Cleator Rd closed? No prob. - the Cave Dwellers explore Clayton Beach instead! 5/22/16

We began blindfolded and finished up as the incoming tide threatened to soak our circle of thanks. Sure, we didn't get to go to the Rock Trail, but the Cave Dwellers didn't let that stop their fun. Spider's Web, a serious discussion of vandalism, beach exploration, carving practice and games - check out our packed 5/22/16 Clayton Beach outing!

It's true. We blindfolded your Explorers when we sent them out on a sit spot to begin our Clayton Beach outing last Sunday. When you remove sight, hearing is often heightened. And since we wanted to focus on bird language, we decided blindfolds would help the boys listen for the five voices of birds - song, companion calling, aggression, juvenile begging, and alarm. We followed that quiet moment with a game of Spider's Web.

Before heading off to the beach, we talked about the recently tagged graffiti on the beach rocks. The boys were quick to pick up on positive activism as a healthy way to deal with this sorrowful situation. Know that several of the boys would like to volunteer with a cleanup crew, should one materialize (Turn Problems into Possibilities - Mottos). 

The Cave Dwellers were eager to carve. Mentor Tim demonstrated safe knife use and even showed a few techniques to save time and improve the finished product. Our motto for this is Safety First. Click here to review our safe carving video.

Wiggly creature - click to watch 

The tide was low when we arrived, making for nice beach combing. EMA Jordan led an exploration of sea life such as this Sand Dollar...(I'm pretty sure that's his hand!). Motto - Lose Your Mind and Come to Your Senses.

Blindfolded again! This time one Explorer sits surrounded by rivals intent on stealing his treasure (Sand Dollar) while he has to detect their creeping approach using only his power of hearing. This game rewards stealth and focused listening.

It wouldn't be a Clayton Beach outing without some serious rock scrambling. Our earlier discussion of the graffiti seemed to cushion the shock factor for most of the boys. 

Poof! There goes Spring! The mentors perceive a growing affiliation within the Cave Dwellers, providing a foundation for increasing self-reliance and nature connection through fun, engaging outdoor activities. That is certainly our hope and objective. 

We look forward to seeing you in the Fall (and, perhaps, over the Summer). Click here for the rest of the photos from our outing. 

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 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.