Barred Owlets Connelly Creek Service Outing - 10/4/14

It was a perfect Saturday afternoon for the Barred Owlets to partake in a day of service. We met near Connelly Creek, all thankful for the morning showers and the life they bring, but also glad things had cleared up a bit before we got to work healing the land that heals us. As the boys were dropped off, they quickly made their way down to the creek scampering back and forth across natural bridges of fallen trees making it safe and dry to the other side, well at least a majority of the boys and their feet remained dry. Little did they know the eldest group, the Vespula Veterans who had arrived an hour earlier, were staked out in the nearby shrubbery waiting patiently to surprise the younger group. Once all the Barred Owlets had arrived, we meandered our way to the service site all whilst being watched unbeknownst to the younger boys. As we rounded the bend in the path and arrived at the service site there was a rustling in the bushes. In the blink of an eye a dozen elder boys had joined our group, ready and willing to teach these younger boys the importance of our service work and how to do it safely and responsibly.

We gathered in a circle, much larger than usual with two groups, and all shared our names and familiarized with one another. Next came a quick briefing by the Vespula Veterans on all the different tools that NSEA (Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association) had lent us to use for this outing. The older boys taught us which tools to use for which job, and how to properly handle the tools in a safe and responsible fashion. Armed with knowledge and a plethora of shovels, shears, loppers, and clippers the boys were now ready to begin understanding the Boys EC motto; “Many hands make light work.”

There was much to be done at the service site. There were still many fearsome and resilient Himalayan Blackberries tangled amongst the trees and bushes. The ones that had been cut back the previous week still had their powerful roots dug in deep, clinging to the soil. Many of the boys tackled this dilemma by quickly setting up a system; some of the boys hacked away at the thorny vines while others jammed the freshly cut pieces into a large garbage can where still more boys were waiting at the ready with clippers to cut them down to size for bagging. While this was going on, the rest of the boys were snipping away at the rugged reed canary grass with their shears stemming the tide in the grasses battle with the native red alders over the nutrients in the soil.

Once we had made good progress on the blackberries and cut and flattened a good patch of reed canary grass it was time to spread the huge pile of mulch that was left by the park service. Boys young and old scurried over the large mound like ants over a nest, busily shoveling mulch into empty garbage cans so they could be carried off by more boys, dumped, and spread. We focused our work around a juvenile dogwood that is struggling to establish itself and join forces with the native red alders in shading out the invasive grasses. As the mulch pile slowly shrunk, it was time for the older boys to leave providing the Barred Owlets an opportunity for some good group bonding while finishing up the rest of the mulching process.

With the elder boys gone, the younger boys didn’t miss a beat and took after their hardworking elder brethren. In fact, it almost seemed as though the younger boys were on a mission to outdo the older group. The mulch pile seemed to shrink as though a sink hole had opened up beneath it. The boys were demonstrating a tremendous work ethic in conjuncture with impressive group management skills that will serve them well in their bright futures. With the mulching done, the boys transitioned seamlessly from labor to leisure as they took turns crawling into the empty garbage cans and rolling one another around the service sight leaving a wake of smiles and laughter.

Because the boys worked so hard and finished their service work with time to spare we were able to play a fantastic game of Fox Tails in the field. As the game began, a light drizzle settled in adding a new, rather slippery element to Fox Tails. However, it was impossible to tell a difference in the boy’s attitude and demeanor and an epic round of Fox Tails began to unfold before us. The boys were diving for one another’s bandanas, sneaking up on one another, and even attempting to lure in an unsuspecting pursuant by pretending to be oblivious of their presence only to spring their trap at the last second and snag the bandana of the opposition.

Before we knew it, the time had come for our closing circle. We gathered up and each boy took a turn sharing something they were thankful for while apple slices were shared amongst the circle. Many of the boys were thankful for the land we have been honored with the responsibility of caring for. Other boys were thankful for various acts of kindness from the other boys that helped make our service outing that much more enjoyable. We then gathered up our packs and trudged back to meet the parents after a long day of service. Most reasonable people would have figured the boys tired and ready for a meal and some relaxation, however this was not the case. On the way back boys battled one another with their bandanas establishing a few playful rivalries and sowing the seeds of strong friendships for the future. The boys briefly acknowledged the presence of their loving parents before slipping back down the muddy bank to the creek to continue their bandana duels and splash around in the water clearly unconcerned with the interior of their parental unit’s vehicle; just another day in the life of a young explorer.