Nature Education and Gatherings

Northwest Natura offers place-based education in botany, ecology, fungi, and outdoor skills to adults (16+) seeking community, unique recreational opportunities, naturalist and survival skill lessons, and fun, guided outdoor experiences.

Workshops & Field Trips

Northwest Natura teaches in Whatcom County and the greater Salish Sea Bioregion:

  • Nature walks

  • Botany field trips

  • Mushroom foraging

  • Firecraft and camping

  • Wildcrafting & basketry

  • Wildlife Tracking

  • Ethnobotany

  • Tidepool exploration programs

  • Survival skills and bushcraft workshops

  • Immersion Courses

  • Custom outings and private events

Come to learn something new, practice naturalist and survival skills, and experience the outdoors with people who share your interests.

Each class is led or hosted by Jazmen Yoder, a botanist, naturalist guide, bushcraft teacher, and northwest adventurer. Guest instructors include naturalist and expert tracker, Ryan Johnson of Firecraft Northwest; expert tracker, Mark Thompson, and Salish Sea Naturalist, Madelaine Katz.

Collaborations between Northwest Natura and Professors of Mycology, Ethnobotany and Salish Sea Natural History are possible. Inquire within.

New Moon Ceremonies

A Gathering of Witches

A Gathering of Witches (AGOW), est. April 2023, is a Northwest Natura wing that explores magic, ritual, and ceremony.

Each month on or near the night of the New Moon, this circle welcomes women and nonbinary individuals to join our supportive community of witches to set new intentions, acknowledge seasonal change, and share personal experiences.

AGOW aims to empower and inspire other witches through ritualized goal-setting and seasonal ceremonies. Each gathering is hosted by Northwest Natura, and designed by a different person who volunteers to lead activities and ceremonies, making each gathering unique.

AGOW begins with a feast and social hour, followed by a planned activity led by an individual, followed by a group check-in and intention setting circle, followed by a unique, cathartic ceremony led by different individuals, and ends with a group ritual focused on gratitude, giving, and receiving. Our ceremonies are often made up and written by the ceremony leader, and some are borrowed pagan traditions, modified by ceremony leaders.

People who come to AGOW tend to want to come again every month. Our collective effort to celebrate seasonal changes, form new traditions, and share personal growth experiences is our offering to our community. We have built a loving, safe space for feminine humans to be themselves, be vulnerable, make friends, and establish lasting camaraderie.

A Gathering of Witches is donation-based and all funds go directly to AGOW needs including venues, permits, materials, gifts, and supplies.

 Contact Northwest Natura

  • Please email Jazmen at nwnatura@gmail.com

  • You can support Northwest Natura by:

    Following on Instagram

    Sharing class announcements with friends

    Donating to NWN to help purchase shelters for the classrooms and equipment for workshops

    Reviewing on Google

  • If you would like to schedule an interview or offer photography services, videography services, or have other business inquiries including ones to collaborate, please contact Jazmen at nwnatura@gmail.com