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.

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. 

Traversing Connelly and Padden Creek with the Gray Wolf Pups

Arriving at Marine Park the Gray Wolf Pups quickly hurried down the beach to look out at the bay. It was apparent that the group had cultivated resiliency over the fall season. Heading straight into the gale they roamed the beach looking in the nooks and crannies in the breakwater. Circling up on the sand the group played a quick name game and revisited some Explorers Club Culture. The Mentors challenged them to remember each one of the group’s very important jobs. As they called out jobs the conversation turned towards the importance of the jobs within the group. An Explorer asked which was the most important job. This was a great time for the Mentors to talk about the importance of circular leadership within our group. We Are All Leaders and our jobs function interdependently with one another. We separate our jobs from ego and authority, filling our roles for the sake of putting forth our best intentions and actions within the group and for the land.

Turning our conversation towards the journey ahead we took a look at a map of the interurban trails that connect Marine Park to our Connelly Creek Service Site.   Learning how to orient the map to the four cardinal directions the Explorers deciphered that they would need to head east and find a safe place to navigate over the train tracks. Mentors cautioned the group that out of all the hazards on our journey road and train track crossings are the most dangerous. Our ability to focus as a group and bring forward the task at hand is critical in these moments.

After crossing the tracks safely one Explorer pointed out what he thought was the interurban trail. The group reviewed the map again and his instincts were correct. Just as we were about to head east a large murder of crows, about fifty strong, flew over our heads. Tracking the Northwestern Crows we could tell that they were alert and on edge. Matt asked the group why crows flock in large groups in the wintertime. The group came to the conclusion that the crows stick together because of predatory risks. Matt explained that crows flock and roost together to avoid predation from raptors, to share information about danger and food sources, and also to find mates. Northwestern Crows are extremely altruistic and loyal. Matt asked the Explorers which other species crow behavior reminded them of. Thinking about it for a while they came to the conclusion that we were very similar. We can learn so much from the other species when we get quiet and observe what the land is telling us.

Turning once again to the Tribal Elder the Mentors asked the group which way we were headed. One of the boys who was familiar with the area brought up the suggestion to follow the trail west towards Fairhaven Dog Park. In our outings Mentors seek to cultivate organizational skills within the Explorers. Touching on the traverse the Mentors told the boys that it had been almost an hour already and we had moved about one-eight of a mile on our two and a half mile trek. The boys decided as a group that we would go and explore west for a little bit and then really focus our hiking for the next leg of the trek. Arriving at the dog park the boys were immediately drawn to the large hill. Like clockwork some called Hide and the group went diving into the Scotch Broom bushes. After playing multiple rounds and almost losing our snacks to some hungry dogs the group was back on the trail.

Although the weather was cold and wet the signs of spring were in the air. As we walked we admired the white flowers and vibrant green leaves of the Indian Plums and pinkish flowers of the Red-Flowering Currants. With some guidance from the Mentors each of the boys sampled a leaf from a female Indian Plum. When eaten and crushed the plum leaves have a strong odor and taste of cucumbers. At this point in the Gray Wolf Pups journey with harvesting it is critical that don’t eat anything before consulting with a Mentor. It is important to be well informed when harvesting wild edibles and also to harvest them ethically. Foraging is a skill that takes time and focus to develop and can deeply connect us to the power of the place and season.

As we hiked the front scout started to hear some commotion in the distance. The group came to find that there was a race happening on the same trail we were traversing. We circled up and decided that we were going to use the race as an opportunity to increase our awareness skills; if someone called runner, everyone had to get to the right side of the trail. Little did the group know that we were going to have to call “Runner!” about every thirty seconds! In the end it was a great chance for the boys to work on group communication and keeping that same focus we used to cross the tracks.

After about a long push the group stopped and rested and snacked. As the cold and wet day started to set in the group began to feel tired and fatigued. Matt and I encouraged the boys to muster their energy. The group rallied and once again started snaking along Padden Creek as it thundered towards Bellingham Bay. Hiking along we came across a section of trees that had been devastated by the recent winter storm. Combing the wreckage the Explorers tracked a sweet smell coming from a downed Cottonwood branch. As the group crowed in someone brushed up against a branch and a plume of pollen was released from the Cottonwood’s catkins.  Investigating further the boys found sticky buds at the tips of the branch. Grabbing some buds the boys squeezed an amber resin out of the centers. Matt and I explained that the resin could be made into a powerful balm often called the Balm of Gilead. This medicine can be used as an extremely powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-fugal, anti-septic, a lesion healer, and cold remedy, among many other uses!

Mustering our strength once again we hiked the last stretch of interurban trail before the confluence with Connelly Creek and Padden Creek. Navigating across Old Fairhaven Parkway we cut through a retirement community, with permission of course, and found a deer trail that led back towards Connelly Creek. Crossing over both Connelly and Padden Creek once more we arrive at our service site. What a trek!

Sitting under the shelter at Happy Valley Park we held a closing circle and gave some thanks. The group gave thanks for the ability to challenge themselves on the journey, for the medicine and food that the landscape provides, for warmth and shelter, and for our ability to muster strength even when we don’t think we have it. We ended our day in the rain playing a few rounds of Salmon oh Salmon.

Now that the Gray Wolf Pups have gotten to know the Padden Creek Watershed they will be able to better serve it at their next outing at our Connelly Creek Service Site. The Mentors are excited to welcome in a second season with the group and want to give a big thanks to all parents and volunteer staff that work so hard to support the Explorers Club. 

For more pictures please visit our photo gallery.