Wednesday, December 16, 2015

The Jumping Mice adapt to stormy weather conditions

One of our mottoes in Explorers Club is the following: It’s About the Journey, Not the Destination We describe that classic adage this way - The point is to awaken to what’s around us, to revel in discovery every moment, not to arrive to a particular place. We are where we are going!
Apropos for the Jumping Mice’ last outing of their first season together as we first changed our planned
We haven’t lacked for weather this fall, have we? Wild Whatcom’s first day of outings this season was cancelled and the outings rescheduled due to high winds and the storms have been pretty persistent since. This outing was no different. With high winds forecast, we decided to play it safe and switch from our planned exploration of North Galbraith to a trek through Whatcom Falls Park to the relative safety of the open fields ofBloedel Donovan Park. We also recruited the explorers to track the weather. Awareness of the vicissitudes of our natural surroundings is a key component of self-reliance in the outdoors.
We were living in the moment as we continually made decisions with a literal eye to the surrounding treetops. Decisions are difficult in the best of conditions; factor in the age of the boys and add in the fickle weather and the decisions get trickier. A greatexample was the conversation we had about weather the “spider” for our Spider’s Web game should be a mentor, our Explorers Club Apprentice (EMA) Xavier, or one of the explorers. Underlying the conversation if the question of weather the Jumping Mice were up to the challenge of being the spider. Stepping up to that role is a bit of a rite of passage in Explorers Club; the Jumping Mice are just finishing their first season together. We discussed; we voted; we made suggestions; we voted again. This went on for 20 minutes or more. Frustration started to set in. Our circle got less and less circular. With no resolution in sight, nature stepped in as the tips of the conifers were seen to sway more dynamically. We decided not to decide, but to move along to be closer to Bloedel Donovan Park. The boys might understandably see it as time not well spent; you and I know the boys matured a little in that half hour as their edges were stretched in their common effort.
Another Explorers Club mottoThe Trail is the Teacher, states: “On the trail, as in life, the lessons emerge as we walk our individual and collective journeys. Everything that appears and unfolds along the way – whether happy or sad, joyful or difficult – is a teacher. Lessons are often unexpected (and sometimes unwelcome) but we learn to use them as opportunities to learn and grow.” Frustrating and inconclusive as that experience was, the lessons it taught were apparently fresh in the boys’ minds when we soon stopped at a crossroads to address another question: Do we go left to our stated goal of Bloedel-Donovan or right, which promised better Spider’s Web locations? This decision we reached in about two minutes when an explorer suggested we might be able to play the game and then double back to the park. So, to the right we went in pursuit of the game we’d been anticipating for a few hours. Spoiler alert: we never doubled back!
Unfortunately, our reward proved elusive once again as our search came up empty and it began to feel like we were going to go home frustrated. Showing admirable resilience, the boys opted to play a few games of Fire in the Forest in the grassy area near the fish rearing ponds. It was following those games that mentor Finn came to the rescue by suggesting we could play Spider’s Web in the trees behind the toddler playground, a classic case of mindful attention to place. To be honest, the playing area for the first game proved inadequate, so we pivoted the course deeper into the trees. Our next game lasted just a few minutes as the spider (mentor Brian) forgot where the “food source” was! Hmmmmm. The third time proved to be the charm as all players turned it up a notch, with much darting through the trees and even some slow, steady progress as the Jumping Mice starting catching on to the natural advantages of camouflage and stealth. By this time, the rain had begun again (note: the wind never was a significant factor) so our walk back to the N. Galbraith trailhead was true to the saying on Wild Whatcom apparel: It’s raining, it’s pouring, let’s go exploring!” A fitting end to the Jumping Mice’ first season together.
As I plan the spring season, an exploration of N. Galbraith is top of mind. For now, it’s time to bring a close to a fun first season. Over the next few seasons, I expect the Jumping Mice to morph from a collection of individuals looking to play and learn in the outdoors to a cohort of mindful young men. Unfortunately, they’re going to have to do that without mentor Finn, who has moved on to full time work with the Department of Natural Resources. My thanks to Finn for his naturalist knowledge and dedication to the explorers.
Don’t forget to check out our slate of winter outings here. And look here for the rest of the photos from our Dec. 5 outing.

The Jumping Mice and Whatcom Creek run through Whatcom Falls Park

Upon reflection, it’s clear to me that Sunday’s Jumping Mice outing was a scarcely manageable tangle of ebullient energy.
According to Wikipedia“Common energy forms include the kinetic energy of a moving object, the radiant energy carried by light, the potential energy stored by an object's position in a force field (gravitational, electric or magnetic), elastic energy stored by stretching solid objects, chemical energy released when a fuel burns, and the thermal energy due to an object's temperature. All of the many forms of energy are convertible to other kinds of energy, and obey the law of conservation of energy which says that energy can be neither created nor be destroyed; however, it can change from one form to another.”
The Jumping Mice experienced and exhibited all manner of energy atWhatcom Falls Park on Sunday! Our rainy, overcast November took a breather, resulting in an increase in radiant energy - the sun came out! Gravitational force pulling ferocious Whatcom Creek over the falls for which the park is named thundered at all times in a persistent reminder of the power of nature’s energy - it was loud! Mentor Steve taught us that the water in the creek is colder than the Pacific Ocean water at the surface, which combined with the raging and heavy surge of the water required constant vigilance on the part of both mentors and our first time EMA (Explorers Club Apprentice) and Vespula Veteran explorer, Xavier. It was nature in all its glory and we tried to soak in as much of it as we could in a few hours.
Of course, central to our interest is the Jumping Mice explorers. How was their energy, you might ask? Well, in just under 5 hours, we:
• played a name game so Xavier (and the mentors) could get to know who was who,
• checked out the juvenile salmon and trout in the rearing ponds,
• played a game of Cougar Stalks Deer,
• had lunch in the sun,
• launched sticks into the creek and watched them tumble over the falls,
• worked through the rules for Spider’s Web for a half hour or so,
• played Spider’s Web and Hide!,
• gave thanks in our closing circle, and
• checked out the raging creek one more time from the famous stone bridge.
Along the way, we learned about how to properly harvest licorice root, the qualities of Yew trees, the job of the Tribal Elder in Explorers Club, the importance of sitting in a circle when collaborating as a group, and marveled at the power of the creek.
Whew! Plenty of energy of all forms at Whatcom Falls Park for our outing. Of course, as long as no one gets hurt, on the inside or the outside, lots of energy is exactly what we want.
By no means is it our sole focus, however. We do things because they’re fun, energetic and exciting; we do things so the boys can learn and grow; we do things that combine the two. For example, most of our explorers love the game called Spider’s Web. It’s a capture the flag type game that emphasizes strategies that are often used by creatures in the wild, most notably stealth. Boys new to the game tend to run through the forest to get to the flag (or “food source” in our parlance) which more often than not leads to detection by the spider and a free trip back to the “web”, from which they need to start over. With greater experience, the boys are more inclined to sneak through the ferns and approach their prize stealthily. So, while playing a game, they’re learning about survival in the natural world.
In fact, before we begin a game of Spider’s Web, we discuss the ground rules for the day. This often involves meeting in a circle (so everyone can participate equally) to work through particulars such as how far the Spider needs to stay from the food source (to minimize “puppy guarding”). Or, as was the case on Sunday, how far away from the web a “fly” needs to be to free captured flies by waving them off. Our discussion was led by one of our explorers, whose job for the day was Tribal Elder. He did excellent work ensuring that all points of view were considered and consensus was reached. This takes a different kind of energy - a discipline on everyone’s part to listen, consider other’s input, suggest resolutions, and the like. The Jumping Mice are new to these Explorers Club expectations and get understandably antsy after a time in circle. On Sunday they showed great promise as they hung in there, mostly, for the better part of a half hour. It was great to see.
Two games of Spider’s Web and a round or two of Hide! and we were ready to call it a day. We have one more outing (Dec. 5 - check here for the details) in the opening chapter of the story that will be the Jumping Mice group experience. I can’t wait to see where their energy takes them.
Click here for more photos from our day at Whatcom Falls Park.

Townsend's Chipmunks and Jumping Mice Serve the Land

This weekend concluded our month long stretch of service outings at Connelly Creek. Throughout this time  we have had all fifteen groups (169 Explorers!) come out and give back to the land in a meaningful way. For this final weekend of work our main tool provider and partner in the project, the Bellingham Parks Department, came out to join us. Ray Edwards from the parks department has helped us immensely throughout the course of this project; from providing tools and starts to detailed guidance and instructions on how best to target our efforts. For this outing the Townsend's Chipmunks worked closely with Ray to learn how to use some new tools and techniques for planting species.

In our opening meeting the parks department had the Townsend's Chipmunks do something that was almost unheard of in Explorers Club, they were asked to take a test. The boys hardly flinched and quickly completed a short questionnaire on different species around our area and what it means to participate in Service Work. Leaving Paper and Pencils behind We gathered around Ray as she instructed us on our tasks for the day. That day we had Several different species to plant including; Ninebark, Red Osier dogwood, and sitka spruce. The Townsend’s Chipmunks did an excellent job giving Ray their attention and really engaging with the information.

At This time the Jumping Mice showed up and we all began the work of preparing the ground for planting. We dug blackbeary roots, racked up blackbeary trimmings, and packed it all out in trash cans. While most of us focused our work on the blackberry removal some of the boys worked on putting up a circular wire fence that would protect our new starts from the grazing deer that frequent Connelly Creek.  All the boys worked really hard during this time and we accomplished a lot. After about an hour we were ready to plant. 
Everyone Grabbed the starts and we began digging holes for each start. It was hard work but also very gratifying to see what had been a patch of blackberries turn into the beginnings of a native habitat. It didn’t take too long to plant all the species and get a solid 6” of mulch spread around everything. Standing back we all admired our work.

Throughout the whole outing I was continually impressed by the boys ability to work together as a group and communicate with one another even while doing physically demanding work. It was a really good opportunity for many of the boys to become good leaders amongst their peers and really support one another in their efforts. 
With our time running out we decided to focus the last part of our outing on spreading more mulch throughout the site to leave it in a good place for the next days group. As the Townsend’s Chipmunks Peeled off for their closing circle the Jumping Mice worked to tidy up any loose ends and organize the tools.

Explorers thank you for all of your hard work this weekend. It truly makes a big difference. Parents be sure to walk through this site with your Explorer so they can show you what they have been working on. It is truly amazing what the combined efforts of all these boys can do. We also have more photos from the outing in the Jumping Mice photo gallery and the Townsend’s Chipmunks photo gallery.  

The Jumping Mice begin their Explorers Club journey! 09/18/15

“Can we go to the forts?” 
We had barely come together for our first opening meeting as the Jumping Mice when this request was thrust forward. Of course, we had business to conduct first, but the idea was intriguing - to an eight year old boy, no doubt, but the adult mentors love to explore unknown forts as well.
Good thing that in Explorers Club we have a way to decide how we want to use our time together. That process relies on the “Tribal Elder”, one of the jobs assigned to the boys during our opening meeting. So after some excited tree climbing and random chasing, we formed a circle and introduced ourselves with a fun name game. The mentors then assigned a few of the jobs for the day, including the aforementioned Tribal Elder. The boys tend to assume this explorer will make decisions for the group, but not so. We work on developing a circular leadership model that strives for consensus, and it is the process of developing options, discussing the pros and cons of each viable option and coming to consensus that the Tribal Leader facilitates. 
Not long after our opening meeting broke up, we came to a fork in the trail and had our first opportunity to practice circular leadership. The Jumping Mice did quite well and shortly decided they couldn’t resist the allure of those mysterious forts. So off we went. Note that this was a little disconcerting for the mentors, neither of whom was familiar with what it would take to get to the forts and what we would find once there. But we were assured that they weren’t “too far” and that they were “cool”, arguments that were, at that moment, irrefutable.
The excitement of finally launching into a Boys Explorers Club (BEC) outing after a long wait and the fact that several of the boys knew each other from school or other activities, including other Wild Whatcom programs, contributed to lots of chatter and several requests for games along the trail. In fact, we played a few games of Hide!, taking advantage of a rich understory of ferns, berry bushes and trees, both downed and standing tall and proud. The boys love hiding; the mentors stress the elements of camouflage found in the natural world, from colors that blend with your environment to your motionless presence. We also ask the boys to come to agreement on the rules of engagement (e.g., should we count to 20 or 30 while everyone hides?) and then teach critical behaviors such as not pointing out where other boys are hiding!
Following a few games, we returned to hiking up the hill and soon reached the intersection of a “shortcut” to the forts. We decided to take a break for lunch and some free exploration. Before venturing out on the shortcut, the mentors assigned the rest of the jobs - Earth keepers, Knowledge keepers, Medicine man, TTTPP (Totally Terrific Toilet Paper Person), hunter/gatherer, hide measure, front scout and back scout (click here for more on the BEC approach to mentoring in the outdoors or ask your explorer or a mentor if you’re curious about any of the jobs).
The shortcut trail started innocuously enough, but after we skidded over a damp rock, soon dissolved into a scramble down a steep, scruffy hill. Note that all but a few of us still had little idea where we were going, so the thought of slip-sliding down this long hill into the unknown was somewhat disconcerting. Come to think of it, the thought of clamoring back up this hill was the truly disconcerting part! 
In BEC, we provide opportunities for the explorers to challenge themselves in situations that are demanding, safe and that provide immediate and natural consequences. We also emphasize an approach to these tests of will and ability we call Challenge by Choice (for more on this, and other Explorers club mottoes, click here). That is, each explorer is encouraged to “stretch his edge” by trying to do things that he’s not yet comfortable with, but always has the option to decide not to follow through with it. With the group scattered down the hillside, the mentors noticed that one of the boys was uneasy about continuing along this journey. So we stopped the group with a “crow call” (our universal signal - when explorers hear a crow call, they're to return to the sound of the call immediately) and stated that we would need to defer our exploration of the forts for now. A future outing, perhaps, when we choose a route that doesn’t involve slithering down such a steep, forbidding hillside. The Jumping Mice showed great consideration for their group mate by gamely reversing course and beginning our trek back to meet their rides. 
Mentor Finn engaged several boys along the way with an examination of several mushrooms that have appeared right on schedule (two weeks after the resumption of rains). Isn’t it nice to return to our familiar cool, damp weather after our warm, dry summer? In quiet moments on these BEC outings, I’m convinced I can hear the trees rejoicing at the return of nourishing rain. 
Speaking of quiet moments, we finished with two important activities focused on calming ourselves and reflecting on all that nature and life provide to us. First, a sit spot, in which we find a place to sit alone and quietly, attending to the splendor that surrounds us. We will endeavor to do this on every outing, as we connect ever more intentionally with nature.
Second, we circle up again for our closing meeting in which we each state something for which we’re thankful. Giving thanks is central to our approach to Explorers Club. 
The Jumping Mice are off on their Explorers Club adventure. Finn and Brian look forward to many fun, enriching outings with your boys. Perhaps we’ll even find those forts one day!
Check out the Jumping Mice photo gallery for more pictures from our exploration.