Introduction to Service at Sehome Arboretum with the Roosevelt Elk Calves

Driving up the road to Sehome Arboretum it was clear that fall was in the air. As we gathered the Roosevelt Elk Calves practically jumped out of their parent’s cars from their eagerness and excitement to playSpider’s Web. Yes, it seems as though for the last two weeks the Explorers had been plagued by their inability to play Spider’s Web. As we circled up we asked if anyone had observed anything out of the ordinary while driving up the road. A few Explorers mentioned that they had seen others doing invasive species removal and service projects. Greg and I told the group that it was very exciting to see others out engaging in service on this same piece of land, as the Explorers would come to find out Many Hands Make Light Work. After playing a guessing game and doing some impromptu mushroom identification the group headed up the hill just above the sandstone tunnel. We walked the ridgeline and played on the formations until we found a beautiful spot to have an opening meeting. Just as I started to call the group in Greg called Hide, everyone went diving into the bushes.

Circling back up we began our opening meeting by recognizing the changing season. From our position on the ridgeline is was easy to see the abundant piles of Big Leaf Maple leaves that scattered the forest floor, adding their beautiful yellow and orange color to the landscapes scenery.  Last outing we discovered that colors that don’t blend into the landscape really stand out in games like Spiders Web.  Touching back to the Art of Camouflage, Mentors looked at the red, yellow and orange colors the boys were wearing and explained how these colors could be a hindrance in one location and could also be great asset elsewhere.  The Mentors left it up to the Explorers to explain and volunteer for each of the jobs. They also flushed out all the safety concerns that Sehome Arboretum might harbor, for example the large sandstone cliffs just behind us. Before we broke our circle the Explorers requested that we go to the tower. Greg and I told the group that we could go at the end of the outing, but first we had some important work to do. Sitting in the brisk, foggy air we started to get a little chilly and the Explorers were eager to get moving.   While the group played Hide on the ridgeline one of the Mentors snuck down the trail, out of sight of the group. As the Explorers emerged from the Snowberry and Indian Plum Greg asked, “Wait, where is Steve?” Just then the Explorers heard the call of a lone wolf. Greg explained that they had become a pack of wolves and that they needed to track the lone wolf in order to unite the pack. Listening to the distant howl the Explorers ran after the wolf. After a few of them had found the lone wolf the pack heard the Crow Call from Greg and they gathered back up. Greg explained to the pack that they had all ran across a six way trail intersection and had split in three different directions. The Mentors had forgotten to touch on one very important detail before we playedWolf Pack, the pack must stay together. This ensures that we travel safely and that we have all our important jobs represented in case something was to happen. Having recognized our need for cohesion and community, Mentors found that this was the perfect segue into the work that we were to do that day.

We followed a trail that lead down the west facing aspect of Sehome Hill and found a patch of young English Ivy. We dropped our packs and Mentors instructed the group to look at both sides of the trail and notice the differences. One side had a forest floor comprised of primarily Salal and English Ivy while the other held a much richer diversity of Red Huckleberry, Swords Ferns, and Oregon Grape, among others. 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. Mentors explained that diversity is key to having stability in our wild landscapes and within its food chain, and since we are a part of the landscape our stability is tied directly to these principles.  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 share the 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 and hone them into leaders that guide with integrity and compassion.

Grabbing a leaf the Mentors showed the group how to identify and get to know this plant. English Ivy 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.

After this long discussion we got to pulling. First we worked to free the Douglas Fir trees that had Ivy growing almost to the top. Working together we picked the Ivy out of the deep bark and cleared a perimeter around its base by pulling the roots out. As we pulled the boys quickly developed the ability to recognize the difference between Washington’s native Trailing Blackberry and English Ivy, ouch! We stressed the importance of extracting the Ivy and piling it on the trail so the parks department could pick it up. English Ivy has the ability to take root from a single leaf, which makes it very easy to spread.  Working side by side with the Explorers is such a treat. The boys made a challenge of trying to pull the longest vine of Ivy that they could without it breaking; I believe the record was twenty-three feet. The Explorers served with excellent attitudes and put a lot of effort in.

After one last push on the English Ivy we scooped up their packs and they headed down the trail for Spider’s Web and the tower. The Mentors called the group back in and they had some difficulty focusing their minds. After doing their service it was important for the group to recognize what we were just engaged in and how we had served.  Greg and I asked the group, “Was our intention today was to kill the Ivy?” and some replied “yes”. Mentors explained that our intention should not be to kill, but to work towards restoring balance and diversity in the landscape.

 The group followed a side trail on their way back up to the tower and found a steep valley laden with Sword Fern. It was the perfect stop to play a quick game of Spider’s Web. By the time the game ended we had run out of time to go to the tower and we quickly circled up for a closing meeting.  Sharing apples together the Explorers gave thanks for: the opportunity to serve their community, the misty fall weather, the developing relationships and for Sehome Arboretum. Their introduction to service was a powerful outing that they will not soon forget. Don’t forget to check out pics of the day in our photo gallery.

Roosevelt Elk Calves, Art of Camouflage, Fairhaven Park

The Roosevelt Elk Calves arrived at the 100 Aker Wood ready for a day of exploration and connection. As the group gathered, mentors could already tell that there was a strong cohesion amongst many of the Explorers.  This outing was not only the first for the Roosevelt Elk Calves; it was a first for fellow mentor Grey Schayes and me to lead together. Being a bit of an unseasoned duo and with a little breakdown in communication we forgot the camera. On the fly Greg used his phone to capture some photos. Unfortunately, many of these photos did not turn out due to the rainy day and we only ended up with a few. I would like to personally apologize to all the parents for this mistake. We as mentors understand these blog reports are a window into the world of Explorer’s Club. The images from the day help to paint the story of the day and capture the candid moments.

            It seemed that right about the time that we said goodbye to our parents dark clouds creeped over our heads and soon we started to feel a little sprinkle. We quickly circled up in the grass field to play an opening game. Circling up in Explorer’s Club is a very important culture we try to build right off the bat. A circle brings us together and is how we begin and end our day. In our circles we give thanks, tell our stories, speak our truths, and reflect on our experiences. A circle models our equality, inclusion, and common ground. The circle is also the model for how we lead in Explorer’s Club. In a circle everyone has a voice and no one holds more decision making power over another. Explorers are able to remind each other of this through our motto, we are all leaders.

            After explaining our circle culture mentors went directly into a game of Name Tag. This memory game proved to be quite a challenge because the Roosevelt Elk Calves have two sets of identical twins. After some playful rounds out in the open the rain started to soak us. The Explorer’s body language went from open and animated to huddled and lethargic. Mentors took this opportunity to explain to the group the importance of being preventative on outings in order to stay warm and dry. We learned the Three W’s of clothing layering: Wicking the base layer, Warmth the insulating layer and Wind the outer layer for rain and wind; with this system we can explorer in any type of weather. Realizing we need to move Greg asked the group to grab their packs and bolt across the field with him to the shelter of the 100 Aker Wood.

            Taking shelter under a Cedar on the edge of the 100 Aker Wood we held our first opening meeting. We started off our meeting asking the same question mentors ask each new group, where are we right now?  The 100 Aker Wood has been a Boys Explorer’s Club stomping grounds for over five years. After taking some time to recognize and appreciate our surroundings, mentors checked in with each Explorer about their summer and handed out a job to each.  Our jobs in the outings create an interdependency within our group and with the land that we explorer in. They also allow for the deepening of our leadership and Earth skills. These jobs range from a Medicine Man who carries the Ouch Pouch full of Band-Aids to our Tribal Elder who helps the group make decisions.  At this point the group made a unanimous decision to give our bodies some caloric fuel in order to make it through the rest of the meeting. Meetings on the first day always run a little longer than others. The Explorers started fidget and squirm and were ready to get into the woods, however the mentors held the circle for a little longer to discuss one more major topic, safety. In our outings the mentors give the boys quite a bit of freedom but we always ask that the boys stay within sound distance. In order to stay within sound distance we must always be listening for the Crow Call; this is the Explorer’s Club personalized call for assembly. Crow Call is one example of the systems of trust we create within the group in order to stay safe. This trust blossoms as we grow and eventually allows us to deepen our skills to multiday backpacking trips.  

            After what felt like forever the Explorers had made it through their first meeting and it was time to get out in those woods. We past through a maze of Hawthorne as the rain poured down on us, so we took shelter under the canopy of old growth Western Red Cedar.  There, mentors introduced the Art of Camouflage. The Art to Camouflage starts with one of the most quintessential Explorer’s Club games, Hide! Through many rounds of hiding from our fellow Explorers we learned how to blend into our surrounding utilizing: shape, size, color, light and shadow, movement, and sound. We also learned how to break up our image using intersecting lines, literally disappear into the landscape.

            After a few rounds one mentor told of a famous tracker named Tom Brown Jr, who was also very skilled in the Art of Camouflage. Tom Brown has been instrumental in teaching and writing tracker and survival skill books from knowledge handed down to him. Tom runs a tracking school near the Pine Barrens of New Jersey and is occasionally hired to track for for the police. One day Tom was tasked with the challenge of catching a fugitive who had escaped into the Pine Barren wildlands. Tom slowly stole the man’s clothing and gear throughout the course of five days as he followed in the footsteps of the fugitive. The fugitive eventually surrendered on his own, only in his underwear, without any of his gear. The fugitive never saw Tom once; he was truly a master of camouflage and stealth. 

            After this story we all felt inspired to deepen our awareness skills with some challenges. Earlier in the day mentors had set up activity called the Camouflage Gauntlet. We hiked over the starting line as explained the rules to the group. Mentors carefully placed pipe cleaners throughout the side of a trail to model the different forms of camouflage we experimented with during the games of hide. The Explorers had to use their awareness and Owl Eyes to spot as many pipe cleaners as they could, while they Fox Walked down the trail. If you would like to know how to use your Owl Eyes or your Fox Walk please ask your explorer.

This outing truly proved to be a test of our endurance and attitudes. The Roosevelt Elk Calves really started to bond and grow as a group, adding three new mottos to their group culture; grasp the nettle, we are all leaders andattitude of gratitude.  Once again the 100 Aker Wood tested, challenged and welcomed in a new group of boys and they emerged with more character and a deepened connection to this place.  We ended our day with a closing meeting and a circle of thanks. We practiced the attitude of gratitude in our circle and each person shared one thing they are thankful for. As a mentor I can tell you honestly that a genuine thanks in these circles fills me with humility, joy, and appreciation. The boys gave thanks for: the weather, 100 Aker Wood, shelter, warmth, food, friends, family, the Autumnal Equinox, challenges and comradery.

Mentors would like to thank all you all for the opportunity to explore with these individuals as all we learn and grow. Please visit our photo gallery to view the few pictures that turned out from our outing.