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 Reunite at Stimpson Nature Reserve

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.