Remember last November when Grey Fox Kits spent four and a half hours in Whatcom Falls Park under a deluge of cold rain and were shivering when they got picked up? The difference of six months is amazing because there was only one cloud in the sky on a warm sunny spring day when these same Explorers met at Larrabee State Park to do some service work!
Though we were supposed to plant some natives in an area where we had previously pulled English Ivy, we changed the plans because those plants weren’t available at the time we showed up for our service project. As such we focused on connections with our environment, did some impromptu service where it was needed, and explored the idea of stewardship as we toured different service sites along the trail to Clayton Beach.
A big thank you goes to Finnegan for volunteering your afternoon with us. We appreciate your efforts and mentoring during our time together. Boys definitely benefited from having another mentor around! We look forward to seeing you at future outings too.
During opening meeting we talked a lot about connections. Then a bird flew over, and then another bird that was also big but somehow different. While sitting in a field of “daisies,” we talked about the field marks of these birds and wondered what they were doing. Though these Explorers are young, we mentors asked them to think about how those birds were connected to the very flowers that were growing under our tushes! Please ask your Explorer what those birds might have been.
As we walked toward our previous ivy-pulling service site, we came across some Geranium robertianum (aka Stinky Bob). It has pinkish flowers and it is a bit out of balance in Larrabee State Park. We pulled some of it and then Matt told us a story about his friend who nearly poisoned himself by eating wild carrots that he had harvested, otherwise known as Cicuta douglasii (or Water Hemlock). Thus we highlighted the importance of proper plant identification. This became a theme throughout the day.
Because plants simply grow where their seeds are deposited, we are veering away from the term “invasive.” Instead, we are sharing with Explorers that these plants crowd out native plants and don’t share the space well as we emphasize the importance of a balanced ecosystem. The same is true of the word “weeds.” By changing our language, we withhold from labeling plants as evil or good and it helps us focus on a right intention while doing the service work of pulling living plants. As Steve says, a weed is a word used to describe plants for which we haven’t yet found a use. We invite you to join us in this dialogue!
In our subsequent hike Grey Fox Kits surveyed different types service projects. We saw where plants had been pulled and others planted. We saw where a trail had been moved and designated clearly in order to prevent erosion. Explorers were also quick to point out the fences that had been erected to prevent hikers from falling off steep, cliffside trails and even suggested rebuilding a damaged fence. We also saw where the Girls Explorers Club had re-built a bridge over troubled (and muddy) water.
In the end we found a creek and we explored the area. Bands of boys looked for amphibians while others found a dead juvenile Robin. Eventually one group stalked the other and we either tried to evade capture or hunted our prey. We then howled like a wolf pack in order to find a missing mentor who would only respond by howling back!
Discovering we were late, we hurried back to the parking lot for our closing meeting and a Circle of Thanks. Explorers, thank you for surveying different service opportunities. You have the power to do this work and we will introduce you to the Connelly Creek restoration site next fall! Parents, thank you for your support and for patiently waiting while we rushed back to meet you. Your consideration is very much recognized.
Please sign up for summer camp if you haven’t already and be prepared for our final outing of the season on May 18th at Sehome Arboretum. And don’t forget to see more pictures of this outing in thephoto gallery!
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