Western Washington University is offering a week-long course in Costa Rica this spring called “Tropical Eco-Farming and Sustainability in Costa Rica.”

The trip will be from March 20 through 29 and it’s open to the public. Participants will learn about reducing environmental impacts while producing enough food to keep up with demand.

Anyone interested in more information should attend one of the following information sessions:

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 6:30 p.m. in Communications Facility room 225.

Thursday, Dec. 3, 6:30 p.m. at 405 32nd St. room 360.

Saturday, Dec. 5, 6:30 p.m. in Communications Facility room 225.

For more information, email eesp@wwu.edu or call 650-3308. Course details can be found here.

The Ferndale School District is seeking community members interested in serving on the district’s Budget Advisory Committee.

One of the Ferndale School Board’s goals this year is to establish an ongoing committee composed of a diverse group of district stakeholders. The committee will help district officials and the school board develop budget planning parameters and standards, review the draft budget and make recommendations for changes and discuss the budget with community members.

The school board and district officials will still have the responsibility for creating and approving budgets.

For more information, contact the Superintendent’s Office at 383-9207 or email tbengen@mail.fsd.k12.wa.us. To apply, click here. Applications are due by Friday, Dec. 4.

Whatcom Middle School student Roy Evans has organized a bake sale at his mom’s store, Apple Yarns, for Saturday, Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All money raised will go to the Whatcom Middle School PTSA to help teachers replace classroom books that were lost in the Nov. 5 fire.

Andrea Evans, the owner of Apple Yarns in Barkley Village, said she will also donate 10 percent of all sales Saturday to the PTSA.

Since the Nov. 5 fire that severely damaged Whatcom Middle School, community members and organizations have been asking how they can help. Now there are several ways to donate your money or time to help students and staff at the school

The biggest needs right now revolve around replacing school supplies for low-income students, athletic equipment, musical instruments, playground equipment and teacher classroom supplies.

• People interested in donating money can choose one of these two options:

Whatcom Middle School PTSA: Checks can be made out to “WMSPTSA” and sent to 3014 Vallette St., Bellingham, WA 98225.

Whatcom Community Foundation: The foundation is working with the Bellingham Public Schools Foundation to create a Whatcom Middle School fund. Donations, which are tax deductible, can be made by sending checks to 133 Grand Ave., Suite A, Bellingham, WA 98225 or by using a credit or debit card online at www.whatcomcf.org.

• The Whatcom PTSA is collecting names of people who are willing to volunteer as needed in a variety of ways. If you’re interested, e-mail wmsvolunteers@comcast.net.

• GlobalMojo, a charitably focused Web browser, has created a special Whatcom Middle School-themed Internet browser that people can download and use to help generate revenue for the school. Through the end of 2009, when someone uses the Web browser to search, shop or plan travel, GlobalMojo will donate all revenue generated to the school. Click here to download the browser.

• All Bellingham middle school students are invited to a Citywide Middle School Social at the Bellingham Sportsplex on Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sportsplex has donated the facility for students to ice skate or play soccer. The Whatcom PTSA is asking for a suggested donation of $5. Pizza and soda can be purchased separately. Community members also can drop off cash donations or student and teacher school supplies. All money and items gathered will go directly to teachers to re-create their classrooms.

• Donate to a school supply drive by emailing fourhildreths@earthlink.net for more information.

• Donate books through Scholastic Online by going to www.scholastic.com/parentordering. Sign in with the username “Books4WMS” and password “booksforteachers.”

• Bellingham Barnes & Noble has started a book drive. People can purchase a book from a list of teacher-submitted requests or select books on their own to donate.

• Launching Success Learning Store has started a “Wish List” for teachers that people can purchase items from. The store is located at 133 Prince St. in Bellingham.

Since Whatcom Middle School students are out of school until Thursday, local organizations are offering activities to keep them occupied.

Today, Monday, Nov. 9

Bellingham Boys & Girls Club is opening its doors for all Whatcom Middle School students. Free lunch and activities will be provided.

Allied Arts is offering free workshops at the following locations.

• RE Store Meeting Rooms, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for mask making and drawing.

• Pace Atelier Art Studio (3815 Bakerview Spur Road), 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for working with clay, collages, drawing, painting and more.

• Upfront Theatre, 11 a.m. to noon or 1 to 2 p.m.

Whatcom Family YMCA is offering free swimming from 2 to 3:15 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 10

Bellingham Boys & Girls Club is opening its doors at 11 a.m. for all Whatcom Middle School students. Free lunch and activities will be provided.

Allied Arts will offer the following workshops

• American Museum of Radio and Electricity, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for mixed media collages.

• RE Store, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for recycled art sculptures

• Pace Atelier Art Studio, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for working with clay, collages, drawing, painting and more.

Whatcom Family YMCA is offering free swimming from 11 a.m. to noon and 2 to 3:15 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 11

Whatcom Family YMCA is offering free swimming from 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 3:15 p.m.

Please let me know of any other activities going on for Whatcom students.

Several people have been asking about ways they can help with this morning’s devastating fire. As I get information, I will post it.

• Former Whatcom Middle School teacher Sara Strommer, has started an account for the school at Scholastic Books online. People can donate gift certificates towards getting new books for the classrooms, or can simply order books that they know middle school classes might need. Go to www.scholastic.com/parentordering and sign in using the following:

Class User Name: Books4WMS
Password: booksforteachers

• People interested in making donations can also call the Bellingham Public Schools Foundation at 671-6150. They are working to set up a Whatcom Middle School fund, according to Tanya Rowe, district spokeswoman.

Don’t forget: ballots are due by Tuesday, Nov. 3.

To see a roundup of all election coverage, including contested school board races in Bellingham, Ferndale and Lynden, click here.

Even though most students aren’t old enough to vote for real, they can participate in the annual state mock elections starting today.

The program, organized by the Washington Secretary of State, gives students in grades K-12 the opportunity to voice their opinions and to learn the principles of voting.

While there isn’t much on the ballot for state-wide measures this year, older students can vote on Initiative 1033 and Referendum 71. Younger students will vote on “age-appropriate” measures.

Teachers can find lesson plans and other information at www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/mock.

All student votes must be cast by Friday, Oct. 30 at noon. To vote, click here.

Destination ImagiNation Inc. has launched this year’s Creative Spark Challenge, which challenges young entrepreneurs to create the next “great” interactive game that teaches creativity, teamwork and problem solving.

Destination ImagiNation, which is better known for its annual mind-bending challenge competitions, will develop and sell the winning game.

Participants in the Creative Spark Challenge will design a prototype game, assign a price point, solicit sponsors and create a 30-second commercial to be posted on YouTube. There will be a public voting forum online from December 1-7 to determine the winner. A spokesperson from the winning team will earn an all-expenses-paid trip to the Global Finals in Tennessee in the spring to present the game to participants.

For more information about the game competition, click here. Deadline for submissions is Nov. 22. The winner will be announced Dec. 9.

The American Museum of Radio and Electricity is offering a new internship program, thanks to a donation from Craig and Sue Cole.

Each school year, an intern will help with the Science-Powered Adventures of Real Kids (SPARK) program at the museum. The SPARK program started in 2005 and has connected the museum with thousands of students through Science Saturday classes, electronics workshops, summer camps, school assemblies and in-class presentations.

Reggie Reese, a Whatcom Community College student, is the first intern and will be working at the museum through the 2009-10 school year.

For more information about the internship program or SPARKS, contact education director Anne Bargetz at anne@amre.us or 738-3886.