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!

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 6^th from 4:30-7:30pm.

For more pictures from the day please visit the Gray Wolfs Pups 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.

BEC: Exploring South Lake Padden with the Gray Wolf Pups

The Gray Wolf Pups arrived at South Lake Padden Dog Park to find that a layer of Hoar Frost had blanketed the landscape. A few of the Explorers marveled at its crystalized form while others formed it into makeshift snowballs to throw at others. The boy’s fascination with the natural world is growing just like the bonds between the group members. With a season now under their belt these Explorers are learning our culture and what it means to belong to a community. Greg rounded up the boys for an opening activity on the field.

With everyone blindfolded, Greg explained the rules of Stick Stalk.Greg would run to a certain location on the field and hit two sticks together. The Explorers would then follow the sound of the sticks and navigate to Greg. This challenge seemed at first to be a daunting task for the boys, but Greg explained to them that humans often rely on their sense of sight above all else. He encouraged the group to rely on their hearing and sense of feeling in their feet to guide them.  The Explorers did quite well with the challenge. Afterward, the mentors told them this would be the first of many stalks. Eventually the group will start blindfolded at the bottom of Sehome Arboretum and navigate to the top.

Leaving the field, the Explorers were anxious to get into the woods. In our opening meeting, the Mentors told the boys about an enchanted valley not far from the field. This valley has been a place of Exploration for many Explorer groups.  After crossing a few trail junctions, the Explorers were met with a large hill that climbing steeply westward. While this proved to be quite a challenge for the group, they quickly learned that exerting themselves was the best way to stay warm on this cold fall day. Arriving at the junction to the enchanted valley, the group took a moment to admire the second growth valley laden with Douglas Fir. The Mentors took a moment to explain why this forest was different than the one at the 100 Aker Wood. The Explorers’ eyes followed the massive trunks as they rose to the top of the forest canopy. What a blessing it is to have such a magnificent landscape so close to home.

As we took in the scenery, one of the boys started to shiver and become overwhelmed by the cold. This was a great learning opportunity for the boys. First off, we were glad that he Let It Be Known. Keeping clear and open communication within the group is how we explore safely and understand how each group member is feeling physically and emotionally. Once someone states their needs, then the rest of the group can come together to help the individual. We searched the Explorer’s pack for more gear and found several items. The mentors then talked about a three part layering system that would help us stay warm in almost any conditions. This system involves the three W’s of clothing layering; wicking, warmth, and wind. The base layer is the wicking layer, which pulls moisture away from the body. The warmth layer is the secondary insulating layer that retains our body heat. The wind layer is the outer layer that repels the rain and wind. By employing the three W’s, we can explore any time of year and in any weather.  Pulling our resources together, the group lent a pair of gloves and a hat to the Explorer in need.  It is moments like this that reinforce to the Mentors that the landscape can teach lessons in a more effective manner that we ever could. The cold taught the boys how to share and recognize need within their community.

After playing a few rounds of Hide we were ready hike to the enchanted forest. The Mentors scouted and noticed a little deer trail running along the southern ridgeline of the valley and challenged the group to follow it. The boys quickly learned just how difficult it can be to follow deer trails. Hiking through waist high sword fern and climbing over downed logs, they slowly navigated the path. Since this was the first time hiking off trail with the Gray Wolf Pups, it was important to explain the importance of treading lightly. While hiking, we can choose the path that will have the least impact on the landscape, watching out for the wake that we leave. The better we are at leaving no trace, the better our stealth and camouflage skills for games like Spider’s Web.

After a lengthy trek along the ridgeline, the Explorers made a final push up the steep bank to the top of the ridge. Looking out over the valley, the group ate lunch and climbed inside hollowed out Western Red Cedar. While exploring the ridge, one of the boys unearthed a salamander and the group crowed around to admire it. Once full and rested, the group slid down the hill to the bottom of the valley to play a round of Spider’s Web.  Looking back at our lunch spot, the group could see the impact they had on the hillside. This was a great representation of why we need to tread lightly.

Once the group set up Spider’s Web and nominated me as the spider we were ready to play. It is amazing to see the power of this game to teach the boys about navigating through the forest. The Explorers are really becoming comfortable with the landscape. I caught Explorers crawling in the mud underneath sword ferns and hiding in the cavities of downed logs like a little mammal. Eventually, using many aspects of the ridgeline, the flies bested me and were able to make it to the food source. Circling up at the bottom of the valley, I gave thanks for a game well played and took a moment to talk about what it meant to play a game with honor. I was bested fair and square. I did not see this moment as a failure, but instead as a learning opportunity and a chance to congratulate the group on a game well played. We hydrated and played two more rounds of the game before it was time to go. All in all, we played Spider’s Web for about an hour and a half straight. A few of the boys stepped up to the challenge of being the Spider and did an excellent job.

Circling up for our closing meeting of the season, the group reflected on all the places that we had been and experiences we had shared together.  At the 100 Aker Wood we had gathered for the first time to learn about group culture and the Art of Camouflage.  On our second outing at Whatcom Falls, we explored the sandstone cliffs and uncovered a Yellow Jacket’s nest, which provided a lesson in navigating hazards in the forest. At Sehome Arboretum, we gathered to serve the land and give back to our community. At South Lake Padden, we experienced the chill of winter and learned how to over come it through our navigation and play. What a pleasure it was to share an excellent season with the Gray Wolf Pups. Greg and I have watched the pups slowly come out of their shells and through this we have a better window into their powers and challenges. Unlike many other programs and schools, the Boys Explorers Club seeks to empower the boys by creating a group culture where they are intentionally given power and the ability to experiment with different roles within the group.  Once they learn to harness this power with discernment and integrity, they will transform into the wise and just leaders like so many Explorers before them.

We closed our meeting with one of our most important practices, the Circle Of Thanks. The boys gave thanks for: the opportunity to explore Whatcom County’s wild places, the friendships that we are building amongst the group, the land and weather being our teachers, the animals and plants, family and of course for Spider’s Web. The mentors would like to thanks all the parents and Wild Whatcom staff for their support and trust in us throughout the season. We would also like to thank the Gray Wolf Pups forGrasping the Nettle and stepping outside their comfort zones on our outings. We are looking forward for the opportunity to learn and grow with them in the spring season.

Please check out more pictures from the outing at the photo gallery. We look forward to seeing you at the Winter Solstice Gathering on December 14th and at the winter outings we are offering for the first time ever!

BEC Serves Sehome Arboretum with the Gray Wolf Pups

The Gray Wolf Pups gathered atop Sehome Arboretum with energy and excitement. While the mentors talked with parents, the Explorers climbed up a young Maple, covering every branch with monkey-like form. When the tree became too crowded a few boys ran into the forest and discovered a fifteen-foot high sandstone cliff. The mentors realized that it was time to wrangle the group! As we walked over to the cliff, Greg noticed that a large branch of the Maple had broken off in a previous storm. It was the perfect shape to make a primitive Bark Spud. A Bark Spud is used primarily to shave the bark of a tree after it is felled. Greg thought it might make an excellent tool for removing English ivy from trees, which was part of our service outing. Before we made this tool we decided that we better have an opening meeting and hand out jobs.

Circling up we realized that some of us still didn’t know everyone’s name so we went around the circle and shared those and our favorite tool. Everyone seemed to have a different favorite: a bow and arrow, knife, stick, or chisel. I took my favorite walking stick out of my car to show the group. I shared with the boys all the adventures and memories that the stick held and all the services it could provide. Watching Greg make the bark spud, the boys started to realize just how useful tools can be when we use them with integrity and purpose. As the Gray Wolf Pups start to utilize sticks and eventually knives, hatchets, and saws, they must always keep in mind our motto A Tool Vs. A Weapon. The difference between the two is the person who is using it.

After we had our jobs and were ready to go we noticed a few Explorers picking at a crumbling Parks Department trail marker. Greg shared with the group that sometimes we as humans can act a lot like termites. Little by little if each person were to pick at the sign then eventually it would be unreadable. The group agreed not to be a termite when it came to structures and living organisms like plants. In Explorers Club we seek to be not only the harvesters and users of the land but the caretakers as well.

Calling the front Scout to mobilize the group, we hiked north to our service sight location. Along the way we spotted some tracks in a muddy area and came to the conclusion that it was a dog. We could tell this from its major identifying feature, a single lobed rear print and the claw marks in the toe prints. The more we practice and get to know tracks, the more we will be able to know what has been moving through a tract of land. Arriving at our service sight we assessed where we needed to work. The mentors had a specific section of Big Leaf maples trees in mind that they wanted to serve but a large Red alder snag had fallen right next to the maples, resting on the youngest of the bunch. The maple was drawn like a bow and if it broke we would not have wanted to be near it. Greg and I took a moment to talk about forest snags and widow-maker limbs. It is important that the group be able to recognize and track these so they can explore safely in any season.

Once we had found a safe location we dropped our packs and Mentors instructed the group to look at both sides of the trail and pick out the differences. One side of the forest floor was comprised of primarily English ivy while the other held a much richer diversity of Red huckleberry, Sword ferns, Oregon grape, and Beaked hazelnut trees. It was plain to see this patch needed some help restoring its natural balance.  Mentors explained that English ivy is well adapted to the mild Pacific Northwest climate. It grows all year round in Western Washington and can out-compete many other species. Having diversity in the flora and fauna in the landscape is key to having stability within an ecosystem's food chain. Since we are a part of the landscape, our stability is tied directly to this balance. In Explorers Club we serve not only to insure our stability, we also serve because the land and its biotic community intrinsically hold value and we share and defend that gift of life. As the Explorers serve the landscape, they will come to realize that they are interdependent with a much larger community and it is their service and commitment to that community that will cultivate them into leaders and allies that guide with integrity and compassion.

Grabbing a vine, Greg showed the group how to identify and get to know English ivy. The vine can have three to five lobes on its leathery leaves but it can also be un-lobed depending on the sub-species. The ivy’s alternate branching structure first spreads out over the forest floor. Once roots have established themselves they slowly climb up plants and trees, eventually pollinating after a few years. English ivy damages the structural integrity of the trees, slowly suffocating and exposing them to rot. Its matted root system also causes erosion on steep slopes.

After this, it looked like the group was ready to explode so we gloved up and started to serve the land. It was so thrilling to watch the Gray Wolf Pups work. Some of the group worked with Greg to pry the long ivy strands from the Douglas firs and Big Leaf maples. The mentors had given the group a challenge of seeing who could pull the largest intact strand of ivy. Our record for the day was thirty feet. The boys worked together to pull the tough vines out of the soil. The group put in a solid effort and by the time we were done we had a huge ivy ball. We loaded it on three Explorers backs and carried it on to the cement road for the Parks Department to pick up, but before we headed out we picked up every leaf that we had dropped to be sure that it did not spread. As we stood around the ball of Ivy we appreciated the work that we did. Mentors asked the question, are we killing this ivy? Was this not a form of being a termite and causing harm? The Explorers came to the conclusion that they were restoring balance and it was more about the intention in their hearts rather than their actions. After such great service the group was ready to find a spot to play Spider’s Web.  

We traveled back the way we had come and the group did great job of tracking and recognizing landmarks that we had come across. Scouting down the side of a hill, the group thought that they might have found an excellent location for the game. As we climbed down the slippery clay soil mixed with fallen leaves, we came to a twenty foot cliff and had to assess whether we could make it safely around. The group decided that the risk outweighed the benefit and we were just about to turn around when one of the Explorers spotted a Barred owl. The group sat silently perched on top of the cliff watching the owl fifteen feet away, directly at our head level. This was such a great opportunity for us to see the hunter at rest. It also gave us a window into the community that we just served.

Turning around we searched a little more and found a deer trail that led safely down to the location. Who would have thought that a deer might know this land better than us? Tucked away in a steep and secluded little valley we played a challenging game of Spider’s Web. Greg made for a tough spider, catching boys left and right. Through trial and error the boys learned to go slow and wait until the spider was distracted to move. We also learned how to play with honor and asked ourselves why we are playing the game in the first place.

After the game finished it was time for us to go, but we still needed to have a closing meeting. The Gray Wolf Pups gave thanks for the mysteries of the land, for the chance to play, for the challenge of Spiders Web, for restoring balance to this ecosystem, and for the opportunity to serve. We ended our day by using our stealth and stalking skills to sneak up on our friends and family who were waiting for us in the parking lot. The Mentors are thankful to be part of the boy’s first service outing. 

Please check out more pictures from the outing at the photo gallery. We look forward to seeing you at theWinter Solstice Gathering on December 14th and at our winter outings that we are offering for the first time ever!

BEC: Exploring Whatcom Falls Park with the Gray Wolf Pups

The Gray Wolf Pups arrived at Whatcom Falls Park with abundant energy ready for adventure and exploration. Harnessing their liveliness, Mentors introduced the Explorers to a game called Everybody’s It. After running and dodging a swirling ball of playful boys the group had settled enough to hold our opening meeting. Greg and I introduced them to a volunteer Mentor, Nick, who would be joining us that day and also on November 23rd. Nick is a cohort of Dave’s from his masters program at the North Cascades Institute. The boys are settling easily into the Explorers Club culture. The Mentors asked them if they remembered any of the jobs. With a little help they explained each jobs role and function. Remembering and understanding how these jobs work interdependently within the group is such an important part of creating a cohesive unit. 

It was important to touch back on the culture we introduced at the 100 Aker Wood and also to define what an exploration outing is. On our explorations the Mentors follow the interests of the boys and they guide themselves through circular leadership. Over the years the group will find they develop an intimate knowledge of the landscape and mysteries of each location. On each exploration the boys are free to follow their interests and experiment with leadership styles.

 After a focused meeting we walked over to a stand of large Douglas Firs and played a few rounds of Hungry Hungry Martin. This game is played by one Explorer taking on the form of a Pine Martin while the rest are Douglas Squirrels. The Squirrels try to escape the Martin’s teeth by touching a specific tree before they get tagged. The Explorers experimented with all sorts of evasive maneuvers and group strategies as they tried to reach the tree. The game ended with a lot of laugher and brought the group together.

Crossing Whatcom Falls Bridge the group marveled at the erosive forces of Whatcom Creek. I explained to a few Explorers that Whatcom Creek flows across the Chuckanut Sandstone formation that runs from Lummi Island to the foothills of Mount Baker. Over time the water eroded the deep gorge that flows through the park. It’s six waterfalls represent sections where the formation is more resistant to erosion. I soon realized rather than talk about it the group should experience it directly. We circled up at the top of the steep riverbank that led down to the base of the falls and had a discussion about risk. On our explorations we learn that sometimes there is inherent risk that comes with certain activities we choose to engage in. In order to engage in any given activity the group must first assess whether the risk is higher than the desired outcome. Standing on the bank the Explorers assessed the risk in climbing down to the falls. The Mentors then helped them track how we could safely manage those risks. One by one, with some spotting, the Explorers climbed the roots down and crawled between the large sandstone block and the waterfalls edge.  Looking out from this spot the group could see the log jam at the bottom and feel the rushing air and mist of the cascading water. In Explorers Club the boys go on many adventures and this risk assessment technique will allow us to do this.

Hiking east up the creek the Explorers were quickly met with a fork in the trail.  Some of the Explorers wanted to go left towards the river and others wanted to go right up the hill. This was an excellent opportunity to practice circular leadership within the group. Forming a tight circle the Tribal Elder led the group in a process of decision-making; first the group brainstormed suggestions then identified their options, next the Tribal Elder asked for a show of hands for each choice, once the group had their vote he gave everyone a chance to speak their truth to better understand the two options. What an excellent way to facilitate a group decision. It seemed as though the group couldn’t come to a consensus so they sent out scouting parties to look at both options. When the scouts returned the group realized that both options led to the same place, a learning opportunity that if we work together and compromise things will come together.

Hiking up the Mentors took a sharp turn onto a deer trail and we navigated it until we came to one of our favorite spots for games. The Mentors taught a game that has been called “the greatest game ever!” Spider’s Web. In Spider’s Web one Explorer is a spider and the rest are flies. The spider’s goal is to capture all the flies by using his awareness and stealth to send them back to his web. The spider needs to be very keen because he has to balance keeping the flies on his web and catching the others who are trying to make it to his food source. The flies had to use their best forms of stealth and camouflage to evade the spider and to free those who were on the web.

Once the group understood the rules they packed up their lunches and got ready to play. Just then one Explorer who was playing with a stick broke off some bark from a nursing stump that also happened to be a Yellow Jacket’s nest. All together three boys got stung and we evacuated the area leaving our packs.  This was a great opportunity for the Explorers to learn how to care for a sting and be resilient. Mentors called the Medicine Man over and we quickly drew a circle around one of the Explorers stings and checked his chest for redness; he had never been stung before so we wanted to see how his body would react. It turns out that he had no allergies and he showed great courage. Nick bravely went back and collected the packs while the rest of the group played two rounds of Spider’s Web. The group climbed, crawled and Fox Walked through a thicket of Sword Fern, Oregon Grape, and Salal as they tried to obtain the food source only to fall victim to the spider’s watchful eye. After two rounds Mentors checked the time and we barely had enough to hold a closing circle and make it back to the parents.

We hiked down to Derby Pond and circled up on its edge. The Explorers gave thanks for a day of challenge and adventure, friends and family, and for such a great park to explore in. The Gray Wolf Pups outing called them into action and taught them how to act with assessment and intention. Their shared experiences in Whatcom County’s wild places are teaching them what it means to be a community and part of a group.

Don't forget to check out pics from our outing in her photo gallery.

The Art of Camouflage with the Gray Wolf Pups at Fairhaven Park

        The Gray Wolf Pups arrived at the Fairhaven Park ready for a day of exploration and adventure.  It not only marked the groups first outing, it was also their first experience in the Boys Explorers official stomping ground the 100 Aker Wood. This diverse patch of wildland holds a rich cultural history for the Explorers and is the space that we come to practice and hone our Earth Skills.

         The Gray Wolf Pups said goodbye to their parents and we quickly circled up in the grass field to play a Name Game. Circling up in Explorer’s Club is a very important tool that mentors hand down to the Explorers.  The circle seems rudimentary in its design but holds so many different meanings in the Explorers culture. We circle up in a group to: bring our minds together, give thanks, tell our stories,speak our truths, and reflect on our experiences. A circle also models our equality, inclusion, and common ground that we strive for as a group. We not only hold a physical circle but we apply it to our group dynamics. On Saturday the Gray Wolf Pups were given a chance to practice circular leadership amongst their peers. We are all leaders in Explorers Club, and all bring to the table different styles of leadership.

           The Explorers started to come out of their shells as we bonded over our mishaps while trying to learn each others names. After the game was over the group’s energy was quite high so mentors decided to harness it with another game called Squirrel Tag. We chased each other around the field as we embodied some animal forms that many of the Explorers know well, the squirrel and the dog. Leaving the field we headed into the 100 Aker Wood to explore one of the Mentor’s favorite spots, a valley laden with Sword Ferns, Hawthorne, and Snowberry. Hiking along the group had trouble staying together at trail intersections and mentors knew we needed to have an open meeting to discuss the way we explore as a group.

            On our explorations each group member has an important job that holds its own unique function within our group. These jobs create interdependency within the group and the land that we explore in. They also help us to stay safe on our outings. Circling up, Greg and I introduced the important jobs of the Front Scout and Back Scout. These Scouts keep the group together while we hike and scan for hazards and curiosities. After going over a few more jobs and risk management points the group was ready to dive into the skill of the day, camouflage. The Art of Camouflage starts with one of the most quintessential Explorer’s Club games, Hide!   Framed through many rounds of Hide we learned how to blend into our surrounding utilizing: shape, size, color, light and shadow, movement, and sound. While crouching behind and under Snowberries and ferns we broke up our human shaped image using intersecting lines and disappeared into the landscape. As Greg scanned for hiding Explorers they soon realized that it was not only their image that gave them away; any rustle in the bushes or cracking of sticks would alert Greg’s super senses to the location of an Explorer.

It was at this moment that the Explorers realized they would not only need to camouflage; they would also have to be stealthy. While Greg set up our final activity of the day I demonstrated a new animal form of the Fox that embodies stalking and stealth. I challenged the group to try and Fox Walk past a blindfolded Explorer without being pointed at. This challenge proved to be very difficult, but as it is with most skills, Slow is Fast and Fast is Slow.

As we practiced and ate some food we didn’t notice the large predator that was stalking us until he was quite close.  After we flushed Greg out from the bushes he lead us up to the ridgeline of the valley where he had set up an activity called the Camouflage Gauntlet.  

            Greg had carefully hidden pipe cleaners throughout a trail that ran the backbone of the ridgeline. Each of these pipe cleaners modeled the different forms of camouflage we had experimented with during our games of Hide. The Explorers had to use their awareness to spot as many pipe cleaners as they could while they Fox Walked down the trail. Fox Walking is not only good for sneaking but it is also could for slowing down and becoming aware of what is around us. It helps us to recognize and appreciate the wonders of the natural world. After walking through the gauntlet twice the group was sure that they had found all 16 pipe cleaners. It turned out that Greg had hidden twenty pipe cleaners! Wow, the Gray Wolf Pups and this Mentor have a lot more to learn about camouflage.  

           We ended our outing by once again coming together in a circle for a closing meeting on the sunny ridgeline. In the Boys Explorers Club it is tradition to end our day with a group snack and what Mentors consider to be one of the core practices and mottos of our culture, the Attitude of Gratitude.  Explorers and Mentors show this appreciation by engaging in a Circle of Thanks where each individual has the opportunity to share what they are thankful for.  The group gave thanks for: getting to explorer the 100 Aker Wood, having friends and family, playing games, eating food, and for the land that sustains and feeds us. Mentors would like to thank all the parents for their logistical work and support and to the Explorers for their cohesion as a group and willingness to step out of their comfort zones. 

You can check out more pictures from the outing in the Gray Wolf Pups photo gallery