BEC: Cave Dwellers traverse Padden and Connelly creeks 9/17/16

Each spring and fall, the Boys Explorers Club groups meet at the Connelly Creek service site to work to restore a section of Happy Valley Park that was used as a garbage dump for a time and that was (and, to an extent, still is) overrun by invasive, non-native plants. This abuse of the land degrades the creek that runs alongside the park, so we've been working for several years to remove Himalayan Blackberry and beat back the Reed Canary Grass that has crowded out the healthy flora along the creek. It's good work, as is obvious when you look at before and after pictures. There's more to be done, but we're making steady progress (motto: slow is fast and fast is slow).

This comes to mind because for our outing last Saturday we traversed Padden Creek from Bellingham Bay to the Connelly Creek service site (Connelly Creek feeds into Padden Creek). We mimicked the salmon that formerly traveled up the creek in greater numbers than do today, and that we hope will find their way back again in greater numbers in the not-to-distant future. Along the way, we spent time examining and discussing the daylighting project completed last year by the City of Bellingham to replace the section of the creek that had been diverted into a tunnel many years ago with an open air stream bed that will be a big part of restoring the salmon run. We thought about how our work and the city's project are complementary projects, and indeed how all things are connected (motto). When the salmon figure out they have their stream back, they'll swim up to the newly restored section of Connelly Creek! How great is that? 

We began at the beginning by checking out the estuary where Padden Creek empties into Bellingham Bay. Estuaries are critical ecosystems in which life thrives as in no other habitat. The brackish water where fresh and salt water meet and mix teems with life. For salmon, it is the place where they spend time adjusting to and from salt water, a process called smoltification.

Just like that, fall made an appearance for our outing. As we gathered, the wind gusted and it rained heavily. We were wet throughout the morning, but caught a break when the afternoon proved drier if not sunny.

Padden Creek runs through Fairhaven Park, where we took a break from our focus on its importance for the salmon to explore a little.

Oh yeah. We also played games in the park. Luckily, the rain eased enough for us to shed a layer or two.

The park shelter provided a dry spot for lunch. Several boys were unable to join us for this outing, but finding a lunch buddy was still a piece of cake...or a cheese stick, I guess.

The floor in the shelter was just slick enough for an impromptu game of drag the mentor....

New to me was the labyrinth not far from the shelter. The boys examined the star at its center and followed its maze-like pattern. A hidden gem in Fairhaven Park! 

While examining the city's daylighting project, we realized that just behind the creek was the Bellingham Co-housing community, so we talked a bit about responsible resource use and the role of an approach such as co-housing, or car sharing and the like might play in decreasing a person's impact on the land.






We finished our hike at the Connelly Creek service site where the boys were relieved to hear we weren't going to haul bark and dig out blackberry roots! Here's hoping they also were impressed by the complementary projects designed to improve the salmon run.

We took more pictures, of course. Enjoy! We next meet on Saturday, October 15th, from 10:00 'til 3:00. We'll be exploring the Rock Trail, which you'll get to via Cleator Road. This will be a significant outing for the Cave Dwellers, as a highlight of the hike is the caves in the side of the rocks to be examined. If memory serves, six explorers in a cave is the record. Outing details here.

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!

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

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.

Raccoon Kits meet the Red Tailed Eyas and serve Connelly Creek

A little rainy, a little cloudy, a little grey with the hope of clearing. Our service site at Connelly Creek in Happy Valley Park is similar; seeming cloudy and almost ominous because there is so much work to do but at the end of the day we are left with the light that we have made good progress and that our work will one day be finished.

Raccoon Kits met on Saturday to do service work for their first time ever at the Boys EC adopt-a-stream site. The Connelly Creek site in Happy Valley Park is part of a partnership with the City of Bellingham Parks and Rec Department. We’d like to thank Rae and Ellen for their hard work guiding us and providing us with mulch, plants, and debris removal. Another important partner is the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) that provides us with many tools and guidance as well. Thanks Phoebe for helping to coordinate our project days. It’s nice to have a community of groups and people who support our commitment to serving the land!

Little were the Raccoon Kits aware of the group of Red Tailed Eyas that awaited their arrival. The RTE had been hiding in the shrubs and grasses for 30 minutes, blending into the surroundings and giving the younger Kits a chance to harness their awareness skills. The older Eyas showed an exemplary character as they mentored the younger Explorers not only in how to do service work but in how to be a part of the land.

We ate lunch while mentors demonstrated how NOT to use tools. It’s a good thing they were joking otherwise they might be a few fingers and teeth short. Then we reviewed how to safely use the tools and we got to work.

Explorers learned the tasks for the day: trim reed cannarygrass, dig blackberry roots, and lop away blackberry stems, cut them up, and remove non-grass debris. We also took to spreading mulch and working in teams to carry heavy loads. After all, Many Hands Make Light Work. We planted willow sections that we found in the area and made mulch rings to prevent other species from growing in their immediate vicinities. Boys of all ages showed distinct focus and commitment to the projects in which they were involved. Everyone’s focus (from ages 7 to 10 to 37) was unwavering during our time on the land. That was the second most impressive thing on Saturday.

The first most impressive thing was the cross-group and multi-aged collaboration. This Explorer stopped for a second to relish in the work being done and the process of cooperation that he knows all of these boys have inside their hearts. It brings tears of joy to my eyes as I remember hearing, “1, 2, 3, Lift; 1, 2, 3, Lift; 1, 2, 3 Lift” repeated by mixed groups of Raccoon Kits, Red Tailed Eyas and mentors in unison.

This is why we scheduled the days staggered and with different groups. These boys stepped into the space with open and willing hearts with caring attitudes while serving the land. They asked nothing in return and received the satisfaction of teamwork and a job well-done.

These pictures and the photo gallery will tell the rest of this story but the best thing to do would be to revisit the area with your Explorer so he can guide you along the work that he did. The sooner you get out there, the more prominent the changes will be when you return next time. With 10 groups visiting this season, we have made quite an impact already.

Thanks for your great work, Raccoon Kits!!! You continued the strong precedence for other groups who will be serving this season. Parents, thank you for supporting these Explorers and for giving them the chance to serve the land with us.

Next outing will be the last one of the season, June 7th, to learn about the Art of Water. We’ll see you at Arroyo Park at noon unless our paths cross in town before then!

The Red-Tailed Eyas Service Outing at Connelly Creek with the Raccoon Kits

The Red-Tailed Eyas met at the Connelly Creek Site last Saturday to continue building their relationship through service with the land. The Boys Explorers Club would like to take a moment to thank the City of Bellingham Parks and Rec Department and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) for providing mulch, plants, debris removal, and tools. Without the support and guidance from the volunteer coordinators Rae, Phoebe, and Ellen our transformative work would not be possible.

As the Explorers gathered dark and ominous rain clouds loomed over our heads. The Red-Tailed Eyas were not daunted however, this well-seasoned bunch has weathered their fair share of storms and standing there they looked very prepared and collected. Meandering over to our service site we circled up to talk about the day. Mentors explained that the group would be working with another group, the Raccoon Kits, who would be arriving in a half an hour. For the Raccoon Kits it would be their first time ever at the Connelly Creek Site. These younger boys would be looking to them for guidance and support. The group committed to modeling their interpretation of what it meant to be in good relationship with the land and what it meant to be a Mentor.

The Red-Tailed Eyas first task as elder Explorers was to remind the Raccoon Kits of the principals of the Art of Camouflage. Hearing the laughter and splashes across the creek the Eyas crawled through the dense vegetation and tucked themselves away.

As the group spread out over the site they crouched close to the muddy soil and became quiet. Sitting still the boys noticed the young Explorers were not the only ones moving about. Rufus Hummingbirds buzzed around the Black Twinberry and Spotted Towhee called out their songs of spring. The group sat for about thirty minutes in silence with a keen awareness of their surroundings.

Then from their hiding spots they saw the first of the Raccoon Kits arrive. The Raccoon Kits slowly searched the site with their best Owl Eyes but they did not find very many of them. Once all the boys were to the site Greg and Matt gave a Crow Call and the Red-Tailed Eyas emerged from the underbrush. The Raccoon Kits and Mentors laughed because some of the Explorers they missed were very close to the trail.

After gathering our lunches the group merged into one large circle and we went around and shared our names. As we snacked the Mentors demonstrated how NOT to use tools. It’s a good thing they were joking otherwise they might be a few fingers and teeth short heading back home! Then we reviewed how to safely use the tools and we got to work.

The older Eyas showed exemplary character and leadership as they guided the younger Explorers in the tasks for the day. One group of boys set out trimming Reed Canary Grass, while others dug Blackberry roots, lopped Blackberry stems, cut them up, and removed non-grass debris. Boys of all ages showed distinct focus and commitment to the projects in which they were involved. Mentors were humbled to see the cross-group and multi-aged collaboration. One Explorer stopped for a second to relish in the work being done and the process of cooperation that he knows all of these boys have inside their hearts.

Sawing off a broken Willow branch the group harvested its canes. Planting the willow sections into the freshly tilled soil teams worked to spread three-foot mulch rings around their bases. Saturday was a shining example of our motto,Many Hands Make Light Work.

After some solid service the group put down their tools, bid the Raccoon Kits farewell, and grabbed their packs. Sitting in the grass we shared apples and gave thanks for the day. The boys gave thanks for all the tools that helped us do our work, for the opportunity to collaborate with the Raccoon Kits, for all the animals that moved through the site, and for the opportunity to be together.

These boys stepped into the space with open and willing hearts and with caring attitudes while serving the land. They asked nothing in return and received the satisfaction of teamwork and a job well done. Thanks for your great work Red-Tailed Eyas. Parents, thank you for supporting these Explorers and for giving them the chance to serve the land with us.

These pictures and the photo gallery will tell the rest of this story, but the best thing to do would be to revisit the area with your Explorer so he can guide you along the work that he did. The sooner you get out there, the more prominent the changes will br. With 10 groups visiting this season, we have made quite an impact already. The next outing will be the last one of the season; The Art and Skill of Fire on June 1^st at North Galbraith Mountain Trailhead.

Raccoon Kits follow the Salmon Home!

In preparation for their first chance to serve at the official Boys Explorers Club service Site, the Raccoon Kits had to learn the context for and history of Connelly Creek. We would have preferred to swim like salmon, but spring waters are too fast and it’s still a bit too cold outside for that kind of adventure. Plus we might still be swimming if we had tried that approach :)

Only eight Kits made it to the outing with a broken foot preventing one Explorer from joining the outing. We look forward to when the whole group comes together again. The good news, however, was that Brian served as a mentor for the day. He stepped in as a lead mentor and did a great job of encouraging and wrangling the boys as we traversed Padden and Connelly Creeks. Thanks for the great work, Brian!

Starting at the ocean, our goal was to follow Padden Creek until it split with Connelly Creek. To do so we met at Marine Park and then crossed the railroad tracks. Ask your explorer how many cars he counted in the coal train that went by as we watched. Our windy path led us to the Great Blue Heron rookery next to the water treatment facility. Atop of skinny alders sat no less than fifteen herons in various stages of courtship, mating, and nest sitting!

We bridged the hill behind the facility and had a great lunch break. Explorers counted cars of another distant train and then we gathered our belongings to find the waterways. Following the interurban trail we walked up creek and played hundreds of games of Hide. OK, maybe not that many, but we sure had many chances to camouflage ourselves in various ecosystems.

This was a long outing and the Raccoon Kits ventured forth with no complaints. At one point they pretended to be old men and used walking sticks as canes. We trekked to the entrance to Fairhaven Park and took a rest by the creek. Its soothing song made for yet another nice rest spot. Like the salmon, we valiantly fought upstream for a while and then found our eddy in which to rest before continuing our journey. We learned about a medicine tree by finding its branches on the ground. Please ask your Explorer if he remembers the color of the sap or the smell. Maybe he can tell you the story about why to avoid getting the sap on your neck!

Hike, break, group cheers, repeat. This traverse was definitely a practice in persistence and pacing. Eventually we crossed Old Fairhaven Parkway and mentors had sighs of relief. Then it was a matter of finding the best way to follow the creek. We had a chance to explore the meanings of “No Trespassing” and “Do not enter.” Explorers spoke their truths and did not want to go places where they might be breaking the rules. They are aware of doing the right thing. As such, we chose routes that helped us avoid being somewhere we weren’t supposed to be.

In a young forest thicket we followed the creek and found the confluence of Padden and Connelly creeks. We were almost home! One last challenge faced us however. We had to cross the creek in order to take a more well-worn path toward the site. One-by-one, safely, and confidentially, boys learned the dynamics of using their bodies (with packs on) to duck and climb over branches. All the while, the creek never stopped flowing!

We journeyed through the rest of the forest and made it to Happy Valley Park with 30 minutes left to relax, hold closing meeting, and explore the service site. Dave’s alter-ego, the Dragon, appeared when boys were not communicating safely, as he quickly and loudly explained that we need to use tools appropriately. Sticks are a tool that we can use to help us ford rivers, not to be projectiles at our cohort mates. Boys will learn these mottoes in the upcoming seasons, but for now, it’s important to teach them: A Tool is an Extension of the Body, and The Difference Between a Tool and a Weapon is You.

Boys recognized there is a lot of blackberry to uproot and they will be more familiar with the land when they return for service in a couple of months. With a connection to the salmon’s migration route, hopefully they will feel the sense of importance of restoring the salmon habitat to make it homier for the fish after their journey up creek!

Please check out more pictures in thephoto gallery. We’ll see you all next outing at Clayton Beach parking area for an exploration on April 13th. FYI- last April 13th we cancelled an outing due to snow; let’s hope for warmer weather this year!