Neighborhood Nature
Spring 2024 registration is now closed. Please contact us about any remaining spots.
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
Registration is now closed. Please contact us at schoolprograms@wildwhatcom.org about available spaces.
September 11-december 14, 2023 (14 weeks)
Mondays | 3:00-5:00PM | $450
Big Rock Garden 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!
Northern Heights Elementary - Bus
Silver Beach Elementary - Walk (with Wild Whatcom Mentors)
Pick-up at Silver Beach Elementary
Tuesdays | 3:00-5:00PM | $450
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
Wednesdays | 3:00-5:00PM | $450
Note: no outing Wednesday, November 22 (Thanksgiving break)
Cornwall Park (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 (Rose Garden entrance)
Wednesdays | Franklin Academy (starts Sept. 20) | Grades K -4 | After School-5:00PM | $415 | CANCELLED
Note: no outing Wednesday, November 22 (Thanksgiving break)
Cornwall Park (Victor Street entrance)
Transportation available upon school release.
Franklin Academy - Walk (with Wild Whatcom Mentors)
Pick-up at Cornwall Park (Victor Street entrance)
Thursdays | 12:45-4:00PM | $625
Note: no outing Thursday, November 23 (Thanksgiving break)
Whatcom Falls Park
Optional transportation available upon school release at 12:20PM from the following school or provide your own transportation and meet us at the park!
Blaine Primary - Bus
Wade King Elementary - Bus
Pick-up at Whatcom Falls Park
Scholarship requests available during registration.
Winter Season
Winter Adaptations
Registration is now closed for all winter sessions. Please contact us at schoolprograms@wildwhatcom.org about available spaces.
January 15-March 28, 2024 (11 weeks)
Mondays | 3:00-5:00PM | $345
Note: no outing Monday, January 15 (MLK, Jr. Day) or Monday, February 19 (Presidents’ Day). Regular programming, but no bus transportation, is scheduled for Monday, January 22 (Treaty Day).
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
Silver Beach Elementary - Walk (with Wild Whatcom Mentors)
Pick-up at Big Rock Garden Park
Tuesdays | 3:00-5:00PM | $345
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
Wednesdays | 3:00-5:00PM | $345
Cornwall Park (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 (Rose Garden entrance)
Thursdays | 12:45-4:00PM | $550
Whatcom Falls Park
Optional transportation available upon school release at 12:20PM from the following school or provide your own transportation and meet us at the park!
Roosevelt Elementary - Bus CANCELLED WINTER SEASON
Wade King Elementary - Bus
Pick-up at Whatcom Falls Park
Scholarship requests available during registration.
Spring Season
Native Plants
April 8-June 6, 2024 (9 weeks)
Mondays | 3:00-5:00PM | $300
Note: no outing Monday, May 27 (Memorial Day)
Big Rock Garden 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!
Northern Heights Elementary - Bus
Silver Beach Elementary - Walk (with Wild Whatcom Mentors)
Pick-up at Silver Beach Elementary at 5:00PM
Tuesdays | 3:00-5:00PM | $300
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 Boulevard Park at 5:00PM
Wednesdays | 3:00-5:00PM | $300
Cornwall Park (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 (Rose Garden entrance) at 5:00PM
Wednesdays | Cedar Tree Montessori | Grades 1-6 | After School-5:30PM | $300
Cornwall Park (Rose Garden entrance)
Transportation available upon school release.
Cedar Tree Montessori - Walk (with Wild Whatcom Mentors)
Pick-up at Cornwall Park (Rose Garden entrance) at 5:30PM
Thursdays | 12:45-4:00PM | $475
Whatcom Falls Park
Optional transportation available upon school release at 12:20PM from the following school or provide your own transportation and meet us at the park!
Roosevelt Elementary - Bus
Wade King Elementary - Bus
Pick-up at Whatcom Falls Park
Thursdays | Franklin Academy | Grades K -4 | After School-5:00PM | $300
Cornwall Park (Victor Street entrance)
Transportation available upon school release.
Franklin Academy - Walk (with Wild Whatcom Mentors)
Pick-up at Cornwall Park (Victor Street 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.