Thursday, April 13, 2017

Navigating Beyond Map and Compass with the Gray Wolf Pups at Clayton Beach



Navigating the festivities of the Chuckanut 50K, the Gray Wolf Pups met up at Lost Lake Trailhead Parking Lot for an adventure to Clayton Beach. Having met here for our first outing of the Fall 2016 season, we had a good idea of what to expect. Navigating Chuckanut Drive, we dropped down to the trail with the loud rushing of the nearby creek significantly louder than our last time here. After days of heavy rainfall, the creek was running stronger than any of us could recall from recent memory. It is one thing to appreciate a place like this on a given day for its beauty and serenity, but bringing the Gray Wolf Pups back to the same locations during different seasons offers the opportunity to deepen their sense of place and connection to an area. Each season brings with it a new personality that alters how we interact with landscape.

Checking out the fast flowing waterfall

On our outing the Gray Wolf Pups were asked to recall what we had previously learned about navigation on our last spring outing. Reviewing the cardinal directions and ways to navigate using knowledge of the landscape, the sun, and other techniques that aided us on our last outing, it was time to break out the compasses and do some old fashioned orienteering. Splitting into two groups, each group of Explorers was tasked with hiding a bandana a good distance off into the forest and creating a “scout map” utilizing a series of natural landmarks, compass bearings, and number of paces to develop a list of directions the step by step would lead from our basecamp to the hidden bandana. Each group then returned to base camp, swapped scout maps, and proceeded to search for the hidden bandanas. Utilizing compass bearings, counting off paces, and identifying natural landmarks, each group proved successful in discovering the hidden bandanas hidden over a hundred yards away in the forest. Everyone seemed to enjoy the activity, learned how to set a bearing on a compass, and view the landscape in a new perspective. With our skills practice for the day out of the way it was time to head to the beach for some expansive free play!

Finishing up our navigation activity and getting ready to head to the beach

 After a chance encounter with another Explorers group; the Black-Tailed Deer, we traveled down to the beach and the boys immediately dropped their packs and scampered up the rocky shoreline. It is always a treat for the mentors to witness a group playing at Clayton Beach with the beautiful backdrop of the San Juans and Bellingham Bay it is nearly impossible to not feel like such a place was meant for a day of playing with friends and timeless exploration. With the end of our day drawing near, the mentors rallied the group to prepare for a sit spot before closing circle. The group was given a prompt to think about on their sit spot of; “what else do you ‘navigate’ in your life outside of Explorers Club?” After fifteen minutes of solo time gazing out over the water listening to the waves break upon the shoreline we reunited to discuss our thoughts. Surprisingly enough, the Gray Wolf Pups actually came back with insightful thoughts and we had a rather meaningful discussion about navigating conflict, relationships, and potential hardships that life may throw at you. With just enough time to share some gratitude and eat apple slices we packed up and cruised back to the trailhead to meet our parents. After this outing the mentors are seriously having to consider whether or not this group should be called the “Gray Wolf Pups” or the “Gray Wolves” as they demonstrated focus, maturity, and a depth of thoughtfulness that seemed beyond anything a mere pup could muster. 

Playing on the hike down

Checking out the honeycomb weathering patter on the sandstone at the beach

Hiking home after a successful day

Make sure to check out the rest of the photos from our outing here!