The Cave-Dwelling Hairy-Legged Vampire Bats (formerly Raccoon Kits) challenge Arroyo Park

The Raccoon Kits have a new name - They are now the Cave Dwelling, Hairy-Legged Vampire Bats! Say that 5 times fast! The mentors will no doubt refer to them as the Cave Dwellers for short. Last Spring, the boys decided they weren’t kits (babies) any longer, having been an Explorers Club group for 2 fall and 2 spring seasons. They had recently found a cool cave on Galbraith Mountain. You can imagine how it developed from there.

After deciding this in our opening meeting, we proceeded the “back way” from the N. Chuckanut trailhead parking lot in search of salmon inChuckanut Creek. We’re the Explorers Club - why take the established trail when you can explore your way to your destination, right? Well, the trail soon splintered into bushwhacking, following the creek in search of a place to cross so we could pick up that established trail. Funny thing, our beloved November storms have worked their magic; our “bridge” (log across the creek) was under fast moving water so we couldn’t even contemplate crossing there. We searched further, picking through thick underbrush that included WAY too much Devil’s Club, but the only other crossing we considered we decided was unsafe. So, after an hour or so of our “shortcut”, we were faced with a somewhat gut-wrenching decision. Do we press on, further stretching our edge to conquer this unexpectedly challenging route? Or is it wiser to retrace our steps to the trail we know will lead us to our goal, the salmon struggling upstream? Tim and I didn’t plan this into our outing outline, but we welcome any opportunity to work with the explorers to deal with the unexpected. In this case, we employed the STOP (Stop, Think, develop Options, make a Plan) model for handling difficult situations in the wild. Strung along a hillside while peering through the underbrush, we quickly discussed our two options and decided to turn back. The Cave Dwelling, Hairy-Legged Vampire Bats were disappointed, but showed they’re earning the name change as they reacted with good spirit to our decision.

Our planned skills work for the outing was our final shelter building exercise for the fall, but the explorers had done their work for the day with all that bushwhacking so the mentors scratched that element of the plan and presented a second decision as we had lunch - proceed straightaway to a game of Spider’s Web or check out the salmon and then play the game. This time, we were sitting comfortably along a creek not far from the trailhead, so Tim and I simply asked our Tribal Elder for the day to lead the decision process toward consensus. Most of the Cave Dwellers wanted to hike to the salmon run first, but we had a dissenting opinion. Following our flow of asking for input, discussing pros and cons, putting it to a vote and resolving differences to reach consensus, the Tribal Elder managed the process with little input from the mentors, another sign of maturation that supports relinquishing the group’s original name.

Our new course set, we hiked the “regular” trail to Arroyo Park where we were excited to see several salmon struggling against the swift-moving creek on their way to spawn. A few Cave Dwellers wanted to catch a fish but were thwarted as their prey’s focus on that next jump drew him/her away from the muddy shore. I wouldn’t have put money on all the boys coming away without getting soaked in the stream, but that is just how it turned out.

A mental check of our plan (current version!) prompted us to move back up the trail in search of a proper Spider’s Web course. We found our spot and set up the playing field as rain began to fall. Contrary to the weather forecast, we had sidestepped rain to this point. Hundreds of dripping ferns and numerous fallen trees provided so much cover for stealthy flies that the spider had lots of trouble identifying them, but that didn’t stop him from calling us all out repeatedly. Several of us got close, but none close enough as the rain intensified.

The outing had an odd emotional flow to it. We were excited to finally select a name that spoke to our shared experience and the explorers’ growing capabilities; our bushwhacking was first thrilling then disappointing; watching the salmon was humbling as they followed their instincts with all their energy; the game of Spider’s Web was a bit unsatisfying as we got “this close” to the prize only to be turned away. You could say it was a little slice of life, I guess. Through it all, though, the Cave Dwellers embraced change and faced both the good and bad with maturity beyond their years. 

Our Fall schedule concluded with this outing. The mentors are looking forward to more fun and growth come Spring! Check here for the rest of the photos from our day. 

Join us for the Co-op's Community Shopping Day - Saturday, November 21. Shop for Thanksgiving – or just grocery shop at either Coop and 2% of total sales that day will be donated to Wild Whatcom.

Raccoon Kits ponder a name change

The last time you found yourself stranded in the woods, searching for whatever you could find to help you survive the night in the cold and rain…and you found a shoelace in your pocket, I bet you didn’t think to cut it up and leave “bread crumbs” to mark your trail! Or how about using it to hang your food where a bear couldn’t get it….or, get this, as a shoelace, should one of yours fail!

Each of these ideas and several more were generated out of a survival activity we did on our Fragrance Lake outing. The Raccoon Kits were divided into three groups: each group was given a shoelace and asked how they might put it to good use in a survival situation. Other ideas: secure the frame of an earth shelter; build a snare to catch dinner; create a bow drillkit to make a fire, and more. Very resourceful!

Resourcefulness is a key characteristic when in survival mode. Keeping a cool head is one of the most difficult things to do in that situation; the Raccoon Kits showed the capacity to think on their feet. I, for one, was surprised and pleased at their responses.

The reason we  were able to put the boys into small groups for this activity was that we had an embarrassment of riches when it comes to group leaders. Wyatt is a student in Environmental Ed. at Western and joined us as a volunteer mentor as part of his course work. Jordan and Adrian are part of the Vespula Veterans, one of the oldest Boys Explorers Club groups. They were along as Explorers Club Mentor Apprentices (EMAs). Tim and I scrambled to make the best use of all that help!

Our opening circle was highlighted by an examination of a deer carcass discovered by the ever watchful mentor Tim. Each explorer was offered the chance to bring home a bone. Then on to the outing. Of course, the best way for Wyatt to learn about our program was to participate, so we immediately hooked him into games of Cougar Stalks Deer and Hide! as we hiked along the Interurban trail and onto the Fragrance Lake trail. A quick study, he was soon to be spotted diving into the ferns at the sound of “HIDE!” 

After a short climb, we located two elements that would be important for our outing. First, a good spot to practice building shelters. The land at this bend in the trail features a large “nurse-boulder”, if you will, a muddy pit that one of the shelter teams put to good use making mud packs to secure their shelter, a ditch to explore, and lots of downed branches to use in shelter frames. Second, we came across the two Raccoon Kits who, after arriving a little late, managed to get in front of us on the trail, only to be U-turned after a hiker indicated to the rest of us that she had seen a few boys and a dad looking for a group of eager explorers. (Do you get the sense there was lots of positive energy on the Fragrance Lake trail on Sunday?)

Our work revealed that these boys have learned the process of shelter building, but that the sense of urgency and focus that are required in an actual survival scenario can be in somewhat short supply when we’re practicing. This is common for young boys and may also have something to do with the size of the groups. Six explorers and an EMA can sometimes get in each other’s way and can make for duplicated and confusing task organization. In a few weeks, we’re going to continue this effort and plan to work with smaller groups. We’re also going to bring water to pour onto the completed shelters as a test of their worthiness. Should be interesting.

Our work completed, we played a quick game of Hungry, Hungry Martin, then circled up to give thanks in our closing meeting. I can’t think of a better way to illustrate to a volunteer the values we hold dear in Wild Whatcom and Boys Explorers Club than to invite him to join us in this treasured tradition. We slow down after all that energetic play and work to share apples and voice out loud something for which we are truly grateful. Just as your sons are resourceful about using a shoelace in the wilderness, they’re often thoughtful and insightful about the gifts they’ve been given. 

Before “packs on” for our hike out, we continued our discussion about a new name for our group. You might have heard me say that kits are babies. Last spring, I suggested to the group that they’re no longer one of the younger groups so they might want a new name, perhaps one that captures an experience they had as a group. They’re interested in a name that has something to do with caves because they found a cool cave at North Galbraith in the spring. I’ll present a few final options to them when we get together for our last outing of the fall, on November 14. 

Click here for more photos from our Fragrance Lake outing.

Raccoon Kits Show Short-Tailed Weasels How It's Done at Connelly Creek

There was no better way to welcome October than with a great service outing. The Raccoon Kits, Short Tailed Weasels, and even a Girls Explorers Club group, The Fiddleheads, teamed to form a young, yet formidable foe for the Himalayan Blackberry and Reed Canary Grass. The girls got things going by showing up early, getting a walkthrough from Steve, and breaking up to tackle the various tasks at our Connelly Creek service site. First was tending to the new trees and shrubs that were planted during the Spring season, making sure they had a fresh mulch ring and were properly staked out to prevent any unwanted trampling. Second was to get going on spreading mulch and expanding upon all the hard work from last season. Last but not least; the blackberry removal team. Everyone was working hard when a rascally bunch of boys showed up.

Kicking off the service outing for the boys were the Raccoon Kits. Not only was it a surprise that they were going to be the eldest group today, but mixing in girls too?! Despite the lofty expectations set upon this young group to introduce proper tool usage to the Short Tailed Weasels, demonstrate a strong work ethic, and be role models, they took it in stride and flourished. After a slow start due to the necessary introductions to the Short Tailed Weasels of where our service site is, what we’re doing here, and why we are doing it, everyone jumped right into the work. The Raccoon Kits were eager to get to hacking back the blackberries and digging up the massive root balls. As for the Short Tailed Weasels, they kicked off their illustrious service careers with a classic; shoveling mulch.

As the hours ticked away, the girls departed after putting in some tremendous work. Left to their own devices, the Raccoon Kits took this opportunity to attempt to unearth a massive root ball. It took the whole group, but eventually they got it, and in only a few hours erased years of growth by the Himalayan Blackberries. Not even wanting to stop for lunch, the Raccoon Kits showed an outstanding drive and superb work ethic that impressed all the mentors present.

For the Short Tailed Weasels, they also had a strong day of work, however it was broken up by a little more play, jokes, and even experimental cooking. As they dug into the mulch pile they noticed the vast warmth that was imitating from within due to the decomposition process. Just as mother crocodiles incubate eggs in large mounds of debris, some of the explorers decided to test the warmth with a chunk of cheese (which completely melted) and a container of apples (still to be decided on cooking effectiveness). After all was said and done the Short Tailed Weasels had some fun, but finished strong by moving the majority of the mulch that was left by the parks department for us to use. Not a bad start for their first service outing.

As the torch has been passed from group to group, tending, nurturing, and caretaking Connelly Creek has become a Boys Explorers Club Legacy, a legacy that is now fortunate enough to add Girls Explorers Club and the Short Tailed Weasels alongside the veteran Raccoon Kits. Mulch was moved, blackberries battered, roots were wrangled and there was even enough time for some laughs to be shared as well. What a wonderful day and strong beginning to our service work at Connelly Creek.

Make sure to check out the rest of the photos in our Photo Gallery!

The Raccoon Kits build an Earth Shelter at N. Lake Whatcom

Picture this: You drive out to Deming and up into the mountains to the Ridley Creek trailhead, all the while nervously watching the sky for signs of a break in the storm. As you assemble and hoist your packs into place, there’s a promising brightness in the southern sky and your group decides the weather will cooperate. You gamely strike out onto the trail, across the creek and into the mountains for a long-awaited backcountry adventure. 

After several hours of exploration you return, soaked and tired, to the creek, which is now raging and cresting its banks. 3-4 inches of rain in 5 hours will do that to a creek. You quickly determine that you're unable to recross the creek to get to your faithful bus servant, Stubbs, for the ride home.  You're stranded in the Cascades and it’ll be dark in a few hours. Your adventure is now a matter of survival (Refer to the survival “Rule of 3’s – 3 minutes without oxygen, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food)! Your heart rate amps up and your breathing gets shallow as panic begins to set in.

Fortunately, this is a story not of what did happen but of what could have been. The older Explorers Club group that was scheduled to hike the Ridley Creek trail that stormy August Saturday will have to wait until October for that hike. And, to be honest, I don’t know that the creek swelled as depicted in the scenario, but it made for an interesting introduction to our skills focus for the fall – shelter building. 

A well-constructed shelter will repel rain and provide a warm place to sleep, and is a difficult task, especially in inclement weather when you're in a panic. Over the course of the fall, our goal is to get to the point where the Raccoon Kits are able to build a shelter in which they could sleep.  

We began on a beautiful Sunday morning by recounting our summer adventures and welcoming a new Explorer to our group. Then up Stewart Mountain in search of a place to work on building shelters. After a few games of Hide!, we discovered a shelter that had been constructed by a different Explorers Club group and critiqued their work as a way of putting our minds in a place to launch into the task at hand. We then talked about what makes for a good shelter location (free of “widowmakers”; access to resources such as “Y” sticks, ridge poles, leaves and more; clear of water runoff) and searched for the spot for our shelter. Note that we spent 20-30 minutes doing this, time that would've put us behind the 8 ball in our Ridley Creek scenario. 

Location decided, we set about gathering materials and building. The discipline and focus that are so critical in an actual survival situation were in somewhat short supply at first, but the Raccoon Kits rallied to complete the shelter frame (our goal for this first outing). Their self-critique exposed a few issues that we’ll work to rectify on a future outing. They likely would not have spent a warm, cozy night while waiting for Ridley Creek to subside, but given the reality of their situation, they did well. 

Our work completed, we turned our attention to the serious business of play. A stimulating and fair game of Spider’s Web begins with agreement on the course layout and rules (yes, they tend to vary from group to group and even outing to outing for a given group). Our tribal elder (has the job of facilitating our group decisions) received lots of “help” as he led a lively discussion to resolve these issues. Agreement reached, the “flies” proceeded to crawl around the hillside, failing to breach the spider’s defenses, but managing to avoid capture. Final outcome- draw. 

While we were busy with that, mentor Tim worked to strengthen our shelter, setting the stage for our challenge for our next exploration outing – a shelter that can withstand the weight of one or more Raccoon Kits. 

A time check dictated we move quickly to our next activity, a Sit Spot. Work and play behind us, the mentors wanted to provide the space for connection and reflection, and some of the boys actually took advantage! Learn more about Sit Spots here. 

We end every outing be giving thanks and sharing apples, as gratefulness is a core principle (see Mottoeshere) at Wild Whatcom. On this day, our circle of thanks exhausted our time; the Raccoon Kits’ penchant for telling jokes would have to be sacrificed, as would our discussion of a possible name change for the group (kits are babies and we are no longer among the younger Explorers Club groups). We’ll have to be sure to reserve time for these important tasks when we next meet (Saturday, October 3; 10:00 - 2:00 at Connelly Creek)! 

Look here for the complete gallery of photos from our exploration, as well as a photo history of the Raccoon Kits. I suspect you'll see why a name change is in order for the group as they grow and connect.

Off trail on Galbraith Mountain

Honor reveals itself in the margins.

We played two full games of Spider’s Web in a secluded area of Galbraith Mountain on Saturday. For those of you not familiar with the game, a few rules:
* The course has a “food source” (bandana) at one end and a “web” (tree or bush marked with, wait for it, abandana) at the other,
* There is a Spider and the rest of the boys and mentors are Flies,
* The flies attempt to secure the food source and return it to the web (I know - doesn’t make sense - but it works) without being spied and called out by the spider,
* The spider wins by sending all flies to the web at the same time and before the food source is brought to it,

Preparation for the game involves reviewing the rules. Sometimes we adjust them. For instance, there might be two spiders. We usually decide on “no-go zones” for the spider to prevent “puppy-guarding” the food source or web. In this case, the restriction was set at 10 feet.

For the flies, the game is often about stealth. A good course will have sufficient foliage (sword ferns work great) for cover. Speed is often penalized as the spider’s eye is drawn to the movement and the fly sent to the web. Kinda like real life in nature, no?

Strategy is more the name of the game for the spider. Do I roam or stay hidden to surprise flies? Guard the food source or focus on keeping the flies on the web once they’ve been called out?

Our second game ended in conflict. The flies accused the spider of hanging around too close to the web, which prevented the flies from returning the food source without being called out. The spider replied that he went no closer than the invisible 10’ “bubble” stipulated when we started playing. Cue the margin!

Misunderstandings happen often in life. Communication between people issubject to interpretation. That’s why we have courts, and mediators, and contracts, and, unfortunately, bad feelings. At Explorer’s Club, we believe behaving with honor is a critical characteristic of an virtuous man, so we use these situations to work with your boys on constructive ways to handle conflict. In this case, with the help of our two Explorers Club Apprentices (EMAs), 5 minutes of conversation yielded a further clarification of the 10’ rule. Specifically, that limit applies when the spider is moving through the area. If he chooses to station himself to spy flies, the limit is “like, 30 feet”. Once that was worked out, hard feelings dissolved and we moved on. The Raccoon Kits handled themselves with honor in this particular margin. Take a moment to recognize that with your explorer.

The Raccoon Kits did more than resolve conflict on Saturday. They stress-tested several mountain bike jumps by running them!; they explored a very cool cave discovered by a few flies as they were sneaking through the underbrush in pursuit of the food source; they paused to commune with nature by sitting alone and silent for 10 minutes in an Explorer’s Club tradition called the sit spot.

Note: The boys did themselves proud with the way they focused their attention and energy during our opening, closing and conflict resolution meetings. We also work through decisions at trail junctions and other points when a decision is required. They have improved in this area noticeably since the fall.

Finally, they considered that after several seasons of EC outings, the nameRaccoon Kits (raccoon babies) might not fit any more. We began a conversation about a new name for the group. The name doesn’t need to involve raccoons, although that would make sense. Ideally, it will come from an experience the group had on an outing. (Example; the Daredevils Club got their name after a rough encounter with Devil’s Club.) It needs to be appropriate and to pertain to the land and the exploration thereof. A few interesting ideas were put forth on Saturday; the mentors asked the boys to think on it some more. That’s something else you can ask your explorer about. We’ll revisit in the fall.

Check here for the complete set of photos.

That wraps up the Raccoon Kits' schedule for the spring. Thank you for sharing your explorer with us this wonderful season of rebirth. I appreciate the energy and humor your boys bring to Explorers Club.

Watch for information on registration for the fall. And consider a summer camp, if your explorer isn't already registered. The long, slow, warm summer days provide an excellent environment for nature connection!

Vespula Veterans and Racoon Kits serve Connelly Creek

Sunny Skies greeted the mentors as they unloaded gear and prepared tools and paperwork for a day of tending the land at the Connelly Creek service site.  Mentors look forward to the service outing for a number of reasons, but above all is a chance to give back to the land.  In both the Explorer’s Club and the Four Shields Program we utilize the land as a teacher.  Our mentoring community firmly believes that our boys learn best when they can leave the trail behind and immerse in the forest or beach.  Inevitably our exploring has impact upon the land.  There are undoubtedly small plants that are stepped on, and birds that are disturbed, but we tread with care and a deep respect and gratitude for the places we visit and the opportunities provided by them.  Our service outings are a way we can say thank you and offer our hard work in exchange for our hard play and exploration.

This outing marks the 5^th season of service at the Connelly Creek site for the Vespula Veterans and the 3^rdseason of service for the Raccoon Kits.  Our eldest group, the Vespula Veterans, arrived at 11:00am and carried the tools over to our site.  After quickly unpacking and organizing them for the work ahead, the boys took the first hour to practice some of the wilderness travel skills they will be using in their upcoming overnight outing at Racehorse Falls (and for some their summer backpacking trip to Olympic National Park).  The boys practiced lighting stoves, and setting up Wild Whatcom’s new Backpacking tents.  Mentors offered insights and suggestions about technique, but the boys took on the responsibility to practice the skills and gain comfort with these pieces of equipment.

After a brief capacity test of the tents, some of the boys decided to have stealth sit spot and see if they could scout the Raccoon Kits as they arrived.  Other Vespula Veterans worked on their fire by friction skills and got a preview of saw skills, which they will be learning on their trip to Racehorse falls.  Once the Raccoon Kits arrived we gathered in a large circle to forge our service team.  Since all had done service at Connelly Creek before we quickly reviewed tool safety and our service goals.

Bellingham Parks department, who overseas our work in the park, tasked the boys with two primary jobs: first to “walk down” the invasive Reed Canary Grass, and second to mulch over it.  In the past we have cut the grass back, however it appears that when it is cut it grows back with even more vigor.  So we set out to trample the grass and spread the mulch.  Last season the Boys Explorers Club planted several alder trees, as well as some small shrubs.  All of them survived our mild winter and appear to be growing.  Currently their biggest threat is getting stepped on by a well-meaning explorer in the midst of doing service.  To reduce this possibility the boys enhanced rings of mulch around these vulnerable plants to make them more visible and to help retain moisture near them as the weather warms this summer.

The mentors were impressed at the boy’s ability to move mulch.  Without prompting several teams emerged and began to move the mulch from the pile to the plants and the trampled grass.  One group shoveled the mulch into buckets and trash cans, another was hauling the mulch, another was spreading the mulch, and yet another was weeding grass around the plantings.  After moving the entire mulch pile, it was time for the Vespula Veterans to say farewell to the Raccoon Kits and have and have their closing meeting.    The Raccoon Kits stayed for another hour and transitioned to digging out stubborn blackberry roots before finishing their day with gratitude and apples at their closing meeting. 

The Boys Explorer’s Club and Four Shields Mentoring Community would like to thank Mentor Jake Ray for stepping in as an alternate in Brian’s absence.  The mentoring community would also like to extend our gratitude to all the boys and their families.  Without all of you we simply wouldn’t be able to do this work and for that we are

The Raccoon Kits conquer the Teddy Bear Traverse

As part of our preparation each week, the Boys Explorers Club mentors write an outline for each outing. The process helps us connect with the boys with whom we’ll be working and consider the unique possibilities of the place into which we’re venturing.

Underlying the games, the conflicts, the cuts and scrapes we inevitably experience are the lessons the boys, and the mentors, learn on and from the land. Our club mottos express what we hope the boys will take away from their club experience. Therefore, a key element of the outline is the Guiding Mottos we select for the outing. For our Teddy Bear Cove traverse on the 29th, our mottos were the following:
* The map is not the territory,
* It’s about the journey, not the destination (we are where we are going),
* The only way out is through, and
* Expect the unexpected.

So let’s examine each of these mottos in light of Sunday’s exciting outing. My hope is that this reflection will provide insight into what we do out there, how we do it, and, most important, why we do it.

“The map is not the territory.” Maps and other tools for helping us find our way (compass, GPS, etc.) provide great reference points for us to use as part of our analysis of where we are and where we should go from that point. However, too much reliance on the tools at the expense of one’s innate awareness of the land can result in unfavorable outcomes. Example: a colleague and I were in Arizona on a business trip and relying on the rental car’s GPS to get us to our meeting. However, the software was unaware of the construction project that prevented us from getting on the freeway we needed. Without that access, we were hopelessly lost and the GPS was similarly frustrated. It was only when we turned it off and problem solved our way out of our predicament that we were able to find our way to the meeting place, albeit somewhat tardy. So, we use the tools to augment our own ability to listen to the land and navigate based on our understanding of fundamental constructs such as the position of the sun in the sky at 2:00 pm on a late March day. On this late March day, we first navigated across “uncharted” (for us) territory using our wits. Then, we checked the map to better understand where we had been. The photo galleryfor the outing captures that moment pretty well.

“It’s about the journey, not the destination (we are where we are going)”  Our greatest challenge on this hike came shortly after we began bushwhacking through moss-covered logs, slippery rocks, muddy soil and - all together now - devil’s club! We were in never-developed light forest and moving along a hillside without a trail in sight. I anticipated the boys would fan out and find their own way, but we largely proceeded in a single file. That alignment told me several of the boys were feeling overmatched by the terrain. It’s at moments like this that you notice leadership emerging in an explorer who steps to the front or group cohesion happening through peer support or confidence growing as the boys adapt to the land and continue to work their way through the challenge before them. Destinations are fine. In fact, it was high fives all around when we emerged out of our bushwhacking adventure. But the action happens in the test. The Raccoon Kits passed this test and I anticipate they’ll be stronger individuallyand as a group as a result.

“The only way out is through”  Sometimes we face really challenging internal and external obstacles. Often the best way out of the stuck place is to not go around it, or walk away from it, but to go through it, to the other side. This requires perseverance, which is "the hard work you do when you get tired of the hard work you already did." “Most of our obstacles would melt away if instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them.” O. Marden (Alright, you got me...lifted from the Wild Whatcom mottos page.) Our physical test on this hike was matched by the psychological and emotional challenge many explorers faced when we were high-stepping over natural obstacles and dodging devil’s club.

“Expect the unexpected”  Brian and Peter told them it would be tough, but who amongst us hasn’t underestimated the task upon hearing it described?Confucius is credited with saying, “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” These boys now understand their capabilities a little better.

Interestingly, we never made it to Teddy Bear Cove on Saturday. We played games, overcame challenges, collaborated with our peers and wore ourselves out, but we never made it to the water. Does that mean we didn’t achieve our objectives for the day? On the contrary, this Teddy Bear Cove-less day was a smashing success!

Next up - Service at the Connelly Creek site. Check here for the Raccoon Kits' Spring schedule and here for the complete set of photos for this outing.

Raccoon Kits Navigating Whatcom Falls Park

Quick quiz! How do you illustrate navigation without moving from place to place? Answer: Not very well. Or at least, not as well as one would like.

Best intentions and all that. We began with several maps and a plan to use them to explore Whatcom Falls Park. Instead, for much of the day we expressed our excitement at being back with the Raccoon Kits in the outdoors by repeated seemingly unstructured but high energy activities such as “pine cone battles”, deer trail exploration, rotted tree stump whacking and, of course, games.

I don’t need to tell you that quiet focus is not usually a strength of boys at this age. A stick becomes a sword quicker than you can remind them of their blood circle; a discovered partially constructed earth shelter cries out for destruction; one boy’s spontaneous diversion is perceived as a golden opportunity to....well, I’m not sure what might follow.

You also know better than I the beauty of this in-the-moment approach to the day: 

• New people (we had two new Raccoon Kits this week) can, and did, find frequent opportunities to interject themselves into the pandemonium. Both did, and were welcomed unreservedly by their new colleagues. Seen up close, what might seem to the casual observer to indicate indifference can be seen to be acceptance. 
• The bounding, sporadic bumping and chasing is a constructive antidote to the required adherence to group norms of a week of school participation. 
• The joke telling (more on this later) and pranks, when executed appropriately as was the case on Sunday, build community and memories.

Of course, the hustle and bustle can sometimes spin out of control, as it threatened to a few times during the outing. Tim and Brian took advantage of a few opportunities to guide the Raccoon Kits toward play that was safe physically and psychologically.  For instance, when the “pine cone battle” threatened to become many against one, we coached the explorers to divide into even teams and create safety rules (e.g., no head shots). Hard feelings that began to escalate into a physical conflict between two explorers was taken aside to be worked out. And without exception, the boys rose to the occasion. 

So, here’s how it went down. The boys were, as I indicated, excited to see each other and while we were greeting arriving members, started throwing pine cones. We transitioned from that activity to a structured name game so we could learn and relearn everyone’s name. A little talk about Explorer’s Club culture to jump start the new boys’ experience and into the park we went to position ourselves to meet a late arriving explorer. Lunch and a few games of Hide! brought us to the scheduled meeting time. As Brian doubled back the short distance to the stone bridge to pick him up, the boys took cover and waited to welcome him as only explorers can. 

At this point. the plan was to map out a course to a few interesting points in the park for our navigation work. What actually happened, however, involved pine cones, so we worked to set it up for fair, safe play. Next up, Spider’s Web. We took some time to explain the game to the newcomers, then spent a while creeping and darting through the flora. 

With the “wiggles” wrung out (well, mostly), we circled up to examine the maps. Working in pairs, the boys determined our location and marked out our route back to meet the parents. A modest start to our focus for the Spring.

Speaking of focus, we struggled with that during our closing meeting. During this meeting, we do some housekeeping like collecting jobs, but the central activity involves giving thanks, a core tenet of Explorer’s Club. The Raccoon Kits took a little while to settle into this undertaking. Again, no malice intended; they simply have trouble sitting still at times. Perhaps next time it’ll help to start with the jokes! One of the defining characteristics of the group is that they love to tell jokes. You want focus? Tell jokes.

Louis and Clark have nothing to worry about with this group. Not yet, at least. We never moved from our “temporary” space. However, we did navigate a few non-territorial issues and some community building which were at least as important and more pertinent to the Raccoon Kits state of mind and body on this glorious March day. Click here for photos from our outing.

Next up - Teddy Bear Traverse on March 28. See you there.

Raccoon Kits Adventure In Sehome Arboretum

Wow, what a great outing. The stars seemed to align and bless us with a beautifully sunny day for the Raccoon Kits final outing of the 2014 Fall Season. After all the boys arrived, we kicked things off with a nice hike up the ridge into the Sehome Arboretum. With the earth skill focus for the fall season being shelter building, it was important for these boys to get one last shot at building a top notch debris hut. While traveling along the trail the boys made sure to keep an eye out for any promising shelter locations. This involved quite a bit of group decision making to ensure we found the perfect spot. On multiple occasions we had to circle up and figure out which way our explorations were going to take us. The difference between the beginning of the season and this outing was like night and day. Both mentors were thoroughly impressed at the Raccoon Kits ability to form a circle, take turns sharing where they wanted to go and why, taking a quick vote, and making sure everyone was satisfied with the decision that was made. There were even a few compromises that were bargained out amongst the boys, but it was all executed in an efficient and timely fashion (a far cry from our first outing this season!).

Soon enough we found ourselves meandering along a small game trail that led us right up to an amazing outcropping of large sandstone boulders jutting out of the hillside. The boulders had nice flat surfaces sloping downward and must have appeared an awful lot like slides to the boys because in a matter of seconds they had their packs off and were clamoring atop the boulders only to slide down and do it all over again. The boulders seemed like as good as any spot to set up base camp and begin scouting a nice location to construct a shelter. After a lengthy series of HIDE games and some perusing the vicinity, the boys came across the ideal shelter location. Putting all they’ve learned from previous outings to use, they found a flat area, tucked up under a young cedar tree and well away from any deciduous trees that might drop a limb or two on a blustery day. We fanned out looking for Y-Sticks and a solid Backbone to begin the framework of our shelter. Working together the boys discovered that many hands make light work. Before they knew it we had our Y-Sticks interlocked supporting the Backbone and a good amount of ribs to finish of the framework. But as the boys were out gathering materials, a familiar sound began permeating from the forest just down the trail. Yep, it was another group of explorers!

After greeting the other group and saying hello to a buddy here or there, we all decided it would be fun to play one big game of Spiders Web with both groups together. The boys quickly realized that Spiders Web with so many people can get tricky. There are quite a few intricacies to the rules that are easily overlooked with so many new faces around and friends to make laugh. Despite a couple disputes here or there, it was overall a successful game and much was learned. We debriefed some of the challenges we encountered while playing, and talked about playing with honor and finding motivation to challenge yourself to keep trying even if someone else may be stretching the rules to gain an advantage.

Alas, it was time for the other group to move on, and for the Raccoon Kits to put some finishing touches on their shelter. Luckily a couple fresh Douglas Fir bows fallen nearby in the days leading up to this outing and their soft needled branches offered plentiful materials for insulation. Each boy got a chance to get into the shelter and imagine what it would be like to sleep in it over night. But as our outing was drawing to an end, there was some important business to take care of.

With our last outing of the season almost over, it was important to take some time to reflect on all that had happened and begin anticipating our next season together. Each boy took a turn sharing their favorite part of the season, something that was especially challenging for them this season, and what they’re looking forward to most next season. Some fond memories resurfaced and the boys learned that they may get to begin learning the Art of Carving next spring. More stories were shared, apples were eaten, and it was time to head back down to the parking lot. A posse of parents awaited us, ready to shuttle the boys off, but instead all the boys decided they weren’t done playing and had to get some more dirt time in playing on the mulch mounds. It was great to see these boys so eager to play with one another even after being together for four hours straight. This season showed much promise for these Raccoon Kits. There was so much growth individually, and as a group, that we are all eagerly anticipating our next season together and all the adventures that await us in the future.

Raccoon Kits Take Shelter at Galby Lane

Wow, what a wonderful day! After the blustery and bleak week we had, the weather really cleared up for the Raccoon Kits third outing of the season. The stormy weather leading up to this outing did much more than rattle windows and fill up road side ditches; the storms provided us with ample debris for shelter building. Navigating through cars and mountain bikers, the parents managed to get their boys dropped off safely and escape the crowded parking lot. After all the boys arrived it was time to get away from the chaos and gravel, hit the trail, and escape into peacefulness of the woods.

We made our way down the trail as the boys charged forward intent on exploring the beautiful forest that surrounded us. It was clear the gang was back together and all the boys almost left the mentors in the dust as the plowed ahead. Nothing a little crow call can’t fix. With a couple caws the boys looked behind them and quickly came back to the location the mentors had picked out for the opening meeting.

It was great to see everyone back in circle together. There was an infectious excitability in this group that was a clear sign these boys are growing ever more comfortable with one another. Some of the boys wanted to jump right into games, but it was important to revisit what we had already learned about shelter building. After a quick chat to set intentions for the day, each boy found a space to build their very own mini-shelter, implementing the debris hut techniques they had learned from their first outing of the season. Sufficient Y-Sticks, back bones, ribs, and debris are much easier to find when you are building a shelter sized for a mouse rather than an explorer, much quicker to build too. The boys had a blast working on their own mini-shelters, putting personal touches on, and keeping up chatty conversations with their neighbors. Despite all the socialization that was taking place, each boy showed an impressive focus and drive to build their mini-shelter considering their squirrelly energy during opening circle. Alas it was time for each boy to share their shelters with the rest of the group. We took a quick tour of the neighborhood and explorer after explorer talked about their mini-shelter, some techniques they used, and how it would be applicable to our upcoming full scale shelter building contest.

After wrapping up our last mini- shelter, one boy hollered: “HIDE!” and in a flurry of leaves and branches the boys were tucked away, camouflaged by sticks and sword ferns. A few more rounds of H-I-D-E and it was clear these boys wanted to play before getting to work on shelters. We organized some high energy games of Hungry, Hungry Martin where the boys tapped into their inner squirrel, sneaking and scurrying their way past the hungry martin to the safety of their tree. A couple of rounds later and it was finally time for our shelter building competition.

The boys were split up into two groups, briefed on the judging criteria (structure, resources, location) and set off to the races. Shelters were slow to take form as the first step, finding a good location, took some time. The boys were observant of drainages, widow makers, canopy cover, resource availability, and many other factors when deciding on their location. Soon they were scouring the landscape for Y-Sticks and backbones to begin the foundations of their earth shelters. This was much more difficult than the boys were expecting, and took some trial and error to figure out what sticks would work and what wouldn’t. But soon enough both groups had their interlocking Y-Sticks supporting a backbone and were busy breaking sticks to size for the ribs. After they got their ribs on it was time for the debris. One group picked their location next to a large mossy area and began layering the moss onto their shelter, but about a quarter of the way through they ran out of sufficient moss. The other group went straight for the leaves. Luckily they had picked a location near, but not under, a Big Leaf Maple that supplied gracious plenty debris for the earth shelter. As time ticked away, the boys picked up the pace running around scooping up as much debris as they could. But before either group could finish the clock ran out and it was time for judging.

The first group to get reviewed had an excellent location, fairly sound structure, and a little less than a foot of debris covering their shelter. This was an impressive feat given the time constraints, but still not quite a quality debris shelter. The second group’s shelter was a bit larger and thus not nearly as complete. That being said they created a decent structure and had laid down a nice bed of leaves inside to help insulate them from the ground. However, they still had a ways to go on covering their structure with debris, and could have used some more ribs on their shelter.

In the end, both groups were unable to finish with a passing grade by the judges(aka the mentors). That being said, these boys showed tremendous teamwork and perseverance given the short time frame they had to work with. They have taken the next step in the Art of Shelter and have begun honing their skills be it searching for sufficient resources, picking out a shelter location, or certain construction techniques and intricacies that can only be learned through experience. The boys learned today that it is ok to fail because in failure there is growth and opportunity: growth from the experience and opportunity to improve for the future. In the end no one won the competition, but we all won the day. We had a tremendously fun day of play and shelter building that went by far too quickly for explorers and mentors alike.

Raccoon Kits help restore Connelly Creek

It is so very cool to see. These Raccoon Kits REALLY look forward to their time together. At our last outing, at Lake Padden, the mentor's planned opening game never happened because the boys were too interested in catching up with each other. This time, it was obvious right from the start as they welcomed fellow explorers with great positive energy, calling out their names as their cars pulled up. They carried that energy into our opening meeting, which addressed the important topics of proper tool use and safety.  The mentors emphasis can be captured in our Explorers Club motto "Safety first", through which the boys are trained to identify and mitigate potential hazards through risk assessments and safety checks. 

Contrary to how these service days usually happen, we were the only group working, promising a quieter afternoon.The task at hand - preparation of the Connelly Creek area for the planting of alder trees by giving the Reed Canary Grass a buzz cut and clipping back or uprooting blackberry bushes. Read more about Reed Canary Grass here - Non-native Invasive Freshwater Plants - Reed Canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) - Technical Information -  We're doing this service work under the guidance of the Bellingham Parks department and using tools on loan from the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association. Our thanks to them for their help. When the alders grow, they'll shade out the canary grass to restore a healthy, salmon-friendly environment. 

This is labor in the truest sense. When you're not leaning over clipping the grass, you're digging at those irascible blackberry roots. At times, there were 3 or 4 explorers wrestling with a particularly ornery root ball. Of course, there can be a sense of accomplishment when the root emerges in your muddy hands. The Raccoon Kits did great work, as the 3 or 4 sacks of blackberry vines and roots can attest. Four hours is a long time to clip and dig, clip and dig, however. Truth be known, there were a few periods of lost focus, and I'm not even counting the dead rat that was the subject of intense attention for several minutes. The distractions ranged from innocent horseplay to lapses of attention to the safety measures we had discussed earlier. We experienced no accidents, fortunately, but in Explorers Club, we strive for a higher standard than "no 911 emergency calls"! As the boys mature, they'll learn skills that require great self-discipline, skills like carving and fire-building. So we talked with the boys once again about "blood circles" and safe tool use. You won't be surprised to hear they responded like the leaders they're working to become. 

At Tim's urging, they renewed their focus - with a vengence. In fact, they did more than that, they meshed their efforts to form an awesome, well-oiled grass cutting, root extracting machine. It was exciting, it was productive, it was fun. Ok, the joke about the "sprinkles" falling from the sky being the kind you find on cupcakes won't find its way into the comedy hall of fame, but it got a laugh from the mentors! Many hands truly do make the work lighter, and more enjoyable.

The boys had worked hard; it was time for play. This day, the play came in the form of a raucous game of squirrel tag. It is truly awe-inspiring to see how hard they can run, how willing they are to dive on the ground to tag the "squirrel", how much energy they can keep in reserve after working for several hours. 

Our closing meeting, as usual, was about giving thanks (and eating apples). What was most inspirational about this outing's meeting was the multiple acknowledgements of fellow explorers amid apple crunches. It's another example of how close these boys are becoming as a group. Then, packs on. It was time to go back to meet the parents. One explorer was thrilled to see his out-of-state grandparents there to greet him. He excitedly showed them is "trophy", a gangly, mud-encrusted blackberry root ball.