You are invited to Whatcom Land Trust's 2023 Spring Benefit: Legacy Stories from the Land. Join us and some special guests for our annual benefit event at 5pm on Saturday, June 3 at the beautiful Bellingham Yacht Club on Squalicum Harbor. 

Join us on January 6th, 2023 from 6PM - 8PM for Downtown Bellingham's First Friday at our office at 412 N. Commercial Street.

This month, we will be hosting Rich Bowers from Northwest Rivers Photography who will be showcasing some beautiful photography of local natural places.

Field Friday Canyon Lake Community Forest
Friday, August 5th (8:00-4:00)

This event is currently full. Please sign up to be placed on our waitlist. Canyon Lake Community Forest is a beautiful 2,260-acre reserve protected in part by the Whatcom Land Trust through a Conservation Easement. The park protects one of the oldest stands of forest in the Pacific Northwest. While the property is owned and managed by Whatcom County and Western Washington University, and protected by the Land Trust, it belongs to the community! So let’s get out there! This Field Friday, we’ll be completing the monitoring site visit. While the property is beautiful, and absolutely worth the effort, the 9-mile (roundtrip) hike is steep and strenuous in both directions, so bring comfortable hiking boots and trekking poles if you have them!
Suggested Tools: Hiking poles, lots of water, and hiking boots
What to Expect: The 9-mile (roundtrip) hike is steep and strenuous in both directions, so bring comfortable hiking boots and trekking poles if you have them!
Directions: We will be meeting at the Land Trust office to carpool. 412 North Commercial Street, Bellingham, WA 98225. The truck will leave from the WLT office at 8am and will return by 4pm.
RSVP: To RSVP, please click here to join our WAITLIST by filling out the google form associated with this project. Each person attending will need to fill out the form separately.

What are Field Fridays?
Want to spend some time with the Stewardship Team and learn a bit more about land trust conservation sites? Sign up for a Field Friday adventure generally held on the first Friday of the month. These are working days, and are more difficult than our shorter work parties. Volunteers should be prepared for all weather conditions and have tough, weather appropriate footwear and outerwear ready to traverse rugged, uneven terrain. Volunteers will have the opportunity to visit parts of properties rarely seen by the public, learn about Whatcom Land Trust’s stewardship goals and processes, and participate in restoration and land management activities. Children are not recommended for Field Fridays as these events are longer and more strenuous. Anyone under 17 must have a parent or guardian present.

RSVP is required to participate on these Field Fridays as space is limited and the schedule may change due to weather. Because we plan our activities around the volunteers expected and often have a waitlist, we must receive 48 hours’ notice for any cancellations. Transportation may not be provided, and volunteers may need to provide their own transportation.

Please pack a lunch, water, weather appropriate layers, boots, and rain gear. If you are able, please also bring your own gloves and tools; extras will only be provided by staff upon request. The week prior to the event, staff will email you with additional details on what to expect and what tools will be needed.

Please meet staff on the property at 9:00am, and the work will be done by 3:00pm with a lunch break. As many Field Fridays are in remote portions of the property, we ask that you stay for the entire duration of the Field Friday and do not leave early unless approved prior. A yearly liability waiver is required to be submitted electronically or by mail beforehand.

Capacity: Each Field Friday is limited in size.
RSVP Required: Please click on the name of the event that you are interested in attending and fill out the associated form. Each person attending must fill out the form separately. Please visit the Field Friday page on our website to find the sign up links!
Masks: You are required to have a face covering on you at all times, but you are not required to wear it while working outside and well over 6 feet away from others. If riding in a WLT vehicle, facemasks are required.
Tools & Gloves: Please bring your own if you are able; staff will only bring extra upon request.
Water & Snacks: Please bring water, snacks, and a lunch to keep you fueled and hydrated throughout the day.
Feeling Sick?: Stay home if you feel any illness symptoms or think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19! It takes all of us to keep everyone safe.
Questions: Please feel free to email our Volunteer Coordinator, Abby Weaver, abby@whatcomlandtrust.org.

COVID-19 Update

The safety of our volunteers and community remain our highest priority. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, have any symptoms of illness, or think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you MUST stay home even if you have already RSVP’d. Please bring your own tools and gloves if you are able, though staff will bring extra only upon request.

Liability Waivers
Liability waivers need to be filled out prior to volunteering with Whatcom Land Trust. The liability waiver is good for the remainder of the calendar year (January – December), and a new one will need to be filled out each year after. Both electronic copies and printed copies will be accepted. 
If you are 17 years of age or older, simply fill out the adult liability waiver below. 
Adult Liability Form
Minor Liability Form
How to fill out these forms if a volunteer is under 17 years old: 
– If the volunteer is under 13, a parent will need to sign both the adult liability form and the minor addendum form. 
– If the volunteer is between 13 and 17 years of age, the teenager will sign the adult liability waiver, and a parent will need to sign the minor addendum form.

Saturday, July 30th (9:00-12:00)

Join WLT and NSEA at our Bell Creek property along the North Fork of the Nooksack River. This property is home to a wildlife including deer, elk, salmon and eagles. Come help us improve this important habitat by removing invasive species including ivy, vinca, and blackberry!
Carpool option: Bell Creek is about 30 minutes from Bellingham – if you would like to sign up for shuttle transportation to and from the event, please email sbrown@n-sea.org. The shuttle will leave from NSEA’s campus at 8:15 and return at 12:30.
What to expect: Walking a short distance on uneven ground, digging using a shovel, pulling roots.
Directions: Directions to parking: from Bellingham, drive east on Mt. Baker Hwy to Welcome. Turn right on Bell Creek Road and look for the NSEA WORK PARTY PARKING sign to the right. 5665 Mt Baker Hwy, Deming, WA 98244.
RSVP: Registration is REQUIRED for this event, please follow this link to RSVP and for more information.

Field Friday - Kelsey
Friday, July 8th (9:00am – 3:00pm)

Join WLT staff and Volunteer Land Stewards for a day of removing blackberry and English holly! The Kelsey property is WLT’s second ever donated property and is bisected by Butler Creek.  Removing invasive species will allow recently planted native plants to grow.

Suggested Tools: Loppers and or hand clippers, and a shovel.
What to Expect: Walking on uneven ground for a half mile, using hand tools to cut blackberry and holly, and digging with a shovel.
Directions: From Bellingham, head north on Interstate-5, take the exit for Grandview Rd (Exit 266), turn left onto Grandview Road (WA-548N) toward Custer, travel approximately 3.5 miles and turn left onto North Star Road. After 1.4 miles, the gravel driveway to access the property will be on the right shortly after crossing the unmarked Butler Creek. Please look for our purple WLT sign! Drive all the way down the driveway and look for WLT staff to help with parking.
RSVP: To RSVP, please click here to fill out the google form associated with this project. Each person attending will need to fill out the form separately.

What are Field Fridays?
Want to spend some time with the Stewardship Team and learn a bit more about land trust conservation sites? Sign up for a Field Friday adventure generally held on the first Friday of the month. These are working days, and are more difficult than our shorter work parties. Volunteers should be prepared for all weather conditions and have tough, weather appropriate footwear and outerwear ready to traverse rugged, uneven terrain. Volunteers will have the opportunity to visit parts of properties rarely seen by the public, learn about Whatcom Land Trust’s stewardship goals and processes, and participate in restoration and land management activities. Children are not recommended for Field Fridays as these events are longer and more strenuous. Anyone under 17 must have a parent or guardian present.

RSVP is required to participate on these Field Fridays as space is limited and the schedule may change due to weather. Because we plan our activities around the volunteers expected and often have a waitlist, we must receive 48 hours’ notice for any cancellations. Transportation may not be provided, and volunteers may need to provide their own transportation.

Please pack a lunch, water, weather appropriate layers, boots, and rain gear. If you are able, please also bring your own gloves and tools; extras will only be provided by staff upon request. The week prior to the event, staff will email you with additional details on what to expect and what tools will be needed.

Please meet staff on the property at 9:00am, and the work will be done by 3:00pm with a lunch break. As many Field Fridays are in remote portions of the property, we ask that you stay for the entire duration of the Field Friday and do not leave early unless approved prior. A yearly liability waiver is required to be submitted electronically or by mail beforehand.

Capacity: Each Field Friday is limited in size.
RSVP Required: Please click on the name of the event that you are interested in attending and fill out the associated form. Each person attending must fill out the form separately. Please visit the Field Friday page on our website to find the sign up links!
Masks: You are required to have a face covering on you at all times, but you are not required to wear it while working outside and well over 6 feet away from others. If riding in a WLT vehicle, facemasks are required.
Tools & Gloves: Please bring your own if you are able; staff will only bring extra upon request.
Water & Snacks: Please bring water, snacks, and a lunch to keep you fueled and hydrated throughout the day.
Feeling Sick?: Stay home if you feel any illness symptoms or think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19! It takes all of us to keep everyone safe.
Questions: Please feel free to email our Volunteer Coordinator, Abby Weaver, abby@whatcomlandtrust.org.

COVID-19 Update

The safety of our volunteers and community remain our highest priority. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, have any symptoms of illness, or think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you MUST stay home even if you have already RSVP’d. Please bring your own tools and gloves if you are able, though staff will bring extra only upon request.

Liability Waivers
Liability waivers need to be filled out prior to volunteering with Whatcom Land Trust. The liability waiver is good for the remainder of the calendar year (January – December), and a new one will need to be filled out each year after. Both electronic copies and printed copies will be accepted. 
If you are 17 years of age or older, simply fill out the adult liability waiver below. 
Adult Liability Form
Minor Liability Form
How to fill out these forms if a volunteer is under 17 years old: 
– If the volunteer is under 13, a parent will need to sign both the adult liability form and the minor addendum form. 
– If the volunteer is between 13 and 17 years of age, the teenager will sign the adult liability waiver, and a parent will need to sign the minor addendum form.

Saturday, June 25th 9:00-12:00

Maple Creek Reach is a stunning property along the North Fork of the Nooksack River. Join WLT and NSEA in removing invasive scotch broom from the property to allow native plants to thrive!
Carpool option: Maple Creek Reach, owned by the Whatcom Land Trust, is about 40 minutes from Bellingham – if you would like to sign up for shuttle transportation to and from the event, please email sbrown@n-sea.org. The shuttle will leave from NSEA’s campus at 8:15 and return at 12:30.
What to expect: Walking a short distance on uneven ground, digging using a shovel, pulling roots.
Directions: Directions to parking: from Bellingham, take Mt. Baker Highway east to Maple Falls. Once through Maples Falls, follow the highway for two sharp bends and continue until you see the NSEA WORK PARTY PARKING sign to the right.
RSVP: Registration is REQUIRED for this event, please follow this link to RSVP and for more information.

Field Friday- Pratum
This event is currently full. Please click the link below to join our waitlist.
Friday, June 3^rd (9:00-3:00), Option to carpool from WLT Office (8:00-4:00)

Join WLT staff and Volunteer Land Stewards for a day of removing Vinca from the property. Enjoy a walk through a beautiful forest and past a waterfall on the way to the worksite. 

Suggested Tools: Hand clippers, and a small shovel. Bring a kneeling pad if you would like!
What to Expect: Walking on uneven ground, hand pulling plants, kneeling and using hand tools to dig Directions: Drive east on North Shore Road past Briton Road. Turn left and travel east on Academy Road for about half of a mile to East 17th Crest (private road). Turn right and follow the road through left and right turns. Our parking area will be straight ahead after your right turn. Here is a google maps link, though please read through the directions above. 
RSVP: To RSVP, please click here to fill out the google form associated with this project. Each person attending will need to fill out the form separately. To maximize the number of participants, we strongly encourage you to meet at our office to carpool. The truck will leave the office at 8:15am.

What are Field Fridays?

Want to spend some time with the Stewardship Team and learn a bit more about land trust conservation sites? Sign up for a Field Friday adventure generally held on the first Friday of the month. These are working days, and are more difficult than our shorter work parties. Volunteers should be prepared for all weather conditions and have tough, weather appropriate footwear and outerwear ready to traverse rugged, uneven terrain. Volunteers will have the opportunity to visit parts of properties rarely seen by the public, learn about Whatcom Land Trust’s stewardship goals and processes, and participate in restoration and land management activities. Children are not recommended for Field Fridays as these events are longer and more strenuous. Anyone under 17 must have a parent or guardian present.

RSVP is required to participate on these Field Fridays as space is limited and the schedule may change due to weather. Because we plan our activities around the volunteers expected and often have a waitlist, we must receive 48 hours’ notice for any cancellations. Transportation may not be provided, and volunteers may need to provide their own transportation.

Please pack a lunch, water, weather appropriate layers, boots, and rain gear. If you are able, please also bring your own gloves and tools; extras will only be provided by staff upon request. The week prior to the event, staff will email you with additional details on what to expect and what tools will be needed.

Please meet staff on the property at 9:00am, and the work will be done by 3:00pm with a lunch break. As many Field Fridays are in remote portions of the property, we ask that you stay for the entire duration of the Field Friday and do not leave early unless approved prior. A yearly liability waiver is required to be submitted electronically or by mail beforehand.

Capacity: Each Field Friday is limited in size.
RSVP Required: Please click on the name of the event that you are interested in attending and fill out the associated form. Each person attending must fill out the form separately. Please visit the Field Friday page on our website to find the sign up links!
Masks: You are required to have a face covering on you at all times, but you are not required to wear it while working outside and well over 6 feet away from others. If riding in a WLT vehicle, facemasks are required.
Tools & Gloves: Please bring your own if you are able; staff will only bring extra upon request.
Water & Snacks: Please bring water, snacks, and a lunch to keep you fueled and hydrated throughout the day.
Feeling Sick?: Stay home if you feel any illness symptoms or think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19! It takes all of us to keep everyone safe.
Questions: Please feel free to email our Volunteer Coordinator, Abby Weaver, abby@whatcomlandtrust.org.

COVID-19 Update

The safety of our volunteers and community remain our highest priority. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, have any symptoms of illness, or think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you MUST stay home even if you have already RSVP’d. Please bring your own tools and gloves if you are able, though staff will bring extra only upon request.

Liability Waivers
Liability waivers need to be filled out prior to volunteering with Whatcom Land Trust. The liability waiver is good for the remainder of the calendar year (January – December), and a new one will need to be filled out each year after. Both electronic copies and printed copies will be accepted. 
If you are 17 years of age or older, simply fill out the adult liability waiver below. 
Adult Liability Form
Minor Liability Form
How to fill out these forms if a volunteer is under 17 years old: 
– If the volunteer is under 13, a parent will need to sign both the adult liability form and the minor addendum form. 
– If the volunteer is between 13 and 17 years of age, the teenager will sign the adult liability waiver, and a parent will need to sign the minor addendum form.

Spring Benefit Event, Boundary Bay Beer Garden 2022

JOIN US for our annual Spring Benefit in person! After two years of virtual celebrations, we are looking forward to seeing you all together once again. We'll share our gratitude and appreciation for all of your support and tell you more about Whatcom Land Trust's latest wins and upcoming projects.

Special guests include members of the Lhaq'temish Foundation who will highlight the connections between their work and Whatcom Land Trust's work. We'll celebrate with live music, dancing, and a wine grab!

We are also delighted to offer an online auction beginning May 28 and running through June 5. We will share sneak peeks of the auction items throughout the month, so be sure to follow us on Instagram & Facebook for more details!

We recognize the pandemic is not over, and we want to ensure all of our guests feel safe and comfortable. Mask wearing is acceptable and based on individual comfort level. Boundary Bay Beer Garden is a large outdoor venue with great airflow. One entree and two drinks from Boundary Bay are included with your ticket!

Capacity is limited to 100 individuals, so get your ticket today before they're gone!

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ONLINE SILENT AUCTION: MAY 28TH - JUNE 5TH

Place your bids at our Spring Benefit Online Auction, open NOW through noon, Sunday, June 5! Bid high and often to protect lands in Whatcom County for farmlands, open spaces, recreation and habitat for future generations! All the auction items, including local artworks, outdoor adventures and getaways, recreational equipment and so much more are available at the link below!

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ART WALK & ART VIEWING: MAY 31ST - JUNE 3RD

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Special thanks to our wonderful Business Partners for making this possible!

Join John D'Onofrio, Alan Sanders, and Rich Bowers at Squires Lake Park for a nature photography workshop!

Date and time: March 5th, 10am-2pm

Location: Squires Lake Park

Registration: You must register for this event here. This event is being offered on a 'by donation' basis. You are welcome to make a donation prior to the event here or at the event by check or cash. We want to encourage anyone to sign up regardless of your ability to donate. Thank you!

About the event:
Located on the border between Whatcom and Skagit County, Squires Lake Park is 82 acres of beautiful forest surrounding Squires Lake. Acquired in 1995 with the help of Whatcom Land Trust, this park provides essential habitat for birds, beavers, and many more.

John D'Onofrio, Alan Sanders, and Rich Bowers are all distinguished photographers based in Whatcom County. They have offered to host this photography workshop on this Land Trust protected property for anyone hoping to learn about photography, improve their skills, or just spend a day out in nature capturing the beauty of this magnificent place!

No prior photography experience is necessary to participate. All camera types welcome (yes, even a smartphone!). Please be prepared for all weather conditions and bring a lunch or snack as there will be a break around noon.

Directions: From Bellingham, take I-5 South to exit 242 towards Nulle Road. Turn left on Nulle Rd which then becomes Old Hwy 99. Squires Lake Trail parking will be on your left. We will meet in the parking lot at 10am and return at 2pm.

Friday, April 1^st (9am-3pm, onsite)

Join us for a day of removing a small cabin from our California Creek – Fleet Rd property. We will not only be disassembling the structure, but also will be hauling the materials out of the property. This work will help minimize the impervious area on the property and will be a large step in the restoration of the property.

Suggested Tools: Gloves, and any tool you feel may be useful in hand demolition of a structure. Examples include crowbars, sledge hammer, hammer, etc.

What to Expect: Using tools to take apart a structure, carrying heavy objects a long distance.

Directions: From Bellingham, head north on I-5. Take exit 274 for Peace Portal Drive towards Semiahmoo. Turn right on Peace Portal Drive and turn left in 400 feet onto Bell Road. Travel south for about 2 miles, Bell Road will turn into Blaine Road. Turn left onto Fleet Road, continue down the driveway toward where the road ends. Parking will be on either side of the road before reaching the adjacent neighbor’s house. Look for our purple WLT sign to guide you.

RSVP: To RSVP, please click here to fill out the google form associated with this project. Each person attending will need to fill out the form separately.

What are Field Fridays?

Want to spend some time with the Stewardship Team and learn a bit more about land trust conservation sites? Sign up for a Field Friday adventure generally held on the first Friday of the month! These are working days, and are more difficult than our shorter work parties. Volunteers should be prepared for all weather conditions and have tough, weather appropriate footwear and outerwear ready to traverse rugged, uneven terrain. Volunteers will have the opportunity to visit parts of properties rarely seen by the public, learn about Whatcom Land Trust’s stewardship goals and processes, and participate in restoration and land management activities. Children are not recommended for Field Fridays as these events are longer and more strenuous. Anyone under 17 must have a parent or guardian present.

RSVP is required to participate on these Field Fridays as space is limited and the schedule may change due to weather. Because we plan our activities around the volunteers expected and often have a waitlist, we must receive 48 hours’ notice for any cancellations. Transportation is not provided during the pandemic, and volunteers must drive themselves to and from the property.

Please pack a lunch, water, weather appropriate layers, boots, and rain gear. If you are able, please also bring your own gloves and tools; extras will only be provided by staff upon request. The week prior to the event, staff will email you with additional details on what to expect and what tools will be needed.

Please meet staff on the property at 9:00am, and the work will be done by 3:00pm with a lunch break. As many Field Fridays are in remote portions of the property, we ask that you stay for the entire duration of the Field Friday and do not leave early unless approved prior. A yearly liability waiver is required to be submitted electronically or by mail beforehand.

COVID-19 Update

The safety of our volunteers and community remain our highest priority. We are limiting each work party in size, so an RSVP will be required prior to each work party. All volunteers are required to have a face covering on them at all times, though it is not required to be worn while working outside if well over six feet away from others. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 30 days, have any symptoms of illness, or think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 within the last 2-3 weeks, you MUST stay home even if you have already RSVP’d. Please bring your own tools and gloves if you are able, though staff will bring extra only upon request.

Liability Waivers
Liability waivers need to be filled out prior to volunteering with Whatcom Land Trust. The liability waiver is good for the remainder of the calendar year (January – December), and a new one will need to be filled out each year after. Both electronic copies and printed copies will be accepted. 
If you are 17 years of age or older, simply fill out the adult liability waiver below. 
Adult Liability Form
Minor Liability Form
How to fill out these forms if a volunteer is under 17 years old: 
– If the volunteer is under 13, a parent will need to sign both the adult liability form and the minor addendum form. 
– If the volunteer is between 13 and 17 years of age, the teenager will sign the adult liability waiver, and a parent will need to sign the minor addendum form.

Capacity: Each Field Friday is limited in size to allow for safe distancing.

RSVP Required: Please click on the name of the event that you are interested in attending and fill out the associated form. Each person attending must fill out the form separately. Please visit the Field Friday page on our website to find the sign up links!

Masks: You are required to have a face covering on you at all times, but you are not required to wear it while working outside and well over 6 feet away from others.

Tools & Gloves: Please bring your own if you are able; staff will only bring extra upon request.

Water & Snacks: Please bring water, snacks, and a lunch to keep you fueled and hydrated throughout the day.

Feeling Sick?: Stay home if you feel any illness symptoms or think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 2-3 weeks! It takes all of us to keep everyone safe.

Questions: Please feel free to email our Volunteer Coordinator, Abby Weaver, abby@whatcomlandtrust.org.