Paddling Across Lake Whatcom with “Latino Men in Higher Education”
On a warm spring morning, the National Park Trust College Ambassadors at Western Washington University and the Latino Men in Higher Education (LMHE) club partnered together for a kayaking trip to Lakewood, Western Washington University’s beautiful waterfront facility on Lake Whatcom. The goal of this outing was to spend time together outside, connect with the community, and enjoy a place many students had never explored.
Our participants met at Western’s Outdoor Center in the morning, where excitement quickly built as everyone packed into carpools and headed toward the lake. Conversations about classes, hobbies, and weekend plans filled the cars during the short drive, and before long, Lake Whatcom’s sparkling blue water came into view through the trees.
Located about seven miles from campus, Lakewood serves as Western’s student-focused waterfront facility and gives students access to kayaks, paddleboards, canoes, sailboats, and more. Its boathouse and expansive shoreline create a welcoming environment for students to gather, recreate, and experience the outdoors in an accessible way. For many participants on this trip, it was their very first time visiting Lakewood despite living in Bellingham for months or even years.
Once we arrived, everyone got fitted for lifejackets, rented kayaks from the boathouse, and carried boats down to the docks together. The lake was calm and glassy, reflecting the surrounding evergreens and bright blue sky. It felt like the perfect day to paddle.
As we paddled out across the water, laughter echoed between kayaks while groups paddled side-by-side with friends. We made our way a couple of miles across the lake, circling a small island surrounded by peaceful shoreline and quiet forest. Along the way, we spotted birds gliding low across the water and enjoyed moments of calm where the only sounds were paddles dipping into the lake and conversations drifting between boats.
One of the most meaningful parts of the trip was hearing participants talk about how special it felt to experience a new place outdoors together. College can feel incredibly busy and overwhelming, and having an opportunity to slow down, laugh with friends, and enjoy the water created a sense of connection that stayed with us throughout the day.
After paddling back to the docks, nobody seemed quite ready for the day to end. We spent the afternoon tossing a football and frisbee in the grass and having an impromptu field day with friends we ran into at Lakewood. People sprawled out on picnic tables, shared snacks, and soaked up the sunshine while talking about future adventures they wanted to go on together.
Eventually, we packed back into our cars and returned to the Outdoor Center, tired from the sun and paddling but grateful for the day we had shared. The goodbyes felt bittersweet in the way they often do after a meaningful time spent outdoors with good people.
Trips like this remind us how important accessible outdoor spaces and community-centered programming can be. Sometimes all it takes is a sunny afternoon, a few kayaks, and a welcoming group of people to help someone feel more connected — both to the outdoors and to each other.
