Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Storm Wolves Traverse from Larrabee to Clayton


On a gorgeous, sunny, summer-esque day the Storm Wolves arrived at Larrabee State Park. We would be traversing southward toward Clayton Beach. After a quick opening meeting we hit the trail and were immediately rewarded with a multitude of Salmon Berry to munch on and a small fuzzy creature on the ground. Investigating further we found a small rodent, perhaps a baby mouse that appeared to be dead. Upon further inspection it was clearly breathing. As its awareness grew to our presence it stirred and slowly walked off to take shelter under a rock. Despite how adorable this creature was, it was a reminder in tracking and the importance of taking context and applying it to the situation. Clearly it is not natural behavior for this mouse to be sleeping out in the open, moving slowly, looking sleepy at 10:00AM on a sunny day. We concluded that it was likely sick or injured and probably not safe for us to get too close to or touch.


Moving on we got further into the woods, just far enough to play a game of HIDE! This game always gets Explorers immersed in their environment and scanning their landscape for nooks and crannies to hide in, ferns to peak through. With our mindset adjusted to moving through the forest we set off towards Clayton Beach. Along the trail we were able to gaze out at the San Juans and even see the snowy peaks of the Olympic Mountains all the way out on the peninsula. We truly live in a stunningly gorgeous place and although the boys may not have fully appreciated this at the time, it was a treat for the mentors to see this magnificent view as the backdrop to our outing.


Further along the trail we arrived at a wonderful ravine full of sword ferns, a bubbling brook, and even a few small waterfall. This ravine is a classic Explorers location and always ripe for exploration. The boys were immediately lost in scurrying up and down the creek, climbing around the waterfalls, and playing in the creek. This evolved into free play where the Storm Wolves got lost in imagination and groups of boys snuck around spying on other groups, one boy switching teams to become an undercover agent, only to truly join the second group and become a double agent. Soon everyone was spying on this group or that and no one knew who was who. Time for Spiders Web.

Eating some lunch the Storm Wolves were called upon to harness their focus and set the game up on their own. With a few gentle nudges from the mentors the boys were able to pull it together, pick a web and food source, decide who would be the spider, and get the game going. The expansive landscape and varied terrain made for the perfect location for Spiders Web. The game went on and on, slowly but surely the flies maneuvered the food source back to the web for a controversial finish. Luckily the spider today was very mature and let the flies revel in their victory despite a bit of stretching the rules to win.

Packing up we trekked down to the beach. At Clayton Beach it is impossible not to get lost in the expansive sandstone and scurry up and down the rock faces. The Storm Wolves looked completely in their element and their nimbleness and agility was impressive. Although we could have spent all day clambering on the rocks, the outing was coming to a close. We had just enough time for a sit spot at this beautiful location gazing out upon Bellingham Bay and the San Juan Islands. Afterwards the boys returned for a closing circle.

We set aside extra time for our closing circle because we had a lot to talk about. Not only did we want to reflect on our season and all we did, but we also were going to think about where we wanted to go in the fall and what skill we wanted to focus on. After going around and each boy shared a bit, we transitioned to some other news. Peter took a moment to share with the Storm Wolves that this would be his last season as a mentor. 

The boys weren’t really sure how to handle this news and were a little bummed out that Peter would not be back next season. Peter explained that he has had such an amazing time working for Boys Explorers Club and getting to explore with all the groups he worked with. It has truly been a blessing and a big part of his life that he cherishes and holds close to his heart. The Storm Wolves in particular have been a big part of this experience and feel especially important to him with all the experiences we’ve shared over the years and all the wind and rain we’ve weathered together. Peter hopes to come back from time to time as a volunteer or substitute mentor so perhaps this won’t be the end of the road, but at least in his official capacity as a mentor, this is the final season.   

As with all things in nature there are seasons that come and go, life and death constantly spiraling in perfect balance. There are so many great memories and experiences to look back on that I think we all will appreciate everything Peter has brought to this organization and this group in particular and thank him for his time and dedication to being the best mentor he can be. We have so many fond memories that we can all look back on our times together and smile for what was while we transition to all the possibilities for new memories and experiences in the future. 
All in all this was an awesome season with so much to look back and remember. This was the year that the Grey Fox Kits became the Storm Wolves and stepped into their new name with purpose, intention, and a maturity that proved they were worthy of such a powerful name. This group continues to be incredibly strong, resilient, and compassionate towards one another. Each outing is full of fun and excitement and leaves everyone looking forward to what is in store for this fall.

Make sure to check out the rest of the photos here!

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