Wednesday, December 16, 2015

The Gray Wolf Pups finish the fall season by exploring the 100 Acre Wood

“One would approach at first warily through the shrub oaks, running over the snow-crust by fits and startslike a leaf blown by the wind, now a few paces this way, with wonderful speed and waste of energy, making inconceivable haste with his "trotters," as if it were for a wager, and now as many paces that way, but never getting on more than half a rod at a time; and then suddenly pausing with a ludicrous expression and a gratuitous somerset, as if all the eyes in the universe were eyed on him…” Walden & on the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Thoreau, Henry David
“Fits and starts” describes the Gray Wolf Pups on our Sunday outing at Fairhaven Park/100 Acre Wood. My guess is I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know, but it was blindingly obvious to Tim and I that the Gray Wolf Pups stand at the precipice of… well, of what I’m not sure, but their meandering focus testified to a state of flux. Perhaps it was the cold; maybe the fact that it was the last outing of the season. Whatever the cause, the mentors and Explorers Club Apprentices (EMAs) Jordan and Max took note of the numerous shifts in focus in our five hours together. 
After introducing ourselves to the EMAs, we headed to the 100 Acre Wood, Bellingham’s recently reimagined tract of land bordering Fairhaven Park. The boys have been here before, as was apparent from their unhesitating stride into the forest. So far, so “starts”. Before long, we came to a trail junction and the concomitant decision point. Information from one of the EMAs helped us decide against the trail that led to a parking lot (that was easy) and we were on our way again. At the next junction, we experienced “fits” for the first time. In this case, all directions were possible and our information about each scant. Mentor Tim coached us to look up into the forest canopy for clues as to how dense the forest in a given direction. This  helped, but not enough to forestall conflicting, largely baseless assertions on the optimal direction to follow. We were “suddenly pausing with a ludicrous expression”, if you will. Our Tribal Elder called for several votes as we hemmed and hawed through the shifting sands of conviction until we reached subdued consensus. 
Emboldened by our successful resolution, we hiked all of about 100 yards before dissolving into the woods where we found an excellent spot for our base camp. These explorers have done good work with their carving throughout the fall; the plan for this final outing was to reward their effort with free play and games….and carving, if an explorer wanted to work on his project. So, building off our hard-earned momentum, we threw ourselves into…wait for it….free exploration! 
This really gets to the essence of Explorers Club - no need to schedule an activity; no rules to follow; with only nature to guide, do what 10-11 year-old boys do - run, imagine, laugh, climb, jump, get dirty. And, apparently, get hungry. Time for a lunch break (hmmm, can you take a break from free play?). 
Newly fortified, we chose more structured play in the form of an Explorers Club favorite, Spider’s Web. As usual, we began with the necessary evil - deciding on the rules of play. Tackling pivotal questions such as how far from the web must the spider remain or where to place the “food source” and “web” raises the stakes just enough to stretch the boys’ edges. We can sometimes spend 15 minutes or more coming to agreement. We did pretty well this time, even deciding on the somewhat uncommon two “food sources” and, logically, two spiders. Sounds good, no? 
I wasn’t a very stealthy “fly” on this day, which meant I was quickly consigned to the web, where I was greeted by one of the spiders, who had legally, and frustratingly, found a perch with a mostly clear view of the web, which seriously hampered the ability of captured flies to re-enter the field of play following release by a fellow fly. The decision to go with two spiders, one of which could too easily hold us to the poorly located web, quickly led to creative thinking and rule-bending because it “isn’t fair”. We were back to “fits”. The game wasn’t working and even the spiders knew it. So, we regrouped, made some changes and had a good second game.
Amid the fits and starts, we see the challenges young boys face and the qualities they illustrate. Their male energies prompt direct, forceful action while social conventions induce collaboration and consensus. The resulting conflict can, as it did in the 100 Acre Wood this day, manifest itself in “fits and starts”, with “wonderful speed and waste of energy”.
We capitalized on our renewed focus with a fun game of Where’s My Egg?, then retreated from a gratifying fall season with eyes on celebrating further spasmodic growth in the spring.
Tim and I (Brian) truly enjoyed spending time with your boys in the outdoors. Their humor, energy and sincere spirit make these times rewarding and enriching for us. Thank you for supporting their growth and our efforts. Click here for the full slate or photos from our outing.


Gray Wolf Pups Personify Play at Padden

Arriving at Lake Padden it became immediately apparent something big was going. It just so happened that our outing coincided with the NCAA Division Two Cross-Country Championships! Although this afforded some great entertainment, it also complicated things a bit, but thanks to great parents, drop off went down without a hitch and just as the starting pistol sounded for the Women’s race, we shot off into the woods and away from all the hustle and bustle. Travelling up the horse trails we quickly found a nice area off trail for opening circle. Despite some boisterous energy, we took some time to discuss our earth skills focus of The Art of Carving, and what our next steps would be down this path. The Explorers learned about the different trees, what properties each type of wood has, and what sorts of things they are good for making. Then the challenge of carving digging sticks was given to the boys. But before we could get into practicing our skills, it was clear these guys just needed some time to romp in the woods.
Tearing off up a steep hill, the Gray Wolf Pups quickly found themselves lost in the present, enjoying one another’s company, and working together on building some earth shelters. Despite the mentor’s intentions to jump into carving, they adapted to the energy of the boys, and scampered up the hillside after them and soon began helping out with the shelter construction gathering resources and offering pointers here or there on material usage and structural design. Pausing for a moment to reassess our plan for the outing, we formed a circle, collaborated, compromised, and came to a consensus on how best to utilize the time we had to balance free play interaction with the landscape and honing carving skills by getting plenty of time to get our blades into some wood.
After a good amount free play, boys naturally gravitated back down to our packs for some lunch and water before harvesting some materials for digging sticks. Utilizing a downed cedar, we focused on the slightly curved branches, a few inches in diameter, for a stick that already had a natural shape conducive to digging and the strength and rigidity of the denser branch wood that would hold up to some abuse unlike the softer, straight grain trunk wood that is great for fashioning fire boards and spindles for a fire by friction kit. Working our knives into the wood, boys quickly found the many knots of the branch wood difficult to work with and required patience, persistence, and sound technique to work through. Despite the strong focus, and disciplined tool usage, the Gray Wolf Pups couldn’t help but continue joking, laughing, and fostering a continued companionship amongst themselves that grows outing after outing, season after season. With some strong focus and good work under their belts, we had just enough time to scurry back up the steep incline and get in a little more play time on the landscape.
As the boys transitioned back into free play the mentors took some time to chat about how the outing was going they realized that things had gotten a little too quiet for comfort. Trekking up the hillside after the boys, they were headed off by another Explorer who relayed the message that a fellow Explorer was “stuck.” This could mean many things, but in this instance, once the mentors arrived on the scene they found an Explorer rimrocked on a small cliff along the hillside. All it took was a helping hand from one of the mentors to get out of the situation and everyone was just fine, much to the relief of a particular Explorer. Taking a moment to debrief the situation, both mentors were thoroughly impressed at how the situation was handled. When we adventure in the woods there is always inherent risk, and the difference in being safe or getting hurt comes down to how that risk is managed. In this situation both Explorers involved kept an even keel, assessed the situation, made a plan of action, and when things got beyond their ability, they sought assistance from a mentor. This exemplified great risk management. It’s very easy for someone who is not involved in a dangerous situation to quickly get themselves in harm’s way by doing too much to try and help. Additionally whomever is in a sticky situation can quickly escalate the level of danger by letting their emotions get the best of them and panicking. Neither of these things happened and the risk presented in the instance was navigated with a level of skill and ability that exemplified that maturation of not only the two boys involved, but all the Gray Wolf Pups.
In addition to debriefing our risk management, we took a moment to address a game of “war” that the Gray Wolf Pups wanted to play. Although they were just using pinecone projectiles and kept things light hearted and fun, the language associated with such games required some attention. A few of the Gray Wolf Pups recalled a previous discussion during a summer camp and shared what they had learned with the group. Language and words carry many connotations, and although something like “war” is thrown around in video games, sports, and other contexts where it takes on a meaning of good-natured competition, it is important to acknowledge the full spectrum of connotations a word can hold, and not allow ourselves to become desensitized the what something such as war truly means. This acknowledgement is not always easy, or comfortable for us to do, but is necessary for us to honor and respect something as serious as war and all of those whose lives have been lost or forever changed because of it. In a society where violence in video games is the norm and desensitization to violence and its true implications in reality are becoming increasingly present, it is paramount for these boys to hold that space of honor and respect by retaining their sensitivity and awareness, be it through language or action. Luckily the Gray Wolf Pups are a tremendous group of boys who will one day grow into strong, sensitive, and compassionate men. Whether through play, practicing skills, sharing laughs, or participating in tough conversations, these boys are flourishing into a powerful group of well-rounded individuals full of promise and potential for their bright futures.

Red-Tailed Eyas and Gray Wolf Pups Work Together

As an organization, Boys Explorers Club has an impact on the land. We spend a lot of time off trail, building shelters, harvesting carving wood, and generally just spending time in the forest. We try to tread lightly, using game trails when possible, picking up trash as we go, harvesting plants only when they are abundant enough to support it, and taking care of places we visit. In the end, though, there is no way to explore a place without leaving some trace and having at the very least a small impact. Our outings at the Connelly Creek service site are our opportunity to leave a positive impact on the land and really dedicate a day to leaving a place much better then we found it.
The Gray Wolf Pups and Red-Tailed Eyas had the perfect day to be out at the service site, warm weather and sunshine. We started our day with a big opening circle focused on getting to know the other group a little bit and talking for a few minutes about tool safety and usage. Since both the Gray Wolf Pups and Red-Tailed Eyas are seasoned Explorers group the opening circle went quickly and smoothly. Soon we joined the third group, The Alevin, at the service site to get to work. The Gray Wolf Pups and Red-Tailed Eyas got to work quickly on chopping blackberries and removing their roots. 
All the boys worked in a focused and efficient manner for a couple of hours before they even started to talk about taking a break. Soon the boys started to trickle off for a well deserved lunch break in the sunny field. The boys were all tired, but proud of their work as they are lunch and surveyed what they had accomplished that morning. After lunch We called them back over to put in a solid effort before it was time to pack up and leave.
We spent the last hour cleaning up all the trimmings of blackberries so they would not reroute themselves and then stomping down and spreading mulch over the reid canary grass. The work of spreading mulch was gratifying and was a nice reward after the hard work of clearing blackberries. As we spread the mulch the site was looking better and better and less like an overgrown jungle. Soon it was time to put in our last few minutes of effort and then end the day. 
We had a really nice closing circle in the sunny field and admired all the work that we had done. All the boys had really positive and sincere things to share in closing circle and all expressed their enthusiasm for service outings. It was a really powerful day with a lot of great work being done by all of us.Thank you Red Tailed Eyas and Grey Wolf Pups for all your hard work and enthusiasm. Parents next time you are close by have your explorer show you they service site so you can see how much they have put into this spot and don’t let them tell you they can’t do yard work. Be sure to check out the Grey Wolf PupPhoto Gallery and the Red Tailed Eyas Photo Gallery for more outing photos!
         


Gray Wolf Pups Revisit Carving at Clayton

Our outing started as all outings do; with an opening circle, however this was an especially fun opening circle. With such a warm and sunny summer there were plenty of stories and memories to share with one another. Trips abroad, time with the family, or just a silly story, everyone had something to bring our circle. After sharing summer highlights, we discussed our plan for the day, what hazards we would encounter along the way, and passed out jobs to help us as we explored Clayton Beach. Enough chatting, time to hit the trail!
Crossing the ever perilous Chuckanut Drive, we dropped down to the main trail and headed for the beach. It felt good to be back out with the Gray Wolf Pups back together hiking down the trail with a full day of exploration ahead of us. The first thing we did when we got to the beach was establish a base camp on a rocky bluff and settle in. Before we got too excited about scurrying on the sandstone or perusing the tide pools, we needed to revisit our Art of Carving skills focus. Gathering as a group we reviewed the safety parameters required for using a knife. Carving technique, awareness of others, and strong focus were some of the main topics we focused on. With our minds refreshed it was time to carve.
Spreading out along the sandstone bluff, each Explorer received two lengths of wood to be carved down into a pair of chopsticks. If some remember this was our initial task last season as well, but for round two of carving the standards have been raised. The Gray Wolf Pups needed to not only make a reasonable attempt at carving chopsticks, but show their ability to create a straight, cylindrical chop stick that tapered and didn’t have any obvious edges. This requires patience, skill, and focus. Many of the boys were grateful for tips from the mentors on how to adjust the angle of their blade: steep angles result in more wood carved, shallower angles less, much like using a planer. Although the mentors were pickier this time around, many of the boys were able to produce quality chopsticks and continued to hone their carving skills and ability to focus. Alas, carving can only compete with Clayton Beach for so long, and now it was time to explore.
After a quick lunch, we reconvened for a group circle to plan out how to spend the second half of the outing. The Gray Wolf Pups needed a little bit of a refresher in our group decision making process, but with a little help from the mentors we Collaborated, Compromised, and came to a Consensus. Each Explorer voiced their opinions, the Tribal Elder offered a few options and we all voted, checked in with the minority, compromised, and developed a plan that everyone agreed with. With a solid game plan we took off to the south to find good climbing rocks. Explorers scurried and scampered up and down the sandstone getting lost in free play and allowing their imaginations to take hold. Some became merchants trading trinkets they found on the beach, others formed small clans and claimed territories along the rocks and back into the forest. Before we knew it, the time to head north to explore a new part of the beach was upon us. With a quick check in the boys decided to stick to their plan and head out.
Just a few hundred yards away, traversing along the rocks due to the rising tide, the Gray Wolf Pups found a whole new beach to get to know. With great climbing, and an incoming tide, everyone was quickly back into free play mode. Whether that meant discovering what lay at the top of the rocks and beyond, or building a wall of sand in a futile attempt to withstand the incoming waters, everyone was having fun. But like they say; time flies when you’re having fun. Time for closing circle.
Circling up for one last time, we shared our gratitude and munched on apple slices. Many were thankful for the pleasant weather and cooling breeze, others appreciated the rocks and all the entertainment they provided. No matter what we were grateful for, across the board we were all happy to have had such a fun day and to be back with our fellow Explorers learning skills, building friendships, and discovering the wonders of the natural world. What a wonderful way to kick off the Fall 2015 Season!

Gray Wolf Pups Traverse Padden Creek

On a remarkably sunny spring day the Gray Wolf Pups met up at Lake Padden for their final outing of the season. Our adventure would begin at the south end of Lake Padden and would take us along the shore side trail to the lakes outlet; Padden Creek. We would then follow Padden Creek for a ways, go off trail, and meander our way down to Old Fairhaven Parkway, under I-5, and right to our Connelly Creek service site. This traverse was an Explorers Club first and the Gray Wolf Pups were eager to blaze the trail. Circling up in the field we handed out our jobs for the day that help us explore and keep us safe. Although the boys are so familiar with them, one Explorer even passed them all out, we would need to revisit their purpose a few times later on in our outing.

With too much energy to sit in circle, it was clear we needed to hit the trail. First we checked out the map, planned our course and determined the best route for our traverse. Hiking along the south shore was the most direct route so off we went. Traverses are a fun change of pace for the boys because with all the hiking it gives ample time to chat with fellow Explorers about shared hobbies, interesting things on the trail, or just do their best to get one another to laugh. Of course we broke up the walking and talking with numerous games of “HIDE!” and discovered that even on heavily travelled trails there are plenty of nooks and crannies and sword ferns to tuck away in out of sight.
Coming to the outlet of the lake, we turned down the Padden Gorge Trail that meanders just beside the depressingly small trickle of water that is Padden Creek. This was a great reminder that we indeed had a warm winter and though the rain has filled our aquifers, the snow pack that should have been melting in the hot sun and supplying our lakes and streams with cool glacial water is just not there this year. Also beside the trail we discovered a bouquet of flowers that someone had picked yet mysteriously left on the side of the trail. Curious, the mentors and some of the boys inspected the flowers as the rest of the group who was a bit ahead kept trekking along.
As we inspected the flowers, both mentors quickly took note of the small cluster of white flowers, purple-speckled stalk, and carrot-top like leaves and advised everyone not to touch this plant. Yes, someone had picked a bouquet of Poison Hemlock! We inferred that they likely picked the highly poisonous plant unbeknownst to them only to get contact dermatitis and set the plant down to avoid any further irritation. This was a great learning opportunity for some of the Explorers to ID one of our deadliest plants and learn from another’s mistake which is certainly preferable than learning from your own.
We quickly caught up to the rest of the group and cut off the main gravel path to follow a deer trail that the mentors had scouted days before. Trekking ahead, the boys in front yet again managed to outpace the boys in the back. Generally this is when the Front Scout takes note and has the group stop to allow the back of the group catch up. However, the Front Scout was keener to adventure than keep the group together. Along the way some of the Explorers who had studied the Poison Hemlock shared their newly gleaned knowledge with the others. To their surprise this information made a handful of the boys who had scouted ahead very nervous. (SPOILER ALERT TO SAVE PARENTS FROM WORRYING: No one consumed Poison Hemlock or came in contact with it!).  In fact, as the mentors began investigating their sheepish behavior they learned that a couple of the boys had found a plant they thought looked like “tobacco” and in a humorous effort took a little nibble of it. This action rarely if ever happens and in BEC we make a very, VERY strong emphasis around NEVER consuming any plant until you have a one hundred percent positive identification. This is in fact one of the few topics mentors can become incredibly stern on the boys over due to the severity of it. However, a few boys managed to let this notion slip their minds. We quickly found the plant in question and made sure it was not Poison Hemlock. Using our Plants Knowledge Keeper (aka Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast by Pojar and McKinnon), we identifyied it as Palmate Coltsfoot which is not poisonous. In fact, the Quinault used it to cover berries in steam cooking pits and it has even been cultivated by Japanese immigrants as an early spring vegetable (Pojar p.294). There is no doubt these Explorers learned an immense lesson from this experience and even admitted to being a bit rattled from the thought they could have consumed Poison Hemlock and required a trip in an ambulance to get their stomach pumped at the hospital.

After getting too spread out along the trail and having a scare with consuming plants we hadn’t first positively identified, it was clear we needed to have a talk. Upon circling up the mentors emphasized the importance of awareness; tracking the landscape, the plants, the animals, the weather, the season, the group, and yourself. How are your actions impacting others? How are your actions impacting the land? How is the land impacting your actions? How are your emotions impacting your actions? Etc. We must be vigilant in our awareness to ensure our personal safety, group safety, and the safety of the land. Our actions ripple throughout our own lives, the lives of those who are close to us, and even the lives of those we are unaware of.  Luckily we escaped the day without any harm done, but there is nothing like a close call to truly learn a lesson. The mentors also emphasized the importance of making mistakes in life, that it is inevitable, and that instead of dwelling on what could have been it is important to learn everything you can from the experience and move on with greater wisdom and the confidence of knowing how to avoid similar mistakes in the future.
We took a moment to decide as a group how to spend the rest of our day; carve then hike, hike then carve, or hike then carve/play in Connelly Creek. The Gray Wolf Pups showed an impressive level of group cooperation and decision making though they still needed a little nudge here or there from the mentors. The decision was made to hike all the way to Connelly Creek and maximize our free time there to carve, play in the creek, or just explore a place we usually spend all day working at. Once we navigated the thick salmonberry, sunny hillside of the old housing development, and navigated across Old Fairhaven Parkway, we finally made it to our destination.

At Connelly Creek the boys relaxed after a long hike in the sun. Some Explorers carved, while others went down to the creek to build boats out of sticks, grass, and leaves and race them down the creek. This quickly turned into a full on creek exploration where boys discovered crawfish, broke up stick dams that were clogging the creek, and just got lost in the moment of it all. It was wonderful to see these boys getting to enjoy the very creek they work so hard for in their service. It was a fitting end to a great day, and a great season, where much was learned and many fond memories were formed.

Connelly Creek service site transforming: Gray Wolf Pups & Townsend's Chipmunks

We shoulda taken photos (Check that - we did. Track the history of our service at this site by clicking on the “tag links” below: Connelly Creek). I wasn’t there, but I’m told that when the Boys Explorers first set eyes on the Connelly Creek service site a few years ago, the scene was dominated by Himalayan blackberry bushes and tall Reed canarygrass. Both are invasive, non-native plants that detract from the health of the creek. And, of course, the blackberry brambles hurt! Hidden in all that growth was an equally unpleasant discovery - trash. Apparently, the area had been used as a dump by people with nails, car parts, rusting wire, plastic, concrete and more to spare. The thing is, as an explorers club motto puts it, all things are connected. 

Himalayan blackberry was introduced from Eurasia. It often spreads over the top of other plants and crushes or smothers them. It can root at branch tips and spread from roots (suckers). Birds can spread the berries over long distances. It is a Class C weed in Washington State, which means it is already widespread. And, as the scratches on arms and legs will attest, it has a strong defense against well-meaning service workers.

Reed canarygrass forms dense, highly productive single species stands that pose a major threat to many wetland ecosystems. The species grows so vigorously that it is able to inhibit and eliminate competing species. According to the state department of Ecology, the species poses a significant threat to the state’s wetlands. 

Salmon, of course, need the ecological balance that these aggressive species will eliminate if not combatted. As I said, it’s all connected.

So, once each fall and spring, each explorers club (EC) group spends an outing working at the site to replace blackberries and canarygrass with native species. With guidance from Bellingham Parks and tools on loan from the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association(NSEA), the boys devote their time and energies to clipping and uprooting blackberries and then stomping down canarygrass and covering it with bark mulch to deprive it of the sun on which it thrives. They’ve also planted trees and bushes to shade the area, providing a more permanent solution to the “problem” sun. In this way, the explorers, parks and NSEA are connecting and protecting, another EC motto.

I’ve been through two seasons of service outings now, and can personally attest to scores of bags of brambles and roots (and dozens of scrapes!). I’ve witnessed multiple groups of explorers cutting (which turned out to be the wrong strategy - encourages growth) and stomping down (better approach) canarygrass, and moving dozens of yards of bark mulch in buckets large and small to cover the grass. And I’ve supervised the removal of rusted nails, plastic who-knows-whats, and much more trash. (We shoulda inventoried.) The work was done willingly, even eagerly, as a rule. Despite the occasional bark battle, the irresistible tree waiting to be climbed, and the allure of the creek, the explorers keep at it, demonstrating again the EC motto - many hands make light work

So now there are young alders reaching for the sky and native shrubs such as ninebark restoring ecological balance to the area. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Read it aloud - it sounds even better that way...restoring ecological balance. Nice. If you’re interested, check here for information on native, non-invasive plants for your garden. Along the way, we liberated some trees that were being swallowed up and a fence that was hidden in the blackberries. Here’s a panoramic view (pardon my poor photography skills) of the site today. 



Saturday’s was our last service outing of the spring. We’ll be back at it in the fall, again with the collaboration of the Bellingham Parks and NSEA. Your final EC motto for the day - Everyone helps. Your boys are learning the importance of caring for the land. As they return twice a year, they’re excited by the progress they’ve made and can see the change they can affect. Sure, the creek is better off, but no more so that all of us who have the privilege of putting the blackberries and cararygrass in their rightful place. 

Gray Wolf Pup families, click here for the gallery of photos from Saturday’s service outing. Townsend's Chipmunk folks, click here.

The Gray Wolf Pups return to exploring on Sunday, June 7 with a traverse. Click here for further information on that outing.

The Townsend's Chipmunks are also back at it on Sunday, June 7 with a traverse (different place!). Look herefor the outing description.  

Gray Wolf Pups Adventure at Arroyo

On a gorgeous Saturday afternoon the Gray Wolf Pups gathered at Arroyo Park for their second outing of the spring 2015 season. Once most of the explorers had arrived, the boys immediately gravitated toward the lush, green, damp landscape next to the parking lot. As explorers scurried across a fallen log over the skunk cabbage filled swamp the rest of the boys trickled in and it was time for our opening circle. We quickly decided to get out of the parking lot and dove straight off trail into the woods.

Getting off trail abruptly brought the Gray Wolf Pups’ awareness to their immediate surroundings and the moment at hand. Talk of birthday parties, video games, etc. dropped off and boys began discussing where to go and how to get there. Soon we found ourselves in a predicament however, some boys wanted to take the lower route through some Devils Club, Salmon Berry, and Slide Alder, but other boys thought trekking up the hillside and finding a route above us may be better. Unable to comfortably form a circle perched on the hillside it became
apparent that explorers were lacking the structure and focus required to come to a consensus. Many of the boys were talking over each other, goofing off, or showing no interest in engaging in the decision making process. The mentors decided it was time to step in and helped guide the Gray Wolf Pups down the path of collaborating and compromising to eventually come to a group consensus. We balanced the pros and cons of each route, the hazards, and personal preferences, but eventually decided to cut down, brave the brambles, and make our way to the creek.

After slipping and sliding our way down a muddy hillside using slide alder as a “vegie-belay” we arrived at a perfectly placed log laying perpendicularly across Chuckanut Creek. We couldn’t have asked for a better bridge. One by one each boy crossed the creek and we found a beautiful section of rocky streamside to settle down and do some carving. The mentors challenged the boys to each carve a pair of chopsticks. Sounds like a pretty simple task right? But trying to create a tapered cylinder out of a roughly split section of cedar takes far more dexterity, patience, and skill than most of the explorers initially thought. The group held a strong focus, and slowly but surely carved down each section of cedar to resemble chopstick like creations. 
Holding that focus over time proved easier for some than others, but luckily we were streamside in the sunshine and surrounded by countless natural wonders to keep the boys entertained. Some explorers caught water striders, others clambered along the stream banks exploring the sword ferns and shrubberies above us. Eventually it was time to gather up and determine our next course of action.

The mentors had promised a game of Spiders Web if everyone focused on their carving and each finished a pair of chopsticks. Unfortunately not everyone was able to find enough focus to complete their carving tasks. So, the mentors made an agreement with the boys that if they worked on their chopsticks at home, and brought their finished product to our next outing we could move on and get into a game of Spiders Web. The mentors emphasized the importance for the boys to understand that making an agreement with another, a group, or yourself (i.e. completing a pair of chopsticks) is not something you can just brush of as something we didn’t finish. Instead we gauged our present situation with the group, realized that it would be a lot easier for us to carve on our own later than it would be to play a game of Spiders Web. So instead of blowing off our chopstick agreement, we re-analyzed our situation and amended our agreement to better suite our ever changing circumstances.

Quickly traversing up to the trail, we hiked along the creek, crossed the bridge, and looped back around toward the parking lot for pick up. Luckily one of the mentors knew a great place for a quick game of Spiders Web. All the boys except one played, while the other explorer just couldn’t get enough carving in and had a strong drive to finish his chopsticks. Surprisingly the Gray Fox Kits managed to complete an entire game of Spiders Web in just twenty minute! At the end of the game the Spider was surprised when he realized the flies had gotten the food source so quickly, but instead of being upset about losing (which happens rather often with boys of this age, or any age for that matter) he simply said to the Fly who secured the food source; “Great job. I didn’t even see you!” All that was left was to gather together for our closing circle, share our gratitude, eat some apple slices, and hike out to the trailhead where parents were eagerly awaiting to welcome their explorers back from yet another successful outing.
Remember to check out all the rest of the photos from our outing at theGray Wolf Pups Photo Gallery!

Gray Wolf Pups Learn The Art of Carving at Clayton Beach

Kicking off the Spring 2015 Boys Explorers Club Season, the Gray Wolf Pups reunited for an exciting exploration of Clayton Beach. We gathered in the parking lot before cautiously crossing Chuckanut Drive and escaping off into the safety of the forest. The boys were eager to hit the trail and almost left the mentors in the dust! Nothing a little crow call couldn’t fix. Without missing a beat the boys gathered up and found a nice opening off trail to set up our opening circle.

In our first opening circle of the season we handed out the usual jobs that help us explore; front scout, back scout, tribal elder, medicine man, earth keeper, Totally Terrific Toilet Paper Person (aka TTTPP), Knowledge Keeper, and a few others.  We also got a chance to check out the brand new knives that SOG Knives donated to us! The mentors took a moment to give some thanks for the generous donation from SOG Knives & Tools. Last week SOG donated a set of thirteen high quality fixed-blade carving knives to the EC. On behalf of the Explorers Club the mentoring team would like to thank Chris Cashbaugh and Nando Zucchi at SOG’s marketing team, and the rest of the staff at SOG Knives for reaching out to Lisa Meucci and making this donation a reality.  Thank you for supporting our Explorers. Our cups truly overflow with gratitude! But before we could use the knives, it was clear that the Gray Wolf Pups had way too much pent up energy so it was time for some games.
We played a few rounds of Poison Dart Frog and Head Honcho sharpening our observational awareness before hitting the trail and heading down to the beach to catch the low tide. Quickly making our way down through the forest we soon encountered our second big hazard of the day: the train tracks. Once we were all together and ready to cross the boys made sure to be completely quiet for a few seconds (a rarity in Explores Club) and listen for a train. With the coast clear we crossed and were scampering around on the sandstone rock faces in no time.

At the beach the boys finally had space to let their energy out. Whether it was climbing on the sandstone, stealthily scurrying along the ridgeline, or poking around at the shells and sand dollars, the beach always has something for each boy to get lost in. We spent a good amount of time lost in free play, mixed in a few rounds of Otter Steals Fish, checked out a cool driftwood fort, and culminated with an epic session of pinecone tag that had mentor and explorer alike ducking and diving cones like they were in the Matrix. Finally we had gotten the wiggles out and were ready to trek back up into the woods and begin our journey with The Art of Carving.

About halfway up the trail we revisited a wonderful downed Western Red Cedar that had a perfect chunk of seasoned wood protruding for us to harvest and use for carving. As one of the mentors sawed away the boys gathered up and discussed the importance of tracking your energy while maintaining a calm yet focused demeanor for carving. These boys had already proven their ability to safely use sticks as tools and how to respect blood circles, but knives are so powerful that it takes a deeper, stronger focus than they have ever used in Explorers Club before. Next we covered some of the more basic safety logistics of working with knives; how to properly unsheathe/sheath a knife, how to check your blood circle and maintain awareness of others’, how to hold your knife and carve in a safe and controlled fashion away from your body, what posture and positioning you need to ensure personal safety and safety for others. The Gray Wolf Pups showed a tremendous focus and ability to comprehend the guidelines showing they were ready. Time to get our blades into the wood.

For over an hour the boys sat and carved away chatting amongst one another. Despite the occasional outburst of laughter or flurry of activity, the boys all maintained quality knife safety practices and reaffirmed their readiness for The Art of Carving. The mentors took time to travel around from boy to boy and offer helpful tips and pointers in regards to the greater intricacies of handling a knife and carving. Both were impressed at the explorer’s readiness to learn and eagerness to improve their skills. But alas, some of the boys managed to develop a waning interest in carving and quickly organized a session of Hungry, Hungry Martin. Not all of the boys wanted to play and some remained deeply focused on their carving projects, impressive mental fortitude for boys of their age after nearly an hour and a half of focused carving.

With our blades sheathed and tucked away for the day, carving projects in hand, it was time for our closing circle. The Gray Wolf Pups were reminded by the mentors of the importance of closing circle, and the level of respect and attention they must give to one another as they share their gratitude for the day. Not only is it important to reflect upon our outings and recall what stood out as particularly fun or exciting, but it is also important to express gratitude for those good times in addition to all that allowed for those good times to be had. Gratitude was given to the forest and the beach, the wood from the downed cedar that we carved, the knives that were donated by SOG Knives, the wonderful companions we shared the outing with, and even the apple slices that we were munching on during closing circle. What a wonderful way to kick off the Spring season and exciting journey through the Art of Carving for the Gray Wolf Pups.
Make sure to check out all the other photos that didn't make it in the blog in the Gray Wolf Pups photo gallery!

The Gray Wolf Pups Traverse Sehome Arboretum

The Gray Wolf Pups gathered at Sehome Arboretum full of energy and ready for exploration. The boys immediately gravitated over towards a maze of mulch piles in the field next to the parking lot. Diving, jumping, and rolling they practiced their acrobatics and crash-landing techniques. Circling up in a grove of tall Douglas Fir we had an opening meeting. The mentors checked in with the boys, making sure they understood that we were doing a traverse and were not coming back to this location. The boys agreed to be aware of themselves and their belongings. Together we called attention to fact that this was the last outing of the Boys EC fall season and it was also the pup’s second completed fall season as a group! Watching the boy’s laugh and joke with one another we saw that they are are deeply rooting as cohorts.
Breaking our circle we played a few rounds of a game called Hungry Hungry Martin and regrouped at the Sehome Arboretum trail map. The Tribal Elderfor the day worked hard to get the boys to circle up and make a group decision on which trail to take. Once he had the group’s attention they unanimously decided to follow the Douglas Fir trail to the top. Our Front Scout did an excellent job of waiting at trail junctions until the back of the group caught up. The boys will need this vital navigation skill in future wilderness trips, and what better place to practice than the low-consequence arboretum.
After about a quarter mile on the trail the mentors pulled the boys off their course and the group explored an exposed sandstone ridgeline. Climbing on the rocks the mentor cautioned the group to have a healthy awareness of their movement when near to the cliff’s edge. At one point Peter crouched on the edge of the cliff as he looked down at a few of the Explorers. He looked like a cougar ready to ambush some hungry deer. He deemed our newfound location Cougar’s Landing. After some solid exploration the group got a little bit squirrely and we decided it was time to move on from the ridgeline.
Pushing further up the arboretum we came to a valley laden with tall Sword Ferns and Western Hemlock.  Peter called Hide and all the boys went diving into the bushes. It was a good thing too because just ahead we saw another groups of Explorers move across the trail. The boys stalked each other until a mentor gave a Crow Call and boys came of the bushes from every angle.
Circling up the Raccoon Kits and Gray Wolf Pups introduced themselves to one another and we decided to play a round of Spider’s Web with both groups. Once the course was set up we chose to have two spiders, and the game was on! As the game developed one spider stayed close to the food source and another spider watched the web. They worked as an effective team and after twenty minutes of sneaking and stalking half the boys were stuck on the web and having a difficult time getting unstuck. This challenging situation eventually led to conflict and strife. The mentors called the game and we circled up to talk about it. The mentors asked the group what the point of the game was. They responded: fun, getting the food source, playing, being together, and learning to sneak. The mentors responded, “Why then are you arguing and treating each other so poorly”? The etymology of the word competition means to strive together. Mentors stressed that each time we compete with one another we trade courage and offer them our best. As a group we agreed to play with honor and to accept challenge as a necessary component of of growth within our lives.
Saying goodbye to the Raccoon Kits we gathered our packs and continued up the hill for one final push to the top. Arriving at the lookout tower the boys ate a much-needed lunch and looked out over Bellingham Bay and Lummi Spit. What a wonderful closing to the fall season. We reveled in the sun and mildness of the day. After eating Peter showed the group the Art of Fire by Friction and the bottom of the tower. The boys asked when they were going to get to learn how to use a bow drill. The mentors told the group that it would be awhile before they learned this skill, but that they would be starting the Art of Carving next season.
Leaving the tower we climbed down into a secluded valley for some solitude and a closing meeting. It is wonderful to think that in the busyness of downtown Bellingham a group of Explorers can sit in a wooded location and hear nothing but the calls of the birds and still of the forest. Sitting in a circle on top of a large sandstone rock we shared apples and revisited the season we shared together. The boys gave thanks for the weather, for Spider’s Web, for challenge, for climbing and sandstone, and for a great season. The mentors would like to thank the boys for their commitment to playing games with honor and integrity and for their maturing abilities as a group to make decisions while collaborating and compromising. We hope to see you all at the Winter Solstice Gathering and thank you for your support throughout the season. The Winter Solstice Gathering will be held at Lake Padden Park’s playground shelter on December 6th from 4:30-7:30pm.
For more pictures from the day please visit the Gray Wolfs Pups photo gallery

Rambling at Galby Lane with the Gray Wolf Pups

The Gray Wolf Pups arrived at Galby Lane to find a mentor hunched and working on something. Investigating further the group found that he was working on Fire by Friction. They watched as the mentor created a coal and blew it into flame using a nest made of Cedar Bark. This season the Gray Wolf Pups delved into the Earth Skill of shelter building and spring season they will begin carving. They are hungry for these skills and the mentors want to follow their inspirations. Learning these techniques can save the boys’ lives, but they also increase their craftsmanship, knowledge of flora and fauna, tracking, and overall appreciation for the resources that go into keeping them alive.
Heading into the woods we circled up for an opening meeting. Being transparent with the boys we told them that the next four hours was their time to create an adventure. One of the greatest aspects of our outings is that We are all leaders and collaboratively we use our time for rich exploration. After some group process the boys decided that they wanted to find and complete a half built shelter that lied somewhere off trail and finish their day with a round a Spider’s Web. The mentors could tell by the boys’ postures that we needed to move, but before we did we wanted to call attention to the reason for the boys’ chill. A strong Northeasterly front had brought our area clear blue skies and frigid artic temperatures. It is important that the Explorers begin to track the weather and understand what causes our variations. Knowing these types of weather will orient them to the place that we live and help them to be better prepared to deal with the elements. Tracking the landscape the mentors explained to the boys that before this sunny lull strong southerly fronts had blow through the area and we needed to be alert for leaning and downed trees.
Heading up the trail we quickly veered right, climbing over nurse logs and following some deer trails. Eventually we found the spot where the Roosevelt Elk Calves had built the half completed shelter. Circling up we made some time commitments for how long we would work on the shelter, keeping in mind our agreement to play a game at the end of the day. The boys got to work, harvesting some freshly downed maple twigs and bark to make a door for the shelter, while others took a trash bag and gathered leaves to complete the outside and interior. It was powerful to watch the boys work so diligently on it and in turn it kept them warm.
Finding the half built shelter was such a gift for the boys because it was almost exactly at the stage where they left their earth shelter back at Lake Padden. They were able to experience the full circle process and sat back satisfied with their work. One by one the Explorers tested out their shelter, cocooning themselves in its leaf-filled cavity. Nestling in they started to feel warmer and warmer until some of them had to evacuate, as it was so hot. Looking at our building materials staging area it was clear that we had caused some impact. The mentors explained to the group that even though we had harvested only downed materials it was important to leave the area better than we found and to camouflage it. Grabbing handfuls of debris and sticks we made it look like we were never there. We decided to leave the shelter as there were a few more groups coming to this location that would like to see the work.
Heading out from the site we encouraged the boys to use their intuition to find the trail to our west. Within a few minutes the boys had relocated the path and we were on our way to a great location for Spider’s Web. Circling up we revisited the rules and set up the course. The Explores spread out over the land and found their hiding spots. It filled the mentors’ hearts to see the Explorers stalking and immersing themselves in the landscape. Although the Big Leaf Maples leaves were an asset to us in shelter building, the crunch sound under our feet proved to be our greatest challenge as we tried to sneak past the careful eyes of the spider. Hiding behind a log, a mentor watched a boy crawl behind the remnants of fallen ancient Western Red Cedar. Camouflaging in its trunk he looked as if the was lying on a soft carpet. It is moments like these when it is plain to see this group is becoming comfortable between the duff and mud of the forest floor; soon they will call this place home.  
In the end the spider held off the hungry flies and the game ended with a draw. Circling back up we had a closing meeting under umbrella-like branches of a large Western Hemlock. The Explorers gave thanks for the fall storms which brought the materials that completed the shelter, for the fun and excitement of trying to evade the spider’s glance, for warmth and comfort, for the challenge of the cold weather, and for friendship and family. The mentors would like to thank the Gray Wolf Pups for a powerful exploration. We look forward to our last outing at Sehome Arboretum, which is also the last outing of fall season.
For more pictures from the day please visit the Gray Wolf Pup's photo gallery

Planting Red Alders at Connelly Creek with the Red Tailed Eyas and Gray Wolf Pups

We arrived at Connelly Creek service site under dark clouds but no rain for our last service outing of the Fall season. for the last month there has been four groups of Explorers working on this site every weekend. The transformation of this land has been amazing to watch and be a part of. This final outing of service for the Fall season was such a great way for the Red Tailed Eyas and the Grey Wolf Pups to not only see all the work that groups before them had done, but also to put in the final push of work before we leave this site until Spring. Our task today was to plant the seven 10ft tall Red Alders that the Parks Department had left for us. We needed to dig holes for every tree, set up supports, and finally cage in and mulch around the base of the trees.

While we waited for the Grey Wolf Pups the Red Tailed Eyas had a discussion about one of the main species that is affected by the work that we do; the Salmon. The Alders are great nitrogen fixers for the soil as well as providing shade to stunt the invasive reed canary grass. The boys had some really insightful observations on what makes good habitat for salmon and how our work is benefiting habitat.  
When the Grey Wolf Pups arrived the combined energy of the two groups swept us into productive work. Digging holes, throwing mulch, finding roots, clearing Reed Canary grass, moving Red Alders, setting up cages, massaging roots, laughing, new friends, dirty hands, more holes, and plenty of strong work.
The power of having two Explorers groups work together is so tangible when doing this work at Connelly Creek; So much hard work and new connections with each other. After a solid few hours of work the Red Alders were no longer laying on their sides in a pile, but instead happily standing in freshly dug and mulched holes. It was really amazing to look around and see a miniature forest of Red Alder saplings instead of the Reed Canary grass that had carpeted the ground previously.

As the Red Tailed Eyes left the Grey Wolf Pups geared up to spread the last of the mulch that remained. A forty five minute explosion of work from the Grey Wolf Pups left the previously mountainous mulch pile a mere bump on the land. At this point the focus was gone and the group was ready to explore. Even on these days that are focused on a strong ethic of service work it is important for these boys to have time to explore the land. As these boys Explore the land around the service site they learn more about what the land needs and how the work they are doing affects it.

As the energy from the exploration came down the Grey Wolf Pups came back in wet and muddy from the creek, scrapped by the blackberries, and excited by all their discoveries. We packed up and settled into a closing meeting. While going around and giving thanks for the day I was touched to hear so much appreciation for the day. Many boys voiced their thanks for the land and our opportunity to give back to it. Peter asked the explorers; Who does this service benefit and how does it affect us? Some explorers pondered this questions as they finished the last of their apple slices. The salmon? The neighbors? the community of bellingham? the deer? the Trees? us? After a while a few explorers said this work benefits everyone. We all seemed to agree with this explanation.

Thank you Red Tailed Eyas and Grey Wolf Pups for all your hard work at connelly creek. It was a true pleasure to work alongside all of you. Parents please talk your sons into taking you back to this site to see all their hard work. This time of year is a great opportunity to see it before the mud season truly begins. Please check out our photo gallery 

Gray Wolf Pups and the Art of Shelter Building at Lake Padden

The Gray Wolf Pups arrived at Lake Padden ready for a day of excitement and adventure. Saying goodbye to the parents the mentors called the boys over and we circled up for an opening meeting. Looking around the circle it was clear that we needed to have some introductions. Joey Christianson, a new mentor to the group, would be filling in for Peter for the day. We also had Jackson, an Explorer Mentor Apprentice, join us for his first volunteer outing along with one new Explorer. It’s been exciting to watch how our culture of tiered mentoring affects the younger Explorers. The Gray Wolf Pups really connected with Jackson. It is said that when we teach we truly learn and understand; there are so many instances where the EMAs can facilitate and guide in ways the older mentors never could. Going around the circle we played a round of Name Tagand handed out the jobs.
Heading into the woods we hit our first junction in the trail. Circling up theTribal Elder did an excellent job facilitating the group decision. The boys decided to take a vote on which way to go. The mentors made it clear that a vote ends up in compromise, not necessarily a fair decision, and that’s just what a few of the boys did. Heading up the trail towards the Secret Valley the group played a few rounds of Hide! The Explorers are getting better and better at this game and soon they will be able to hide from the other animals in the forest and observe them from up close.
Arriving at the Secret Valley the group expressed the desire to play Spider’s Web. The mentors set up the game course and we played an adapted version with two Spiders. Almost immediately the two Spiders split up and one guarded the web while the other guarded the food sources. In no time the flies were on the web and the boys got quite frustrated. Circling up we addressed the boy’s frustration, telling them that the round was challenging and not to dismay when things are challenging, but to rise to the occasion and adapt to the solution that is needed and to play with honor and integrity.
Making some clarifications of the rules on the next round we decided to have only one Spider. This round the Spider did an excellent job guarding the ridgeline and watching the web. Sending a majority of flies to web he guarded it well, catching anyone that tried to escape. As the boys waited on the web their patience grew thin and some started to try and distract and taunt the spider. With growing frustration on both sides the mentors called the game and told every one to circle up. It is amazing to witness how the power of play can bring out issues of basic morality and character. The boys were definitely at their edge, blaming and trying to talk over one another.
The mentors tried to give them some tools they could use to work out their differences. The first tool we called on was our circle. In circle there are three tools: our mouths, ears, and hearts. Giving each person a turn to speak we went around the circle sharing our point of view. Almost immediately the mentors had to stop the circle council because the boys needed to understand that there is a difference in sharing what is on your heart and blaming someone for your frustrations. The second tool we gave to the boys was the use of I statements. The mentors explained to the boys that rather than saying “you or he was doing this” to describe the problem or situation, instead describe how it was effecting yourself /others, and what the result was. Some of the Explorers struggled not being able to respond back and the mentors reiterated to the group that there is a difference between actively listening and waiting for your turn to speak. Our circle style council is a skill that builds with time and it was powerful to listen to the boy’s Stretch their Edges while trying to share without using provoking language. They are learning and growing and this is exactly where they need to be.
After a heavy and heartfelt debrief it was time to move locations and work on our skill for the season, the Art of Shelter Building. We headed up and over the ridge to a quiet location with ample shelter materials. The mentors explained to the group that the first step to shelter building is to find a site free from hazards. Scouting the land the Explorers found a spot under a big Douglas Fir, free from dead trees branches that might come down and high enough to so that water would not run through it if it poured.  We began construction of the frame, which consisted of two Y’s shape poles that form a tripod and a ridgepole a little longer than a person is rested on the tripod. It took a while to find the perfect frame and the Explorers started to loose focus. Completing the frame we started to add the ribs to the ridgepole, which would support all of the debris that we would pile onto it.  Weaving a latticework of Hemlock bows and dead cedar branches into the ribs we piled on debris until it was a foot and a half thick.
The more completed the structure got the more Explorers joined in to help. It was refreshing to see the group working together in harmony after our trials inSpider’s Web. All in all we got about half way through the process and it was time for a closing meeting. The Explorers got some great vision and experience for the next time we work on this skill, and they realized the power and challenge of this life saving skill. Joining in a circle close to our shelter we held a circle of thanks. The boys gave thanks for the beautiful weather, the chance to run and play in the forest, for the land providing all that we need, for friendship, for Douglas Fir and Hemlock, and shelter in its many forms. We ended the circle with a story about two boys who experienced many trials and challenges while trying to sleep in their Earth Shelter. In the end the boys learned how to sleep comfortably in the woods without anything except what the land provided by listening to their mentor Stalking Wolf’s advice and watching the squirrels build their nests for the winter.
Looking at the time we realized that we only had five minutes to get back to the parents! We decided to take a short cut and ended up climbing down a steep ravine.  Going one at a time we carefully navigated the hillside. A few of the boys were not paying attention and they tumbled a little way down. Luckily they were alright and learned a great lesson that Slow is Fast and Fast is Slow. Looking back at the hillside the mentors noticed we had created some impact. We carefully covered our path so that we would not create social trails. It was a great time to mention to the boys that Shelter Building also has lots of impact because many resources are needed. When we take it’s important to have an awareness of what we our doing. A harvester needs to know in his heart that the resource will be honored and that it is being put to its greatest potential. The Art of Shelter Building should be guided by a beautiful blend of logic, intuition, reverence, awareness, appreciation, and thanks. The mentors would like to offer some thanks to all the Gray Pups for engaging in the spirit of play and healthy competition and for a terrific outing in the glorious sun.
For more pictures from the day please visit the Gray Wolf Pups photo gallery.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

The Art of Harvest with the Gray Wolf Pups

The day began with coyote up to his usual tricks!  The mentors arrived anticipating the usual crowd of mountain biking enthusiasts at the South Lake Padden parking area, but were stunned to see a huge crowd of folks out for a fund raising ride for Bellingham’s local mountain bike club, WIMPS.  The heroes of the moment were without a doubt the explorers and their families who gracefully navigated the impossible parking lot to join us.
Boys Explorers Club founder Drew Butler joined us for our outing and it was great to have his botanical knowledge along for the day since our focus was on the Art of Harvest.  The boys and mentors conducted a comfortable opening meeting where we distributed the jobs for the day.  The mentors also shared the philosophy of the Art of Harvest with the boys.  We discussed how as explorers we use the idea of “never take more than 10%”.  We use this rule to make sure that we don’t take too much from a single plant or cluster of plants.  This ensures that the plant will provide food for the creatures who live in that forest, and provide the plant an opportunity to reproduce by not taking everything! We also shared how we leave the best so that the future plants might hold similar berries, which is always hard when you are staring at the perfect thimble berry.
Our harvesting in Explorers Club for much of the year has little to do with food plants.  We use plants for making fire, for constructing bow drill kits and, for carving projects.  In the summer we blessed with a bounty of delicious berries, but at south lake Padden they were all a few weeks away from being ripe.  The Boys and Mentors spent time looking at plants that had other uses than just food.  We looked at the Vanilla Leaf and Drew made a point to have all the boys smell it.  As begins to dry Vanilla lead emits a sweet vanilla like fragrance giving its other common name, "Sweet After Death."  This plant, hung in bunches, will help to keep flies and mosquitoes at bay.  We also looked again at how to find Douglas Fir stumps that contain “fatwood” and we tested an extremely wet piece from deep in a muddy rotting stump and it lit with a single match!
With our heads full of new information about plants and how to take responsibly from the land the boys headed off the trail and into a tangled patch of Douglas Fir and Western Red Cedar trees.  It was the perfect place to have some more food and water and play a couple of rounds of spiders web!  The boys were eager to show off their sneaking skill and after a long battle with Greg as the Spider they finally defeated him using their strength in teamwork.
With scratches and scrapes we gathered in a final circle to share stories from our game of spider’s web and give thanks.  The boys shared gratitude for the forest for providing a wonderful place to explore and play.  Without a moment to spare we bounded up over logs and around stumps and back to the trail to the parking area. 
Explorers, this blog entry marks the end of the Spring season for the Gray Wolf Pups.  You have been eager and willing to learn about the culture of Explorers Club and time and time again you have shown the mentors that you are a strong group!  The journey continues in the Fall where we will continue learning important skills for traveling in the land.  It has been an honor for the Mentors to serve you this Spring and we look forward to seeing you in the summer either in camps, around town or in the forest!  Thank you explorers so much or a wonderful season! 
Parents, thank you for your support and flexibility.  We know that your son’s lives are busy and we are grateful for the chance to work with them!  Please join the Mentors and all the other explorers for a final gathering at Hovander Park to celebrate the beginning of summer. 
Drew and Greg got carried away looking at plants and playing Spider’s Web and kept forgetting to take out the camera, so there are some photos in the gallery but not very many!  Do check them out here.
If your family needs a good field guide for western plants we would whole heartedly recommend Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast by Jim Pojar and Andy Mackinnon.  It is indispensible and contains a wealth of ethnobotanical knowledge!