Door Decor for the Outdoors 101
Everything you need to know about Pathfinder’s Door Decor for the Outdoors
Since 1995, the Pathfinder K-8 school community has been making wreaths every fall. This year, we changed the project’s name to “Door Decor for the Outdoors”. In addition to these reasons for the name change, we also wanted to offer swag and candle circles (IMPORTANT NOTE: Candle circles should only be used with battery-operated candles to prevent fire risk).
We source all of our own materials from tree lot discards and our yards, then transform them into unique, 100% homemade wreaths/swag. We sell the door decor to ourselves, our friends and family, and the West Seattle community. The revenue from this fundraiser helps defray the camping costs for Pathfinder students. In addition, the funds support other outdoor education programs (e.g., school garden and classroom support).
Open Workshops
We encourage you to make a wreath/swag this season! It’s easy and fun. We will have instructors (aka Workshop Leaders) present during class work parties a few times during the season. Check this page with helpful videos on how to make door decor and holiday swag (including examples!).
Become a workshop leader (PRETTY PLEASE!)
- Sign up on your classroom workshop in the workshop table below.
- Don’t worry! The time commitment is small but the impact is huge. You’ll be trained and provided with a package of information to make it as easy as possible. Your role is to provide a minimal amount of structure on the night of your classroom workshop and will mainly be there to get folks started on their door decor.
- Workshop Leader training classes are:
- Monday, November 21st at 10am Sign up here
- Tuesday, November 29th 6pm Sign up here
Due to our limited ability to store wreaths, please take (and pay for) what you make at the Pathfinder Store. Take your wreaths/swag to your friends and family and send them to our Pathfinder PTSA Store to pay for them. Remember that we are trying to support Pathfinder’s unique outdoor education!
Please see below for our workshop schedule and sign up via Sign-Up Genius. Middle school kids can sign up with you, but please don’t bring young children into the workshop area.
Class Work Parties
Do you feel like you haven’t had the chance to meet other parent’s at Pathfinder? Building community has really been tough during COVID. For the past 27 years, Pathfinder has been coming together to build wreaths/swag and sell them to support our outdoor education program. We’ve heard from many parents that it was working together during this program that has created lasting friendships.
We’ve blocked time for every class to build community and door decor. It is a 3 hour block, but the ask is not for 3 hours. It takes about 45 minutes to make a wreath, 35 minutes for candle circle/car wreath, 20 minutes for swag, and/or you can come for the conversation and not build. A Workshop Leader will be there for at least the first hour to teach and assist. You will be surprised at your door decor!
During the class workshops your children will be supervised by a SPS parent volunteer in the school library or their classroom.
You can purchase your wreath/swag/candle circle/car wreath or donate it to sell at The West Seattle Farmer’s Market. Suggested pricing begins at $20.
Please sign up for your class or grade band workshop below:
| Date and Time (Click the link to access the Sign-up Genius) | Workshop Name Class(es) or Open | Workshop Leader |
| Monday, Nov. 21, 10 am | Learn How to Be a Workshop Leader! | Susan E. |
| Nov. 22 and Nov. 23 (let coordinators know if you’re interested) | Open Workshop | Nov. 22- Ann Marie B |
| Nov. 29, Tuesday, 6 pm to 9 pm | Learn How to Be a Workshop Leader! | Ann Marie B |
| Nov. 28 to Nov. 30 (let coordinators know if you’re interested) | Open Workshop | Needs a Workshop Leader |
| Dec. 1, Thursday, 6 to 9 pm | 5th grade Kingfisher | Anne Longin |
| Dec. 2, Friday, 6 to 9 pm | 6th grade Kestral and Raven | Lisa F. |
| Dec. 3, Saturday, 9 am to 12 pm | 3rd grade Crab and Octopus | Ann Marie B. |
| Dec. 3, Saturday, 1 pm to 4 pm | Kindergarten | Erin M. |
| Dec. 4, Sunday, 1 pm to 4 pm | 1st grade Turtle | Jennifer V. |
| Dec. 4, Sunday, 9 am to 12 pm | 4th grade Blue Heron | Christine C. |
| Dec. 5, Monday 6 to 9 pm | Elementary Distinct Bee and Fox | Karen Stone |
| Dec. 6, Tuesday | Reserved for if some classes need to split in smaller groups | |
| Dec. 7, Wednesday, 6 to 9 pm | 8th grade Bear, Bobcat, and Jellyfish | Susan E. |
| Dec. 8, Thursday, 5 to 8 pm (note the earlier start time) | 1st grade Orca | Sarah R. |
| Dec. 9, Friday, 6 to 9 pm | 5th grade Elk | Anne B. |
| Dec. 10, Saturday 9 am to 12 pm | Kindergarten | Ann Marie Bennett |
| Dec. 10, Saturday, 1 pm to 4 pm | 2nd grade Frog | Anne Bradfield |
| Dec. 11, Sunday, 9 am to 12 pm | 4th grade Eagle | Angela J. |
| Dec. 11, Sunday, 1 to 4 pm | 7th grade Mountain Goat and Hare | Sigrid B. and Jill A. |
| Dec. 12, Monday, 6 to 9 pm | 2nd grade Deer | Erin M. |
Volunteer to Sell Door Decor at the West Seattle Farmer’s Market (near the Wells Fargo)
The first day is December 4th and we’ll sell each Sunday until the 18th. Come and proudly represent our school and fundraise while you’re at it! Sign up here
How to Purchase?
Full details here
- At your classroom workshop night
- From the PATHFINDER PTSA STORE
- West Seattle Farmer’s Market (Volunteers needed! See above)
Greens and Ornamental Needs
To make gorgeous door decor, we need your help filling Pathfinder workshop with raw materials. Do you have a large Douglas Fir tree limb? Are you pruning your arborvitae? Do you have seedpods, berries and other pretty items in your yard that you can clip?
Please bring your greens in to the Workshop area at Pathfinder (especially for your work party!)
The workshop “the cage” will be set up by November 17th. Everyone can gather greens, as you drive by tree lots please stop and ask, as you walk in Lincoln Park after a storm gather the fallen branches. Cut and gather ornamental accents from your own garden, such as Acorns, Juniper, Winterberry, mossy branches, ornamental grasses, dried paper flower pods, Madrona, Sage, Eucalyptus, Pine cones, seed buds, Hydrangeas, Boxwood and Crabapple branches, to name a few.
Become a Greens Wrangler!
Calling all people with trucks and chainsaws/hacksaws! People have been reaching out to us with hot leads on downed branches and other greenery. We’re gathering a list of folks we can call on to help us gather them before other folks snatch them up. Please reach out to kathleen.hynes@me.com if want to be a wrangler (or have hot leads to share!)
How Do I Learn to Make a Wreath?
Class Workshops will have an Instructor/Leader. If there is enough interest at an Open Workshop, we will try to find an instructor.
In addition, check out our “How to Make a Wreath” and “How to Make Swag” videos on this page.
Questions?
Contact: Kathleen Hynes at kathleen.hynes@me.com or bae.jungun@gmail.com
