Alevin Explorers met together at the North Chuckanut Mountain Trailhead as parents laughed that their luck had run out. The rain was coming down and the stretch of good weather for Alevin outings looked to be over.
Fortunately, Drew Butler made an appearance and served as a mentor for the outing. We have missed his presence at outings so it was great to have him join us for the five-hour traverse through the trail-less woods and down to Teddy Bear Cove. Thank you, Drew!
He started by showing us the map and where we’d likely be going. He also inspired us with his own hand-carved, wooden utensils including a fun piece of art as well as a functional spoon and butter knife.
Before beginning our excursion, we revisited the Earth Skill of the season. Boys looked around for potable water near the parking lot and had some creative ideas. Unfortunately the rain had stopped at this very moment, so Explorers brainstormed about collecting rainwater from trees and plants. They must have learned something this season because no one was interested in the stagnant pools like they were on the first outing!
Past the dangers of the road and into the safety of the forest, we discussed our orientation and figured out the general direction we needed to travel. As there was hardly a trail, it was important for us to be accurate in our decision about where to hike. We chose wisely :)
Before the main challenge, the Devil’s Club (Oplopanax horridus) tunnel and balance beam, we took some time to learn about the plant. Alevin listened attentively to Drew’s explanations and rightfully internalized a respectful fear of the plant. Boys knew they had to take this plant seriously.
We also researched Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) with the help of Pojar and McKinnon’sPlants of the Pacific Northwest. We learned about the gamut of health benefits associated with harvesting and eating nettles. However beneficial, Alevin also harnessed a respect for keeping a fair distance from this plant as well.
The traverse was a great learning experience. Some of us were nervous about losing our balance and falling into thorns. As a result, we focused tremendously during the tunnel and were respectful of our own bodies, each other, and the natural world. And we came out the other side empowered, excited, and injury-free.
A quick note Explorers: Some of us still have a hard time remembering the motto, The Difference Between a Tool and a Weapon is You. Remember that you have power to decide and that we are only interested in tools at Explorers Club. We’ll keep reminding you, but we need your help too!
The rest of the outing was a celebration. Explorers collected Banana Slugs, jumped off stumps, and found spiders. We envisioned rappelling down cliffs and climbing huge trees. In the end we enjoyed practicing our carving skills on a bluff overlooking Chuckanut Bay and the San Juan Islands. With the sun shining upon us, Boys mimicked lizards and soaked up the rays.
Fortunately, we also had time for a sit spot. While some of us were so bored that we counted down the seconds, others were at such peace that they fell asleep! The sit spot is a good practice and can really help us deepen our connection to nature.
Eventually we began our descent to Teddy Bear Cove which was a glorious place. Alevin explored the bluff, clamored through the rocks, and investigated the tide pools. Crabs became a major focus and each boy took turns showing their findings to the mentors. It is inspiring to have observed these boys with such joy, engagement, and enthusiasm.
We had closing meeting and shared apples in a Circle of Thanks, practicing our motto, Attitude of Gratitude. And we made haste hiking uphill in order to share our stories of the day.
Explorers, thank you for braving the elements; your gumption is one reason that the weather improved and we had such a successful exploration. Parents, thank you for your support of Explorers Club and commitment to raising such caring and fun boys. It is great to explore with them in any weather.
Please look at more pictures from the outing in the photo gallery. And next outing is a service outing from 12-4pm at the new Boys E.C. restoration site in Happy Valley Park. If you are still interested insummer camp, there may be space available so make sure to sign up soon!
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