Often in life, it's when we begin to think we know what's best that we're ripe for getting taken down a notch. Such was the case during the Barred Owlets' Nov. 16 exploration outing at Lake Padden Park. And, in this instance, it was the mentors who were reminded to let go of "the plan" when nature or Explorers inspire.
But, I'm getting ahead of myself. It was a cold, clear, beautiful day when we gathered at the dog run area of the park. We began with a game of Balance of Nature. Each Explorer began the game as a Barred Owl, a mouse or as grass. The owl preys on the mice, the mice eat the grass and the grass decomposes the owl when it dies. Cycle of life. So, the owls chased the mice, the mice chased the grass and the grass chased the owls. When an explorer was tagged, he became a member of the group that tagged him. After a few minutes, we called STOP and counted the owls, mice and grass. Interestingly, there was just one mouse! We talked about what happens in the wild when the population of mice (or other element of the cycle) diminishes. We then played again for a few more minutes. Amazingly, at the end of the second round, all 10 explorers were mice! Now we saw how dynamic the interplay can be.
Following the game, we held our opening meeting. It was a short meeting this day due to the fact that some of the materials for jobs were unavailable to us. Originally, we were going to skip having jobs for this outing, but the boys suggested we could do several of the jobs without the missing materials. It was great to see their interest in contributing to the well being of the group. So those jobs that were available were assigned and we headed off to check out the trail map.
A few of the boys were excited to visit a "fort" they knew of. A look at the map revealed that said "fort" was in the opposite direction to the mentor's planned route. So we had a decision to make. The boys talked it over and decided to check out the "fort", to the consternation of "they who knew" (mentors). If you listened with all your senses, you probably would've sensed a silent "but, but…" from both mentors. Luckily, the coyote spirit took over just in time and the mentors followed the boys along the stream to a thicket of salmonberry bushes (the "fort", I think) and, to everyone's surprise, ice on the stream! 15 fun-filled minutes later, and to our relief, no immersions in the icy water, and the Barred Owlets had a true Explorer's Club experience to remember and retell at future gatherings. For their part, the mentors were reminded to stay humble and trust the boy's instincts.
Now the time was right to hike into the trees and hike we did. On the way, we played a few games of HIDE! and explored the cavity at the base of a fallen tree. Coyote den? Probably not - too big. Further along the trail, we had another decision to make; this way to a promising Spider's Web location or that way to search for an earth shelter that had been constructed by an older Explorer's Club group.The boys decided we had time to do both and to begin by looking for the shelter.
Up and over a ridge we climbed in search mode, with our efforts quickly rewarded. The shelter was well-constructed, but incomplete. So, while some ate lunch, others piled leaves on and tossed leaves into the shelter to provide a dry, warm place to spend a night or ride out a storm.
This operation soon morphed into multiple activities: shelter building, lunch, exploration and "hanging out". Before long, it was time to engage in that time-honored Explorer's Club game - Spider's Web. In this game, the designated spider guards the food source while the rest of the Explorers, or "flies", try to capture it and return it to its home base. Stealth and camouflage are key strategies for the flies, while constant attention serves the spider well. We had interesting terrain for the game, with the earlier summited hill on one side and a gradual drop off on the other. In the middle - many fallen trees to provide cover but also present obstacles. The spider chose to stay in the middle. I can only speak for myself, but this was challenging for the flies (of which I was a proud, but ineffectual member). I tried going down the incline and around behind to no avail. I tried climbing the hill and circling around that way…caught again. I was trying to navigate down the center when the game ended.
The sun, already low in the sky, was now dipping toward the horizon. Time for our closing meeting, which was delayed briefly as Steve demonstrated fire by friction, much to the fascination of a band of young boys eager to learn more and try it themselves. In due time.
Our closing meeting, a time to give thanks and share apples, was also a time to reflect on the group's first season together. Our thoughts ranged from our first outing at Whatcom Falls Park, where the boys first played HIDE! and Spider's Web and finished the outing swimming in Whatcom Creek, to our service outing at Connelly Creek, spent beating back Canary grass and uprooting blackberry bushes, to the heaviest rain of the season at the start of our exploration of the 100 Aker Wood, to the joy of discovering the icy stream at Lake Padden. Through it all, the boys got to know each other and the mentors, learned about Explorer's Club traditions and values, connected with the land, and contemplated all they had to be thankful for.
As with any group, it hasn't always been smooth sailing. Eight and nine year old boys overflow with physical energy that at time is poorly directed. Feeling, and sometimes bodies, are hurt. But the Barred Owlets are game to improve and surely embraced this opportunity enthusiastically. They're forming into a group with shared values, goals, experiences and memories. Steve and Brian are eager to pick up with these boys in the Spring to continue their journey of growth, maturation and connection.
For more pictures from the outing please visit the Barred Owlets photo gallery.
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