Roosevelt Elk Calves climb Stewart Mountain

The Roosevelt Elk Calves gathered along the edge of North Lake Whatcom and under the loom of 3000 foot Stewart Mountain. This trailhead offers options of meandering trails along the edge of the lake or steep hillsides speckled with old growth trees and giant sword ferns. The Roosevelt Elk Calves Circled up and began to discuss how they wanted to spend their day. The nearly unanimous decision was to head up onto the steep slopes of Stewart Mountain. We began climbing the trail, but soon enough the Explorers had left the confines of this to blaze their own path straight up the mountain.

Getting off trail in Explorers Club always feels good and plays a key role in focusing the boys and turning their awareness toward what is going on in the woods around them. I often times have a moral dilemma regarding the impact of off-trail travel on the land with our own enjoyment. I always come back to the fact that we will never connect to the land unless we are off-trail exploring and finding new places. I voiced this to the group and the Roosevelt Elk Calves had a great discussion on what they get from being off-trail and recognizing the impact we have on it.

Clambering up the hillside finding big leaf maple buds, root handholds, muddy shoots, bugs, sandstone rock formations, and cedar wrapped around rotting stumps eventually led us to a flat spot between hills. At this bench we found a great muddy swamp to explore. The boys wearing boots tromped right through it while the boys wearing shoes hopped over rotting logs and along overhanging trees to explore the swamp. We were all drawn to the mud and soon enough we were all muddy and enjoying our exploration of swamp ecosystems.

The warm rays of sunshine that made their way through the canopy were welcome as we ate lunch under giant cedar trees rimming the edge of the swamp As we finished our lunch we all decided to play a game. We circled up to make this decision. Many of the boys could not hold the focus and we initially had a hard time working as a group to decide how to spend our afternoon. Eventually the boys came together and held a great discussion on what game to play. The Roosevelt Elk Calves truly took the Explorers Club motto Collaborate and Compromise to heart.

Our group had a couple great rounds of Eagle Eyes hiding amongst the tall sword ferns and and beneath logs. The Roosevelt Elk Calves have really been wanting a fire and have been very curious about the art of Fire by Friction so with some extra time at the end of the day we decided to introduce them to this skill. I pulled out a bow drill kit and our EMA (Explorers Mentor Apprentice) did a great job demonstrating good form and concentration while using the bow drill kit. After a few great attempts from our EMA, Tim and I quickly got a small fire going.

We had our closing circle around the dying flames from hemlock branches. We gave thanks and shared our apples as we always do. As our circle ended we made sure to put out our fire completely and disguise the spot we had had it in. Packing up we let gravity take us down the hill back down to the shore of the lake.