Jumping Mice Hone Their Focus to Construct Shelters

The Jumping Mice arrived at North Lake Whatcom Trailhead on Sunday for their second outing of the fall 2017 season. We gathered up, had our opening circle, and hit the trail. Our goal was to find a good location to practice our shelter building skills and perhaps play a round or two of Spiders Web.

Checking out the newly finished Chanterelle Trail and the new signage

From the start of the outing the group was energized and eager to hike up the trail in order to begin our work on shelter building. We finally found a place that fit our criteria for shelter building (ask your Explorer if they remember what to look for!) and settled in for some lunch. Transitioning into shelter building, we split into two groups and began construction of debris huts. This “competition” was a not only a good way to brush up on our shelter building skills, but each group had to work together as a team in order to complete their shelters in time.

Creating the framework (two Y-Sticks and a Backbone)

Adding all the Ribs

Gathering debris to pile on top

Finished with debris (for today, a legitimate survival shelter to keep warm in would require 2-3 feet of debris to properly insulate)

Throughout the day, the group boiled over with energy that made it difficult to focus in circle and listen to one another as well as the mentors. Although the energy made sitting in circle a practice in patience, it also provided an opportunity to learn how to demonstrate respectful listening and create a safe place for all voices to be heard.  We had a discussion around the importance of listening to one another and learning how to balance letting your energy out through playfulness and focusing your energy in order to listen in a thoughtful and respectful way.

Gathering up after discussing the importance of respecting one another

Done with shelter building, time to celebrate with Spider's Web!

Despite the drizzly weather and distractible energy, the Jumping Mice were able to focus their energy into the construction of two solid debris huts, an exciting game of Spiders Web, and a genuine circle of thanks at the end of the day. The progress this group made from the beginning of the outing to the end was substantial, and it is clear they are well on their way to not only becoming competent shelter builders, but thoughtful listeners as well.

Make sure to check out the rest of the photos from our outing here!

The lower mandible of a raccoon or possum that was found while collecting building materials

JM Squires Lake; 9/15/17

Welcome back, Jumping Mice families, for the third year of Explorer’s Club. We had a little turnover in the roster but most of the group remains as it was in 2016-17. 

One roster change of note is in the mentor ranks. I guess we kinda knew that Jedidiah was destined for grander things…he has moved on to lead tracking expeditions down toward Seattle (I think). In his place - presenting Adam! Your Explorers were very welcoming to Adam as they were to other changes in their group. A good thing, this embracing attitude! (motto- Widen the Circle)

Friday’s outing had a number of firsts. Along with Adam’s debut, the Jumping Mice also took their first ride on Merkel, one of Wild Whatcom’s two trusty buses (the other is Moose - you may also have heard of Stubs; it was retired a few years ago). It was a pretty quick run down to Squires Lake and your boys comported themselves well. 

In the early 1900’s Victor and Luia Squires purchased a large
tract of land, including the small lake, from Bloedel
Donovan Timber Company. Several generations of
Squires lived and worked the land until 1960. 

Once there, we scrambled up to the lake where we held our opening meeting. Our focus was our skill for the year - shelter building. Adam talked through the essential elements of an earth shelter (also known as a debris hut). He and I learned that the Jumping Mice already have a good knowledge of the materials needed and the process for construction. 

Now we get to enjoy it as Squires Lake. Here
the boys spot frogs.

While a promising start, we’ll need to wait for their October 1 outing at Stewart Mountain to see their “stuff”, as we were unable to access our planned work site above the beaver pond - too much underbrush and too little time to bushwhack through it. 

Leading the way?

So we turned to our budding navigator - a new job we’re piloting in the Jumping Mice -who directed us to a prime Spider’s Web spot. It was game on! The Jumping Mice asked eagerly for a mentor to play the Spider because “he’s fair”. We agreed this time, but soon an Explorer will fill that role. Having peers on both sides of the contest tends to stretch the boy’s edges (motto- Stretch Your Edge) by stressing their sense of honorable play. Many an Explorer’s cry of “not fair” has led not to lasting conflict but to constructive agreement. 

Ask your explorer to identify this plant.

Our game and closing meeting complete, we hiked around the lake and back to Merkel. A short return trip brought us a final first for the day. The 15th was a “Purple Friday” for Bellingham Public Schools but a normal school day at Samish Woods. We arrived to wade right into the pickup line with many Samish Woods parents! They were gracious as usual. And we at Wild Whatcom have learned our lesson. (motto- Turn Problems into Possibilities) Subsequent “Purple Friday” outings involving a bus ride will likely follow a different schedule. Stay tuned for further word.

Looking for a great spot to give thanks in our closing
meeting.

The Jumping Mice next outing is Sunday, October 1. Check the full schedule and the rest of the photos from our outing.

Tracking, discovering, playing: The Jumping Mice command Lookout Mountain

They’re closer than we realize, watching us as we amble through their space, being careful that we’re not there to do them harm. Mostly, we don’t notice them. But if one slows down and observes carefully, it’s quite possible to see the signs of their presence. 

The deer had clearly climbed this hill, so
off the Jumping Mice went to learn more.

We wanted to finish up our Tracking and Bird Language season strong, so Mentor Joey and I decided to stack our outline with activities (mostly games) that involved the “Six Arts of Tracking” (from Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature). 

The Jumping Mice are learning that "Fast is slow and
slow is fast" (BEC motto). That is especially true with
tracking.

When we detect signs of a deer, squirrel, salamander, etc., asking Who, What, Where, When, Why and How (The Six Arts of Tracking) is our template for successfully learning more. Thus, the outing outline focused on these six questions and related activities. 

We talked about naming the ravine we
found, (Jumping Mice ravine). It appeared
that it'd been some time since the last
Homo Sapiens had been by. 

Well, I’m here to tell you that we didn’t do a single one of those activities! And for all the right reasons. Our first objective was to find a track, after which Joey and I would talk about the questions to ask and…..blah, blah, blah. What happened when we found the deer tracks in the mud was SO-O-O much more valuable! The Jumping Mice immediately began following the tracks up a hill and along a ridge. They were on fire with curiosity and questions (some of which actually mapped into the Six Arts). The mentors had trouble keeping up with the Explorers’, both physically and intellectually. It was fun and, for me at least, memorable. And when a person experiences with his or her whole being, the lesson is more likely to be internalized. 

Down we went, amid mosses, a stream, and lots of
curiosity.

It’s funny — the Boys Explorers Club mentors build outlines around a flow that places the “work” early in the outing, followed by celebration and reflection. We put that flow aside for the Six Arts approach described earlier. However, after all the excitement of tracking the deer, we explored a little and found a spectacular ravine that provided the space for free exploration, just the thing to balance the more intense activity earlier. Ironically, while we were relaxing a bit, Mentor Joey spied a raccoon spying us from a near hill. He and a few of the boys quickly switched into tracking mode, but were unable to pick up the “scent”, as it were.

This mud pit provided the spark to a wondrous tracking
adventure.

We finished with a few games of Spiders Web, the only game we played all day! I’m confident the Explorers learned both the technique and the thrill of tracking. I know that Joey and I learned once again that sometimes the best mentoring involves setting the stage and getting out of the way.

Next time, for Spider's Web, CAMO!

This outing completes our 2016-17 Jumping Mice year. With two full years under our belts, we can begin to expand our focus by exploring new places and new skills, all the while revisiting what we've accomplished in years one and two. I'm excited to reconvene in September to amble further down the trail. Have a great summer and I hope to see some Jumping Mice in Wild Whatcom's summer camps. Check out the rest of the photos from Sunday's outing at Lookout Mountain.

The Jumping Mice learn about nature the hard way at 100 Acre Woods; 10/9/16

It was a little past noon when one of our Explorers inadvertently stepped on a Yellow Jacket nest during a game of Spider's Web. To quote from the related Wikipedia article, "These species have lance-like stingers with small barbs, and typically sting repeatedly." We certainly saw that behavior Sunday, as three of our number was each stung multiple times. In addition to the pain experienced by those unfortunate Explorers, each of the group members was justifiably alarmed at this sudden turn of events. "Expect the unexpected" is a Boys Explorers Club (BEC) motto, but no amount of preparation can keep your heart from racing when these wasps swarm. 

Hmmm...not supposed to look like this!

The mentors first concern was to quiet the excited reaction from all 11 Explorers. We identified the sting sites and treated with a little antibiotic, then turned our attention to reuniting the hurting three with their parents and discussing with the group what happened, why (see Life Cycle and Habits in the Wikipedia article), and how to react. You might want to check with your Explorer to ascertain how he's feeling and what he learned about wasp behavior. The boys, including those stung, were able to calm themselves and "Grasp the Nettle" (Motto).

A lighter moment with mentor Jedidiah

"Bees happen." was the reaction of a parent of one of the lucky boys who avoided the stingers. His perspective was typical among all the parents and illustrates an important approach that we at Wild Whatcom often see, and always appreciate, from parents. A caring but measured, unalarmed reaction communicates a lot to young boys. If you're not freaking out, they see that the situation is manageable. 

Spider's Web

This incident will likely stay with all the Jumping Mice for a while. Jedidiah and I will work to assure your Explorer that, while there are certainly hazards in the natural world, we will do everything in our power to keep them safe and teach them to be self-reliant in the outdoors despite those potential hazards.

Effective camophlage!

The "yellow jacket incident" dominated the experience, but it wasn't the only thing that transpired on Sunday. The Jumping Mice continue to struggle with the focus their mentors expect in circle. Mentor Brian will take responsibility for abandoning the "talking stick" approach too soon; we will reinstitute it soon. There has also been some turnover in the group membership, which could be resulting in social posturing. The presence of a Girls Explorers Club group nearby was a distraction as well. I'm not sure why they were squirrel-y, even before the yellow jackets struck. 

Fascinating mushrooms

Just so you know what we're saying to them - there are interesting and fun things older Explorers get to do such as carving, making and managing fires and backpacking (what is your Explorer looking forward to?). However, these are privileges that require focus and discipline and the mentors track whether each Explorer or group is ready to move up to these activities. The Jumping Mice have their shining moments, of course, but overall they're slow to embrace the necessary behaviors. No biggie; in the meantime, we'll have fun and learn other things. 

In circle...

Lest I forget to mention it, our skill for the fall is the Art of Harvest. There's so much going on in the forest this time of year; it's a good time to pay attention to all the land offers, how we impact it when we play and learn out there and what we do to mitigate the impact we have. To that point, we next meet at Connelly Creek for our service outing. Our work there will put a sharp point on the connection each of us has to our natural environment and afford us the chance to do some wholesome, satisfying work. We meet on October 29th, from 10:30 am 'til 2:30 pm.

See you there. More photos here.

A snake, crabs, and important social issues: The Jumping Mice experience Clayton Beach and more

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.