Exploring the Eagle Preserve with the Alevin Explorers

Alevin Explorers gathered together at our meeting place on Sunday, ready for a post card-worthy outing to the Eagle Preserve on the Nooksack River.  We loaded our gear in Stubbs, then circled up to prepare for the ride.  First, the wiggles needed to come out.  Each Explorer shared a movement, and the whole group mimicked.  We then talked about bus culture and our vision for the day.  Once we were all in agreement, we set out.  Explorers may remember what was on the lesson plan for the day.  It was just one word.  EXPLORE!

Though it was the end of October, we were greeted with blue skies, warm air, and pleasant breezes.  As soon as we piled out of the bus, each was eager to follow an enticing trail down toward the water.  We did manage a couple games of Hide! as a mischievous way to get to know our surroundings, then circled, ate some food, gave out the jobs, and got ready for adventure.

As we stepped on the trail, Explorers were challenged with using their innate senses of navigation.  Without any reasoning, each person was asked to point toward where he thought the water was.  All did, and it turned out we were all pointing in more or less the same direction.  Using that honing instinct, we set forth.   Plenty of tracks and signs greeted us: deer, large canine, elk, smaller coyote-ish canine, mysterious scats, and possible cats, rodents of all sizes, and more.  The cottonwoods were a brilliant yellow and sending out their sweet smell to the world.   Dry knotweed leaves rattled in the wind and above us the clouds formed the most amazing array of shapesimaginable.

As we discovered the first bank, we noted the height of the river.  It was incredibly low, and that meant that the salmon were still held up back in the bay, which meant there was no larder for eagles.  The EC motto, All Things Are Connected, proved true as we considered how just having a low water level told us so much about the condition of the natural communities.  We dropped packs and took to exploring.  Some of us decided to try to sneak up on a great blue heron in the distance.  Others became enamored with a remnant puddle filled with gunnels, other small fish, and caddis fly larva (those amazing bugs that make the protective casings out of gravel.)  A project was undertaken to save fish and move them to the larger pool.  This created a flurry of activity, and the fish often seemed grateful for their larger territory.  The heron stalkers managed to get about 30 yards away before our great blue friend took off.  Watching his wonderful flight was payback enough.

When we reconvened, we decided to head out further to find the main branch of the river.  We head over large stumps and an impressively long expanse of cottonwoods before we finally discovered the full river.  She was gorgeous, running fast and clear.  This was another great opportunity for some flat out exploration and adventure.  Some just hung out on the bank while other explored a bit upstream.  After some time, we decided to have a nice, long sit spot, but to do this in the way that older Explorers do.  Real silence and real individual experiences.  The Alevin rose to this parameter remarkably.  It was an amazing experience, and many shared powerful stories upon reconvening.

On our way back, Explorers noted the condition of the small puddle where they had been saving fish.  It was completely dried up, and the remnant fish and many larvae had died.  This was a powerful lesson in the connections made in nature, and how life and death are a part of the great circle.  Not much needed to be said.  The land did the teaching.

Finally, before heading back, we had time for one big game ofRipple Through the Forest.  We wanted to finish strong, together, and enjoying the place.  It was worth the effort.  A great game!  We had our closing meeting on the bus and Explorers each shared one thing they were thankful for.  This Explorer is thankful for that entire day, for that land and all that lives there, for each Explorer, and for all the community support.

Thanks so much!  Don’t forget to check out pics of the day in our photo gallery.