Environmental Club Showcase to highlight collaboration and community through student involvement

WWU News

On This Page

• WWU Stories
• News Releases and Announcements
• WWU in the News
• Campus News and Information

Environmental Club Showcase to highlight collaboration and community through student involvement

January 27, 2026

by Jennifer Nerad

University Communications

Surrounded by nature - the mountains, sound, lakes, rivers, and abundant flora and fauna - Western Washington University and Bellingham naturally draw students who appreciate the outdoors. It's no wonder Western has more than a dozen clubs dedicated to exploring and protecting the environment.

On Thursday, Feb. 5, you'll find all these clubs in one place. The Winter 2026 Environmental Club Showcase will feature inspiring speakers, informative presentations, delicious food, live music from the Western Americana Music Group, and more. It's an opportunity for clubs to show off their work and for students to connect with clubs and each other.

"Our goal is to increase student involvement in club activities across the board," said Caleb Barville, a senior Environmental Sciences major and lead organizer of the showcase. "We want to create an inclusive atmosphere with a focus on community."

Barville says the event is open to anyone who wants to come out, listen to music, meet new people, and maybe discover a new interest along the way.

Teena Gabrielson, dean of the College of the Environment, will open the event, followed by a keynote from WWU alumna and Executive Director of Whatcom Land Trust Rachel Vasak. Vasak received a bachelor's degree in geology from WWU in 2007 and is recognized for her leadership in conservation, community engagement, and advocacy.

"Working with student clubs has shown me how powerful it is to learn by doing," said Vasak. "Through community events and projects like work parties, students gain real-world experience while making meaningful contributions to their community. Those moments - showing up together, getting our hands dirty, and seeing tangible results - build skills, confidence, and a lasting connection to service that extends beyond their time on campus."

Vasak's talk, "The Power of Presence: Elevating Service Through Club Action," will share how her own involvement in service learning - hands-on community service combined with academic learning and reflection - at Western shaped her perspective.

The showcase organizers hope the event will spark more collaboration between clubs.

"Throughout my time at Western, I have seen a disconnect between many of the clubs, especially among environmental clubs," said Barville. "I want to see that change, and I figured the first step would be to get all the club leaders into the same room," said Barville.

"The more collaboration between the clubs, the better our collective impact," he said. "For most clubs, the overarching goal is to build community - and if that can be shared across clubs, that's great!"

Participating clubs include the Ecological Restoration Club, Climbing Club, Students for Climate Action (SCA), Hiking and Outdoors Club, Society for Promoting Learning in Aquatic Sciences and Habitats (SPLASH), Bellingham Rotaract Club, Mushroom Club, Foraging Club, Salish Sea Club, Bee Club, Club for Urban and Environmental Sustainability (CUES), Students for Renewable Energy, and Bird Club. Support for the club showcase comes from a Sustainability Equity and Justice Fund (SEJF) grant through the Sustainability Engagement Institute.

Jennifer Nerad covers Western's College of the Environment and College of Business and Economics for the Office of University Communications. Have a great story idea? Reach out to her at [email protected].