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: Foundations of Service

What a great day to be outside! Under sunny skies and a warm southerly wind, Raccoon Kits met with Mentors atop the famous Sehome Arboretum to learn the Foundations of Service in Explorers Club. We welcomed Nick, who volunteered his afternoon with us, and together we tromped into the forest open to anything that arrived for us. 

Five minutes into our hike we were faced with a challenge-- which way should we go? Seemed like a great chance for Alden to take charge as the Tribal Elder and help the group facilitate a decision about going towards the road or taking “the trail to nowhere.” Why Alden? He was in the front of the group at the time!

Christian led the group as front scout and Avi settled into the back scout position. Sandwiched by responsible Explorers, we walked downward toward the deer sleeping areas. Because we had a hard time finding a big enough flat space to hold opening meeting, eventually we doubled back and came BACK towards the road to a place conducive for our meeting needs.

Boys were quick to volunteer themselves to have jobs for the day: Chase B and Elliot were the Knowledge Keepers, Mason and Chase N were our Earth Keepers, Gunnar was the Hunter Gatherer, Finnegan served as Medicine Man, and Rowan held the important paperwork as the TTTPP. Levi was being funny in his refusal to volunteer so he was dubbed the Court Jester for the day. He took the position seriously and made us all laugh on a couple of occasions! Please ask your Explorer about his job and what he did for the group.

Upon finding ourselves back at the cave, we saw that there was service to be done. Bigleaf Maples abounded with a lot of ivy growing up their sides. Raccoon Kits were quick to identify that ivy can crawl up trees, adding extra weight and even growing over the trees’ leaves. In order to help the trees grow, we had to kill the ivy.

This is an interesting concept to teach. What is an invasive species? What is a weed? What plants are “good” or “bad”? In Explorers Club, we have a hard time distinguishing good from bad. The example we shared was about Himalayan Blackberries. Considered an invasive species or a weed, boys were also quick to share they enjoyed eating the berries! With the good/bad line somewhat cloudy, we brought up another perspective to shine some light on the situation: Balance.

Mentors shared about balance in an ecosystem. Plants that we consider “invasive” may simply be out of balance. Though they grow fine in the Pacific Northwest, we also champion the original or native species. So, though our service, we work to restore the balance of the ecosystem so that the natives can flourish without being overwhelmed by the invasives. Balance is the aim, not destruction or killing of “bad” things. As such, the Irish Ivy, commonly mistaken as English Ivy, lost its hold on our Sehome deciduous population as Explorers learned how to remove it.

When we finished up our work, Nick shared with us a great autumn pastime: catching falling leaves! Boys took tumbles and dove for falling leaves and “helicopter seed pods” as the wind loosened their hold on the trees.

Then the most special thing happened. Matt shared his sit spot with us. We journeyed toward that sacred ground and Matt showed the Raccoon Kits where he has spent nearly four years studying the natural world. We all saw and climbed into the dry and cozy debris shelter where Matt has spent the night outside. Then we sat captivated, eating our snacks, as he shared a story about the raccoon family that came to visit him in the very spot we were sitting! Thank you Matt for getting to know this land and bringing the Raccoon Kits to share the space. It is a special opportunity that will inspire us all to respect the power of our sit spot.

We raced back uphill to have our closing meeting. With an Attitude of Gratitude, we gave thanks and shared apples together. Then we sleuthed our way back through the forest and through the final sandstone cave to meet our parents who welcomed us with open arms.

Explorers thank you for such respectful attitudes and strong service ethics you formed today. It was inspiring to see you working to restore balance to the Sehome Arboretum. Also, the way you explored, played, and listened at Matt’s sit spot was truly inspiring for us Mentors.

Parents, thank you for encouraging these Explorers in their nature connection journey. Your support of the Explorers Club is important and we appreciate it very much.

Please look at more pictures from this outing in the photo gallery. And make sure to have the boys bring enough warm clothes and rain gear (and maybe even a Thermos with warm drink or soup!) for the next outing at Whatcom Falls Park on November 2nd. Have a great month!