Living in Community with the Natural World

Immersive outdoor education designed for adults interested in botany, ecology, fungi, wilderness skills, and more.

Upcoming Events

Northwest Natura is located in Bellingham, WA and leads field trips for adults within the greater Salish Sea Bioregion.

Nature Education & Gatherings

Workshops, Custom Courses, Private Events, Guided Tours.

Public workshops & walks offered every weekend.

Private lessons for groups, families, & individuals, year-round.

Announcements

Sponsored Events

Fungi Basics Crash Course

Friday, August 28, 2026 1:00pm–4:00pm

Oak Harbor Library

Learn about the magical world of mushrooms and fungi -- places to spot them, identification basics, and how they interact with our Pacific Northwest environment. 

The interactive workshop is led by Jazmen Yoder who is a botanist, former wetland ecologist, and founder of Northwest Natura.

Contact Sno-Isle Libraries with questions about this course.

Register for this workshop online at:

https://sno-isle.bibliocommons.com/v2/events/69cc7453b48451fc3c0c8419

Northwest Natura Upcoming Events

NWN is Based out of Bellingham, WA.

Customer Feedback

  • Jazmen has taught me mostly everything I know regarding outdoor living, field ecology, tracking, the list goes on. She’s such a genuine and great teacher and you’ll be thinking about her classes for months!! She teaches in a way so you won’t be able to forget. I can’t recommend her enough. These days we all need to connect with our roots and Earth — let Jazmen guide you through that!

    Srikar B

  • Find myself writing this review months after my most recent Northwest Natura course, because Jazmen has truly changed the way I engage with nature in a way that I feel in every outing since. Jazmen is an unbelievable wealth of information, and she excels where others don't in sharing information in digestible, memorable ways. Her enthusiasm is infectious and she presents without pretense, it truly feels like you just spent an afternoon hanging out with your smartest botanist friend. I've taken 3 field courses on different foraging subjects, a tidepool ecology course, and a mushroom seminar, and every one has left me looking forward to the next. Her instruction informs the way I spend my time outside to this day, and I'm so grateful. Take her courses! Support a great person doing important work!

    Justin E

  • I love these courses. I have taken two and plan on taking many more. Jazmen is encourages curiosity and speaks with ease on tons of different areas of expertise. I can't wait to take the animal tracking course!

    Sam M

  • Took the needle basketry class and had a lot of fun! Class was informative — looking forward to taking another class with Jazmen.

    Justine M

  • Jazmen is a skilled and patient instructor. I took a pine needle basketweaving class and left with the skills needed to finish the project and start many more. I would recommend!

    Sarah S

  • I have done several classes with Jazmen over the last year or so. Every time, we are in such a beautiful area that I’ve never been to before, even though I’ve lived here for 34 years. Her knowledge on everything we come across baffles me sometimes. Everything is so hands on and fun! We have explored bogs, made bread over a fire, explored the low tides, and hiked into the deep woods to find purple mushrooms. So many good memories and looking forward to many more.

    Sarah D.

  • Fabulous teacher, keeps you engaged the whole time and explains complex structures in an understandable way for beginners. I went on a mushroom foraging expedition and learned so much! I would definitely recommend this course and I will be taking others as well.

    Serena N.

  • Not only is Jazmen super knowledgeable, her classes are so fun!! We have learned so much & have had amazing time foraging, cooking & hiking! 10/10!!

    Jessica P.

  • So FUN... and informative! With Jazmen, its like going out with a friend. I've taken 2 of Jazmen's walks and I'll be doing more. If you have any interest in mushrooms, fungi, nature, what's edible in nature (and not!), you owe yourself an outing or class with Jazmen. She knows the foraging spots and puts a lot of planning and thought into her work, which she generously shares. Highly recommended!!

    Gary

  • We traveled from Tacoma to take a course with Jazmen, and it was definitely worth the drive! She was such a great teacher. I had taken some basic college ecology courses and really struggled to understand how to identify mushrooms and navigate the books. A two hour course with NW Natura was the most beneficial class I’ve taken, I understood what she teaching and learned so many new things. I will definitely be taking more classes in the future!

    Zoe S

  • Wonderful! As a total mushroom nube, I thought 3 hours of “classroom” might be long. How wrong I was! Jazmen is a delight, and her enthusiastic knowledge of foraging and PNW forestry definitely made me want to learn more. I took tons of notes and can’t wait to join one of the upcoming trail hikes

    Crystal

  • So fun! Jazmen was our guide. She’s fun, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable. Lots of good, interesting, and varied facts. I learned a lot!

    Alex

  • My partner and I took a foraging and cordage making class with Jazmen this weekend. It was a beautiful afternoon with beautiful plants all around. We hiked through fields and forest while identifying the different tasty treats. Jazmen has an immense knowledge of plants and the environment. It was an absolute pleasure to learn from someone with so much passion for their craft. 10/10, highly recommend. Jazmen is a great leader, great teacher, and a splendid human.

    Courtney N

  • Jazmen is very knowledgeable and is able to share that in a way that is engaging and enjoyable. The classes are very hands-on and I always come away from them feeling like I learned things, and with a greater appreciation for Nature.

    Janette B

  • I've taken several classes with Northwest Natura and all have been really great experiences. Jazmen is very knowledgeable on a pretty wide array of subject matter from plant id and foraging, to ethno-botany, fungi, campfire cooking, and a bunch of other outdoor skills. She also does a really good job creating a fun, inclusive, hands-on learning environment which I really appreciate. Every class I've taken has been different, and I've learned a bunch of cool things each time. Highly recommended!!!

    Mike B

  • I recently took a basketry class with Jazmen of Northwest Natura and loved it. Jazmen is incredibly skilled and a born teacher, but also created a class environment which felt really relaxed and enjoyable. And amazingly we all made baskets! I would highly recommend checking out her classes.

    Alexis H

  • Had such a great time foraging for mushrooms this past weekend with Jazmen. She helped me organize a small group foray as a belated birthday gift for my brother and our little group had such a good time. Jazmen is very knowledgeable about mushroom and plant identification and does a great job of breaking her knowledge down in a way that is easy for others with minimal experience to understand.

    Kristen B

  • What an unbelievable gem Jazmen is - knowledgeable, relaxed, welcoming, adventurous, excellent. My partner and I took her mushroom foraging class, learned a lot, came home with a healthy bag of chanterelles and an interest in going back for more! We’re excited about her classes on ferns, fire, and bread-making too. Highly recommend booking something with her

    Zack F

  • We had the best day ever taking a mushroom course with Jazmen! She is so knowledgeable and kind, and is just a joy to be around. We learned so much throughout the day, and will definitely be signing up for more classes! Cannot recommend highly enough!

    Madelaine K

  • I took the mushroom class with a friend and I'm so glad we decided to do it! Jazmen is super passionate and knowledgeable about native fungi and plants! It was a great way to meet new people and get out in nature! You don't need to know anything in order to do the class but even if you do it would still be fun!

    Krista L

  • Went on a mushroom foray with Jazmen and a small group. Jazmen is a great teacher and guide and unfolds so much knowledge with an obvious passion for ecology and for mushrooms in particular. What an amazing day we had. Felt like foraging with friends. Thanks Jazmen.

    John H

  • I had an awesome experience with Jazmen on a private mushroom foraging trip. She was professional, knowledgeable, and fun to be with. Jazmen is a great teacher - highly recommend!

    Michael M

  • I first met Jazmen at a wildlife tracking workshop she did with Ryan (Firecraft Northwest). They are remarkably intelligent and very keen to share their knowledge with others. Highly recommend attending a workshop with them to learn anything and everything about the natural world around us

    Michael P

  • I highly recommend participating in a program from Jazmen with Northwest Natura! Jazmen's classes, hikes, and events are fun, well thought out, and designed for anyone to participate. Beginners and veterans are both welcome and will walk away proud to share something new they have learned and stories to tell. As an instructor, Jazmen is extremely knowledgeable, fun-loving, and inspiring. After one of her classes, you'll want to keep on learning and dive even deeper into so many exciting nature studies and wilderness skills!

    Ryan J

  • Jazmen is a legend. Her workshops and gatherings are my preferred way to get to know some of the best plants and people in Whatcom County.

    Brett K

  • I took a native PNW tree ID class with Jazmen and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. Jazmen was an approachable and knowledgable instructor, and I came away from the class feeling as though I could positively ID multiple trees in the region. I also really appreciated that she sent out a follow-up email with all the information she covered in the class. Would highly recommend taking a workshop with Northwest Natura.

    Arielle A

  • I went on a couple of plant walks with Jazmen. Even though the weather was cold, damp, and cloudy, I had such a good time. Jazmen brought so much vitality, love, and fun to the experience, and all that connected to her deep knowledge of plants, ecology, and ethnobotany. Jazmen made everyone feel like an active member of the group, and a friend. This was not a simple stroll through the woods -- at every turn on the trail she stopped to engage us in learning about something there.

    Eric W

  • I had a great time and learned a ton at the foraging class! Jazmen is a great leader and I look forward to learning more in the future. Highly recommended!

    Josh G

  • My wife and I had a great time experiencing the PNW Ethnobotany guided hike with Jazmen and Northwest Natura! We go hiking frequently but we do not know much about the plants we see. After the guided walk, we felt much more informed and much closer to the nature surrounding us. Jazmen is crazy knowledgable and is very good at explaining things. Also, she encourages questions and provides great answers. Highly recommended!

    Frank S

  • Classes are fun with a variety of course topics for any outdoor enthusiast at any level. I highly recommend signing up for one Northwest Natura’s classes! Jazmen and other instructors that she partners with are enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and always enjoyable to be around.

    Aimee W

  • I have learned so much from Northwest Natura's field trips! A great way to get out into nature, learn, and meet people with common interests. I really enjoyed the tree ID and botany trips, and can't wait to sign up for more in the future!

    Brigitta M

  • What a great spot outside of Maple Falls to participate in the Winter Medicine class. I learned lots about cottonwood as we made a tincture, oil and salve. I highly recommend this class to anyone who is interested in learning about natural medicines and being outside,!

    -Linda C

  • I took Jazmen's Pine Needle Basketry weaving class recently and it was much more than I hoped for. Jazmen is a wonderful teacher and a just a lovely human to spend time with. I wasn't sure what the class would be like, and was a little nervous going in solo, but even the other students were a delight. I learned a lot and the sense of community was a welcome surprise. I signed up for another one of Jazmen's classes almost immediately and so looking forward to it! It's SO COOL to have someone in our community teaching these unique classes, sharing local knowledge, and bringing us together. Northwest Natura is a treasure.

    Emmy

FAQ

  • Northwest Natura is not a youth-focused company, but I have taught many kid-friendly courses and have experience with long-term contract teaching 5-17 year olds. Family-friendly private lessons for all ages are available all year round. Public courses are designed just for adults and older teens (16+). Check out Wild Things with Wild Whatcom for youth + adult events.

  • Service dogs are welcome. Non-service animals are only allowed on “dog-friendly” outings (posted several times per year - look for “dog-friendly” on flyers). Non-service animals are not invited to regular public outings for many reasons (but please note that I love dogs and think they’re amazing).

  • Yes! Follow the prompts in this link - choose your topic(s), date(s), location, and group size. I’ll respond in an email to clarify your intentions for your private outing, design it for you based on your ideas, send the concept to you for review, and schedule with you.

  • Northwest Natura became a licensed business in November 2022 and has been operating full-time since April 2023.

  • Yes through sponsored programs or private lessons scheduled through this portal. For private lessons, bear in mind commute fees may be added to baseline estimates.

  • I (Jazmen) am the founder, operator, author, and primary instructor for all offered events. All courses are designed and implemented by me including those for the State of Washington Department of Ecology (AmeriCorps), Whatcom Community College (Discover), and North Cascades Institute, with the exception of the Washington Native Plant Society’s Plant ID & Keying Course, designed originally by my former instructor, Abe Lloyd, but adapted by me to fit my teaching style in 2025. Occasionally I collaborate with other naturalists such as Mark Thompson of Cambium Ecological, Madelaine Katz (Marine Science), and Ryan Johnson of Firecraft Northwest. I pay a friend to help advertise events and design the calendars for the website. I may also have a friend shadowing me during intensive workshops.

  • Calendars are updated around the second week of each month. Events are booked out 1-3 months in advance. If you see a lot of blank dates in the calendar above, check back in a week to see if it’s been updated. You can also add yourself to the monthly email list to get calendar updates (scroll down to add your email).

  • I had the honor of substituting Dr. Eric DeChaine in BIO452 Mycology during Fall 2025.

Instagram Feed

Follow @northwest_natura for regular updates on programs, educational videos, and monthly nature quizzes.

View fullsize New Summertime classes coming up! Swipe to see 👉 I’m particularly excited for all of them - all cIasses save Pine Needle Basketry are new editions. Some are similar to previous courses I’ve led but they’re taking place in either n
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View fullsize Summer cIass announcements! Swipe to see 👉 I’m looking forward to doing more wild crafting stuff and carving workshops in addition to botany field trips this summer. I’ll be adding more courses to the schejule in the next few days. If
View fullsize This legendary book has a successor coming soon! In 2026 we’ll have A NEW POJAR. 🤩 I was asked to provide the publisher with an endorsement and a review! Keep your eyes peeled for that and the release date announcement @cansciencebooks You
View fullsize This summer I’m collaborating with @thedrytroll in our extra special Wand Carving workshop. 🪄 This course is primarily a carving workshop with the opportunity to build community and socialize with folks who share your interests (crafting, mag
View fullsize Spring & Summer cIass announcements! Swipe to see 👉 All new! New locations, new ideas, and more to come. I’m excited about all of them and I only got around to designing 3 today so keep your eyes peeled for the rest! I offer tiered prrr
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View fullsize Learn about seaweeds and tidepool creatures this summer on the New Moon and the lowest low tides near Summer Solstice! #nwnatura #bellinghamexperience #salishsea #adventuresnw #nature
View fullsize Special double-sided event! Come to the nursery on March 14 from 11:30am-1pm for a free Fungi Basics seminar followed by a more in depth paid seminar on the Fungi Kingdom (see flyer, second slide) with local Naturalist, Jazmen Yoder of Northwest Natu

Gift Cards

Northwest Natura gift cards are a wonderful gift for all outdoorsy folks and shows you support and care about their interest in nature.

Northwest Natura - e-Gift Card

Looking to stay informed about classes?

Northwest Natura’s classes are advertised on the following event calendars:

Adventures Northwest

Whatcom Talk

Visit Bellingham

Bellingham Craigslist (Classes)

Cascadia Daily

Updates are posted regularly on Northwest Natura’s Instagram @northwest_natura