The Short-tailed Weasels Explore Together at N. Galbraith

Plenty of energy today!

The Short-tailed Weasels had their final outing of the season at N. Galbraith trailhead. It was a small group of STWs today; even with an explorer joining us from another group we were only seven total!  We found out that many of our fellow STWs were not able to join us on this outing because they were at home resting and trying to kick seasonal colds. So, we were low in number but high in spirit as we struck out into the forest on this cold December day with plenty of energy and excitement for what our day held in store.

After a brief opening circle (we had to keep moving to stay warm!), we headed straight into the woods.  After winding our way through chest high sword ferns and towering Douglas fir, western red cedar and big leaf maple trees we came to a neat looking spot to take a break and have a bite to eat.  While we were having our snack, we noticed that someone had built two earth shelters here.  We learned that these people were actually another explorers club groups and we took some time to notice the merits and shortcomings of each shelter.  They were certainly well built and sturdy, but a bit to big for our liking.  They also did not have the required three feet (!) of debris on top in order to keep us warm and dry if we had to spend a night inside.

Comfort testing a debris hut

The STWs then channeled their focused decision making energy from the last outing and decided that they wanted to play spiders web and then travel further up the hill to a spot where they could all practice carving.  These boys have played many games of spiders web together so we let them set up the game all on their own.  The mentors simply joined in the fun when it was time to start!

Flies waiting for the wave

After two games of spiders web that included some great work by the spider and some long distance and patient sneaking on the part of the flies, we packed up our bags and headed up the gravel road into an interesting landscape.

We found ourselves walking through a clear cut section of forest. We were headed into this area to harvest wood that we will use next season for making a bowl (Art of Carving II is our skills focus in the spring).  We knew that, being a clear cut, this area would have plenty of wood that was already cut down so we knew we would not be negatively impacting the forest elsewhere.

Clear cut at N. Galbraith

Some of us wondered why the forest needed to be clear cut like this.  We learned that this forest was being cleared to make room for a new housing development.  We had a discussion about this and felt empathy for the plants and animals that had to lose their homes to make way for our homes.  As animals living on this planet, we absolutely have an impact on our Earth.  It is up to us what kind of an impact we will have and how severe that impact is. Many of us had not considered that our homes were built at least in part from trees and that our neighborhoods were previously forests.  This clear cut helped us visualize and deepen our understanding of the impact that we have on our Earth as humans.

Our small group for the day!

We trudged our way up through the clear cut on a logging road and eventually found snow! This was a welcome surprise and we had a (surprisingly) civil snowball fight. Here we searched the piles of dead trees for suitable piece of wood from which to carve a bowl next spring.  Some of us were quite interested in this project and got to practice using a folding saw.  Others were not (Challenge by Choice) and instead honed their sneaking and searching skills playing round after round of Eagle Eye.

Snowball fight!

Harvesting big-leaf maple for our bowls that we will carve in the spring!

We met in a circle of thanks to close not only our outing at N. Galbraith but also our fall season.  We took some extra time in closing circle to look forward to our spring season.  Our earth focus for this fall was Art of Carving, and while we did get to practice with our knives, we agreed as a group that we could benefit from more focused carving time so next season our earth skills focus will be Art of Carving II.  Thank you Short-tailed Weasels and families for a great fall season and we look forward for our winter outing and then another full season in the spring!

To see the rest of the photos from today, click here.

The Short-tailed Weasels Make Decisions at Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve

Arming ourselves with information before leaving the parking lot

For their third outing of the fall season the Short-tailed Weasels gathered at Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve.  The woods here feel just a bit more remote.  This 370 acre preserve is predominately second growth forest interlaced with a network of trails as well as mountain streams and even some impressive waterfalls.  There are also opportunities to gain elevation and catch views eastward toward the Cascade foothills and Mt. Baker. With many possible areas to explore and things to do at Lookout Mountain, we as mentors wanted to give the Short-tailed Weasels the responsibility to plan where we wanted to explore today. In our opening circle we assigned jobs, including that of the tribal elder, who would be very important later as he helped us to make various decisions throughout the day.

Hitting the trail

We followed the trail up and out of the parking area and took the short spur that would lead us to a waterfall lookout.  From a precipice we had a good view of the waterfall (which many of us remarked was quite impressive for being so close to the trailhead!). Our elevated position also gave us a good view of some stumps that had been logged long before this place was protected.  We noticed that different parts of stumps decay at different rates and learned that this is because much of the wood inside of a standing tree is actually dead. When the tree eventually falls over or is cut down, this dead part more readily decomposes while the living outer ring of wood remains intact longer.

Checking out the waterfall

After having a snack at the waterfall we returned to the intersection with the main trail.  Here was the first opportunity to practice our circular leadership and navigation skills by making a circle and utilizing the tribal elder.  While it was not a short circle (about 30 minutes), it was certainly effective.  The boys did a good job of holding focus and making sure every voice in the group was heard.  In the end, they came to a unanimous decision (all group decisions in BEC require a consensus among ALL members of the group) to head back toward the parking lot and find a patch of woods suitable for a game of spiders web.  The mentors had had a different plan, wanting to go deeper into the woods rather than back toward civilization.  However, it was important to honor the decision of the group so down we went, back toward the parking lot.

A mentor follows the group and its decisions

The mentors were reminded of the intuitive wisdom of boys after only a couple minutes of walking when we came across an awesome piece of forest that we would never have gotten to see if we had chosen to go the other direction.  The place had a spooky feel where trees were short and grew close together leaving absolutely no light for any plants in the understory.

Crowded trees

Exploring our new spot

We put our packs down here and took a few minutes to spread out and explore this interesting area.  In BEC we usually find ourselves in forests with lots of salal, sword fern, devils club and salmon berry.  It was cool to be in a different kind of ecosystem where the ground was soft and bouncy and covered not with live plants but strictly sticks, pine needles, cones and a lot of fungi.  Some of us also took time to practice carving, which is the skills focus for our season this fall.

Fungi!

After another snack and some water we organized a spiders web game in our new spot.  We didn't know how well this game would work here being that there were not many plants on the ground to hide behind but we were excited to find out!  We quickly learned that in the absence of plants, we had to use the topography of the forest floor as cover and had a fun and focused couple of games of spiders web.

Sneaking during Spiders Web!

Then, suddenly, the end of our outing was rapidly approaching.  Knowing we were short on time the mentors organized a sit spot. This was a good chance to have some quiet reflection and bask in the good feelings that come from lingering endorphins that get released from moving our bodies (in this case our spiders web game!).  During the sit spot, the mentors got a chance to reflect on the day. We were especially impressed by the dedication that these boys showed to making sure that everyones voice was heard and honored during the group decision making process.

An explorer enjoying a sit spot

While all days with BEC go by to quickly, this one seemed especially short.  It seems that you can never have enough time in the woods.  We ended our sit spot and held our closing meeting.  Here we handed back the jobs and held a circle of thanks that we close every BEC outing with.  It was a short walk back to the parking lot to meet our rides.

To see the rest of the photos from today, click here!

STW Traverse Sehome Arboretum 9-17-2016

Heavy grey clouds hung in the sky, drizzling over green sword ferns and thickets of snowberry.  The rain ran in rivulets off bright raincoats and backpacks as the Short Tailed Weasels huddled in the lower parking lot of the Sehome Arboretum, contemplating the day’s mission: to reach the Sehome Tower before sundown. Though the clouds were low, spirits were high: it’s raining, it’s pouring, let’s go exploring! Explorers live by this motto.

This is the start of the Short Tailed Weasels’ third season (and their second fall) in Explorers Club, and last spring we explored the Sehome Arboretum under guidance from the mentors. This time, the boys would be responsible for their own navigation. How to get to the tower? There are maps, but they don’t help if you don’t know where you are to begin with. So, during opening circle, we helped the boys orient themselves: which way does the freeway run? Which way is the bay? Using landmarks and sounds, not just sights, the boys got their bearings.

During the opening circle we also introduced our new mentor, Jedediah, who specializes in tracking. He just so happened to spot some “magical” deer scat near the circle, and he helped the boys decide whether it was fresh or old. With our bodies and brains oriented, and some new tracking skills under our belts, we were ready to go.

The Arboretum is a special place: a steep outcropping of Chuckanut sandstone with an expansive network of winding trails, eroded ridges and deep, lush gullies. Although it’s smack dab in the middle of Bellingham, sandwiched in between I-5 and WWU’s campus, it’s easy to feel isolated and sometimes even lost. The whole place feels like an endless wild jungle. The drone of the freeway is washed out by the tree canopy and cliffs, replaced by a cacophony of chattering birds and rustling leaves. Every once in awhile, a crow quork startles the forest sounds. The trails keep winding. We kept traversing upwards towards the tower, exploring cliffs, overcoming challenges, and forging onwards through damp underbrush and grey mist.

Finally, the rain eased to a fine mist. Through the thinning clouds, the boys finally spied the outline of the tower and in one last great explosion of enthusiasm, raced to the very top, whopping in victory. We ate our lunch on the tower, and dropped big leaf maple helicopters down from the top, watching them twirl wildly to the ground below..

The thick roof of the tower reverberated dull thuds of raindrops as we finished lunch and began to talk about the art of carving and carving safety: how to sit when you’re carving so you don’t accidentally cut into yourself; how to test your blood circle with a sheathed knife to make sure no one is sitting too close to you while you carve; and some technique, such as how to shave off thin bits of wood, and how to not dig the knife in so deep that you have to force the cut.

We romped back into the woods to find some dry wood for carving. The boys harvested sticks from the cave tunnel just below the tower, and everyone practices sharpening a stick to demonstrate technique and safety. Ask your explorer about their carving homework!

Those boys who finished carving became the group scouts, searching for a good site to play Spider’s Web (if you haven’t heard of this game, ask your Explorer! It’s an all-time classic). After a few great rounds we had to call it a draw, to leave time for our closing circle of gratitude for another great day of exploring.

Short-Tailed Weasels Exploration at North Lake Whatcom Trailhead

The Short-Tailed Weasels gathered at the parking lot of North Lake Whatcom Trailhead for their last exploration of the spring season. Once they assembled, the group headed down the trail in searching of a spot for an opening meeting. Hiking along the forest was wet and saturated. The shades of gray in the low hanging cloud ceiling and slight southerly breeze chilled the air and refreshed the group. The climate reminded us of the weather much more typical to our Pacific Northwest spring season. It was powerful to witness the Explorers mindset and relationship with the rain shifting in this way. In Explorers Club we go out often in the rain and cold. Our aim is for the boys to begin to see this weather as a gift more than an advisory.

Finding a clearing next to the trail the group circled up as the mentors passed out jobs for the day. With a little encouragement from the swarming mosquitos the boys were able to recall each of the Explorers Club jobs and delegate a few that were deemed less desirable. The group was anxious to move, but the mentors held the circle explaining there were a few more important topics to address. The boys stretched their edge and worked hard to make a plan for the day in spite of their discomfort. Our aim was to hike a mile down the trail in search of multi-tiered waterfall then follow the creek down to the shore of the lake for a sit spot. We would end our day leaving a good chunk of time for Spider’s Web.

With a plan in order and our minds oriented toward the landscape we headed out in search of the falls. On the way the boys explored their skill for the season the Art of Harvest, taking moments along the trail to investigate the flowers and fruits of spring. Together we looked at Stinging Nettle stalks, Indian Plum fruits, Western Hemlock tips, and the elegant flowers of Red Columbine, Aquilegia Formosa. The boys were also introduced to a very helpful plant Herb Robert (more commonly known to the Explorers as Stink Bob) whose fresh leaves can be rubbed onto the skin to repel mosquitos.

After a solid effort the boys arrived at the base of the waterfall. Looking up the pools overflowed and cascaded down smooth Sandstone faces. Climbing over a logjam the group tucked into the woods and sat down for some lunch. Before we explored the falls any closer the mentors wanted to layout some ground rules. The Mentors talked with the group about two issues: making sure we stayed off the steep trail above us, and watching our own impact of erosion on the creek. The mentors stressed the connection of clear, clean, and cool water and its relationship with healthy habitat for the amphibians, macro invertebrates, and fish. Deepening this connection the mentors explained that this creek also poured directly into our own water source Lake Whatcom.

With that the group explored freely up the first half of the falls getting close enough to feel the spray of the water off the rocks and practicing their balance on logs that bridged the creek. It was at this moment that one of the Explorers got on the side of a hill and he did not feel he could go up or down. In this case the Explorer perceived that the risk was great, but the physical risk was quite low. One of the mentors worked with the Explorer for over half an hour helping him to overcome his fear and navigate the hurdle. This was an empowering moment for both the mentor and mentee. Our longer outing format and deliberate mentoring style provides the time and space for the Explorers to overcome their hurdles and find the power in their challenges.

Simultaneously the rest of the boys were hopping down the creek checking out tiny fish and Water Striders on their way to the lake. Rallying the group the mentors sent the boys out on a sit spot near the lakeshore. Getting quiet the boys relaxed back against the trees and listened to the wind move and waves lapping against the shore. As we sat an American Dipper frolicked on the streams edge feasting on bugs. This was yet another reminder that species in the forest were rejoicing for the rainfall.

The Short-Tailed Weasels came back from their sit spot to find three concentric circles drawn into the forest floor. Earlier a few boys had asked why it was difficult for the Explorer to navigate the seemly easy obstacle of getting down off the hillside. Asking the boys to stand outside the widest circle, the mentors explained that each circle represented a comfort level: the first being completely comfortable, the next being semi-comfortable but still within their growth zone, and the third being completely in the panic zone. The group was to place themselves inside the appropriate circle when asked their comfort level in different circumstances.

As the boys ebbed and flowed between the circles they came to realize that everyone was different in levels of comfort in each scenario. Together they came to realize the important lesson that their peers all have individual powers and challenges and it is the job of the group to help each other work through them.

Feeling the push of the clock we hiked back near the parking lot, stopping at a dense grove of Cedar and Sword Ferns for a round of Spider’s Web. The first round was over in about five minutes with the Spider wining after decimating the fly population. Gathering back up, the group used circular leadership to modify the game to increase the level of challenge for the spider. The next game lasted quite a bit longer and had to be called halfway through because we needed to have a closing circle.

Bringing our focus together the group passed around apples and shared some genuine thanks as well as one thing they heard and how they felt on their sit spot. 

Our outing had come full circle as the mosquitos started to swarm us once again.

Before going our separate ways for the summer the mentors asked the group where they would like to go on their upcoming fall 2016 season. The boys mentioned wanting to begin their carving journey, which is definitely on the table, and wanting to visit Lake Padden, Clayton Beach, Arroyo Park, and return to North Lake Whatcom. 

Parents, thanks you for your strong support and commitment to the program. Our time spent building relationships with your sons throughout their first season in Explorers Club has been wonderful. Our mentors have begun to vision and dream for their years ahead in the program. We look forward to exploring with them in our summer programs and again this fall!

For more photos from the day please visit the Short-Tailed Weasels photo album from the day.

Short-Tailed Weasels Traverse the Sehome Arboretum

The Short-Tailed Weasels arrived at the lower Sehome Arboretum parking lot enthusiastic for their outing and reassured by the sunshine. The group waved goodbye to their parents and circled up under the shade of a few large Douglas Fir for an opening meeting.

The boys welcomed our guest, Lauren Prater. Lauren explained that she was a journalism student at Western Washington University who would be taking photos for an article in the independent student publication called Klipsun. Parents, we’ll be sure to forward the article when it releases in Klipsun’s second spring quarterly issue.

Once we were acquainted we spent some time talking about the outing that lied ahead. The mentors explained that the day was a much different style of outing than any the group had encountered before. We would be traversing from the bottom of the Arboretum to the top. Not only would the group need to pay attention to which way they were

headed, they would also need to keep close track of their belongings and peers. Together we worked on orienting ourselves to the four cardinal directions and passed out jobs for the day. With that we were off and within less than a minute we were joined up in circle again.

The topographic map provided on the south end of the Arboretum gave the boys three trail options, all of which led to the Lookout Tower and parking lot at the top. As is often the case in Explorers Club, coming to a junction in the trail means that it is time for the Tribal Elder to facilitate the group decision-making process.

Our mentors would like to commend the Short-Tailed Weasels on their ability to work together as a group and consider their peers’ feelings and opinions. What many Explorers Club groups come to find out about this traverse is that its abundance of trails makes for frequent route decisions, which often become the source of frustration. This was not the case for our group. Through collaboration and compromise these Explorers were able to pack in a full day and have a lot of fun on the way.

Hiking along the trail the group marveled at the abundance of new foliage and flowers that filled the forest. Together we investigated and learned about Vanilla Leaf, Sliver-Beaked Hazelnut, Oregon Grape, Red-Flowering Currant, and Indian plum just to name a few. Spring is the ideal time to learn about these plants because the identifiable characteristics of each species are prominent.

Coming to yet another junction in the trail we though it best to introduce Lauren to a classic Explorers Club game of Hide! Our mentors observed that over the course of one season these Explorers have grown significantly in their ability to sneak, stalk, and get quiet while playing Hide. Hiding amongst the underbrush not only gets the Explorers comfortable with be being dirty and wet, it also builds their awareness for flora and fauna around them by literately immersing them in it.

Veering slightly off trail the mentors showed the group a large Sandstone ridgeline that revealed a twenty foot cliff roughly 300 feet long. Using a deer trail the boys navigated safely down the cliff and spent a while bouldering at its base. It was a great time to revisit how to spot a partner while climbing and the safe way to look over a cliff’s edge.

Gathering back up at the top of the ridge the boys wanted to stay longer, but the mentors reminded them of the task at hand on our traverse. We made an agreement as a group that we needed to finish at least three-fourths of our traverse before we would sit down to play a game of Spider’s Web. The boys pressed on and Grasped the Nettle as they pushed up the hill. For some their struggle stemmed from the physical challenge of the traverse, and for others it was keeping their focus on the task at hand. The mentors reminded the group that we all had our own powers and challenges and that it was important to support each other.

Climbing the hill to the top of the Arboretum we waved goodbye to Lauren and thanked her for joining us for the day. Taking the trail to the top of the tunnel the boys found some sunny rocks and lunched while reveling in their accomplishment. As boys started to finish a fir cone war broke out and the mentors knew that it was time to refocus our energy. Turning the circle over to the Tribal Elder the boys worked through plan to fit in a game of Spider’s Web, have a Sit Spot, and venture to the top of the tower to soak up the views of Mt. Baker.

Heading over to one of the mentors favorite secluded valleys we set up a game of Spider’s Web, which proved to be quiet challenging for the boys due to the terrain. We played for about forty-five minutes and the flies ended up prevailing over the spider. Grouping back up the boys shared their battle scars with each other. The boy’s arms and legs were covered with Nettle stings and scrapes from downed logs. A few boys were in quite a bit of pain, but they worked through it by embracing their discomfort.

The mentors then sent the boys out on a sit spot, reminding them that it was just as important to spend some silent solo time getting to know the land as it was to play and explore in it. Settling in amongst the waist high Sword Ferns calls of Varied Thrush and Winter Wren rang out across the valley. One boy even mentioned hearing a Downy Woodpecker preforming his excavation against a tree trunk.

Crow Calling the group back in we headed up to the lookout tower and stood for a while starring at the Twin Sisters and Mt. Baker in all their glory. 

After we had our fill we found an open spot in the woods to hold our closing meeting. Sharing apples the boys gave thanks for the abundance of spring, for friends and family, for the ability to explore all day in a landscape right outside our backdoors, for the edible Big Leaf Maple blossoms, for the opportunity to be part of a peer group, and for Nettles and pokey logs which give so much to our forest and build our awareness.

For more pictures from the day, please visit the Short-Tailed Weasel’s 4/17/16 photos album.

Short-Tailed Weasels explore & harvest above Lake Padden

Circling up for the Short-Tailed Weasels first outing of the new spring season, new faces were introduced, and jobs were divided with our focus maintained on getting out onto the trail. With the help of our Tribal Elder, the boys reached a consensus at our first trail junction, deciding to explore a new trail and following the lead of one of our explorers to take us to the perfect spot to play Spider’s Web. The way through to this magical area was not without its challenges. Bushwhacking down a steep hill pushed some of our explorers to their edges, and challenges the loamy soils ability to hold together the roots of sword ferns, Oregon grape, and salal. 

Finding a nice log to sit on, we enjoyed our snacks while waiting for our dispersed group to all gather together again. We discussed erosion and the impact we all have on our landscapes, and decided that we would go out a different way than we came to this spot, so as not to stress the slope’s soil further. Not that we were planning on leaving anytime soon! We’d found our perfect Spider’s Web spot, bounded on two sides by steep terrain, with a hill in between to create a series of hills and valleys, all covered in the camouflaging sword fern. We even discovered, while exploring this spot to try and discern where our boundaries should be, evidence of other Explorers Club activity in the area, in the form of a very well constructed debris shelter in one of the valleys!

After discussing our boundaries and reminding ourselves of the rules, the boys nominated their new mentor Conor to be the spider, a choice which would test the limits and stretch the edges of their camouflaging skills. For over an hour, the boys try many different tactics to camouflage their movements as they attempted to home in on the food source – a bandana hidden well up one of the valleys – and rescuing each other from the spiders web when their movements and rustlings were called out by the spider. Never losing focus or enthusiasm, the boys sportsmanship, skill and spirit finally paid off when our newest explorer succeeded at taking the food source around the back of the hill to the web, thus winning the game for the flies! Circling round to debrief the game, we discussed the boys different strategies and found opportunities to learn from our successes and mistakes.

Following a path Steve had scouted as we played spiders web, we rejoined the trail and began our journey back, as well as the journey into our skill focus for the season – harvesting. Here the Short-Tailed Weasels and mentors were challenged to hold the space for harvesting knowledge while energy levels ranged from focused to hyperactive. With the help of our Knowledge Keeper, we learned how to identify stinging nettle – saw toothed leaves, square stems, leaves opposite each other, short stinging hairs on stock and leaf – and that one can harvest it without stinging themselves, by picking the leaf from the top where there are few if any hairs, and rolling the bottom of the leaf against itself to remove the stingers. One important element of harvesting is how to not take too many: For every one we take, we leave one alone for other animals to eat, one alone to make seed and regenerate the plant, and one alone for the intrinsic value that plant has to exist on its own.

After harvesting a pot full of nettle leaves, we continued on the trail back in search of a good spot for our closing meeting. Before we found our spot however, we found another edible plant, the licorice root fern. Found growing through the moss of Big Leaf maple trees, one can feel for the end the fern’s roots, and harvest a modest amount. We’re careful not to harvest the middle of a root, as this will kill the plant below our harvest. The root tastes very much like licorice, and after sampling some on the spot, we harvest enough to add to the pot of nettles we’re intent on brewing into tea.

We ended our day with a sit spot overlooking the dog park – not the best choice of location perhaps, but a perfect way to bring our energy focus back to our harvest being boiled into tea, and reflection on gratitude for what nature provides. After our tea of nettle, licorice root fern, peppermint tea, cedar fronds and fresh water had steeped, we gathered ourselves back from our sit spots for our closing circle. Drinking tea and eating apples, we have thanks for nature’s bounty, and to consecrate the end of the beginning of the Short-Tailed Weasels spring season.