Art of Stealth and Supersense with the Branch Hoppers

Under blue skies and sun rays, the Branch Hoppers gathered together at Fairhaven to deepen their Stealth and Supersense skills. The day was a re-introduction to the Explorers’ home base and a reminder that we have many senses that can guide us in the forest.

We played a name game to remind everyone of one another’s names. Explorers greeted a new Explorer who came for his first outing. Welcome to the Branch Hoppers, Marley!

Our opening meeting was smooth and by the time we got into the forest, we had already played three rounds of Hide. That was a good introduction to the sense of sight as we camouflaged ourselves in various environments. Those who called the “H-word” sure had their work cut out for them as Branch Hoppers got cleverer with their hiding spot each round.

We trekked through the mud and practiced seeing with our feet. The fox walk is one way that we can enhance our strength in the forest; if we walk like the animals, then we will gain the power to blend into our environment and augment our stealth skills.

While exploring near the huge cedar tree, Dave began to tell us a story about some Bald Eagles he saw courting one another. He has walking backward to test our sense of sound when we heard screaming from above. At that moment, two Red-tailed Hawks were dancing around each other, making vocalizations of courtships also. How ironic!

Dave finished his story, but Explorers used their Deer Ears to listen carefully as he was walking away. Ask your Explorer how to make Deer Ears and see if he remembers how much more he could hear when making that easy hearing adaptation.

Our hike up a hill led us to a place where Matt showed Branch Hoppers some moss that was also adapting to the season. Like the birds, and various budding Indian Plum shrubs, these mosses showed sign that spring is indeed upon us. Explorers discovered orange tips and black crosses atop the moss sporophytes.

We trekked deep into the forest and Forest (the Explorer!) told us his water bottle was missing. We learned about pattern recognition and used Avery’s bottle to help us picture the image for what we should begin to search. A brief check back down the trail proved unsuccessful, so we let the bottle go while we participated in an activity called Meet a Tree.

Explorers took turns guiding a partner to a tree so we could practice the sense of touch. We combined seeing with our feet with the skills of remembering how the trees felt and smelled. Our goal was to be able to find the same tree without a blindfold to which we had been led by our buddy. Ask your Explorer how he fared during this activity!

Suddenly, two mountain bikers appeared asking if someone was missing a green water bottle! Sure enough, Forest’s bottle returned to him and we thanked the cyclists as they passed on their way.

Meanwhile Dave disappeared down the trail. Only later did Explorers realize that he took their snack with him! They followed the trail back to discover that Dave was sitting blindfolded with their apple slices in a bag in front of him. Two at a time, Branch Hoppers were challenged to practice their stealth by sneaking up and snatching apple without Dave pointing to them.

Finally we all sat down together for apples and a Circle of Thanks. We practiced our motto, Attitude of Gratitude and offered acknowledgements of thanks to the trees, each other, and for apple slices, among other things.

We thought the day was over but an organic cry took over the Branch Hoppers as we walked towards the parents. It started slowly but then took roaring proportions... "Muddy, muddy, muddy, muddy!" Mentors looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders knowing that there was little they could do to prevent Explorers from getting filthy right before going home!

Thank you Explorers for your feisty explorative attitudes and excitement for being outside. Parents, thank you too for your support and encouragement. We are truly grateful for this group of boys.

Please be prepared for next outing on April 13th at Arroyo Park; directions can be found on the website. Don’t forget to check out the photo gallery for other pictures too. See you soon!

Flingin’ Things with the Firestalkers in Fairhaven Park

When the Four Shielders gave feedback that they were interested in various ways and tools for hunting, Mentors rose to the call. Despite getting drenched during two rain showers, Shielders spent the afternoon immune to the wet as we tapped into our innate hunting capacity.

We called upon another mentor, Tim Flores, who does work through the Whatcom Folk School, to teach us the history and techniques that our human ancestors have used to hunt and thrive in the wilderness. Though Tim is locally famous for his bike move last year, his knowledgeable about primitive tools is even more impressive.

Shielders learned the history of things that we fling, from slings and rabbit sticks to boomerangs and Atlatls. We learned the differences among spears, darts, and arrows, and Tim showed us that replacing the tips is easier than the making an entirely new dart.

We discussed the designs of those instruments and how they might have been modified over time to fit the needs of hunters. This is particularly the case of the boomerang that must have been slowly carved more and more perfectly so that it might come back to the thrower. We even considered scientific ideas like Bernoulli’s principle that allows wings to work.

Shielders then set off into the field to practice their skills. We gathered stones and practiced using the sling. Three set off to use boomerangs… and then got promptly yelled at for nearly losing one in the trees! A couple of us honed our skills with rabbit sticks and the bolas. These skills came in handy as Steve suggested we play a game.

We took turns being the deer… while the others tried to hunt us! Talk about scary. A whole firing line of tennis balls and bolases being chucked at you while you run, dodge, duck, dive, turn and move across the open range. We didn’t use anything that would cause injury, but everyone had the chance to “feel” what hunted animals must feel while being in the line of fire. And we got to feel like hunters too, in using primitive tools (tennis balls) to secure our evening meal.

That game morphed into a deer herd and three hunters setting up to get them. Shielders and mentors explored herd mentality and how to avoid being killed. We also strategized about the best way to make a kill against a herd of animals. Again, choosing to learn by experience, some of us got wrapped up by the bolas, nailed with tennis balls, or chased down by hunger-driven hunters.

This particular Mentor remembers seeing Kyler’s eyes focused directly on me as a bolas came whizzing at my face. I ducked in the nick of time but my fellow herdsmate, Marcus, was taken out and we lost a member of the herd.

We were asked not to use the Atlatls in the park, so we discussed their mechanics and how they are an extension of the other tools that we practiced using. The handle is notched so it can fling darts that have Y’s or holes on the end. And, as Tim shared, if we had been aiming at real animals and missed with our dart, we could use our handle as a rabbit stick if needed, to be efficient and successful in a hunt.

We ended our day with a Circle of Thanks and Tim gifted everyone the beginnings of an Atlatl handle. We are also looking forward to our role as the leaders and designers of the new Boys Explorers’ Club service area in Connelly Creek. Please check the website for directions to Happy Valley Park for that outing on April 20th.

In the spirit of thanks, we’d like to thank you again, Tim, for your positive mentorship and sharing the skills you have honed over the years. You made for a truly unforgettable outing.  Shielders, thank you for leading the charge by sharing your interests with us and then participating fully during this outing. Parents, thank you for your support and encouragement.

Don’t forget to:

(1)    Check out the photo gallery for more pictures

(2)    Sign up for spring Explorers Mentoring Apprentice opportunities

(3)    Register for Ozette this summer!

Vespula Veterans’ Night Outing in Arroyo Park

The wily Explorers’ Club veterans met together in the afternoon at Arroyo Park to experience the dusk and early evening hours together. As the light faded throughout this outing, Mentors were hard-pressed to take pictures so there aren’t any to show! Also, it was important to keep our eyes protected from light and the flash from the camera would have hurt our night vision.

A couple of Explorers met at the upper parking area so they showed up a smidge after the majority of boys. This was the perfect setup as boys hid in the forest to make themselves invisible. After a surprise ambush of a hello, the group was together and we headed out for our evening excursion. We considered the motto for the evening, The Only Way Out is Through. There is no other way to learn about the dark than by experiencing it!

Through the woods and over the creek and up the hill we went. We had our opening meeting at the intersection of two trails. As Explorers ate, we considered our fears and wrote them onto pieces of paper. We then burned them all together; this activity was designed to acknowledge and release our fears from holding us back as opposed to a way of discarding them and saying they don’t matter. As such, our confidence grew as the dusk enveloped the forest.

Vespula Veterans prepared for the change in light by discussion eye cells: rods and cones. We recalled that colors would fade into greyscale and we considered red by focusing on Adrian’s beanie and Nate’s scarf as beacons to check throughout the night. We hiked to a huge glacial erratic (boulder) and Explorers climbed every square inch of it! While there, Matt told us a story of hiking in the dark that prepared us for the challenge to come.

Steve and Dave set up a group walk in the dark, followed by an evening sit spot. With mentors at either end of the line, Explorers were spaced apart for some solo time in the near-pitch-black forest. Though boys had varying thoughts and experiences during the sit, it is clear that everyone passed through an important rite of passage.

We all were stretched to the edges of our comfort zone and grew as a result of the challenge. Congratulations everyone for such dedicated effort! Parents, please ask your Explorer to share about his challenges and strengths that night.

Following the solo time, we had a group bonding opportunity. We walked like shrews to our gathering point. Instead of biting the tail of the shrew in front of us while tunneling underground, we held onto the shoulder of the person in front while Mentors guided us above ground. The rendezvous point was the huge Douglas Fir tree with the smiley face at the base… and we found it precisely despite being in the dark!

With an electric lantern we took turns debriefing our story and listening to others. We also practiced the motto, Attitude of Gratitude, by incorporating a Circle of Thanks into the debrief.

The last activity, called Fire Stalk, was a way for us to celebrate the power of light and dark. Explorers practiced night vision, communication skills, and stealth movements while creeping around the forest. Please ask your Explorer more about this night stalking!

As we ended the outing, Dave brought out some “mouth fire rocks.” We took turns chomping on them so other Explorers could see the fire sparks with each bite. It was a winter-minty end to a cold spring night.

Explorers, thank you for such devotion to make this night outing an opportunity for growth. Parents, thank you for your support and encouragement. We’d remind you to look at the photo gallery, but there were no night pictures! But please do check out the website for information regarding the next outing on March 30th at Fairhaven Park.

Girls EC Fifth Annual Baker Lodge Weekend

What a wonderful, cacophonous, exhilarating, connected, fun, exhausting weekend we shared at the fifth annual Baker Lodge experience!

This experience has grown in number since it began, and we had a full-to-capacity lodge this year. We knew that would up the ante in terms of everyone's group dynamic tolerance, but also in connection. We are pleased to say we witnessed much more in the way of meaningful connections than challenging chaos; it was very gratifying to see parents and kids and staff of all ages working and playing and mentoring together. How fortunate we all are to share these experiences! 

More photos can be found by scrolling down to the first slideshow here. You'll see older girls mentoring younger ones, snow cave construction, parents enjoying the swirl of activity, sunshine sledding, and a whole lot of great experience packed into three days!

Art of Stealth and Supersense with Grey Fox Kits in Fairhaven Park

Grey Fox Kits were acting more like squirrels when they got together at Fairhaven Park to work on the Arts of Stealth and Supersense. The theme of this outing was to re-instill in Explorers their innate knowledge to thrive while outside that they practiced last fall. By honing their senses, boys will be confident and comfortable outdoors.

Though nearly everyone returned this season, we started the day with a name game to refresh everyone’s awareness of group members. We also had the chance to meet Rowan, a newcomer this season, who participated actively throughout the day. Welcome to the Grey Fox Kits, Rowan!

It didn’t take long for Explorers to remember the rules of their favorite game, Hide. We dove into the grasses, hid behind towering Douglas Fir, and blended in with the forest many times during the day when Grey Fox Kits yelled out the “H-word” and began to count to 30.

The skill of the day was harnessing and practicing sensory awareness. Though we humans use our eyes as a dominant sense, this outing was a reminder to Explorers that we have other senses that we should use. If we can use them all together successfully we may be able to acquire supersense and the feeling of prediction and natural awareness.

We practiced using soft, fox feet. By closing our eyes and sending our vision to the bottoms of our feet, we learned to “see” with our feet. Grey Fox Kits made slow deliberate steps to negotiate difficult and sticky terrain. Matt made a deep mud hole and the boys took turns getting stuck in said quagmire. They found pleasure in pulling their feet out of the boots and then working together to free their friends’ shoes. Good teamwork, guys! Remember the motto, Many Hands Make Light Work!

These skills immediately overlapped into the next activity as we met a tree. Blindfolded, we were led by a fellow Explorer from the group meeting place to a nearby tree. With only 30 seconds, we got to know the tree very well using senses of touch and feel. Cooper’s tree even reminded him of “gummy worms!” The boys’ next challenge was to find their exact tree without the blindfold remembering what their feet and other senses knew of the journey.

We hiked further into the 100 Aker Woods and explored leadership along the way. Boys had to practice the Explorers’ Club motto, Collaborate and Compromise, as they decided which forks in the road to take. This Explorer is particularly impressed with the poise and calmness that Grey Fox Kits showed during group decision-making processes.

Dave set up a short activity during which Explorers used their “bear noses” to smell different substances. Please ask your Explorer what he can do to make his nose work better than normal.

Then we realized that Steve was down the trail with our snack. So we walked slowly and quietly back only to discover that Steve had set up a snack stalk for us! We had to sneak into the snack circle and snatch an apple slice without him hearing us. Explorers practiced the art of stealthiness and eventually we all sat down together for Closing Meeting and Circle of Thanks.

Thank you Explorers for such a great start to the season. Your effort and energy was noticeably focused and dedicated to becoming well-rounded Explorers! Parents, thank you for supporting your boy in his role as a life-long Explorer. Please look at the photo gallery for more pictures of the Grey Fox Kits and we look forward to seeing you at the next outing on April 7th, just around the corner, at Arroyo Park!