Scavenging at Clayton Beach: Plants, Sea Critters, and Sand Sleds

The Roosevelt Elk Calves finished their 2017 season with an epic day at Clayton Beach. We truly had a little bit of everything on this outing from exploration, to harvesting and studying plants, to romping around at the beach on the sand dunes.

Investigating the waterfall in the ravine

We started the day off with an opening circle to set up a game plan for our outing then trekked down to the gorgeous ravine in the forest above Clayton Beach. Here we took some time to explore the area through play while the mentors set up a plant identification scavenger hunt. With the lesson prepped, it was time for the Roosevelt Elk Calves to get briefed on their mission. A variety of leaves and flowers and stems from numerous native plants lay before them on a bandana. Their task was to explore the area in search of each of the plants and return to duplicate the same pattern of plants on another bandana. Of course there were some easy ones like Sword Fern, Western Red Cedar, and others popular plants, but mixed in were a variety of lesser known plants that were harder to find and pick out the subtle differences from another plant. Of course a Red Huckleberry looks different from a Snowberry, but this time of year we can only see their small ovate leaves and we must understand the difference between “alternate” and “opposite” growth patterns to tell them apart (ask your Explorer for a pop quiz on this!). 

A variety of native plants to find

One plant in particular was hard to find: Thimbleberry. In order to find this plant, we broke out our field guide and learned about how to utilize the “ecology” description to get a few hints on where this plant may be growing. Sure enough, once we trekked down near the clearing beside the train tracks we found a whole patch of Thimbleberry growing alongside its good buddy Stinging Nettle!

Taking turns talking about each of the plants we found today

After we discussed the importance of understanding all that the forest has to offer and the many ways we can utilize the forest for food, tools, and medicine through sustainable harvest, it was time to head to the beach. Packing up we cruised down the trail to a low tide! This was perfect for an impromptu crab hunt where the boys searched for the largest specimens they could find (the baby Dungeness won). Our attention soon strayed to the large hill of sand and an opportunistic discovery of a section of plastic siding with a rope for a handle that someone must have built as a sand sled, or at least that’s what we used it as! Taking turns we worked through some discussion on how to ensure everyone got a fair turn and a sand sledding session ensued.

Scowering the rocks for crab

Baby Dungeness!

With just enough time for our closing circle, we gathered back up and took some time to reflect on our spring season, think about what we want to do in the fall, and of course share some thanks and eat apples. The Roosevelt Elk Calves were all thankful for a great day at the beach and mentioned they want to come back to Clayton Beach in the fall. Additionally we took some time to reflect on how we developed our own definitions of harvest, how to identify and collect different plants, collect materials for Atl Atls, fire starting materials, and minimizing our impact on the land through sustainable harvesting. 

Sand sledding on the dune!

Overall this felt like a complete season; we learned, we played, we explored, and we grew as a group and as individuals. As a mentor it is fulfilling to see this group coming into their own, creating a sense of comradery and community with one another, and channel their exuberant energy into a balance of developing their wilderness skills and playing together in a natural environment. Although they likely feel they are “learning” during our lessons and discussions in circle, they are no doubt learning just as much about themselves, others, and the environment during their “free play” jumping down the sand dunes, searching for that monster crab, or scampering around on the rocks. With a solid season to build off of we can’t wait to see what fall has in store for the Roosevelt Elk Calves.

Check out the rest of the photos from our outing here!

Playing together on a make-shift driftwood teeter-totter

Plenty to Harvest in the Snow at Lookout Mountain

The Roosevelt Elk Calves arrived to Lookout Mountain on a snowy Saturday. With plenty of energy buzzing around the group as they hurled snowballs at one another it was difficult for the mentors to gather enough focus on developing a game plan for the day. After some time the group’s energy settled down and we decided to hike back in to check on our old debris shelter, continue developing our definition of what harvest means, learn some new harvesting techniques, and maybe even play a game or two!

Gathering snow for a snowball

  Hitting the trail we hiked by snow covered Sword Ferns appreciating the peacefulness the white blanket brought to the forest. Passing by a familiar location the boys remembered jumping down a hillside on their last outing and just had to do it again. While letting the boys play for a bit, the mentors paused the game and had everyone take note of the impact they were leaving on the hillside. Lucky for us we were off the trail, not near a stream or water source that could be further impacted by erosion, and the impact we had wasn’t going to damage any of the trees or plants nearby. That being said, we made sure to take note of what sort of impact a group of Explorers can truly leave, and decided to be more mindful in the future before getting lost in play and disregarding the trace we may be leaving.

Hope you brought your boots!

Heading deeper into the woods we stopped to look at an old deer skeleton the mentors knew had been decaying just off trail for the past few months, then set off for the location of our old debris shelter. Once we arrived we settled in and began exploring, playing games with friends, and working on the debris shelter. But before we got too lost in what we were doing we gathered up for a decision making circle where after ten minutes of goofing around, the mentors really called upon the boys to tap into their ability to focus and make a decision. The Explorers were reminded that one day they would be grown up and in charge of making the big decisions that impact our society and environment. With the pep talk out of the way the group got it together and we were off onto the rest of our outing.

What remains of a young deer. Chewed off ribs and nose of skull suggests feeding by coyotes.

Working on the debris shelter

 After romping around a bit more through exploration and free play, the outing naturally transitioned to learning about harvesting fire materials. First the Roosevelt Elk Calves learned what Western Hemlock was and how to identify it. Next we found where we could find dry, dead hemlock branches for our kindling. Finally, we found a small, dead tree still standing and well off the damp ground to saw into smaller chunks and then baton with our knives into manageable firewood. This all took up the rest of our outing and with a quick closing circle where we gave some thanks and ate some apples we were finished for the day. Hiking out the mentors appreciated the way this group rallied to focus and make the most of our time together. They transitioned seamlessly from play to focused learning and skills building and demonstrated an ability to get it together when asked of them. We will make sure to remember this for the future as this group continues to dig into the Art of Harvest and what harvest, and our relationship to the natural world, means to them. 

Learning how to use a limbing saw to cut up sections of the dead tree

Full bundle of Western Hemlock branches for kindling

 For more photos form our outing check out the photo album!

Roosevelt Elk Calves Harvest from the Past at North Galbraith

Meeting up for the first time since winter break, the Roosevelt Elk Calves gathered at North Galbraith Mountain Trailhead eager to explore the varied landscape. Heading out, we trekked down the trail toward the bike jumps and our still standing debris shelters from the fall! Taking a break to inspect our handy work with the debris shelters and cruise along the bike jumps, we gathered up for an opening circle to discuss our plans for the day. Not only did we have an Explorer from the Jumping Mice on a make-up outing, but we also had a volunteer from Western who was tagging along to gather video, photos, and do some interviews to put together a short film for Wild Whatcom. It was rather amusing for the mentors to see how little effect having a paparazzi along for the outing had on them. Perhaps they were just too immersed in exploring, free play, and getting outside with their buddies.

Getting a good run on the bike jumps

After our opening circle, we dropped down into the recently deforested section of Galbraith Mountain where we took some time to absorb the transformation of this location. Once a Boys Explorers Club stomping ground where many a game of Spider’s Web and Life and Death in the Forest had been played, the landscape had been completely transformed with heaps of debris piled high and only a few Big Leaf Maples standing sporadically upon the landscape. Not only did this offer a great opportunity to observe the different ways humans interact with the natural world, but it also offered up a bounty of downed Western Red Cedar, Big Leaf Maple, and many other harvestable materials. We even had a great opportunity to check out a massive widow-maker where the top of a maple snapped off and got snagged on a lower section of the tree. 

Traveling through the deforested landscape

Checking out the widow-maker and learning about its impact on the tree

Moving through the deforested land we dropped down to a creek where the forest was preserved to keep the stream safe from erosion. This sliver of untouched forest was the perfect spot to settle in and talk for a bit about The Art of Harvest; our focus for the spring. The Roosevelt Elk Calves demonstrated their growth as a group while they sat in a circle and had a conversation about what we harvest, how we harvest, and what the term “harvest” means to us. The mentors made a point to not provide a definition of harvest, rather let the group develop their own definition of harvest. This was a great example of the maturation of this group as they each shared unique perspectives on what harvest can mean and even dove into ethics of harvest and how it varies from person to person (unprompted!). With our discussion wrapped up it was time to transition to a group decision making process to determine how we would spend the rest of the outing.

Building a bridge during free play

As the Tribal Elder took over, the Explorers took turns sharing how they wanted to spend the outing. They collaborated, compromised, and came to a consensus. Kicking things off with some free play and exploration, we later relocated to a denser section of forest to play a few rounds of Spider’s Web. In addition to all this fun play, the mentors channeled their own inspirations to harvest from the disturbed landscape to create a bow drill kit and an atlatl. Testing out the atlatl quickly caught the attention of the group and all the boys wanted one of their own. Scouring the landscape we found many downed branches of Big Leaf Maple that created perfect launchers, while the fresh sprouts protruding up from the stumps of logged Big Leaf Maples offered perfect straight, long, and flexible darts to be flung. The atlatl is an extremely primitive tool that spanned the gap between spear and bow. Basically operating like a tennis ball launcher used to play fetch with dogs, the atlatl extends the length of arm allowing one to fling the dart a greater distance.

Counting the rings to determine the age of a Western Red Cedar

Running out of time the Roosevelt Elk Calves scrambled to finish up their atlatls, before closing circle. We set aside the much distracting tools we just created in order to bring our full focus to our circle of thanks. Passing around the apple slices the Explorers were all very grateful for the good weather, plenty of play and exploration, and how the group followed their inspirations to create atlatls. With just enough time left, we trekked back to the trailhead pausing briefly to assemble an atlatl flinging competition. The boys lined up and all launched their atlatls down the logging road to see who could fling their dart the furthest. A fun moment for the Roosevelt Elk Calves, no doubt, but for the mentors, seeing a posse of boys carving atlatls and flinging darts together felt like taking a step back in time. One can only imagine how many times that same process had taken place thousands of years ago. Boys growing up, learning how to use atlatls, playing games in the forest to hone sneaking skills, discovering new ways to harvest and utilize natural materials like cedar bark to make tinder bundles and Licorice Fern to make medicine. Not only did we have a blast today, but we stepped into a time machine and connected with the roots of humanity. What more could one ask for on a Saturday afternoon?!

Ready, aim, fire!

 Make sure to check out the rest of the photos from our outing here!