Roosevelt Elk Calves Play All Day at Padden

The Roosevelt Elk Calves arrived at Lake Padden thankful that the massive downpour the day before had subsided and the sun was coming out just in time for some forest exploration. Gathering together we decided to hike out past the dog park in search of a place to play games like Hungry Hungry Martin, Eagle Eye, Fire Keeper, and of course Spider’s Web (ask your Explorer about these games if you don’t know them already!). Because we did such a great job working on debris shelters and honing our skills on our last outing, the mentors felt like this group deserved a game day. Getting together in circle we made a “game plan” for how we wanted to spend our day. Kicking things off we played a more exciting, explosive game of Hungry Hungry Martin that requires some sneaking and camouflage followed by explosive bursts of running to make it to safety before getting eaten by the Martin. After a few rounds we took a half an hour to explore, eat lunch, and catch up with friends. 

Gathering up at our base camp for the day to eat lunch and catch up with friends

Preparing for some epic games of Hungry Hungry Martin!

Gathering back together we decided we wanted some more free time to goof off, finish up our mini-shelters we worked on, and even have some extra time to get to know a salamander we found in an old rotting log! With that out of our system we joined back together and shifted gears to play a stealth game called Fire Keeper where someone sits blindfolded in the middle of a circle guarding a set of keys or other noisy item. Everyone on the outside of the circle takes turns trying to sneak in undetected and snatch the keys. The Fire Keeper points to any noise he detects and if you get detected you have to go back out of the circle and let someone else try. You win by successfully retrieving the keys without the Fire Keeper hearing you! This is a great game that got us calmed and quiet, tuning into every minute sound, though this didn’t deter some of us from trying to snack while it wasn’t our turn!

Discovering a salamander while exploring our surroundings

Honing shelter building skills using small scale designs

Learning how to move silently during a game of Fire Keeper

Finally, we wrapped up our day with a game of Eagle Eye and a quick game of Spider’s Web. Utilizing our freshly tuned sneaking skills we picked our way through the foliage trying to remain undetected as we played our games. During our time we heard a Pileated Woodpecker and many other native birds, had numerous friendly canines run over greet our group, and of course got lost in play for hours at a time. With the end of our outing drawing near it was hard for the mentors to call the group in, not because they were acting out, but because we were just having too much fun and didn’t want to be the ones who put an end to the playful joy that everyone was reveling in. But alas, we had to go. With a closing circle of gratitude we had an overwhelming genuineness and sincerity that warmed the mentor’s hearts. There is nothing quite like taking a day to play games and explore the forest. The Roosevelt Elk Calves proved again that they are a tightly knit group that knows how to get lost in play and exploration while exemplifying how a bunch of awesomely unique personalities can unite as a one. We played, we explored, shared some laughs, and even found a salamander! I’d call that a successful outing.

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

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.

BEC Roosevelt Elk Calves Explore South Lake Padden Park

With excitement brewing, the Roosevelt Elk Calves and their mentors gathered at the southeast corner of Lake Padden Park to prepare for their final exploration of the season. The forests that surround Lake Padden Park are a little different from the forests that the boys have been exploring this season. There are a few stands of older Douglas fir and Western hemlock that almost beg you to step off the trail and wander about and it was one such location that the mentors had in mind for our destination.  The explorers and mentors decided that the opening meeting and distribution of jobs should be postponed until we had traveled into the forest and had left the busy parking area behind.  

As we left the lake behind we traveled through groves of Big Leaf maple, Red alder and Western red cedar that gave way to patches of wetlands along the margins of upper Padden Creek.  After a slow climb out of the wetland zone we stepped out into the sunshine of the powerline coridor.  The time was right for the opening meeting. The explorers and mentors were able to get jobs assigned and gear passed out and have a snack while dodging runners, walkers, dogs and horses.  The Roosevelt Elk Calves were ready to head to a quieter section of the forest so onward they climbed.  After a brief hike and a couple of rounds of HIDE!, we arrived at a fantastic mixed stand of Douglas-Fir and Western Hemlock.  Many of the trees were likely 200+ years old!  After stepping off the trail one of the mentors was transformed into a deer and the Explorers and steve found the predatory energy of cougars.  The chase was on, but it proved challenged to follow this wiley mentor off the trail through the undergrowth of the forest floor.  The Roosevelt Elk Calves ran, stalked, crawled and stumbled their way after their mentor finally catching him in a small grove of Cedar trees.  From this vantage point it was clear that we needed to explore this corner of the park and get to know it!

There was little convincing needed to start a game of spider's web with the boys, which is a fantastic game for learning the contours of the landscape as you carefully sneak towards the spider and the difficult to reach food source. Our previous games had been in challenging locations, but a stand of large old trees tends to have lots of open space under the canopy.  Mentors love places like this for these games because there are so many fantastic places to hide if you let yourself crawl along under the Sword Ferns and along the decaying logs that carpet the forest floor.  After nearly one and a half hours of sneaking and searching the mentors called the boys in to recap the game and talk more about strategy, stealth, and sportsmanship.  Everybody was dirty, smiling, and tired from a great game!  

To finish the day the Roosevelt Elk Calves found a quiet place in forest that had now become familiar from sneaking and hiding for a Sit Spot.  The boys and mentors found places against the trunks of trees, on comfortable old logs and right down in the duff for a few minutes of peaceful contemplation in the fading light of the afternoon.  The sound of the mentor's crow call brought the boys into the closing meeting not only the outing but also the fall.  Steve and Greg had sage words for the boys about their journey as a group thus far. The Roosevelt Elk Calves have become a solid group and the coming spring season should usher in some exciting opportunities to hone our skills of communication, leadership, and awareness.  What an excellent beginning!  A heartfelt circle of thanks was created as we honored each other and the forest for another great outing.  

Realizing that the explorers and mentors had only 15 minutes to return to the parking lot the group raced back towards waiting parents.  Despite running and racing, we emerged from the forest a bit late to find a host of smiling faces eagerly awaiting stories from these outstanding boys.  It is a wonderful sight to see all the love and support awaiting these fellows when they return from these outings.  Thank you parents for your support this season! Spending time with your boys has been such a privilege.  We are already looking forward to Spring!