Cave Dweller do some real wilderness travel along Smith Creek

Expect the unexpected! directs one of our Explorers Club mottos. The Cave Dwellers are certainly living that axiom recently. You might remember that our early November Chuckanut Ridge traverse was relocated to N. Chuckanut due to snow. Our day’s plan was then derailed by the Chuckanut Trail Marathon! Well, a week ago Sunday the Cave Dwellers had a smaller than expected turnout, encountered the Short Tailed Weasels (a slightly younger EC group) and learned last minute of an exciting new exploration easily accessed from the trailhead. 

We’re working this fall on wilderness travel with a focus on locating and purifying water, building tarp shelters, using backcountry stoves and the like. As it happens, one of the important learnings is the resourcefulness needed when things sometimes go sideways. We didn’t erect the tarp shelter at Stewart Mountain as planned, but we did once again practice adapting to the situation while staying safe and capitalizing of the wondrous possibilities nature has to offer.

The combined group first worked hard at the 4 C’s of group decision making - Circle/Collaborate/Compromise/Consensus (motto - collaborate and compromise). In this case, they chose to combine groups for an epic game of Spider’s Web, then part ways to pursue our respective plans for the day. For the Cave Dwellers, this meant exploring Smith Creek (runs under the bridge you cross just before you reach the N. Lake Whatcom trailhead) in search of, what else, a cool cave. One of the Short-Tailed Weasels’ mentors had taken a group up along the creek and discovered just such a site. Given the Cave Dwellers’ name and shared cave exploration experience, we couldn’t resist! This option also presented unknown and unplanned wilderness exploration potential (motto - stretch your edge). 

It wouldn’t be much of a stretch if there was a well-traveled trail to follow. Not to worry - much of what turned out to be a real short hike involved hopping from rock to rock amid white water. There was also some bushwhacking creekside. After a bit, we found a nice shelf about six feet above the creek for our base camp with a tantalizing view across the creek of what we suspect was our objective. Too much water, though. Exploration of that cave will have to await a future outing.

While several of us rested, Mentor Tim and a few Explorers searched for a return route that didn’t involve the real chance of falling into a cold, rushing creek. But no such luck. We’d need to return the way we came. So, we set up a few backcountry stoves and prepared hot chocolate with mini-marshmallows. This simple snack substituted for apples as our shared “meal” over which we gave thanks, as is our practice. 

As I imagine your realize, consistent groups and mentors is a constant goal of our program. We try to create the environment for groups to grow into a cohort of friends with a shared ethic of connection to nature. The Cave Dwellers seem to be well on their way to this sacred place. Tim and I are excited about the comradeship and maturity we see in this group. Great things are in the offing!

Next up: Saturday, January 6, 10:00AM-3:00PM EXPLORATION: North Lake Samish. Check out the rest of the photos from Sunday’s outing here.

BEC Raccoon Kits Explore Lake Padden to Celebrate Armistice Day

On Armistice Day, or Veterans Day, the Raccoon Kits met together at Lake Padden Park to explore the forest around the lake. This day is celebrated all across the world to honor those who have died in war, specifically World War I. In the US, we honor all veterans and military personnel on this day, and reserve honoring those who died in battle for Memorial Day. That said, we took a moment of silence at 11 o’clock which was truly a connection to those across the world who offered some silence as well. Indeed All Things Are Connected, just as our EC motto teaches.

Nick joined us for the third time as a volunteer and he has really made a role for himself within this group and our mentoring community. Thanks for spending another day with us Nick! We all appreciate that you’ve volunteered for us nearly the entire season.

These Raccoon Kits are really taking to the Explorers Club culture. They volunteered for jobs and we discussed the importance of the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month and planned the moment of silence for later in the outing. Boys took off after Nick once again, as he transformed into a deer. And we all met at a trail junction.

This is when the group got into important decision-making skills and learned about the EC motto, Collaborate and Compromise. We took turns voting and expressing the ways we wanted to travel. Though nearly everyone wanted to go one way, it was important to listen to the one boy who wanted to go another way. In protecting everyone’s voice and giving dissenters a chance to speak, we grow as a group. In fact, the boys decided to heed this boy’s want and we planned to come back to the other trail later in the day- which we did. Great job, Raccoon Kits!

As we climbed, we came to another trail junction. Boys began to argue at this point and some even raised their voices. This is all normal and healthy and a natural part of the group process for folks to “storm” while they begin to learn to function together. In this storming edge is when we learn and grow the most.

At this moment, however, the clock struck eleven. So boys had to put aside their differences and respect two minutes of silence together. Let It Be Known (another EC motto!) that we can always pause our arguing with others to mutually agree on peace, even for two minutes. This was a very powerful experience for this mentor and I hope that we can refer to it when boys have future, inevitable differences in opinion.

When this energy subsided the play began in earnest and we ate lunch together. Boys really got into the game Hungry, Hungry Marten and we played many rounds, in different terrain, and with varying rules too. The most important opportunity was to recognize that we can play games andminimize our impacts on the land. Ask your Explorer which plant we were supposed to protect. Even though it was ten days ago, perhaps he’ll remember. :)

Then we tried to stealthily steal Matt’s hat while he sat a distance away and called us out. It was fun to move slowly in the sword fern and stay camouflaged. Some of us found different fungi that we shared with others too!

Our day then turned back to the trail we had promised to explore. Our search for another Explorers Club group failed, but we found a comfortable grove which had once been home to old growth cedars. Boys climbed atop the remnants of these sentinels and their curiosity led them to building forts. Perfect because our earth skill for next fall will be shelter-building, Raccoon Kits!

Following the motto, Attitude of Gratitude, we ended our day with closing meeting and a Circle of Thanks. In the same vein:

Raccoon Kits, thank you for a great first full season together! It has been fun to spend time with you outdoors. You have explored the land and been good earth stewards also. You have connected to various trees and plants and braved the wet and cold to do it! We look forward to seeing you next season.

Parents, thank you for your support of these boys and this program. We appreciate getting to work with your boys and look forward to deepening our relationships with you and your families. Thanks for sending your boys out in the cold and wet to learn the lessons the land has to teach!

Please see more pictures in the photo gallery. We hope to see you at theWinter Solstice Gathering on December 14. Have a peaceful winter!