Roosevelt Elk Calves Explore the Chuckanuts

Our third outing of the season was an exploration of the Chuckanuts via the North end trailhead through Arroyo Park. The Chuckanuts are a favorite location with many options for exploration and discovery. Late Fall is a particularly interesting time to explore this area since Chuckanut Creek often has salmon spawning upriver from bellingham bay. On this cold clear day the groups excitement was high and we quickly gathered and began moving
We quickly hiked the steep switchbacks up to a trail junction where chose to take the trail that would take us down hill toward the creek and the potential to see spawning salmon. Once down at the creek we quickly saw the dorsal fins of several large Chum salmon making their way up stream. The group quickly dropped packs and headed to the bridge and shoreline to look at the salmon. It was truly impressive to see the powerful fish making their way through the swift current of Chuckanut creek. The Roosevelt Elk Calves all marveled at their movement and made keen observations of their activity. We had a great discussion on the bridge about how these fish spawn thousands of miles sometimes back to where they were born. The boys were enthusiastic and we spent a good chunk of time watching the salmon.

Soon we decided it was time to keep moving so we began to pack up in preparation to leave. As we packed up part of the group took off down the trail while the other part of the group was still packing up. We called the boys back from up ahead to wait for the rest of the group. After waiting for a while again the group began to spread out and not wait for everyone. Again we called the boys back and this time had everyone get into a circle. Tim and I told the boys what we expected and why it was important to stay together. The boys listened acutely as we expressed this and asked them what they needed to stay together better today. The roosevelt Elk Calves were able to really clearly articulate what they needed and where this urge to spread out was coming from. It was a really great discussion and highlighted the growth this group has gone through in the past year.

Once back on the trail we hiked upstream in search of more salmon and adventure. We soon reached a small sandy river bar with a large log to cross the creek on. One by one we made our way across the log and into the upland forest above the creek. The boys decided we should look for a good spot to drop packs, carve, and maybe play some games. We found a great flat spot between two sections of steep hill where we could set up a little basecamp. Everyone spread out and took the time to eat some lunch and adjust layers after the steep climb.

We spent the next hour harvesting cedar for carving wood, exploring the landscape and working on carving skills. The Roosevelt Elk Calves have shown an almost insatiable curiosity and drive to carve. Many of the boys have really been challenging themselves and their dedication has shown in the quality of their carving projects. After about an hour most of the boys had transitioned from carving and had found a sandstone outcropping on top of the hill with many fossils in it. The boys were totally content carving or exploring the fossils in this area.

As most of you know from our brief discussion after the outing one of the boys was hit in the head by a rock knocked down from above him as he climbed up the hill to investigate the fossils. The injury turned out to be OK. Tim and I quickly responded and took care of the injury. The rest of the boys showed a lot of maturity in how they handled the situation. They quickly responded to the directions Tim and I gave them and even packed up the injured boys gear to help us get out even quicker. We made our way down to the parking lot for an early pick up.

Luckily everything turned out fine and we were able to get the injured boy down to the parking lot and to the medical attention he needed. In our closing circle the boys brought up very insightful questions and observations about risk management, assisting others in hard situations, and what it means to be a cohesive group. Again I was really impressed by the Roosevelt Elk calves Maturity and insight when discussing these topics. The whole experience was not only a great learning opportunity for the boys but also for Tim and I. Our forefront priority while on these outings is to keep all of the boys safe and incidents like this help us solidify and reinforce our own risk management procedures.

Thank you Roosevelt Elk Calves for your growth as a group and thank you parents for your support of our program. Please be sure to look at our photo gallery for more pictures from the outing.

  

Roosevelt Elk Calves work at Connelly Creek

The Roosevelt Elk Calves gathered for their Service outing under sunny skies and warm temperatures. This weekend was the start to our service outings and would require a lot of hard work to clear and create space for future work. We were all excited to see the Connelly Creek service site and what it would look like after not seeing it for a whole summer. Upon arrival we saw that the Hardhack, Spirea, and Alders we had planted the year before were flourishing. We saw that the reed canary grass and invasive blackberry had also flourished over the summer and would yet again need our attention.

After surveying the site we gathered in the sunshine for a quick opening meeting to review tool safety and finalize a plan for the day. The Roosevelt Elk Calves did an excellent job explaining proper tool use and demonstrating to each other the best practices with each tool. After breaking from our closing circle we quickly got to work.

Our first task was to clear morning glory that had climbed up the wire cages around the Alders as well as the small trees themselves. The work was slow and delicate as we carefully unwound the morning glory trying not to damage the more delicate leaves and branches of the sappelings. We also worked on clearing out the reed canary grass from around the base of the saplings to give them more space. This is an important task this time of year since by clearing the canary grass and morning glory we are allowing the tree to absorb more sunlight in these shortening days.

After the alders were clear we circled up to congratulate each other on our efforts and turn our focus to the next task at hand; blackberries. The blackberries are a tenacious plant that is extremely hard to get rid of. any small clipping left on the ground can re root itself and easily undo all of our work. with loppers and shovels in hand we approached the blackberry thicket and began carefully chopping and extracting the blackberry vines.  

The Roosevelt Elk Calves put in a couple hours of really focused hard work and made great progress on the blackberries. Even though this is a service outing we wanted to give the boys a little time at the end of the outing to focus on their carving since they showed so much skill and excitement about this last time. Some of the boys chose to make more chopsticks or finish existing chopsticks while others who had completed a nice pair of chopsticks moved on to carving spoon blanks. Again the Roosevelt Elk Calves handled their knives very well and showed a lot of natural talent at carving. After about half and hour of carving it was time to pack up and have a closing circle.

We had a wonderful closing circle with all of the boys sharing really heartfelt and sincere gratitude for the day, the work, and each other. The Roosevelt Elk Calves have come along way as a group and are a true pleasure to be out in the woods with. Individually all the boys have done a lot of personal growth and as a group they have really bonded. Thank you Roosevelt Elk Calves for a great service outing and thank you parents for your continual support and enthusiasm about our program. Please check out our photo gallery for more pictures from the day.  

Roosevelt Elk Calves Enjoy a day of Carving

The fickle weather of Fall was in full swing on the morning of the Roosevelt Elk Calves first outing. Scattered showers with intermittent sun breaks cycled on and off as we prepared for the outing. This season marks a huge step forward for the Roosevelt Elk Calves as we are introducing the art of carving. More so than many of our other skills the art of carving is one that we approach slowly and with a great amount of commitment and respect. Over the past few seasons the Roosevelt Elk Calves have proved themselves as a focused and ever maturing group that is ready for this challenge.

We walked into the forest via a lower path that is not often frequented by mountain bikers or dog walkers. We kept an eye out for a spot that would be both a suitable place for an opening meeting and a nice spot to carve. After a while of hiking we found such a spot and set up our base camp for the day. We had observed a downed bigleaf maple on the hike in and decided it would be the perfect tree to harvest from for our carving wood. Big leaf maple is a hard wood, but also one that has a smooth consistent grain for practicing carving. We quickly sawed and split enough wood for everyone to work with.

During our opening circle Tim and I made it very clear that the boys wood not only have to demonstrate focus and skill individual when working with knives, but also as a group. We reviewed blood circlesand talked about some basic safety around carving (not carving told yourself, having a comfortable spot to sit, not cutting toward other body parts, etc). After setting the tone for the day we distributed the carving wood and told the Roosevelt Elk Calves that our first project would be to make chopsticks. Chopsticks are a good first project because they can be completed in a day, require you to carve a tapering cylinder, and you must carve two things that are close to identical. With the task clear the boys started carving.

All the boys showed great care with the knives, besides a few small things we did not have to remind them of any safety issues. As the boys carved their chopsticks their skills grew; They made smaller more precise cuts and over all showed an immense amount of patience. We had a solid hour and a half of carving before anyone wanted to anything else. At this point we took a lunch break and all admired eachothers carving. After this many of the boys had focused enough for the day and decided to organize a game ofSpiders Web and a handful of boys decided to keep working on their carving. For the remainder of the outing the boys that were carving showed total focus and dedication while the others had an excellent game of Spiders Web.  

During our closing circle many of the boys shared really profound and insightful lessons they felt carving had taught them. Everything from patience to confronting challenges that seem really big in life. The Roosevelt Elk Calves not only excelled at the hard skill of carving, but also were able to apply this to the bigger picture and context of their lives. Thank you Roosevelt Elk Calves for your focus and  hard work on our outing! Parents, please encourage your boys to carve at home if you have the space and feel comfortable letting them. Carving is a skill that can take a lifetime to perfect and these boys are well on their way. Also if you still need to get a knife for your explorer or have other carving related questions please contact me or visit our knife skills page. Also be sure to look at our photo gallery for more pictures.       

Roosevelt Elk Calves Practice the Art of Shelter

The Roosevelt Elk Calves stampeded into the Parking lot at the base of Galbraith mountain on the clear but cold first day of November. This is the time of year when the transition from fall to winter seems almost complete, with the temperatures dropping and most of the leaves on the ground it is the perfect time of year to dive into the Art of Shelter building! This patch of woods is perfect for shelter building; large rolling hills located above lake padden with a mainly coniferous forest, but a healthy smattering of big leaf maples and other deciduous trees to provide ample debris.

We entered the Forest and found a place for our opening meeting. For the day after halloween and the effects of a massive sugar intake the night before the boys were surprisingly energetic yet focused. Steve and I started to talk about shelter building and the boys were immediately excited about building a shelter. We quickly talked about what kind of things we should be looking for in a good shelter spot (dry, lots of materials, hidden from the trail.) and what kind of things we should avoid (low spots that collect water, dead or partially fallen trees.). We all bounded off through the forest in search of the perfect spot. Soon we found one; Flat, open, in a hidden spot, plenty of good sticks, and huge Big Leaf Maples that had just dropped their leaves.

 After dropping our packs we spread out through the forest; some of us gather ridge poles and supports, others gathering rib pieces, and still others collecting “Y” poles to create the entry way. for a good twenty minutes we all gathered materials. When we all finally reconvened we had assembles a good pile of rib poles, sturdy supports, and long strong ridge poles. The boys were really motivated to start building and after looking at a simple diagram steve had brought the boys started laying sticks and pounding supports into the ground. It was really amazing how quickly the main structure of this shelter came together. The motto “Many Hands Make Light Work” has never been more true.

Soon we have the structure completed and begin gathering large armloads of Big Leaf Maple Leaves, releasing the damp earthy smell held inside. We take a break and steve tells us the story of Tom Brown learning the art of shelter  building by watching the Squirrels. We Continue to work. Armloads of Leaves, growing shelter, disappearing sticks, laughter, sweaters and coats full of leaves, how much light is in the shelter? Trying out the shelter, could you spend the night in this shelter? More debri, Working in teams, Lots more debri!, How long would it take to build this shelter with just one person? How long to build a shelter for all of us? what does a squirrel's nest look like?, many many armloads of debri, how much debri do we need on the shelter?

The shelter is now looking a lot more like something you could spend the night in. about two and a half feet of debri cover most of it and we have been working for about two hours straight. We take a break and begin to talk about how we want to spend the rest of the day. There is discussion of playing some games or working more on the shelter. After a mostly self facilitated conversation the boys decide to split in half with those that want to playing spiders web and the other half to continue working on the shelters. It took a little bit of time but it was really nice to see the boys reach this decision on their own.

In closing meeting we all admire the shelter we worked on that day as the boys swap stories from spiders web and shelter building. As we are giving thanks i am really struck with how focused and respectful all the boys as they give thanks and listen to each others words. These boys are really growing and becoming a very strong group. Parents you shout try to talk your sons into showing you our secret shelter spot, it is truly an impressive shelter. And explorers next time you are out with your family on a hike maybe you can share your knowledge of shelter building and survival.

Make sure to check out our photo gallery for more pictures!

Roosevelt Elk Calves Explore Lake Padden

Roosevelt Elk Calves Explore Lake Padden  Roosevelt Elk Calves first meeting of the season took place at Lake Padden Park. This park is known to many for the beautiful lake and the trail that skirts its perimeter. Our missions as Explorers on this day was to explore the steep forested hillsides and valleys that dominate the topography above the lake. These less traveled places are what draw our curiosity to explore and play on this land.

We met on the open field and played a fun game of Fox Tales and a quick name game to get to know one another. Soon the unseasonably warm sun had us all packing up for the protection and shade of the huge Douglas Firs, Cedars, and Hemlocks that grow in the upper reaches of the park. We made our way to the secret valley (Parents if you take your Explorers back to Lake Padden they just might show you where this spot is) for our opening meeting. Along the way we could not resist the temptation to play a few rounds ofHide! The Sword Fern and logs provided such perfect camouflage. We soon reached a small clearing that was perfect for opening meeting. Being the first opening meeting of the season it is exciting and important to remind ourselves of Explorers Club culture and set our new intentions for the upcoming season. It took some time and energy to gather the boys into a circle, but we soon achieved this and began to hand out jobs and talk about our Earth skills focus for Fall season (shelter building and survival!). As the circle came to a close the boys energy exploded into a chants and shouts to playSpider’s Web. Although there were many that did want to play there were several that did not. We stuck with it and finally reached a consensus not to play, but to continue on in search of another spot for Spider’s Web. This decision was by no means easy and pushed the edge for many boys; for those that took the decision making process seriously and collaborated with each other the mentors were truly impressed by their patience and ability to express themselves. For many of the boys making decisions as a group is new, and they are exactly where they need to be right now. These group decisions take a lot of time but they are such an important part of creating a strong cohesive group that can continue to explore all season.

After wrestling with the decision-making process the Explorers did what they do best!  Fallen Cedar trees, Sword Fern, Hide!, bush waking, sliding down hillsides, discussions of white spiders, Devils Club, exploring, playing Wolf Stalks Deer, telling stories, lounging in the sun, watching hikers without being seen, more sliding down sandstone hillsides, and of course lots more exploring.

We had found a perfect spot to eat lunch on a small flat spot part way up a steep hillside. As soon as lunch was finished the call for Spider’s Web was again voiced. There were some boys that felt uncomfortable playing because they did not know this new place well, but after Tim suggested that playing games is sometimes the best way to learn a new place these boys felt more comfortable with playing. Again this decision took a while but everyone had a chance to speak and thanks to some strong leadership by a few Explorers we were able to agree on playing. It was a great spot to play and gave us a great opportunity to explore the land and enjoy the competition.

Closing circle and the practice of giving thanks is a very important part of the day. We have a motto in boys explorers club: strong beginning, strong middle, and strong end. This strong end is really important after having such a great day and part of this strong end is focus and respect for the closing circle. Again most of the boys showed very strong commitment to this, spoke from the heart, and held their focus. Our edge as a group is making clear decisions as a cohesive unit. With so much great energy and excitement in a group this can be challenging but the power is in this same enthusiasm for embracing every moment.  As mentors we are here to challenge these boys where they need challenging and bring out strengths. The outing went very well and as always it was such a joy to explore with these boys! I am confident with so many focused and good leaders in the group they can set an example for those that are not there yet to create a strong group for the rest of the season.

For more pictures from the outing please visit the Roosevelt Elk Calves Photo Gallery.

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.

Exploring Whatcom Falls Park with the Roosevelt Elk Calves

The Roosevelt Elk Calves assembled at Whatcom Falls Park wearing their rain gear and ready for the day. As we circled the group basked in the warmth of the sun. The Explorers were anxious to get going but Mentors encouraged them to take one more moment in the sun. As we draw closer to the winter, we never know if it’s going to be the last sunshine we will see until spring. Being true Washingtonians the Explorers started to get too hot with all their layers on and made the decision to retreat to the shade of the forest. The group headed into the woods to have an opening meeting and to play a game calledHungry Hungry Martin.

Hungry Hungry Martin is played by one Explorer taking on the role of a martin while the rest of the group are squirrels. The squirrels try to escape the martin’s teeth by touching a specific tree. As we searched for the perfect tree to play the group came across a large Douglas Fir tree that had scattered the ground with cones. We picked a few of them up and explained to the boys how much we can learn by looking at the different cones of trees. In this cone the Mentors could tell what type of tree it was from and who was living in it. As we examined the cone I told them the story of the mouse escaping the forest fire by hiding in the Douglas Fir bark. As a group we can get to know the diverse forest ecology by using stories to help us make sense of and identify our surroundings.

            After playing a few rounds we had got a little of our squirreliness out and it was time for an opening meeting. Mentors handed out jobs while the group ate lunch and introduced our focus for the day, exploration. On our explorations the Mentors follow the interests of the boys and through circular leadership they guide the group. Greg and I then revisited the important jobs of the Front Scout and Back Scout; these Scouts keep the group together and scan for hazards while tracking where we have been and where we are headed. Since the boys seemed to be quite familiar with Whatcom Falls, the Scouts had a lot of work to do.

            Heading into the woods we crossed the bridge just west of the parking lot. We marveled at the water as it cascaded over the falls. While the Explorers enjoyed the falls Mentors shared the importance of recognizing and protecting our watershed.  The health of Whatcom Creek and its surrounding ecosystem is a direct representation of our health. One of the Explorers mentioned that if someone were to pollute the water in Lake Whatcom it would run right to his house. When we start to examine the land close to our homes we realizes thatWe Are All Connected.

            Mentors decided to challenge the group to see if we could get close enough to the falls to feel the mist on our face. We climbed down the steep embankment using the roots as hand holds and stopped about ten feet away from the falls. Normally Mentors would have each Explorer crawl one by one under the overhang so they could look behind the falls, but the flow of the waterfall was much higher than usual. Although we did not get to see behind the waterfall the boys learned a very valuable lesson about risk management. If the risk out weighs the benefits of an activity or action than it is not worth pushing forward. We examined the next ten feet and found a few major hazards. The rocks were very slippery and wet, part of the under hang was covered in water, and water was moving swiftly underneath the rocks adjacent to the falls. The group made a calculated decision not to proceed and scurried back up the embankment to the trail.

            As we debriefed on what had happened the Explorers started to look at the Mentors as though we were going to direct them to the next activity. Mentors responded by stepping out of the circle and saying, “What direction are we going?”.   Some of the group members started to shout out different directions and it was clear that we needed to make yet another group decision. Forming a tight circle the Tribal Elder led the group in a process of decision-making that will quickly become a culture for these boys. The Tribal Elder led the group in a few simple steps that can solve many issues. He first asked the group for their suggestions then identified the options and asked for a show of hands for the two choices. Once he tallied the vote he gave everyone a chance to speak their truth to better understand the two sides. Finally he presented the solution based off of the majority. What an excellent way to facilitate a group decision. After the Tribal Elder was done Mentors gave him one last leadership tool, always ask if anyone is not okay with the decision.  

            The path that the Explorers decided on happened to also be in the same direction as the Mentors favorite place to play a popular game. On our way there we played a few rounds of Hide and filled both of ourEarth Keeper’s bags with cans and trash.  The Explorers modeled being responsible for not only the trash they created, but all the trash that they came across using our motto, You see it You own it, as a reminder.  On our outings we cultivate an ethic of environmental stewardship and are constantly reminded of the work we are called to do.

            Once we arrived Mentors discussed the rules to the highly anticipated game called Spider’s Web. In Spider’s Web there is one spider and the rest of the group are flies.  The spider’s goal is to capture all the flies by using his awareness and stealth to send them back to his web. The spider in this game is very keen because he needs to balance keeping the flies on his web and catching the others who are trying to make it to their food source. The flies used their best forms of stealth and camouflage to evade the spider.  Mentors watched as the flies climbed, crawled and fox walked through a thicket of Oregon Grape, Sword Fern, and Red Huckleberry to obtain their food source only to fall victim to the fangs of the spider. The group played for an hour and a half straight until it was time to transition, what fun!

            We packed up and headed back towards the parking lot, however the outing was not quite over. As we passed the Mallard Duck pond the Mentors decided to introduce the Explorers to a practice that many of us engage in daily. The Explorers spread out on the land to do a Sit Spot.  When we spend time quieting our bodies and minds while connecting with the land we can begin to slow down and open our awareness. A Sit Spot helps us slow down enough to process everything that goes on within our lives.

            Once we heard the Crow Call we circled back up for our closing meeting. The group went around the circle and shared one thing they had seen or discovered while at their sit spot and something that they were thankful for. As we practiced our Attitude of Gratitude we shared a snack together, soaking in the moment and the sun. What an excellent day of adventure and exploration at Whatcom Falls Park.

You can check out more pictures from the outing in the Roosevelt Elk Calves photo gallery.