Grey Fox Kits Explore the Art of Harvest at Galby Lane

The Grey Fox Kits arrived at Galby Lane and quickly circled up by the trailhead. The boys were excited to see that three returning Mentors would be joining them. On behalf of the Boys EC we’d like to thank Adnan for his caring heart, spirit for exploration, and ability to step outside his comfort zone and Stretch his Edges. Throughout his internship Adnan set a strong example for the boys by providing them thoughtful Mentoring while also offering them a window into a new culture of people, explorers, and a community halfway around the world. We also thank Tim and Soren for their long-term commitment to the Grey Fox Kits and to community building.

As we chatted the Mentors took the opportunity to tell the Explorers that in the fall the group would start the Earth Skill Journey the Art of Carving. Passing around hand carved utensils the Mentors talked about the responsibility and weight that comes with this powerful tool. The boys are definitely excited about this prospect and it will be their continual awareness and respect for our tool culture that dictates if they are ready.

Important note! Every Explorer must watch the knife safety and usage video before starting this skills journey. If your son does not have a knife already, he'll need to come with his own. We have a number of suggestions for his first knife in this Introduction Letter to the Carving Journey.

Leaving the parking lot we wandered along the trail and quickly got inspired and veered off it. Hiking among towering Hemlocks, Spruce, Cedar, and Maple we climbed over the maze of nursing stumps and logs. Finding an opening in the canopy we rested in the sun, lounging on the loamy Earth as we ate.

As we handed out jobs we brought our attention to our skills focus for the day, the Art of Harvest. Approaching harvest from a seasonal focus we recognized that as spring turns into summer the landscape is rich with food and medicine; in order to take part in the harvest we must be able to identify edible and hazardous plants. Challenging the Explorers the Mentors split up the group into four parties giving each three bandanas. The challenge was to find three wild edibles, tag them with pipe cleaners, and be able to track their way back to them.

Spreading out into the land the boys turned their eyes and noses to the ground, whispering amongst themselves they investigated and explored their curiosities.

After five minutes the Mentors gave a Crow Call and the groups trickled back in. Circling up the Mentors did a head count and there was one Explorer missing.  Getting back into our parties and adding a Mentor to each we tracked the Explorer back to the trailhead. He had not stayed with his group and ended up getting turned around. Calling the groups together we met at our randevú spot and circled up to talk about the importance of staying together. At the start of each outing we revisit our culture of safety and it is easy for this message to go in one ear and out the other. It is only when issues arise that the lessons really sink in. Our gift is that we have safe spaces to practice and engage in this group culture.

As we sat, we listened to a story about two backpackers who were split up in the Pasayten Wilderness when one went off to fish at a lake. Knowing the first rule to being lost, the backpacker without the food waited for the other to return. After waiting a day the backpacker decided that she was going to follow her friend. Tracking the boot prints and direction of travel she followed her friend for another day and found that she was not the only one tracking him. Fresh Cougar tracks followed his boot prints. On the third day they reunited and shared their resources, rejoicing. The story really hit home for the Explorers after their experience that afternoon.

Finishing our harvest challenge we walked around to each tagged edible and studied their forms and textures with all our senses. Using multiple senses to get to know these edibles is one of the best ways to remember them. The Explorers really did well, identifying: Red Huckleberry, Salmonberries, Oregon Grape, Sword Fern, Maple, and Alder. We examined them for their defining features and looked for their propagation throughout the landscape to understand the ecology that each thrived in.

After a very focused activity the group was ready to play. We set up bandanas, outlined the boundaries for Spider’s Web, and started sneaking around. Getting into our animal forms we crawled through the Sword Ferns and Oregon Grape dodging behind nurse stumps. From the Spider’s vantage point he quickly trapped flies on the web. In the end our game provided quite a challenge for the boys. Circling up we debriefed the game and went around the circle sharing our powers and challenges.  This event was truly unique in the Grey Fox Kits history as a group. The boys processed the experience together as an authentic, genuine, and caring community. They practicing focused listening skills while learning to be vulnerable and speak their truths in front of their peers. This form of connection is vital in a supportive and functional community, and it makes the Mentors hearts sing. Sitting in the woods Walt Whitman’s words echoed through one Mentors head, “Now I see the secret of making the best person: it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the Earth.”

Breaking our circle we connected back with the trail only to get off it again on another exploration. Our mission was to track down a location where some of the older groups had built shelters last fall. With focused navigation we found Matt Fogarty’s old shelter, which was a burrow dug into the remnants of an old growth stump. The Explorers nestled into the duff and mulch feeling their deep desire for shelter. From there we tracked down the rest of the structures, which were all flattened. Thinking back to the heavy lowland snowfall in late March we realized the culprit. With all the abundant building materials the group sprang into action. In twenty minutes we had a solid framework, had woven twigs throughout, and piled on about a foot and a half of leaves and downed Hemlock bows. What an effort!

We ended our season with one final circle sharing apples and giving thanks. The Grey Fox Kits over the last few seasons have become a highly functioning and caring group that values one another as community members. They know how toCollaborate and Compromise while Speaking Their Truths. This group is ready for the Art of Carving this fall and all the adventure which lies ahead for them this summer. On behalf of the Boys EC Mentoring we thank parents for their trust and support and look forward to the long summer days and outings.

Remember to check out our summer camps if you have not already done so.

For more pictures please visit the Grey Fox Kit’s photo gallery.