By The Shore Playgroup

09/03/2026

Don’t miss this Friday afternoon’s art class 🎨🖼️ Only A FEW spots left! Sign up ➡️ https://bytheshore.squarespace.com

08/23/2026

🌟UPCOMING EVENTS🌟 Book your spot now! Some classes already have limited spots left

About By The Shore Playgroup:

Our Story

Welcome! My name is Tressa Bergsma. I am the founder & teacher who runs By The Shore Playgroup. I’m a former teacher who decided to homeschool her 4 kids.

Upon deciding to go the homeschool route, I noticed two gaps in this area: local programs for homeschool kids to connect, and accessible outdoor programs to encourage kids to connect with & learn about nature.

There are, of course, a couple of programs with waitlists in south Bellingham that are expensive and far away for many people in the north part of the county - not very accessible for most.

This is when the bottom line really hit me.

Connecting to nature and building community should not be something gate-kept, or expensive, or exclusive.

Every child should have the opportunity to join programs, make friends, learn about nature, and get outdoors.

That is where the foundation of By The Shore Playgroup began.

By The Shore is designed with all this in mind. I keep prices as low as possible, the location fluctuates for proximity and accessibility, and sign ups are on a week-to-week basis so there won’t be a backed up waitlist or even long term commitment. Everyone is welcome to sign up for any class, though our timing is often set up for homeschooled kids.

We keep it loosely structured to encourage kids to play and build connections, and try to mix it up to give kids a variety of experiences.

We also reject the notion that kids should be separated into individual age groups, and encourage them to be welcoming and friends with kids of all ages.

Thank you for supporting By The Shore Playgroup and our mission.
And thank you for being here. 💚

If you have any questions about signing up, check our FAQs page!

08/16/2026

🌟Check out our upcoming classes on our new website!🌟

Join us at an upcoming class! Sign up below Have a question about scheduling? Take a look at our About page and FAQs; hopefully most of the answers are there! If not, feel free to reach out. There’s a place to submit questions on our home page. Thank you for being here! Classes Nature Classes We b...

08/14/2026

🌟 Nature Walk in Blaine🌟
Monday, August 17 @ 10:00AM

Link for sign up & details ➡️ https://bytheshore.squarespace.com/

Invite a friend! Send them the website for all the info they need 😊

What to bring:
• Snack & water 🍎
• Path is stroller friendly
• Nature Journals 📖

CLASS PLAN:
Nature Walks are a short, child friendly hike.
10:00am - Meet by the trailhead for craft & add to our nature journals
10:20am - Start our walk. Explore & learn along the way!
(Approx) 11:00am - Snack & Story time
(Approx) 11:30am - Tide & weather dependent: we will be either walking down to the beach 🏖️ to play or starting our walk back. This is an optional part of class if you need to leave for naptime or other reasons

Additional Notes:
• New, updated website ready! You will notice some changes, the greatest change is that we will no longer be selling punch cards for now. However, I will honor any amount of classes that you had left. Please *message* me separately if you plan to come but are using the remainder of your package — thank you for being patient during this transition!!🫶🏼

I look forward to seeing you at 10:00am for a fun Nature Walk in Blaine!🌟

Thank you so much!

Best,
Tressa Bergsma
By The Shore Playgroup

08/09/2026

🌟 Nature Class in Lynden🌟
Monday, August 10 @ 10:00AM

Link for sign up & details ➡️ https://bytheshore.squarespace.com/

Invite a friend! Send them the website for all the info they need 😊

What to bring:
• Snack & water 🍎
• Path is stroller friendly if you choose to join us on the walk!
• Nature Journals 📖

CLASS PLAN:
The cool thing about Lynden is that you kind of get 2 classes in 1! A nature class & short nature walk🌟
10:00am - We will meet in the grassy field for a nature class for the first hour
10:50am - Start clean up
11:00am - Snack & Story time
(Approx) 11:20am - Start our walk on the trail that leads to the field

Additional Notes:
• New, updated website ready! You will notice some changes, the greatest change is that we will no longer be selling punch cards for now. However, I will honor any amount of classes that you had left. Please *message* me separately if you plan to come but are using the remainder of your package — thank you for being patient during this transition!!🫶🏼

I look forward to seeing you at 10:00am for a fun Nature Class in Lynden!🌟

Thank you so much!

Best,
Tressa Bergsma
By The Shore Playgroup

08/03/2026

🌟Link to sign up ➡️ https://bytheshore.squarespace.com

✨Check out the new website!✨

What to bring:
• Water Friendly Shoes & Clothes
• Snack & water 🍎
• Path is not that stroller friendly, plan ahead!
• Nature Journals

Additional Notes:
• New, updated website ready! You will notice some changes, the greatest change is that we will no longer be selling punch cards for now. However, I will honor any amount of classes that you had left. Please comment a “💚” if you plan to come but are using the remainder of your package — thank you!!🫶🏼

I look forward to seeing you at 2:00pm for a fun Beach Exploration!🌟
Thank you so much!

Best,
Tressa Bergsma
By The Shore Playgroup

06/28/2026

🌟 Marine Biologist Lead Field Trip Details 🌟

TIME
Monday, June 29 @ 10:30AM

LOCATION:
Bellingham
Address: revealed after sign up for safety. Or you can check private page/Messenger chat for exact location.

Sign up at this link ➡️
https://www.bytheshore.org/booking-calendar/field-trip?referral=service_list_widget

The plan:
• We will meet there at 10:30 to start our nature journals, water color, and do snack & story time📚🍎
• The biologist will arrive at 11 and stay until 12 so we can explore peak low tide 🦪🦀🐚

What to bring:
• Nature Journals 📓
• Snack & water 🍎
• Beach/Tide Pool friendly shoes such as rain boots or water shoes

I look forward to seeing you all at 10:30am! 🌟

Thank you all so much!

Best,
Tressa Bergsma
By The Shore Playgroup

06/22/2026

It’s not too late to sign up. See you tomorrow in Bellingham 🌟
Join us each week in a different location in Whatcom County!

Sign up required for each class or walk you plan to attend.
Head to ➡️ Bytheshore.org/service-page/nature-walk-all-ages?referral=service_list_widget

We go year round.
Class locations kept private for safety purposes.
Ask to join our Private page & messenger group to stay up to date each week.

See you there! 🌟

06/07/2026

🌟Sign up or Check the Private FB Page for details!🌟

https://www.bytheshore.org/service-page/all-ages-nature-class?referral=service_list_widget

05/11/2026

🌟 BIKE DAY Details🌟
Monday, May 11 @ 10:00AM

📍 LOCATION: Lynden (exact location on group’s private FB page or after sign up)

Sign up link ➡️
https://www.bytheshore.org/service-page/nature-walk-all-ages?referral=service_list_widget
(This is booked as a nature walk for pricing purposes)

What to bring:
• Dirt Capable bike! 🚲
• Snack & water 🍎
• Helmet! 🪖