Fall Family Weekend continues with Featured Offerings
Thank you for joining us for Fall Family Weekend 2020! We hope you and your student will continue to explore and connect with Western communities through the remaining Featured Offerings. Enjoy the many stories and voices of Western that are shared on the page below. Looking forward to our next opportunity to "see" you soon, virtually!
Welcome from Dr. Melynda Huskey
Dear Families,
I’m so happy to welcome you to a Fall Family Weekend unlike any we’ve ever hosted here at Western! This year has stretched us all in so many unforeseen ways, which makes it even more important to find new ways to bring our traditions to students and families. And although it looks a little different, the most important part stays the same: we want you to enjoy the Western experience with your student! We’ve planned some fun new ways to connect with campus, and to get to know us as a working university, and your student’s (virtual) home away from home. And who knows? Maybe next year we’ll be seeing each other on campus! Until then, please know that we are all here to support your student in learning and growing in every way we can.
Make waves!
Melynda Huskey
Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services

Welcome from New Student Services/Family Outreach
We are so excited to present our annual Fall Family Weekend program and invite you to explore, connect, and have some fun through our virtual format. While we aren’t able to meet in person this year, we’re still offering events and resources to link you and your family more deeply with the Western community.
The students, faculty and staff at Western have energetically worked on creating events that highlight our beautiful campus, local community, and greater geography. We have live and recorded events that you can access from the comfort of your home, while still creating a great shared experience. Check out the cooking demos, explore research on the Salish Sea, navigate a self-guided tour of campus or our renowned outdoor sculpture collection, or celebrate Huxley College of the Environment’s 50th anniversary by learning more about their research and real-world applications. Looking for self-care resources? Advice on navigating academically during these unique times? Just want to hang out and carve a pumpkin? Great! Don’t miss the Live Events section of the website for details!
We know that there are many different definitions of “family”, and we hope you, and those who are family to you, will join us to explore, connect, have fun, and be inspired. We are excited to share this time with you and your family. Have a great weekend!
Wayfinding at Western
- Campus Map for Western- Main cartography and design by Josh Jones, 2011-12
- Virtual tour of the campus. Choose your own adventure!
- Register here to participate virtually by scheduling a tour with Western students.
- Watch a YouTube tour led by students around our beautiful campus.
- Outdoor Sculpture tour- Explore this extensive public sculpture collection founded in the 1960’s.
- Multicultural Center tour - Join the Associated Students on a tour of this beautiful, new facility.
-
Western Tree tour - These four tree tours describe some of the more interesting specimens on campus and also provides some history about many of the trees.
See more of the Salish Sea & beyond
- Salish Sea & Surrounding Basin map Created by Stefan Freelan, WWU, 2009. Explore in and around the bioregion through this map created by Stefan Freelan, Western's GIS Specialist and Huxley College of the Environment instructor.
- Car Free Salish Sea Journeys No car? No problem! Created by student, Daniel Heppner, 2020
- Transboundary Restoration of Garry Oak Ecosystems Created by student, Kelsey McNally, 2020
- Salish Sea Alpine Resorts Created by student, Alexander West, 2020
- Art & Music in the Salish Sea: Creative expression for social change. Created by students, Noelle, Johanna, Braedan, 2017 Redfish School of Change
- At Home in the Salish Sea: Diversity of Belonging. Created by students, Megan Dewer, Anya Henning, Raichle Mackinnon Dunkeld, Jessie Paterson, 2018 Redfish School of Change
- Tourism, Industry, & Residents: Traveling, Staying, and Playing within the Salish Sea. Created by students, Sophia Bullock, Alexii Sigona, Thomas Cinnamon, Mackenzie Spurgeon, 2018 Redfish School of Change
- Native Land Acknowledgement Native Land is a tool that maps out Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages. Native Land brings about discussions of colonization, land rights, language, and Indigenous history tied to our personal histories. Created by Native Land Digital.
- Interactive Washington State park map - Find Washington State Parks near Western.
- Washington State Parks virtual Tours - Explore Washington State Parks from anywhere in the world.
Historical Tours
- Bellingham Working Waterfront An ongoing research project examining the transformation of Bellingham's shoreline.
- Bellingham History and walking tour interactive story map / audio tour/ booklet Experience the evolution of downtown Bellingham through historic photographs.
- Fairhaven interactive story map / booklet Fairhaven was one of four early towns that consolidated in 1904 to create the City of Bellingham. Explore this photo-rich story map, showing how Fairhaven has evolved over time.
- Old Sehome interactive story map / audio tour/ booklet Explore southern downtown Bellingham, originally settled in 1853 as the coal mining town of Sehome.
- Highway 99 interactive story map Discover the impact of Highway 99 on Whatcom County.
- Bellingham Walking Tour: Learn about Systemic Racism Created by the Systemic Racism Curriculum Project and the Bellingham Racial History Timeline project, 2019