Roosevelt Elk Calves – Stimpson Family Nature Reserve –
02/27/2016
Reuniting at Stimpson Family Nature Reserve it was clear
that the Roosevelt Elk Calves were going to pick up right where they left off
last fall. Just as the Indian Plum and Red Flowering Currant are pushing forth
fresh blossoms after a long, cold winter, the budding interactions amongst the
boys began to blossom into fruitful experiences as our outing began. With our
group ready to hit the trail we headed out toward Geneva Pond for an opening
meeting. Along the way we passed by the larger Beaver Pond and pristine creeks
and stands of magnificent Western Red Cedars that inhabit this nature
reserve. It was great to see old friends fall back into their silly ways of
joking with one another while plodding along the trail. It became
apparent that this group was already hiking faster than they used to. Clearly
the pace they set demonstrated a level of growth within these boys that the
mentors were not expecting.
Arriving at Geneva Pond we found a nice clearing for opening
circle, but alas, smack dab in the middle of the clearing was a heaping pile of
scat! Upon further inspection, the crunched up crustacean shells and shiny
scales of fish, along with the prominent locations of these mounds hinted to
the culprit. If you don’t know who left this present perhaps you should ask
your explorer for a hint! Scooting off to the side we finally circled up and
began discussing what awaits us upon the horizon of spring. Along with
sprouting plants, budding flowers, and frolicking birds, this spring will bring
with it a continued focus on the Art of Carving. After a strong start to
learning this skill in the fall, the Roosevelt Elk Calves will delve deeper
into the greater intricacies of the Art of Carving. First and foremost they
found out that every good carving project begins not with the knife, but with
the wood.
Traveling along the trail it was time for the Knowledge
Keeper to share the wisdom within Pojar and MacKinnon’s Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast, our go to field guide for
plant knowledge and information. Using our field guide we identified four
trees; two conifers and two deciduous. The first was a classic; red stringy
bark, scaly green foliage, tiny cones and swooping “J-Shaped” branches. We
learned that this tree, The Western Red Cedar, was used by indigenous people
for a multitude of uses from canoes and totem poles, to clothing and baskets,
to intricate masks used for religious ceremonies. The rot resistant wood is great for many
modern day uses as well and good to keep in mind when thinking about our
carving projects. Not to mention it will be one of the best woods to use when
these boys begin their journey in the art of Fire by Friction.
The next tree we
found was also a conifer, but had small, sporadic needles, small cones, an
expansive and dense canopy, and slightly furrowed bark. This we determined was
the Western Hemlock. With the right point of view you will also notice the
Western Hemlock has a floppy top! Its thin, abundant branches are great for
starting fires and the wood though strong, is relatively easy to carve with a
sharp knife.
Next we moved on to deciduous trees. The first was a large,
prominent tree with expansive canopy of many thick branches, its trunk had relatively
furrowed bark, and although no leaves were on the branches, a quick glance at
the ground and we discovered a leaf that resembled the Canadian flag! Yep, this
was a Big Leaf Maple. Many of us have played with its helicopter seeds, but often
overlook the thick carpets of moss on the trunks of the trees and the delicious
Licorice Fern that grow there as well.
Finally we discovered an abundant tree
that grows in stands, has a ashy-grey mottled bark, ovate serrated leaves, and
cone-like catkins. This was a Red Alder. Its bark turns a reddish color when
scraped or bruised and can be boiled down to create a reddish die.
Additionally, we learned that this tree holds a powerful ecological role as a
nitrogen fixer. It has the ability to gather nitrogen from the air and deliver
it to the soil providing the primary limiting nutrient required for
plants to grow in our region. With our brains boiling over with new knowledge, it was time to
give our minds a break and invigorate our bodies with a romp off trail to a
secret valley perfect for carving and games.
Traveling along a deer trail for a short distances, we
navigated away from the designated Stimpson Nature Reserve onto land that would
allow us to explore off trail. The Roosevelt Elk Calves quickly felt at home
and demonstrated their growth and maturity as a group in scouting out a
location to set up base camp, deliberating and coming to a consensus on where
to go, then turning intention into action. Before we knew it we were a midst a
ravine of gigantic Sword Fern, spindles of thorny Devils Club, and vast swathes
of pristine forest. Taking some time to relax, explore, carve, and eat some
lunch we discussed what to do next. Of course, Spiders Web is always a popular
option, so away we went into the ever enticing presence of play. The mentors
had been impressed by the Roosevelt Elk Calves high level of functioning so
they let them set up the game themselves. Sure they needed a little help here
or there when the anticipation of the game overtook their ability to focus, but
compared to last season they had already proven a tremendous level of growth in
this area. The game unfolded as it usually does, slithering through the Sword
Ferns, flanking along the ridge-lines, eluding the gaze of the Spider. Despite
his best efforts, and an elaborate ambush, the Spider was bested by the Flies.
With our outing drawing to a close we had just enough time for
a sit spot before trekking back to the parking lot. The boys spread out over
the landscape to find a special place that called to them. Settling in for a
span of silence and solitude, the sights and sounds of the forest slowly slip
into sentience. Each boy connecting to the land in their own way, this time is
precious and of the utmost importance to building a strong relationship to the
natural world and the greater community of our planet. Often times this
opportunity is dismissed by explorers in order to throw a fir-cone at a friend
or try and get a buddy to snicker in the silence, but today the Roosevelt Elk
Calves found a deeper focus. During our closing circle following the sit spot
each boy shared a deep appreciation for the natural world and their connection
to it. This marked a huge step forward in the growth of this group and was
deeply gratifying for the mentors to hear. With such a great start to the
spring season one can only wonder what this group has in store for them as they
continue adventuring this spring and into the future.
Make sure to check out all the photos from this outing here.
