Lost Lake Parking Lot) is a short distance (approximately 1/4 mile) past the main Larrabee State Park entrance, on the left-hand side. Google Maps location here.

OUTING #2: Saturday, October 26, 2019: 9:30-1:30PM

SERVICE: Restoration Sites: Connelly Creek Nature Area and Happy Valley Park

Our official EC restoration sites have changed dramatically since we started working on them. Blackberries that were once well over head-high have been chopped down to nothing and many of their persistent roots have been dug out. Hundreds of pounds of trash has been removed, the reed canary grass has been covered with bark mulch, native species are beginning to be planted on the banks of the creek, and the alder are growing markedly faster than our Explorers.

With the help of Bellingham City Parks and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA), we are contributing to the very important work of salmon habitat restoration. Salmon are keystone species of the Northwest, playing important roles in every ecosystem and community they interact with. They are economically, culturally, and spiritually significant to Indigenous peoples, including our Lummi and Nooksack neighbors. Our restoration work creates a positive ripple effect that is felt in communities beyond just salmon, and gives us an incredible opportunity to be part of a legacy of stewardship and protection.

Directions: From I-5 drive west on Old Fairhaven Parkway for 0.1 of a mile. Turn right onto 30th St. and drive for 0.3 of a mile. Turn right on Donovan Ave. and drive for 0.1 of a mile. Turn right onto 32nd Ave. and drive for 0.2 of a mile. Turn left into Bellingham Park & Ride (WSDOT) Westside. Map.

OUTING #3: Sunday, November 17, 2019: 10:00-3:00PM

EXPLORATION: Fairhaven Park

Explorations deepen and continually unfold for our Explorers at Fairhaven Park and the 100 Acre Woods. We will practice our skills, navigate and explore the mysteries of the woods, huddle under sword ferns, and explore the section of Padden Creek that meanders through the park. We’ll get a chance again to witness salmon on their journey and continue our own journey with carving.

Directions: Drive south on Chuckanut Drive from Fairhaven. Turn left onto the Fairhaven Park Entrance. Turn right into the first parking lot. Map.

OUTING #4: Saturday, December 7, 2019: 10:00-3:00PM

EXPLORATION: Pine and Cedar Lakes

The hike up to Pine and Cedar Lakes is well-known for being a difficult climb with some awesome rewards. We will embrace the motto of “it’s about the journey, not the destination” and use our collaborate and compromise skills to decide what our journey and destination will look like. Maybe we make it to the lakes, maybe not - either way this outing is sure to challenge and engage us.

Directions: Drive 1.2 miles south on Chuckanut Dr. Veer left onto Old Samish Rd. and continue for about 1.9 miles to the trailhead parking area on the right. Map.

OUTING #5: Sunday, February 9, 2020: 10:00-3:00PM

Exploration: South Lake Padden

We’ve adventured along the west and east sides of Lake Padden Park before, and now we’ll get the opportunity to explore the less-visited south section. The extensive network of trails winding through mature groves of hemlock, spruce, cedar, and Douglas fir offers us a living example of forest succession and health.

Directions: From I-5, take Exit 252 for Samish Way/WWU. Drive south on S. Samish Way for 3.6 miles. Go past the entrances at Lake Padden for the lake and golf course. Look for the gravel parking lot on the right. Map.

**CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19**

OUTING #6: Saturday, March 28, 2020: 10:00-2:00PM

SERVICE: Restoration Sites: Connelly Creek Nature Area and Happy Valley Park

Our official EC restoration sites have changed dramatically since we started working on them. Blackberries that were once well over head-high have been chopped down to nothing and many of their persistent roots have been dug out. Hundreds of pounds of trash has been removed, the reed canary grass has been covered with bark mulch, native species are beginning to be planted on the banks of the creek, and the alder are growing markedly faster than our Explorers.

With the help of Bellingham City Parks and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA), we are contributing to the very important work of salmon habitat restoration. Salmon are keystone species of the Northwest, playing important roles in every ecosystem and community they interact with. They are economically, culturally, and spiritually significant to Indigenous peoples, including our Lummi and Nooksack neighbors. Our restoration work creates a positive ripple effect that is felt in communities beyond just salmon, and gives us an incredible opportunity to be part of a legacy of stewardship and protection.

Directions: From I-5 drive west on Old Fairhaven Parkway for 0.1 of a mile. Turn right onto 30th St. and drive for 0.3 of a mile. Turn right on Donovan Ave. and drive for 0.1 of a mile. Turn right onto 32nd Ave. and drive for 0.2 of a mile. Turn left into Bellingham Park & Ride (WSDOT) Westside. Map.

**CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19**

OUTING #7: Sunday, April 19, 2020: 10:00-3:00PM

EXPLORATION: Rock Trail

The Rock Trail trail is carved out of the steep, rugged hillside connecting the top of Cleator Road to the South Lost Lake Trail. This is one of the Chuckanut's newest trails offering steep climbs, gorgeous views, and a peek at our area's fascinating geology. 100-foot high sandstone cliffs pocked by little holes and large caves, enormous mossy boulders, and handmade staircases and bridges are just of few of the exciting wonders that await us. If we have time we might even make it to Lost Lake!

Directions: From I-5, Take exit #250 and turn right onto Fairhaven Pkwy. Go to second stoplight. Turn left on SR 11/Chuckanut Dr for 1.3 miles. Turn left onto 12th st. for .1 of a mile. 12th st. becomes Chuckanut Dr. Follow for 3.6 miles. Turn left onto Hiline Road. Follow until it turns into Cleator Road at .6 of a mile. Then continue an additional 3.5 miles all the way to the top/end of the road! Map.

**CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19**

OUTING #8: Saturday, May 9, 2020: 10:00-3:00PM

EXPLORATION: Teddy Bear Cove via North Chuckanut Mountain Trailhead

The short trek from North Chuckanut Mountain to Teddy Bear Cove will illustrate just how closely interconnected the mountains and the sea are in this area. We’ll make our way up Chuckanut Mountain, across the Interurban Trail, then down to Chuckanut Bay. Once at our desination, we'll be sure to greet the shorebirds and discover tidepool wonders, stroke madrone’s sleek trunk, and find a hidden cave covered in licorice root. But mostly, we’ll follow where our exploring spirit takes us! Please remember to pack a bathing suit and towel, extra water, sunscreen, and closed toed watershoes.

Directions: From Fairhaven head south on Chuckanut Dr. Just past the intersection with Old Samish there will be a parking lot on your left with a sign saying “North Chuckanut Mountain Trailhead.” You're here! Map.

**CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19**

OUTING #9: Saturday, June 6, 2020: 10:00-3:00PM

EXPLORATION: North Lake Samish **Rescheduled from 1/12**

In Whatcom County, we are lucky to have the endless trails of the Chuckanut Mountains right in our backyard. The North Lake Samish trail boasts some spectacular vistas and waterfalls and also holds some challenging route finding through mixed use logging terrain. The opportunities are endless - practice skills, play games, free explore - it’s up to us to decide.

Directions: From Bellingham head south on I-5 and take exit 246 toward North Lake Samish. Turn left onto Lake Samish Drive for 1.6 miles. Take a sharp right onto Lake Samish County Park. The parking lot will be on your right. Map.