Work Party with Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, Orca Day (10/19/2024, 9am-12pm)
October 19, 2024, 9am - 12pm
Our first work party attended as a newly founded club. We planted native trees and shrubs on a stretch of California Creek in support of salmon and orca habitat.

14 members attended!

1st Official Club Meeting
October 23, 2024, 5pm - 6pm
Had our first official club meeting. It was a success with around 40 people showing up.

The leaders did an introduction then presented what the potential goals of the club were.

Free pizza was provided!

Club Meeting Featuring Emily Segura with Whatcom Land Trust
November 06, 2024, 5pm - 6:15pm
The meeting discussed our official schedule for the quarter such as what work parties we would be attending. The Discord was introduced, which will be used for communication between members.

The meeting also featured guest speakers Emily Segura and Bryce Auburn, who work with Whatcom Land Trust, whose main goal is conserving land in Whatcom County. (To find out more, visit whatcomlandtrust.org). This was a great opportunity for members to find out more about internship opportunities and learn more about local organizations that ecologically restore our environment.

Our second official meeting was another success with 44 people attending. Pizza was provided.

Work Party with Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association and Whatcom Land Trust
November 09, 2024, 9am - 12pm
Spread mulch along Kenney Creek River to increase soil health before planting trees next year in support of salmon and stream health.

11 members attended.

Work Party Collaboration with Whatcom Mountain Bike Coalition and Whatcom Land Trust
November 16, 2024, 9am - 12pm
Planted native trees and shrubs at Padden Galbraith Mountain trailhead.

10 members attended!

Work Party Collaboration Between LEAD, Our Club, and Happy Valley Neighborhood Association
November 16, 2024, 11am - 2pm 

Removed invasive thistle, teasel, and blackberry in the Happy Valley Neighborhood community native pollinator garden.

9 members attended!

Weather: 38 degrees, pouring rain, 15-20mph wind.

Club Meeting Featuring Guest Speaker John McLaughlin
November 20, 2024, 6pm - 7:30pm
This meeting discussed upcoming local work parties to attend and our Viking funder page (which we have had so many supportive people graciously donate to).

The meeting featured guest speaker WWU Professor and PhD John McLaughlin. He discussed the urgent need to remove dams in the United States, as the majority are almost at their 150-age failure limit. He talked about the process of restoring degraded rivers after dam removals. This was an enlightening topic that is rarely discussed. To find out more about John McLaughlin, visit his website.

This meeting was another success with 39 attendees. It included pizza and sweet treats funded by valuable donations.

Work Party with LEAD
November 21, 2024, 2pm - 4pm
Removed invasive English Ivy from behind the commissary building (on campus).

16 members attended!

Work Party, First Official Work Party Organized and Led by Our Club
November 22, 2024, 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Removed 4 cubic yards of invasive English Ivy and English Holly from the NE side of campus in Sehome Arboretum.

We provided volunteers with leftover snacks from our 

13 members attended!

Work Party with Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association
November 23, 2024, 9am - 12pm
Planted 300 native trees and shrubs along Terrell Creek.

15 members attended!

Work Party with Whatcom Million Trees
November 23, 2024, 12pm - 3pm
Planted native trees at a Wildlife Rehab Center.

2 members attended; it was their second work party of the day!

Club Meeting Featuring Guest Speaker Stephen Nyman
December 04, 2024, 5pm - 6:30pm
This meeting discussed upcoming ecological restoration projects in the community, our Viking funder page, and our upcoming collaboration with the newly founded tea club.

The guest speaker was Stephen Nyman, "a PhD ecologist and herpetologist with 50 years of survey and research experience" (Stephen Nyman — North Cascades Institute). He talked about the project he is leading in Whatcom County, aiming to protect the endangered Oregon Spotted Frog, discussing the difficulties of restoring a highly degraded wetland overtaken by invasive Reed Canary Grass to provide habitat for these beautiful frogs. To learn more, visit:

• Hoping for a Hopping Success — The Planet Magazine

• Community Partnerships Are Key to Recovery of the Threatened Oregon Spotted Frog in Whatcom County — WhatcomTalk

• Endangered Frog Finds Hope in Whatcom County — Klipsun Magazine

The meeting had a total of 33 attendees. It included sweet baked goods kindly donated by Great Harvest Bakery in Bellingham and more than enough pizza for all attendees!