The Jumping Mice completed their first year as an Explorers Club cohort with their Clayton Beach outing on Saturday. That’s cause for celebration, so we began with an “Epic” game of Spiders Web.
Imitating animals in the wild, Spider’s Web rewards guile and stealth. A swarm of “flies” attempts to sneak past the watchful spider to capture his food source and return it for a feast. On this day, the spider (mentor Brian), protected the food source well, until he wandered too far in pursuit of hiding flies and lost his treasure.
We followed that up with “The Wildlife is Watching”, another game that emphasizes quiet and stillness when being stalked. One might be tempted to accuse the mentors of using this game to conceal a Sit Spot!
Before heading to the water, mentors Conor and Brian spoke with the Jumping Mice about the graffiti recently scrawled on the rocks at the beach. They were uncharacteristically focused as we talked about vandalism, hate speech, WW II and more.
An Explorers Club motto is particularly relevant - The Trail is the Teacher 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.
We offered an ear to any boy troubled by the graffiti when we got down to the beach. None took us up on our offer. We also encouraged them to talk with a trusted adult if they had questions or concerns after the outing. 
Clayton Beach is a natural playground like few other. The Jumping Mice took full advantage. Rocks were overturned, crabs and sea anemones were examined, deer tracks were, well, tracked, rocks were climbed….
A game of “Otter Steals Fish” simulated that reality of life in the wild.
We finished the outing and the season as we always do, with a circle of thanks. The boys spoke their appreciation for the wondrous gifts bestowed by our natural surroundings and for the opportunity to experience it through Explorers Club and the Jumping Mice cohort. Mentors Conor, Bobby and Brian extend their thanks to the Jumping Mice parents and guardians who entrust their young sons to our care for these outings. We feel privileged and grateful to know your boys.
Click here for more photos from our outing. Have a great summer; we look forward to seeing you in the fall.
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