The Connelly Creek Traverse with the Grey Fox Kits

Arriving at Marine Park the Grey Fox Kits braved the southerly winds that pounded waves against the shore. Circling up near the beach we held an opening meeting. As we chatted some of the Explorers met Drew Butler, a new Mentor for them. Drew has been a strong leader in the Boys Explorers Club. His compassion, wisdom, vision, and heart truly shine throughout his mentoring and within the culture of our organization.

Sitting in our circle one of the Mentors asked the question that the Grey Fox Kits are all too familiar with. “Where are we and what are we here to do today?” This question is important because as Explorers we seek to understand the landscape as a whole and through each outing collect more knowledge. Part of this knowledge comes from our abilities to orient to the cardinal directions and decipher where we are in location to everything else. Looking around the boys decided that the bay was West. Once they had a starting point we became oriented.

Mentors explained that we would be following the journey of the Salmon to the Explorer’s Connelly Creek Service Site. Pulling out a map of the Connelly and Padden Creek Watershed the group determined that we would need to head East along the Padden Creek interurban trail to find our way to it’s confluence with Connelly Creek.

Once we had handed out jobs and discussed some safety issues we moved to the lee side of the picnic shelter and fueled up with some food out of the wind. Leaving Marine Park we navigated a few city blocks full of urban hazards. Before we crossed the train tracks we brought our minds together and talked about what it means to have group focus. Being able to cultivate this focus in situations with higher risk is what will allow us to eventually ford rivers and summit peaks in the backcountry. Once we met back up with the Padden Creek interurban trail we relaxed ourfocus and played games of Hide as we hiked.

Walking along the Explorers came across a small clearing next to the creek. Investigating it further they dusted off an old cobblestone marker with the inscription “Site of Dirty Dan’s Cabin 1853-1883”. The group asked who was Dan Harris. Drew answered that Dirty Dan was an explorer, entrepreneur, and all around character who helped found the town of Fairhaven. Before he settled in Fairhaven he traveled from New York City all the way to Artic exploring. The Explorers thought back for a moment on what the town must have looked like in the early 1800’s.  There is so much mystery hidden in our landscape and it just takes some investigation and exploration to find it.

Traveling on the group passed by an area of disturbed soil which had Himalayan Blackberries and other invasive species taking over the native ones. Bending down Drew called the Explorers over to look at one plant in particular. Pointing it out he asked the group what it was. Most of the Explorers said that it was a weed and were anxious to move on. Drew informed them that this plant was called Broadleaf Plantain and was excellent medicine. By chewing the plantain’s leaves and making a spit poultice we can create medicine that soothes bee stings and skin irritations. The Mentors cautioned the group not to overlook or take for granted the plants we consider disposable weeds, for a weed is a plant that we have forgotten our relationship with and the use for.

Hiking further still the group came to a place where Padden Creek was being diverted through a culvert. At the end of the culvert it looked as though the creek flowed down a set of stairs. The Mentors asked the group if they knew what it was. They exclaimed, “yes!” and we marveled at the falling water and climbed through the culvert that ran underneath the trail experiencing how hard it must be for a Salmon to navigate this human altered watershed. A few boys gave some thanks for our ability to create systems that can help keep the Salmon’s cycle of life flowing and thriving.

While we played in the creek a few Explorers scouted up and shouted to the rest of the group that we should follow the creek instead of the trail. Since We Are All Leaders and follow our instincts and inspirations on outings the group decided to take on the challenge. As we climbed and crawled along the river, the bank seemed to only get tighter and tighter. Eventually we had to create a bridge to make it back over to the side of the creek with the trail. Hopping rocks and gazing into pools we lost all sense of time and let our ourselves freely wander, only to come across a set of Raccoon tracks embedded in the mud.

Climbing up the bank we refocused our minds to the traverse at hand, but just then someone called Hide! Diving into the dirt and bushes we hid patiently trying to blend into our surroundings. Once we were caught or called back in we noticed a few of the Explorers had much better camouflage than they started with. These Explorers had gotten quite wet in the creek and diving in the dirt created a beautiful mud paste that covered most of their clothing.

Pushing onwards the group challenged themselves by hiking further than they thought they could. The Grey Fox Kit often experience physical and/or environmental challenges on their outings. Through these challenges the boys cultivate self-determination, perseverance, courage, and fortitude. The boys gain the ability to become masters over their minds and aim beyond the target. These traverses provide the perfect physical model of these internal challenges. It is our hope as Mentors that the boys will remember these experiences and use these life skills to help them navigate through the challenges that await them in the years to come.

Arriving at Connelly Creek tired, hungry, and triumphant we sat and rested on the mulch pile that we were to spread on our next service outing. We shared apples and thanks as we watched the Rufous Hummingbirds buzz around the Black Twinberry’s yellow flowers. The Explorers gave thanks for: challenge and the ability to keep going, for the time and space to explore with friends, for the abundance of the spring season, for food and water, and for the journey and gift that the Salmon bring. The Mentors told the group that their next outing would be right here at Connelly Creek doing some service.

We ended our day laughing and running as we played a few rounds of a tag game called Salmon Oh Salmon. The Mentors would like to thank the Explorers for challenging themselves and for stepping into a deepened role in their stewardship of the land at the Connelly Creek Site.

Please visit the Grey Fox Kit’s photo gallery for more pictures from the outing!