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.
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| 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!
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| 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.
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| Playing on the hike down |
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| Checking out the honeycomb weathering patter on the sandstone at the beach |
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| Hiking home after a successful day |
Make sure to check out the rest of the photos from our outing
here!
