Coal Blowing with the Storm Wolves at Larrabee State Park

The Storm Wolves had a change from the norm as they arrived at Larrabee State Park to hunker down and work on the skill of “coal blowing” instead of head out on a hike to explore and play games. Although we were straying from the norm in terms of our outing, the Storm Wolves made sure to keep things in line by demonstrating their top notch abilities at free play while balancing things out with pointed focus when called upon. Of course we had to start things off with the usual opening circle where we discussed our plan for the day, chatted about the Art of Fire, and finally got into some basics of carving and coal-blowing spoons. 

Our initial circle ended up taking a bit of time to get started as there was just too much energy in the group. Clearly these guys are used to hiking in a bit before hunkering down and working on skills that require patience and focus, so we took some time to enjoy ourselves and catch up with fellow Storm Wolves before getting into things. Not surprisingly, the Storm Wolves were off searching out adventure and whether it was tossing Douglas-Fir cones over the sheltered area or working together as a team to retrieve a Frisbee from the other side of a fence, everyone was able to get their wiggles out and more importantly have a lot of fun doing so.

Sometimes the best team building activities are organic

Transitioning to our focused skills work, the Storm Wolves gathered up around the fire ring to review the basics of lighting a fire. Luckily they have had plenty of experience on their prior outings utilizing Western-Hemlock to make a kindling bundle that they were able to light with a single match, so this was a walk in the park… so to speak. However, Tim decided to switch things up and demonstrated how to use Western Red-Cedar bark to make a fuzzy tinder bundle that was lit with a ferrocerium rod (also known as fire steel, “flint and steel”, etc.). Not only is it important to know how to create your own flame from a simple spark, but honing these skills will aid us when we finally take on fire-by-friction and need to use the very same tinder in order to blow our bow-drill coals into flames.

Using a ferrocerium rod to start the fire

After getting a fire going and demonstrating the importance of preparation, intentionality, and anticipation to properly process and organize your fuel it was time to transition to coal-blowing. With our initial “spoons” taking shape due to some expansive carving time, we were ready to transition to making the concavity. Being careful with our coals and remembering to be aware of those around us, the mentors extracted coals from the fire for the Storm Wolves. Placing the red hot ember on the wood and using a stick to press down on the coal, the Storm Wolves each began blowing steadily on the coal to increase the heat and transfer the heat into the spoon. After a few seconds the wood of the spoon began to heat up and become an ember in itself. After exhausting their coals, each Storm Wolf took some time to scrape out the charcoal on the concavity of the spoon and before they knew it their spoon was taking shape. This process must then be repeated until your concavity is sufficiently shaped to the coal-blower’s specifications.

Transitioning to free time, some of the Storm Wolves continued to work on their spoons while others reverted back to games of tossing the Fir cone over the shelter or playing with the newly retrieved Frisbee. Only a few of us got to complete our spoons, but the mentors were grateful to hear the Storm Wolves each exclaim how cool it was to learn this skill. Despite the requirement for preparation, patience, and strong focus the group was able to ebb and flow between focus and play with impressive ability. Although there were a few times where some of the group members began transitioning to play during circle or while a mentor was talking, the other Storm Wolves kept them in line before the mentors needed to stop and ask for refocusing. Seeing this group mentor themselves, fluctuate between play and focus, and most of all get excited about an ancient skill made this a very rewarding day for mentors and Storm Wolves alike.

Make sure to check out the rest of the photos form our outing here!

Learning alongside a friend always makes things better!

 

Grey Fox Kits Carve at Teddy Bear Cove

There is always a fine balance between planning and Explorers Club outing and letting the inspiration of the day take over. Too much of a plan and you are not flexible enough to follow the inspiration that occurs once you are out exploring and not enough of a plan and your day loses the direction it needs to get going. Sundays outing with the Grey Fox Kits was a perfect example of hitting this balance. The mentors had planned a day of focused carving in the woods above Arroyo park and then playing some games in the forest to celebrate the end of another successful season together.

However, the moment we hit the trail the Grey Fox Kits began talking about the beach. The trail branched and we had a really coherent discussion, led entirely by the boys,  on how to spend the day. The unanimous decision was to take the Interurban trail to Teddy Bear Cove. The mentors looked at eachother and let the boys excitement for the beach guide our day.

After a short .5 miles along the Interurban we came to the point where we had to cross Chuckanut drive to make our way down the steep switchbacks to the beach. This is arguably the most dangerous part of our day and as such requires the utmost focus and concentration. The Grey Fox Kits have been dedicating themselves to the Art of Carving The last few seasons and have learned the the focus and maturity it take to safely handle a knife. As we prepared to cross Chuckanut the mentors asked the boys to use this same focus while crossing the road.

Once on the other side we made our way down the steep switchbacks to Teddy Bear Cove. Low clouds hung over the Chuckanuts while the sun crept in from over the San Juan Islands. Tim split Western Red Cedar rounds into chopstick blanks while the Boys found their knives and prepared to carve. We had a really focused carving session for about an hour. Many of the boys ended the session with nearly completed chopsticks. As seen by our experience crossing Chuckanut the Art of Carving is not only a useful skill in and of itself, but is also a great practice in focus and concentration for these boys. The Grey Fox Kits have really taken to the carving and I am excited to see where they take it in the future.

After our focused time on the beach it was time to explore! We climbed sandstone bluffs, found holes in the rocks, looked out over the bay, found Madrone and Oak trees that seemed to be made for climbing, explored the dry hillside above the ocean, traversed along the coast line, made crab forts, played some games, ate lunch, found new routes on the rocks, lay in the sun, and generally enjoyed the beach. It was nice after all the focused work on our carving to take some time to free play and explore the beach.

Our day ended as it always does with a closing circle where we all expressed our gratitude for the day. On such a great day it was easy to find many things we were all thankful for. Thank you parents for being so supportive of us during our outings with your boys! Thank you grey fox kits for another great season together. We really appreciate your enthusiasm and commitment to personal growth despite the challenges we have faced. Please checkout our photo gallery for more great pictures from our exploration last weekend. See you all in the Fall for another great season!

Grey Fox Kits Play in the Wind at Fairhaven Park

On a blustery Saturday afternoon, the Grey Fox Kits were reunited after a warm winter to kick off the 2015 Spring Season of Boys Explorers Club. We had originally planned on having a day of exploration and carving in the Sehome Arboretum, however, given the windy weather and the eventful history of the Grey Fox Kits, the mentors decided to relocate to Fairhaven Park. Thanks to the flexibility and efficient communication of seasoned BEC Parents we pulled off this last minute switch without a hitch. Both Explorers and Parents were appreciative of Fairhaven Park’s versatility offering grassy fields and open areas under trees to play and carve the day away with peace of mind.

As the Explorers gathered for our opening circle we briefly inspected a dead beetle then caught up with one another about our winter adventures. We took some time to reflect on why we had switched locations, how we felt about wind and where our edges were in regards to plans for what we wanted to do during the outing. Truths were spoken and we decided what better way to kick off our Spring season than to have a game day with some more sedentary activities sprinkled in to change things up from time to time.

We first began with many heated rounds of “Where’s My Egg?!” where the boys honed their sneaking skills and tapped in to Coyote’s trickster ways as they tried to deceive the mother bird of where her egg had gotten off to. Much attention to rules and fairness was another theme of this game. Boys were challenged to discuss rules as they came up and decide upon fair and equal solutions that would allow us to play with honor and respect for ourselves and one another.

After many a round played, the Explorers lost some of their interest and naturally gathered around the packs rehydrating and munching away at their lunches. Boys chatted amongst one another until someone had a joke to tell. One after the other, jokes were told amongst the group. Good laughs shared with good company. It was nice to be back amongst fellow Grey Fox Kits.

To switch things up, the mentors brought out a variety of supplies for activities: plaster casts and a coyote skull, paper and pencil, homemade pickle jar terrarium with spiders included, animal track flash cards, and a handful of natural history books. Some boys were immediately captivated with drawing, while others just wanted to sit and carve. A few Explorers gained insight into more advanced carving techniques, while others honed tracking instincts by inspecting and identifying plaster casts of coyote, bobcat, and deer. But ultimately most of the boys slowly gravitated towards free play with one another amongst the trees in a heated match of pinecone tag.

With a good chunk of our outing behind us, we wanted to get in some more games before it was time to go. As we transitioned to a new area to play we were joined by Emily Highleyman, the executive director of Wild Whatcom. Without skipping beat she was nearly as eager to play games as the boys. Many of the Explorers had games in mind that they were excited to play, but with only enough time for two or three games, it was clear some boys were going to have to realize their game wasn’t going to be played, at least for today. But coming to compromise and finding consensus is common place for a veteran group of Explorers like the Grey Fox Kits. In a matter of minutes the games to be played were decided, rule intricacies were hashed out, and we were transformed into rabbits and coyotes locked in a heated game of “Run Rabbit, RUN!” huffing and puffing from one rabbit hole to another hoping not to become coyote kibble.

Worn out from all the games our outing was nearing its end. We gathered in a circle where our outing had begun and reflected on what a fun outing we all had. Some boys were grateful for fun games, others were grateful for simple things like trees and sky. But overwhelmingly, Explorers were grateful for their thrilling encounter with a falling branch last fall. Though it was a trying experience, and rather scary for most, the boys all said they have learned a lot from the experience, become more aware and in tune with not only their environment but also themselves, and most importantly for any boy their age they now have a thrilling story to share with their friends. All in all we had a complete outing; free play, carving, natural history, games, group decision making, sharing jokes, getting lost in the moment, reflecting on the past, and growing for the future. Who could ask for anything more?

Make sure to check out all the photos from this outing in the Grey Fox Kits Photo Gallery!

Adventures at Galby Lane with the Grey Fox Kits

It was a blustery Sunday afternoon as the boys gathered at the Galby Lane parking lot. It was no secret this was a beautiful day as numerous cars packed the tiny parking lot and many mountain bikers made their way over to the Galbraith trails. However, for the explorers, all our adventures awaited us just beyond the stand of young alders that separated the parking lot from the mature forest wonderland full of mystery and adventure. With all the boys present and accounted for we were ready to begin the outing.

The outing began as all good outings do: with an opening circle. These opening circles are of the utmost importance to set our intentions for the day and get us all back into the Explorers Club mindset. We chatted for a bit about our earth skills focus for this season; The Art of Carving. Each boy either brought their carving project from last outing, or picked out a fresh piece of wood to begin a new project. In order to get the boys in the right state of mind for carving, we decided to begin the outing with a sit spot.

Once we got a ways back into the woods, we hopped off trail and found a cozy place to set up shop. Each boy shared what they wanted to carve, and then all the boys found a quiet place to settle down, calm their minds and bodies, and begin envisioning their masterpiece. It was a great thing to see this group of boys so calm, quiet, and focused. They set strong intentions for their carving time and transitioned seamlessly from sit spot to confident and composed carvers exhibiting superb technique and concentration.

Everything was going well until we heard a loud CRACK off in the distance, followed by a rush of rustling leaves and resounding boom as a large tree was brought down by the persistent winds. It was a ways off, but still a strong reminder to this group of boys of the power of the forest. The Grey Fox Kits are no novices when it comes to widow makers having had a close call last fall with a tall cherry tree. All the boys came together with the mentors and upon inspecting our surroundings, felt it best to find a better clearing to carve, away from any potentially hazardous trees.

We were faced with two options: return to the parking lot and carve beside the cars and mountain bikers for another three hours, or hike further into the woods to a deforested strip of land that had been clear cut to create a tree free path for the power lines. Both options were not ideal but we decided it was time to move and we’d rather remain surrounded by the green of the forest and ferns than the grey of metal and gravel. So we headed out down the trail towards the clear cut where we hoped to resume our carving without the hazards of our current location.

Along the trail we marveled at the beauty of the forest with a keen eye focused on the trees. Although we were scanning for widow makers and other hazards, we began to notice more patterns and intricacies within the trees than we ever had before. It’s beautiful when the old adage holds true: the more you look, the more you see. But despite all our looking and seeing, it was what we heard that caught our attention.

Another loud crack, but this time not off in the distance, a sound that was felt as much as it was heard. We all looked up in unison as a large branch from an alder burst from the canopy and began descending upon us. There were only moments to take action but the boys drew upon their past experiences and reacted with the swiftness of a sparrow to swoop out of the way. When the branched landed on the trail next to us it was a moment filled with adrenaline, emotion, and amazement. There is a lot for a person to process when faced with such an experience. Many of the boys were scared, as they should be, because they were faced with the reality that bad things can happen to anyone, including themselves. Many of the boys were overcome with a flood of emotion as would anyone, young or old, in such a situation. And many of the boys were filled with an exhilaration and rush of adrenaline that left them bubbling over with excitement because they were touched by the vast awesomeness and immense power that is imbued within the natural world. No matter how the boys reacted, however, it was time to get out of the woods, and fast.

We all hustled back down the trail headlong for the parking lot. Despite the chaos, something magical happened in this moment. All the boys were running. Some even still had tears on their face; evidence of the extreme emotions within them taking physical form and being released through their tear ducts, but all the boys kept looking back. They may have been excited, scared, or flooded full of so many other unexplainable emotions, but they still looked back. They weren’t looking back to see if more branches were falling, or if something else was coming to harm them, no, they were looking back for their fellow explorers. They were looking back for their friends, their brothers, their family. It was in this moment that it was undeniably apparent these boys care deeply for each other. Perhaps they won’t admit it, or even be fully aware of it themselves, but it was clear to the mentors that these boys share a deep bond with one another. They may all be incredibly unique individuals but they will forever share experiences like the one they shared today and will forever be able to come together as the Grey Fox Kits, or perhaps the Widowmaker Warriors would be a better fit.

Upon arriving at the parking lot we rallied together, checked in with one another, and formulated a game plan for the rest of the outing. We decided to ferry the boys carload by carload to the big field next to the Lake Padden dog park where we could finally relax and revel in the glorious wind. We laughed and played and celebrated our wellbeing. Our circle of thanks at the end of the day was filled with a sincerity that can only be felt while reflecting upon such a powerful experience. All in all it was an incredible day. Incredibly focused carving, incredibly emotional experiences, incredibly relieved to be alright, incredibly happy to get lost in play, and incredibly thankful for our well being, the well being of those close to us, and the powerful experiences mother nature provides us.

Service at Connelly Creek with the Branch Hoppers & Grey Fox Kits

The Branch Hoppers arrived at Connelly Creek ready for a day of service. As we circled up we saw that something was different about these Explorers. Not only were they considerably taller, each boy had a knife attached to his belt. As a mentor who has known they boys for quite awhile it was a little nerve wracking and also very exciting. Walking over to our service site the Branch Hoppers were eager to continue our culture of stalking the group that would be serving alongside us. Once we got to the site the boys spread out, looking for the perfect hiding spots. Grouping back up the mentors passed out Red Cedar blanks for carving spoons, butter knives, and chopsticks. The group spent about fifteen minutes carving before we snuck back to our hiding spots.

From our hiding spots we could hear the Grey Fox Kits mingling and climbing around in the creek. As we patiently waited the Black-Capped Chickadees hopped from branch to branch around our heads. As the Grey Fox Kits walked to the service site the Branch Hoppers emerged from every nook and cranny along the trail. Grouping up in a large circle we passed out wood blanks to the Grey Fox Kits and shared with the Explorers that both groups started carving this season, and that it’s important to build a group culture around respectful and intentional tool usage. Our Explorers Mentor Apprentice for the day, Logan Bartz, introduced himself and with a quick round of names we got to work.

Our task for the day was to clear the Himalayan Blackberry from areas that we had mulched previously. Also to trim back the Reed-Canary Grass growing under the Red Alders so we could plant Dogwood and Salmonberry in its place. Analyzing the site we noticed the Reed-Canary Grass had grown back after we had mulched it, but only half as high! There were also new Blackberry shoots in the areas that we mulched previously.

Mustering their strength the Explorers put in a great team effort with such excellent attitudes. After serving Connelly Creek for multiple seasons they knew what needed to be done. Raking, chopping, shearing, lopping, and cutting the debris into small pieces they worked cohesively and efficiently. The group was not daunted by the invasive plant’s ability to spring back and overtake the work they had done. They found that the Blackberry stalks were easily identifiable in the mulch and the shovels uprooted them easily. They also noticed that the Willows we had been guarding over the last three seasons were getting tall enough to shade out the grass.

Through service work the boys are learning a very important lesson about slowly working towards a goal and aiming for long term healthy stability rather than quick solutions. Connelly Creek calls the boys to wrestle with problem solving and accept that their work may take years. Together we are learning that it is okay to fail because it’s all part of the learning process. In spring season we tried to plant green Willow shoots that we harvested and this season we found every one of them dead with Reed-Canary Grass growing up through their mulch rings. After speaking to Rae Edwards of the Parks Department we learned that we needed to cardboard underneath the mulch and around the base of the plants to kill the Reed-Canary grass once and for all.

Our work today was to prepare the site for this new strategy and it was such a pleasure to work with both of the groups in the sunshine. After a solid hour and a half of work the group decided to take a lunch break. In our opening meeting we told the Explorers that we would not be using our knives during the service project, as it was not what we were there to do. Over lunch a few boys pulled out their knives and started carving their Cedar blanks into butter knives. It was a chain reaction and soon there were twenty Explorers carving. As mentors we debated stopping them and redirecting their focus towards service, but the group was modeling such excellent safety and responsibility that we decided to run with it and have a half-hour carving session.

Once the time was up we set down our knives and got back to work for a strong finish. The group attacked the Blackberry hedge, cutting it back all the way to the park boundary and finished trimming the grass under the Alders. We spent the rest of the time bagging Blackberries, raking piles of grass, and picking up every clipping that we dropped along our way. I have to commend the boys again for being such excellent workers and expecting nothing in return except for the satisfaction of a job well done. These boys are growing into fine young men and are meeting the new responsibilities that come with their deepened role with their communities and relationship with the land.

We ended the day with a closing meeting in our individual groups. We snacked on apples and gave thanks for a wonderful day of sun and service! The mentors thanked the boys for kick starting our service outings with such a great start. These Explorers are nourishing the land and restoring the quality of the watershed and salmon runs for generations to come. It’s important to constantly remind them of this and recognize their work. The mentors would also like to thank Logan for coming out and EMAing. He is setting a strong example of what it means to give to a community and modeling the rewards to sticking with the Boys EC culture and developmental journey. He meets the boys with acceptance, care, and patience, always keeping their best in mind. Thanks Logan!

For more pictures from the day please visit the Grey Fox Kit's and Branch Hopper's photo galleries.  

Grey Fox Kits - Art of Carving - Stimpson Reserve

The Grey Fox Kits kicked off their fall season with an outing to the Stimpson Nature Reserve on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. As the boys trickled in one-by-one they jumped right into a plant scavenger hunt, however the large rocks proved far too tempting to climb on and soon the boys were scurrying around like lizards. Speaking of reptiles, two of the explorers were able to track down a young garter snake and catch it for the rest of the boys to inspect.

Once all the explorers were present and accounted for we began our journey into the woods. In our opening circle we shared fun stories about our summer adventures and handed out the “jobs” for the day. With our front and back scouts, tribal elder, earth keeper and other jobs designated we were prepared for anything, including a couple of intense rounds of H-I-D-E.

Along the trail we found quite a few plants which stimulated our Art of Harvest skills that we’ve learned from previous outings; Licorice Fern and Stinging Nettle to be precise. Harvesting is fun and exciting, but the boys quickly lost sight of why we harvest, so before we could introduce the Art of Carving, we revisited the Art of Harvest and learned all about the bounty of uses both of these plants have from our plants knowledge keeper.

Finally, it was time to delve into the Art of Carving. We discussed some of the history behind edged tools, different types of knives, safety practices, and proper technique. Once all the boys had spread out, established their safety circles, and demonstrated proper technique with sheathed knives, the boys finally got to get their blades into the wood. There was a wide range of experience amongst the boys, but everyone displayed an impressive level of focus and responsibility. As hard as it was to believe, the boys eventually got a little bored with carving and just wanted to play some games.

We were already in a perfect spot for Spiders Web, so after we set up the web and food source, the boys soon melted into the ferns as they turned into flies searching for a meal. The spider was bold and wandered all over the playing area spotting flies left and right. But alas, his bold behavior left the food source unguarded and the flies were soon feasting.

Before we knew it, the time for pick up was upon us. The boys however, had some unfinished business with the Beaver Pond. We spent the last few minutes of the day getting into the mud and startling dozens of our amphibious friends, watching them hop-hop-hop into the safety of the water. We got unstuck from the muck and hurried back to a posse of parents who were all too eager to get the interiors of their cars covered in mud. We couldn’t have asked for a better day.

For more photos of this outing be sure to check out the Grey Fox Kits Photo Gallery