The Gray Wolf Pups Calibrate Their Internal Compasses in the Chuckanuts

The Gray Wolf Pups climbed up Cleator Road on a misty Sunday morning to meet up for the Chuckanut Ridge Traverse. With the hazy weather all about, it set the scene for a perfect metaphor regarding our skills focus of the spring season: The Art of Navigation. Joining us today was a former Boys Explorers Club participant and current Four Shields group member who was taking advantage of his opportunity to join BEC outings as an Explorers Mentor Apprentice (or EMA). As the Gray Wolf Pups continue to grow over the next few years as a group, and as individuals, they too will one day be provided the opportunity to be EMAs and volunteer their own time to help guide younger groups as an assistant mentor. Not only was it nice to have a veteran Explorer with us who already has some navigation skills of his own, but it was quickly discovered that the EMA was an alum of Kulshan where a handful of Gray Wolf Pups go now! This quickly formed a bond and we all became fast friends.

Every journey must begin somewhere!

With everyone present, we had our regular opening circle, discussed our plans for the day and handed out jobs. Hiking along Chuckanut Ridge, we would follow the ridgeline north before dropping down onto Lost Lake Trail which would take us further north into Arroyo Park and eventually to North Chuckanut Trailhead where we would rendezvous with parents for pick up. The Gray Wolf Pups were notified that they would be responsible for getting the group there and making all the primary decisions regarding which trails we took at each junction. Starting things off we cruised up the Lower Ridge Trail to a view point where we paused to look out across at Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands. The water would be our first natural landmark we encountered to help us gain our bearings and develop our internal compasses. Once atop Chuckanut Ridge we had to decide to go left or right. Now being able to look out towards snowy foothills, we had our next landmark. In addition to the bay and the snowy foothills, the sun decided to poke its head out of the clouds and offer yet another indicator to tune our internal compasses. Gauging the orientation of the water, snowy foothills, and position of the sun at mid-day (while we stood in the northern hemisphere) we began to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Tapping into our knowledge of place, the boys slowly but surely figured out the snowy foothills would give way to the Cascades to our East. The water, islands, and Bellingham Bay were to the West. The sun took its place to the South given our global position in the northern hemisphere. With this information we were able to conclude we must go left at the junction, and continue following Chuckanut Ridge to the North. 

Looking out at the San Juan Islands

Along the way we encountered some cliffs that afforded us a brief glimpse of a city of subdued excitement. Since we had established our bearings we knew this cluster of buildings must be Bellingham to the North! Another good sign we were headed in the right direction. Continuing along the trail we dropped down into a valley where we hit a rather confusing junction. Luckily there was a great sign with an accurate trail map for us to utilize. Checking the orientation of the map with the arrow in the bottom left corner which pointed up with a “N” we knew this map was oriented to have North be “up”. Taking a moment to double check our previous deliberations, we quickly found the best path to guide us along our way to Arroyo Park and in turn North Chuckanut Trailhead.  Each of the boys took some time with the mentors to make sure they understood how to read the map, what route we were going to take, and make a quick mental note of the directions we would turn at each junction along the way. With our path laid out ahead of us we continued journeying along the trail.

Gazing north to Bellingham

As we hiked the boys naturally settled in with one another forming groups of twos and threes. This is natural for any group hiking, but it was good to see all of our newer members finding their comfort with the older members of the Gray Wolf Pups. Despite these particular members of the Gray Wolf Pups having only been together for one full season, they already seem to be developing quickly as a group and taking strides towards higher functioning and a deeper sense of comradery. As we hiked, the sun continued to shine down through the trees illuminating the path before us. As our internal compasses developed, our awareness of the surrounding landscape melded with our knowledge of the geography of Whatcom County to enable us to navigate without ever pulling out a compass. Of course the trail map was a big help when deciphering which trail to trek down, but in the end, if we had to I’m sure the Gray Wolf Pups could have figured out where to go all on their own. 

Gathering around the trail map to find our path home.

Finally arriving at Arroyo Park, we had just enough time to drop down a hillside off trail and set up shop at an old Explorers Club stomping ground. Revisiting old shelters constructed in the summer, splashing through the stream, and eating what food we had left to fuel ourselves, we were ready for a few rounds of Spiders Web before calling it a day. Not only did the Gray Wolf Pups navigate their way home, but they did it fast enough to have time to relax and play three rounds of Spiders Web before meeting up with the parents for pick up. Just as the mist gave way to sunshine to illuminate our path while we hiked today, the boys took a big step in developing an internal compass that will guide them based solely off of their surroundings and observations. Furthermore, as the Gray Wolf Pups takes strides as individuals, they also continue to come together and form ever strengthening bonds as a group. All of these developments will play a key role as they enter adolescence over the next few years and have to rely on their internal compasses to not only navigate landscapes, but social situations, school, and many more obstacles they are bound to face in their journey towards becoming young adults. If today was any indicator of how they will fare, then I have no doubt they will have all the skills and abilities to flourish as each Explorer discovers and follows their very own paths in life. 

Gazing out to the east along Chuckanut Ridge

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

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!