Neighborhood Nature
Registration for the 2024-25 school year (fall, winter, and spring sessions) opens June 1.
Grades K-5 | M, T, W, and/or TH | After school | Max. 12 Participants/Group | Cost varies
Neighborhood Nature is our after school program that connects kids with the outdoors through exploration, play, art, and nature activities. Neighborhood Nature participants:
Learn to love the natural world right around them. Learn how to interact with the environment to enjoy the natural world without making a significant impact on it.
Develop naturalist knowledge. Use all your senses and learn how to identify common local species and connect with trees, plants, bugs, birds, and more. Learn preparedness - you’ll be surprised how wild nature can be!
Build community. Collaborate, handle conflict, and make decisions as a group using a number of Wild Whatcom mottos.
Enjoy free play and exploration. The natural world teaches us things. We want to be open to these teachings - in a safe and meaningful way.
Join us for one or more days a week! We meet rain or shine during the school year at a local park.
Locations subject to change.
Scholarship requests available during registration.
Already know what you are registering for? Register here.
Fall Season
Decomposition and Seasonal Change
September 9-december 20, 2024 (15 weeks)
Mondays | 3:00-5:00PM | $480
Note: no outing Monday, November 11 (Veterans Day)
Fairhaven Park
Optional transportation available upon school release at 2:30PM from the following schools or provide your own transportation and meet us at the park!
Happy Valley Elementary - Bus
Lowell Elementary - Bus
Pick-up at Fairhaven Park
Tuesdays | 3:00-5:00PM | $480
Big Rock Garden
Optional transportation available upon school release at 2:30PM from the following schools or provide your own transportation and meet us at the park!
Northern Heights Elementary - Bus
Roosevelt Elementary - Bus
Silver Beach Elementary - Walk (with Wild Whatcom Mentors)
Pick-up at Silver Beach Elementary
Wednesdays | 3:00-5:00PM | $480
Note: no outing Wednesday, November 27 (Thanksgiving break)
Cornwall Park (via Rose Garden entrance)
Optional transportation available upon school release at 2:30PM from the following schools or provide your own transportation and meet us at the park!
Columbia Elementary - Bus
Sunnyland Elementary - Bus
Parkview Elementary - Walk (with Wild Whatcom Mentors)
Pick-up at Cornwall Park (via Rose Garden entrance)
Thursdays | Franklin Academy | Grades K -4 | After School-5:00PM | $480
Note: no outing Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving break)
Cornwall Park (via Victor Street entrance)
Transportation available upon school release.
Franklin Academy - Walk (with Wild Whatcom Mentors)
Pick-up at Cornwall Park (via Victor Street entrance)
Thursdays | 1:00-4:00PM | $655
Note: no outing Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving break)
Whatcom Falls Park (via Silver Beach Road Entrance)
Optional transportation available upon school release at 12:20PM from the following school or provide your own transportation and meet us at the park!
Carl Cozier Elementary - Bus
Geneva Elementary - Bus
Wade King Elementary - Bus
Pick-up at Whatcom Falls Park (via Silver Beach Road Entrance)
Scholarship requests available during registration.
Winter Season
Winter Adaptations
January 13-April 4, 2025 (12 weeks)
Mondays | 3:00-5:00PM | $380
Note: No outing Monday, January 20 (MLK Jr Day) or Monday, February 17 (President's Day)
Fairhaven Park
Optional transportation available upon school release at 2:30PM from the following schools or provide your own transportation and meet us at the park!
Happy Valley Elementary - Bus
Lowell Elementary - Bus
Pick-up at Fairhaven Park
Tuesdays | 3:00-5:00PM | $380
Big Rock Garden
Optional transportation available upon school release at 2:30PM from the following schools or provide your own transportation and meet us at the park!
Northern Heights Elementary - Bus
Roosevelt Elementary - Bus
Silver Beach Elementary - Walk (with Wild Whatcom Mentors)
Pick-up at Big Rock Garden
Wednesdays | 3:00-5:00PM | $380
Note: no outing Wednesday, January 22 (Treaty Day)
Cornwall Park (via Rose Garden entrance)
Optional transportation available upon school release at 2:30PM from the following schools or provide your own transportation and meet us at the park!
Columbia Elementary - Bus
Sunnyland Elementary - Bus
Parkview Elementary - Walk (with Wild Whatcom Mentors)
Pick-up at Cornwall Park (via Rose Garden entrance)
Thursdays | 1:00-4:00PM | $580
Whatcom Falls Park (via Silver Beach Road Entrance)
Optional transportation available upon school release at 12:20PM from the following school or provide your own transportation and meet us at the park!
Carl Cozier Elementary - Bus
Geneva Elementary - Bus
Wade King Elementary - Bus
Pick-up at Whatcom Falls Park (via Silver Beach Road Entrance)
Scholarship requests available during registration.
Spring Season
Native Plants
April 14-June 6, 2025 (8 weeks)
Mondays | 3:00-5:00PM | $305
Note: no outing Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day)
Taylor Dock/Boulevard Park
Optional transportation available upon school release at 2:30PM from the following schools or provide your own transportation and meet us at the park!
Happy Valley Elementary - Bus
Lowell Elementary - Walk (with Wild Whatcom Mentors)
Pick up at Taylor Dock/Boulevard Park at 5:00PM
Tuesdays | 3:00-5:00PM | $305
Big Rock Garden
Optional transportation available upon school release at 2:30PM from the following schools or provide your own transportation and meet us at the park!
Northern Heights Elementary - Bus
Roosevelt Elementary - Bus
Silver Beach Elementary - Walk (with Wild Whatcom Mentors)
Pick-up at Silver Beach Elementary at 5:00PM
Wednesdays | 3:00-5:00PM | $305
Cornwall Park (via Rose Garden entrance)
Optional transportation available upon school release at 2:30PM from the following schools or provide your own transportation and meet us at the park!
Columbia Elementary - Bus
Sunnyland Elementary - Bus
Parkview Elementary - Walk (with Wild Whatcom Mentors)
Pick-up at Cornwall Park (via Rose Garden entrance) at 5:00PM
Thursdays | Franklin Academy | Grades K -4 | After School-5:00PM | $305
Cornwall Park (via Victor Street entrance)
Transportation available upon school release.
Franklin Academy - Walk (with Wild Whatcom Mentors)
Pick-up at Cornwall Park (Victor Street entrance)
Thursdays | 1:00-4:00PM | $500
Whatcom Falls Park (via Silver Beach Road Entrance)
Optional transportation available upon school release at 12:20PM from the following school or provide your own transportation and meet us at the park!
Carl Cozier Elementary - Bus
Geneva Elementary - Bus
Wade King Elementary - Bus
Pick-up at Whatcom Falls Park (via Silver Beach Road Entrance)
Scholarship requests available during registration.
Neighborhood Nature Pack List
Participants should be prepared to safely and comfortably spend several hours outdoors after school. Except in particularly inclement weather (like high winds) we explore outside. Living in the Pacific Northwest means we can start our adventure in the sun and end in the rain. We often end our outings wet, tired, and dirty - but with huge smiles!
Participants should bring:
Appropriate clothes (i.e., rain boots, rain jacket/pants, hat/gloves, and warm layers). See our Essentials of Layering for more information.
Individual hand sanitizer
Snack (no food sharing will be allowed for safety reasons)
Water bottle
Please label items as much as possible (permanent marker and/or masking tape is fine) to avoid participants’ sharing/touching other participants’ materials.
LOANER GEAR
Wild Whatcom has loaner gear available. You do not need to purchase gear to participate in our programs. To request loaner gear, please fill out this form and we will reach out to you. Please let us know at least five (5) days prior to your outing if you need to borrow gear/clothing.
Gear Discounts
Visit Outdoor School Shop and use code: WHATCOM for 15% off your order.