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The 11th Annual Run with the Chums was Fin-Tastic!

Kids and adults running in a race, led by a person in a green costume, outdoors.
A group of people running in a 2023 race event, wearing numbered bibs and yellow shirts, in an outdoor setting.
Three people under a "Run with the Chums" banner at a Whatcom Conservation District event.
A man, child, and dog on a countryside trail; man pushing a stroller with a seated toddler.
Outdoor event with tents, people, and a bright sun over a grassy area.
A blue mascot with a "I ❤️ Clean Water" sticker stands among a crowd, including kids with race numbers in a sunny outdoor setting.
A woman and child engage with a 3D map outdoors, surrounded by others.
A man holding a potted plant and book at an outdoor event. People and a "Run with the Chums" banner are visible under a tent.
People jogging in a race with dogs and a stroller, wearing numbered bibs, surrounded by trees and colorful flags.
A woman smiling with race bib number 153, standing in a crowd at an outdoor event.
People running in a race, some wearing "2023 Run with the Chums" shirts. A child on a bike and a dog are also participating.
Person in sunglasses and straw hat holding a book titled "Landscaping for Wildlife" and a green cup, surrounded by a group outdoors.
A young runner in a race, wearing a yellow shirt and numbered bib "297," approaches a person in a blue costume with an outstretched hand.
People in costumes interacting with children in a stroller during an outdoor event.
Outdoor event with people under a tent labeled "Run with the Chums," featuring a race and awards.
A man in a blue shirt holds a potted plant and a card. People in yellow shirts stand in the background with cones and a stroller nearby.
A group of runners in a race, some wearing event bibs. They're on a road with trees in the background.
A group of people outdoors, some wearing yellow "2023 Run with the Chums" shirts, one holding an "I Love Whatcom" bag.
People running in a race, wearing "2023 Run with the Chums" T-shirts, outdoors with trees in the background.
A smiling woman holding a book and water bottle at an outdoor event under a "Run with the Chums" banner.
People participating in a race, wearing numbered bibs.
A woman holding a baby receives an orange bag from a man during an outdoor event, with onlookers in the background.
Children running through an obstacle course outdoors, wearing numbered yellow shirts.
May contain: clothing, shorts, people, person, female, girl, teen, footwear, shoe, animal, mammal, pig, t-shirt, accessories, glasses, baseball cap, cap, hat, jeans, pants, machine, wheel, face, and head
People in costume and race attire at a "Run with the Chums" event, featuring a blue mascot and a fish sculpture.
A woman smiles holding a book and a potted plant at an outdoor event. People are gathered in the background.
People celebrating at a race finish line; two women, a stroller with kids, race numbers, and colorful flags.
A group of people outdoors, some with race numbers. A girl in front holds an orange bag, smiling at the camera.
A diverse group of people participating in a fun run or race outdoors, wearing numbered bibs.
A group of people at an outdoor event, some with numbered bibs, holding balloons and drinks.
People running in an outdoor race, wearing numbered bibs, with trees in the background.
A joyful person with sunglasses and a "2023" shirt raises their arm at an outdoor event, surrounded by a crowd.
People in yellow shirts with numbers are running at an event called "Run with the Chums" in 2022.
People at an outdoor event, with banners and distribution of items under a tent.
A group of children racing, wearing numbered tags, with a person in a dinosaur costume in the background.
People at an outdoor event with "Run with the Chums" shirts, under a tent. There's a table with items and race bibs visible.
A person interviews a young girl outdoors; others watch nearby at a sports event.
Outdoor event with a man showing a "Protect Birch Bay" shirt, people gathered under a tent for "Run with the Chums" by Whatcom Conservation.
A family poses in front of a "Run with the Chums" tent at an event. The children wear matching 2023 event shirts.
People jogging in a race, one pushing a stroller, another with a buggy, wearing numbered bibs, smiling outdoors.
Children with race numbers gather at an outdoor event, surrounded by adults and a small hoop.
A group of four people smiling at an outdoor event, holding prizes and wearing "Run With the Chums" shirts.
A person leads a dog in a red coat while holding a box. They're part of an outdoor event with a group of people watching.
A smiling runner holding a towel and bottle, wearing a "Poulsbo Running" shirt with the number 250, and others in the background.
A person holds a "Protect Birch Bay" shirt under a blue tent at an outdoor event with people in the background.
Two people running in an outdoor race with numbered bibs, surrounded by trees and colorful flags.
Outdoor event with runners, a woman holding a "I Protect Birch Bay" shirt, and a speaker under a "Run with the Chums" tent.
A dog, woman, and child running in a race, with a stroller and colorful flags.
A woman holds a prize while another speaks into a microphone. People stand nearby at an outdoor event.
Man running with number 251, playful gesture with someone in a blue costume glove, outdoors with trees and cones.
Runners with bibs 153 and 154 smiling during a race on a tree-lined path. Others follow behind, and a blue-costumed hand is visible.
A person with bib number 264 runs in a race, followed by others, on a road lined with colorful flags.
People walking on a path with a pig on a leash, surrounded by traffic cones and festive flags.
People walking, one pushing a stroller with two kids, in a park or outdoor area. They're near a finish line.
A group of people at an outdoor event, some wearing numbered bibs, walking or jogging. One person is waving.
People participating in a fun run or walk event, wearing numbered bibs, with strollers in a park.
A group of people participating in a 2023 run or walk event, many wearing shirts with the event logo. A stroller with children is visible.
People participating in an outdoor race or walk event, wearing numbered bibs and casual clothing, with trees and a path in the background.
May contain: accessories, sunglasses, clothing, shorts, adult, female, person, woman, hat, footwear, shoe, boy, child, male, glasses, man, animal, canine, dog, mammal, pet, face, and head
Group participating in a 2023 run event, wearing numbered bibs and t-shirts, with a stroller and a dog among them.
People in yellow shirts participating in a 5K run event titled "Run with the Chums" in 2023.
A group of people running in a race, wearing numbered bibs, with strollers and walkers in a cheerful outdoor setting.
A group of people participating in a running event, wearing numbered bibs and athletic wear.
A group of people, including children, running in a race, wearing numbered bibs. One person is pushing a stroller.
A person with a bike and a dog waves at a festive outdoor event with a crowd and someone in a fish costume nearby.
A group of people running in a race, with one person in a green costume.
A crowd of people at a race start line, with some in costumes, including green and blue mascots.
Two young children with number tags, one holding a blue ribbon, outdoors with others in the background.
People in a race event. One pushes a stroller, a woman holds a bike, and a man with a dog. They have numbered tags.
Person in a fish costume and a woman take a selfie under a tent at an outdoor event.
A group of children with bibs stand outdoors with two people in fish and raindrop costumes.
Children meet costumed characters at an outdoor event, under a blue tent.
May contain: adult, female, person, woman, accessories, and glasses
People in costumes and event shirts posing under a "Run With The Chums" tent.
People in fun costumes pose under a "Run with the Fish" event tent in a wooded area.
Outdoor event with people visiting booths under tents, including one for "Whatcom County Public Works."
Outdoor event with booths, people, and a dog. Focus on Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association tent.
A person stands under a "Whatcom Conservation District" tent with informational displays and brochures.
Outdoor event booths promoting pet waste disposal with a "Scoop it, Bag it, Trash it" message by Whatcom County Public Works.
Outdoor event with tents for "Public Works" and "Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association"; people interacting and a pledge sign.
Outdoor booth for Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District, featuring informational materials and promotional offers.
Two people smiling at a running event, wearing "Run with the Chums" shirts, in a grassy outdoor setting.
Two people at an outdoor event with a display for the Whatcom Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
People smiling next to a blue "Be Water Wise" character cutout at an outdoor event.
People gathered around a mobile watershed model under a Whatcom Conservation District tent.
A Whatcom Land Trust booth with a man at a table, surrounded by maps and informational materials, set outdoors.
A library booth with books, a person, and a sign for Whatcom County Library System under a blue canopy in an outdoor setting.
A crowd of happy participants in a 2023 run event, wearing T-shirts and race numbers, moving down a tree-lined path.
Children running in a race with numbered bibs, a crowd, and a large green costumed figure in the background.
A woman holds a prize while another speaks into a microphone at an outdoor event.
People in costumes and event shirts pose with a blue mascot and dinosaur next to a "Run with the Chums" banner.
Kids and adults running in a race, led by a person in a green costume, outdoors.
A group of people running in a 2023 race event, wearing numbered bibs and yellow shirts, in an outdoor setting.
Three people under a "Run with the Chums" banner at a Whatcom Conservation District event.
A man, child, and dog on a countryside trail; man pushing a stroller with a seated toddler.
Outdoor event with tents, people, and a bright sun over a grassy area.
A blue mascot with a "I ❤️ Clean Water" sticker stands among a crowd, including kids with race numbers in a sunny outdoor setting.
A woman and child engage with a 3D map outdoors, surrounded by others.
A man holding a potted plant and book at an outdoor event. People and a "Run with the Chums" banner are visible under a tent.
People jogging in a race with dogs and a stroller, wearing numbered bibs, surrounded by trees and colorful flags.
A woman smiling with race bib number 153, standing in a crowd at an outdoor event.
People running in a race, some wearing "2023 Run with the Chums" shirts. A child on a bike and a dog are also participating.
Person in sunglasses and straw hat holding a book titled "Landscaping for Wildlife" and a green cup, surrounded by a group outdoors.
A young runner in a race, wearing a yellow shirt and numbered bib "297," approaches a person in a blue costume with an outstretched hand.
People in costumes interacting with children in a stroller during an outdoor event.
Outdoor event with people under a tent labeled "Run with the Chums," featuring a race and awards.
A man in a blue shirt holds a potted plant and a card. People in yellow shirts stand in the background with cones and a stroller nearby.
A group of runners in a race, some wearing event bibs. They're on a road with trees in the background.
A group of people outdoors, some wearing yellow "2023 Run with the Chums" shirts, one holding an "I Love Whatcom" bag.
People running in a race, wearing "2023 Run with the Chums" T-shirts, outdoors with trees in the background.
A smiling woman holding a book and water bottle at an outdoor event under a "Run with the Chums" banner.
People participating in a race, wearing numbered bibs.
A woman holding a baby receives an orange bag from a man during an outdoor event, with onlookers in the background.
Children running through an obstacle course outdoors, wearing numbered yellow shirts.
May contain: clothing, shorts, people, person, female, girl, teen, footwear, shoe, animal, mammal, pig, t-shirt, accessories, glasses, baseball cap, cap, hat, jeans, pants, machine, wheel, face, and head
People in costume and race attire at a "Run with the Chums" event, featuring a blue mascot and a fish sculpture.
A woman smiles holding a book and a potted plant at an outdoor event. People are gathered in the background.
People celebrating at a race finish line; two women, a stroller with kids, race numbers, and colorful flags.
A group of people outdoors, some with race numbers. A girl in front holds an orange bag, smiling at the camera.
A diverse group of people participating in a fun run or race outdoors, wearing numbered bibs.
A group of people at an outdoor event, some with numbered bibs, holding balloons and drinks.
People running in an outdoor race, wearing numbered bibs, with trees in the background.
A joyful person with sunglasses and a "2023" shirt raises their arm at an outdoor event, surrounded by a crowd.
People in yellow shirts with numbers are running at an event called "Run with the Chums" in 2022.
People at an outdoor event, with banners and distribution of items under a tent.
A group of children racing, wearing numbered tags, with a person in a dinosaur costume in the background.
People at an outdoor event with "Run with the Chums" shirts, under a tent. There's a table with items and race bibs visible.
A person interviews a young girl outdoors; others watch nearby at a sports event.
Outdoor event with a man showing a "Protect Birch Bay" shirt, people gathered under a tent for "Run with the Chums" by Whatcom Conservation.
A family poses in front of a "Run with the Chums" tent at an event. The children wear matching 2023 event shirts.
People jogging in a race, one pushing a stroller, another with a buggy, wearing numbered bibs, smiling outdoors.
Children with race numbers gather at an outdoor event, surrounded by adults and a small hoop.
A group of four people smiling at an outdoor event, holding prizes and wearing "Run With the Chums" shirts.
A person leads a dog in a red coat while holding a box. They're part of an outdoor event with a group of people watching.
A smiling runner holding a towel and bottle, wearing a "Poulsbo Running" shirt with the number 250, and others in the background.
A person holds a "Protect Birch Bay" shirt under a blue tent at an outdoor event with people in the background.
Two people running in an outdoor race with numbered bibs, surrounded by trees and colorful flags.
Outdoor event with runners, a woman holding a "I Protect Birch Bay" shirt, and a speaker under a "Run with the Chums" tent.
A dog, woman, and child running in a race, with a stroller and colorful flags.
A woman holds a prize while another speaks into a microphone. People stand nearby at an outdoor event.
Man running with number 251, playful gesture with someone in a blue costume glove, outdoors with trees and cones.
Runners with bibs 153 and 154 smiling during a race on a tree-lined path. Others follow behind, and a blue-costumed hand is visible.
A person with bib number 264 runs in a race, followed by others, on a road lined with colorful flags.
People walking on a path with a pig on a leash, surrounded by traffic cones and festive flags.
People walking, one pushing a stroller with two kids, in a park or outdoor area. They're near a finish line.
A group of people at an outdoor event, some wearing numbered bibs, walking or jogging. One person is waving.
People participating in a fun run or walk event, wearing numbered bibs, with strollers in a park.
A group of people participating in a 2023 run or walk event, many wearing shirts with the event logo. A stroller with children is visible.
People participating in an outdoor race or walk event, wearing numbered bibs and casual clothing, with trees and a path in the background.
May contain: accessories, sunglasses, clothing, shorts, adult, female, person, woman, hat, footwear, shoe, boy, child, male, glasses, man, animal, canine, dog, mammal, pet, face, and head
Group participating in a 2023 run event, wearing numbered bibs and t-shirts, with a stroller and a dog among them.
People in yellow shirts participating in a 5K run event titled "Run with the Chums" in 2023.
A group of people running in a race, wearing numbered bibs, with strollers and walkers in a cheerful outdoor setting.
A group of people participating in a running event, wearing numbered bibs and athletic wear.
A group of people, including children, running in a race, wearing numbered bibs. One person is pushing a stroller.
A person with a bike and a dog waves at a festive outdoor event with a crowd and someone in a fish costume nearby.
A group of people running in a race, with one person in a green costume.
A crowd of people at a race start line, with some in costumes, including green and blue mascots.
Two young children with number tags, one holding a blue ribbon, outdoors with others in the background.
People in a race event. One pushes a stroller, a woman holds a bike, and a man with a dog. They have numbered tags.
Person in a fish costume and a woman take a selfie under a tent at an outdoor event.
A group of children with bibs stand outdoors with two people in fish and raindrop costumes.
Children meet costumed characters at an outdoor event, under a blue tent.
May contain: adult, female, person, woman, accessories, and glasses
People in costumes and event shirts posing under a "Run With The Chums" tent.
People in fun costumes pose under a "Run with the Fish" event tent in a wooded area.
Outdoor event with people visiting booths under tents, including one for "Whatcom County Public Works."
Outdoor event with booths, people, and a dog. Focus on Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association tent.
A person stands under a "Whatcom Conservation District" tent with informational displays and brochures.
Outdoor event booths promoting pet waste disposal with a "Scoop it, Bag it, Trash it" message by Whatcom County Public Works.
Outdoor event with tents for "Public Works" and "Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association"; people interacting and a pledge sign.
Outdoor booth for Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District, featuring informational materials and promotional offers.
Two people smiling at a running event, wearing "Run with the Chums" shirts, in a grassy outdoor setting.
Two people at an outdoor event with a display for the Whatcom Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
People smiling next to a blue "Be Water Wise" character cutout at an outdoor event.
People gathered around a mobile watershed model under a Whatcom Conservation District tent.
A Whatcom Land Trust booth with a man at a table, surrounded by maps and informational materials, set outdoors.
A library booth with books, a person, and a sign for Whatcom County Library System under a blue canopy in an outdoor setting.
A crowd of happy participants in a 2023 run event, wearing T-shirts and race numbers, moving down a tree-lined path.
Children running in a race with numbered bibs, a crowd, and a large green costumed figure in the background.
A woman holds a prize while another speaks into a microphone at an outdoor event.
People in costumes and event shirts pose with a blue mascot and dinosaur next to a "Run with the Chums" banner.

 

Sep 21, 2023 - 2 min read

This year’s Run with the Chums, an annual Whatcom Water Week kickoff event, boasted a record turnout! Over 400 people made an appearance at the 11th Annual Run with the Chums 5K Fun Run on September 9. It was a beautiful day to celebrate healthy water, healthy habitat, and healthy people.

“Run with the Chums is one of my favorite 5Ks as of today! Great people, beautiful scenery, hop scotch and nobody will ever again say “I’ve never seen Senator Shewmake and Sammy the Salmon in the same room…hmmm.” – Sen. Sharon Shewmake

Racers of all ages and speeds ran or walked five kilometers of scenic roads and trails with views of the Salish Sea and Whatcom farmland. Artwork and interactive activities, like hopscotch, were fun new additions to this year’s event. As always, signs along the route educated participants about how to keep our water, salmon, and orcas healthy and thriving.

A crowd of happy participants in a 2023 run event, wearing T-shirts and race numbers, moving down a tree-lined path.
Racers starting the 5K Fun Run. 

Junior racers competed in the Smolt Sprint obstacle course. They wove, jumped, ducked, crawled and navigated obstacles reminiscent of what a smolt salmon might encounter on their way to the ocean. To guide them along their path, the beloved mascots Sammy the Salmon and Wayne Drop led the way.

Children running in a race with numbered bibs, a crowd, and a large green costumed figure in the background.
Smolt Sprinters begin their obstacle course! 

Before and after the race, participants took photos with the mascots (including Plastic Man!) and checked out the nine educational booths from Whatcom Conservation District, Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management District, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2, Birch Bay Water and Sewer District, Whatcom Land Trust, Whatcom County Library System, Garden of the Salish Sea Curriculum, and Whatcom Marine Mammal Stranding Network.

A woman holds a prize while another speaks into a microphone. People stand nearby at an outdoor event.
A raffle winner holds their prize up in the air. 

After the race concluded, prizes were awarded to the fastest runners, families and dogs, best dressed, most unique animal (we had two cats and a pig attend this year!), and for correct answers to watershed-related trivia questions.

If you would like to join in the fun next year, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and/or subscribe to our monthly E-News to be one of the first to hear about our events and programs! We are excited to continue bringing the community together for this annual celebration of our watershed. See you next year!

Thank you to our generous sponsors and raffle donors who made the event possible: Whatcom Conservation District, BBWARM, NSEA , Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2, BP at Cherry Point, Birch Bay Water and Sewer District, Whatcom Water Alliance, Dave and Deb Hiller eXp Realty, Cute But Crazy Socks, HYDAWAY Collapsible Water Bottles, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife , and Whatcom Land Trust.

Looking for more ways to support salmon and orcas? Join us on Saturday, October 14th for the 6th Annual Orca Recovery Day!, linked below, Whatcom Conservation District, NSEA, and Whatcom Land Trust are joining forces to host a work party restoring Chinook and Coho salmon habitat along California Creek on land managed by the Whatcom Land Trust. Restoring salmon habitat is a critical way to support our salmon and the Southern Resident Orcas that depend on them.

People in costumes and event shirts posing under a "Run With The Chums" tent.
Racers pose with mascots before the race.