With the warmth of spring in the air, Matt and Greg eagerly awaited the arrival of the boys. The lure of the creek entertained the explorers who climbed and leapt across its banks waiting for the remainder of their group. Once all the Alevin had arrived it was time to have brief opening meeting to discuss the important tasks of the day. The largest order of the day was that the Alevin would be stepping into a mentoring role for the first time. They would be leading the service day by example. For some explorers it was their third time working at this service site, so they would be able to draw upon their experience of doing service in thier new leadership role. The Alevin have also been through the Art of Carving training and the Gray Fox Kits have not, so the Alevin would be able to model the way to use the tools respectfully and carefully for the job at hand. The second important topic was to prepare a camouflage gauntlet for the younger boys, but instead of hiding pipe cleaners in the land the Alevin would hide themselves!
Matt and Greg walked the boys along the trail taking the opportunity to go deeper into the Art of Camouflage. We looked at how the trails and tracks left in the grass would give away our hiding spots to the careful observer. We looked at dark places and light places and tried to learn how to obscure our outlines. After a brief tour of the zone where we would hide, the Alevin and their mentors disappeared into the shrubs and grass and waited silently. They waited and soon the arriving Grey Fox Kits could be heard playing in the creek and eventually gathering for their own opening meeting. Eventually our waiting was over and the slow crunching of feet on gravel could be heard, sometimes only inches away! The sound of the crow call signaled the end and explorers and mentors alike were comparing notes about who hid where and if they were seen. The Alevin all added a little more experiance to their deepening knowledge of the Art of Camouflage.
The Alevin and Grey Fox Kits gathered in a huge circle and it was finally time to begin our service. The boys ate their lunches and listened as Steve and Drew gave a brief introduction to the service tools and their usage. Our tools are borrowed from the City of Bellingham as well as the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, so it was very important that we treat these tools with care, so that we can keep using them to restore this patch of Connelly Creek.
The momentum to get to work was huge and the list of tasks for the day included: mulching down the reed canary grass, digging Himalayan Blackberry roots, cutting back blackberry canes and hauling them out to the trail, and cutting back the persistent Reed Canary grass. With the perspective time the Alevin could clearly see how three seasons of work has begun to transform a small and forsaken corner of the park into a willow and alder thicket. Our hope is that over the years explorers club will eventually come back to this spot and say, “Look at this land. Once it was covered in trash and blackberries, and filled with shrubs and small trees!”
The comfortable rhythm of working outside and among friends quickly passed the time and it was time to hold our closing meeting. Thanks were given for the Land, for service, for hiding and for Explorers Club. With muddy shoes and boots we returned to the eagerly awaiting parents and siblings to share the stories of our day.
Thank you parents and family for your support. We couldn’t do this important work without you! Explorers thank you for stepping into a leadership role and stretching a new edge! Check out the photo gallery here.
We’ll see you for our grand finale outing on June 8th for a fantastic hike up to Pine and Cedar Lakes. This will be our strong finish to a great season!
