As we gathered for our last outing of the season, it was time for our Alevin explorers to graduate to the next step of Explorers Club. We stretched our geographical edge and piled into Stubbs, our Explorers Club banana slug bus. The weather was wonderful, and it promised to be a good day for adventuring in Squires Lake.
Squires Lake, for those of you who have not been there before, is a wonderful center for reptile and amphibian activity; it is home to a vibrant and colorful wetland plants; it is a hub of busy beaver activity. Our first mission was to find a proper place for the opening meeting. We headed up the trail with our scouting eyes searching the terrain for a good spot where we could all circle up. Explorers spontaneously began a game of counting slugs. Oh my! 32 by the time we found our meeting spot. These little slimy slitherers may be the bane of farmers, but they are also a beacon of fascination for many a young boy. 
In the opening meeting we talked about working together, our visions for the last day, and the beautiful and bountiful natural community that surrounded us. Explorers were challenged more deeply this session with finding the ability to be able to focus and come together during meeting. This community work is an essential part of Explorers Club and to each boy’s development into a healthy, happy, contributing member of our world. We talked about safety and jobs, and then brought our minds toward our next decision: which way will we go?
We checked out a map and tried to take a picture of the image with our minds. We couldn't resist playing a few games before we headed onward. The lake was magical. As we circumnavigated it, we came across a huge community of garter snakes. It is entirely possible that this little patch of snakes could have taken up the next three hours. But there was a little more to explore, so we did eventually move on. Some waterside exploring. Some Creek navigation. A list of all the animals that we've seen so far recorded in a notebook. Fungus. New plants. A giant, hollowed out stump. So much to explore!
We gathered in a particularly challenging spot for an extensive game, and the Alevin Explorers stretched their edges quite a bit here. Right around the corner, we discovered the Beaver Pond, filled with fresh beaver chews and salmonberries. Explorers got a chance to carve, adventure along the water's edge, and test their balance on the many logs around us.
Before we knew it, it was time to head back. We tested our navigation, which proved trustworthy enough for this adventure. Piling into Stubbs, we had our closing meeting as we rolled down the highway toward home. Much thanks to all of the Explorers for your great and wonderful work! Much thanks to all the parents for your continuing support!
Be sure to check out pics from our outing in our photo gallery.
No comments:
Post a Comment