Rocky shore and forested trails; the Barred Owls traverse Larrabee to Clayton, 5/13/17

Imagine, if you will, being awakened in your houseboat (play along…don’t let the fact that you don’t have a houseboat deter you from losing yourself in this entrancing story!) by this sound. As you no doubt figured out if you clicked through to hear the sound, it comes from the fish known as the midshipman (from markings on its body that resemble buttons on a naval uniform). The fish lives along the Pacific coast of North America, ranging from Alaska to Mexico, and regularly awakens houseboat residents during mating season. 

Our day started cool and showery...great weather for
exploring along a rocky shoreline.

According to Wikipedia, “The fish produces the sound using the muscles of its modified swim bladder.^[10] It receives the sound in its saccule, a sensory organ in the inner ear. During the breeding season, hormones induce the microscopic anatomy of the female's saccules to change in such a way that she can better sense the harmonics of the male's calls.” Think about this example of the wonders of the natural world. The female experiences hormonal changes that tune it to the male’s call. Amazing.

Note the treeline at the water...and the handsome Explorer!

I was telling the Barred Owls about this fish (some midshipmen, but not the Salish Sea populations, are also bioluminescent, by the by) as we started down the beach from the Larrabee boat launch on Saturday. I had just learned about the midshipmen, which fertilize eggs along rocky shores and protect the eggs by laying between rocks. So, I was pleasantly surprised when several Explorers called to me to point out a midshipman laying between a few rocks. A great example of the power of attention; the boys were tuned in to the possibility of seeing this fish and ….. there it was!

Here's the male midshipman guarding the eggs - cool!

This was just one example of the wonders of our rocky shores as experienced by the Barred Owls last Saturday. There were crabs, of course, and gulls, and kelp and on and on. The Explorers were totally immersed; not in the bay, but in exploring along the beach. 

Amazing life in this rough, rocky habitat.

Up close and personal.

Halfway through our hike, we switched from rocky shore to forested trails (stop to think about that for a second…we are so fortunate to live in such a diverse, spectacular, stimulating environment). Progress was quicker without the distractions of the intertidal zone, and we were soon in more familiar territory near Clayton Beach. We took advantage of our remaining time and this place we love so much to explore, relax and play. 

It was an outstanding wrap-up for the Barred Owls year. The power of the places we traversed brought out the explorer in each of us as we reveled in the company of friends in the outdoors. 

If you haven’t already, check out Wild Whatcom’s summer offerings. We just opened an additional Anderson Watson Lakes backpack trip for grades 5-9! August 14-16.

In the meantime, check out the rest of the photos from Saturday’s outing. And enjoy your summer. We’re looking forward to seeing you in the fall.

The Barred Owls traverse Whatcom Creek; 9/18/16

The Barred Owls traversed Whatcom Creek on Sunday, from below Civic field to Bloedel-Donovan park. In doing so, we got up close and personal with 2.2 of the 4 miles that the creek covers from Lake Whatcom to Bellingham Bay. After Saturday's rain and clouds, we were thankful to see lots of sun and temperatures warm enough to temp many of us into the creek, not once, but twice!

Whatcom Creek is emblematic of Bellingham, as the place where the native Lummi fished for hundreds of year before European settlers saw the advantages of settling where the creek empties into the bay. We focused on Whatcom Falls Park, where the stream loses much of its 350' elevation loss. 

David Sobel (an education writer who has contributed to the philosophy of place-based education) said: "If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered, then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it." Mentors Joey and Brian (and wonderful Explorers Club Apprentice Logan) set the table for this nature connection by guiding the group through forest and stream; this beautiful place did the hard work. 

The allure of the creek was strong. We hadn't gone very far when the boys decided they needed to get down to the water. 

A little further down the trail found several boys in the cold water.

After our first dip, we found a forested spot for games of Hungry, Hungry Marten and Spider's Web. We also played several rounds of Hide! Looks like this explorer needed a break from the fun.

Cooking up some mischief!

Check out the dappled sunlight. What a glorious day!

It took a few tries, but we found the swimming hole we were looking for!

Why crawl along the long spanning the swimming hole? Because it's there, of course!

They were interested in the dam that regulates the creek's flow. We were interested in the lineup of packs along the rail.

Wild Whatcom isn't alone in feeling that it's about the journey, not the destination (motto). And Sunday's outing was living proof. We packed effort, laughter, excitement and appreciation of the land into a scant 2.2 miles. The Barred Owls are in a good place right now. The boys enjoy each other's company; they approach our outings with energy; they welcome new members openly (as they did on Sunday) and they care for and help each other. Thanks for affording us the opportunity to work with them through Boys Explorers Club.

We took more photos, of course. Our next outing takes place Sunday, October 16th at North Galbraith Mountain. It should be a perfect time to focus in on our skill for the fall - shelter building. We look forward to seeing you then.

Presto! The Barred Owls change an exploration into a traverse at Lake Padden

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. Sunday was no different. With a high wind warning for mid-afternoon, we decided to play it safe and switch from our planned exploration to a traverse to the Lake Padden dog park area, which would put us in easy striking distance of an open field away from forest hazards should the winds come early. 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.

With our senses heightened, we strode confidently into Lake Padden park (from Galby Lane) and circled up for our opening meeting. The Barred Owls (note that we’ve dropped the “et” because we’ve been at this for a while now - no longer babies) have come a long way from last fall when we were just learning how to respect each other in our meetings. Remember the five finger contract? We barely find the need to invoke it anymore. Always more work to do, of course, but the mentors are grateful for the progress these boys have made. 

OK, jobs assigned and caution about the weather expressed, we were off to decide on a spot to practice our skill for the fall - shelter building. I trust the reader is well aware that when we work on a skill the mentors aren’t just interested in a shelter or a spoon carved from a fallen tree. Along with the aforementioned self-reliance, we look for traits such as problem solving (motto - Turn problems into possibilities), teamwork (motto - Many hands make light work), careful effort (motto - Slow is fast and fast is slow), focus and more. The Barred Owls are interested in moving on to carving, as most groups are at about this age. So Joey and I talked with the boys about the behaviors we’re looking for as we consider their readiness for that activity. 

We’re going to have to work on our stump speech, because their effort was inconsistent at best. Not surprisingly, some boys’ work was more disciplined than others. We all learn and develop at our own pace. Overall, however, our assessment was that the Barred Owls, as a group, aren’t ready. Brian (Joey’s off to Nicaragua for 12 - 18 months to teach, travel and explore) will look for signs of improved readiness when we reconvene in the spring; progress can happen rapidly at this age.

With the shelter built, we had some lunch (with a watchful eye on the wind), then moved down the trail to be closer to the dog park area and the open field. Along the way, we found an intriguing spot to play that Explorers Club favorite, Spider’s Web. In another example of the Barred Owls’ progress, we were able to resolve a conflict concerning who would be the spider thanks to some nice work by our tribal elder and a quick Rock, Paper, Scissors match. 

Spider’s Web is about stealth and resourcefulness. The spider guards the “food source” while the flies (everyone else) try to capture it and return it to the web. On our selected course, the food source was uphill from the web, which provided the spider with a high perch from which to call out the flies. After a few trips back to the web, the flies had to raise their game by selecting new routes, moving more stealthily, and possibly collaborating with fellow spies. 

Then something interesting happened: the spider changed identities. I’m not sure how that happened or why, but half way through, the spider and one of the flies switched roles. Hmmmm. Curiously, the rest of the spies just played on as if it was the most natural thing! The game ended when the muddied flies managed to return the food source to the web.

It was after two now and still little wind. It was beginning to dawn on us that we were going to make it through without having to dash for the field! After hiking the rest of the way down, we circled up again for our last meeting of the season. We gave thanks, said “So long!” to Joey and talked about where we might want to go in the spring. The allure of the Salish Sea was evident as both Clayton Beach and Teddy Bear Cove were suggested. 

As I see it, the Barred Owls have moved through the Forming and Storming stages of group developmentand are now Norming as they mature and internalize the Boys Explorers Club culture. It’s been rewarding to watch them morph from a collection of rascally individuals to a loosely formed cohort. I’m looking forward eagerly to their continued evolution and their emergence as a Performing team.

Click here to look at the rest of the photos from our traverse.

Also, note that we have a schedule of outings in the winter in which your explorer might have an interest. Have a peaceful holiday season. I'm looking forward to seeing you in the spring.

The Barred Owlets conquer the Teddy Bear traverse

BO 10/25/15  Teddy Bear Cove traverse - Blog

One of the things about my personal experience of parenting that most impressed me was the way each child morphs into several different kids over the course of growing into adulthood. Preschoolers are filled with wonder at the little things; eight to ten year-olds (in my experience) are the most joyous people in the room; adolescents are confused much of the time; teenagers are…well, you get the point. Trying to keep pace with, or heaven forbid, stay ahead of the changes is a demanding and rewarding aspect of parenting.

I learned that lesson again on Halloween when the Barred Owlets traversed from the North Chuckanut trailhead to Teddy Bear Cove. Joey and I fretted over how they would handle the bushwhacking, the hazards, the focus required to succeed in what we perceived as an outing that would be a stretch for them. How would they react to the sting of the dreaded Devil’s Club? Would fatigue wear on their spirits, causing them to snipe at their peers (or - aghast! - their mentors!)? Were we asking them to stretch their edges a little too far?

I’m thrilled to report that none of that happened. Rather, your boys dispatched this challenge with aplomb. Elation was the emotion most often expressed, as when we took time out from our hike to play not one, but two games of Spider’s Web. A sense of accomplishment was the sentiment voiced when the boys learned they had completed the most difficult part of the traverse. Disappointment found its way into their countenance only when they learned we needed to stop doing what we were doing because we needed to move on. Joey and I, and volunteer mentor Conor, were nourished by both the land and the boys on this rainy, then cool and cloudy, Saturday. It was an outstanding day - one for the photographic, inscribed and mental memory banks.

We started in the rain at the very familiar North Chuckanut trailhead parking lot. Rather than head into the Chuckanuts, though, we crossed Chuckanut Drive (the first of three times) and dropped into a wooded area not far from Bellingham Bay. In our opening meeting, the mentors stressed the hazards and challenges the day would present us, but assured the explorers that they were ready to handle them (truer words were never spoken, as it turned out). We then played a few games of Hungry, hungry martin. Sufficiently warmed and enthused by the games, we departed south and soon reached the end of the trail. As we discussed the best bushwhacking route - on the side of the hill or across the flats - I watched for hesitancy in the faces of the boys. We faced approximately 3/8 mile of off-trail hiking punctuated with downed trees to be vaulted, Devil’s Club to be avoided a la ‘Elastic Man’, mud to be navigated, and more. But no iffy expressions. In fact, if that sounds to you like an ideal day for a bunch of 10 year-old boys, you’re catching on to the zeitgeist of our outing. Nothing too scary on this Halloween!

We cleared through the scrubby patch in good shape and ahead of schedule, so we taught Conor how to play Spider’s Web and “allowed” him to be the spider for our second game. The flies had a good day on this ideal Spider’s Web course, with two victories. Following these games and some lunch, we resumed our search for the Woodstock Farm trails and were soon reviewing maps of the area to get a sense of where we were and what lay ahead. 

What lay ahead was our second crossing of Chuckanut Drive and connecting with the Interurban trail that would transport us to the point from which we were to descend to Teddy Bear Cove. A third Chuckanut Drive crossing and we were within striking distance of the cove.

The last manmade hazard before Teddy Bear Cove was the crossing of the train tracks, which happened without incident. At this point, one either goes north or south around a small mesa, if you will, as both directions lead to a beach or up to the flat-topped hill. We met at the top and determined we had time for free play. If you haven’t ever been to Teddy Bear Cove, I recommend you make time. Depending on the tides, there are two small to medium size beaches and the hill in between. The explorers played in the sand, found multiple routes up and down the steep hillside or just took it easy in a beautiful spot.  

Several boys, and all the mentors, took advantage of the view over the Salish Sea for our sit spot. Astounding is not too dramatic a term to characterize the location for connecting with the beauty and wonder of our natural neighborhood.

Back across the tracks and up the hill to meet our rides at the end of a spectacular outing. These boys have morphed since last year and I’m challenged to keep up with their ever expanding skills and desires in the outdoors.

Click here for more photos of our traverse.

The Barred Owlets traverse Padden Creek to Connelly Creek

As the old saying goes: The best laid plans.....

Our intention for our first traverse as a group was to follow the lifecycle of the salmon by hiking from MarinePark to the Connelly Creek service site on the trail that follows the creek through Fairhaven Park. You may remember we began the spring season by talking about the water in our bodies. Of course, mother nature complemented our conversation by providing all sorts of water in the form of a steady downpour! On the next outing, we talked about estuaries when we visited Clayton Beach. Then, we worked hard to restore the Connelly Creek service site to foster the salmon traverse. So, it made sense to tie it all together with this nicely organized hike.

But, like I said, the best laid plans....

We took off from Marine Park and headed to the estuary where Padden Creek empties into the bay. We talked about the near shore habitat as we observed the low tide, then crossed over to the south to follow Padden Creek. So far, so good. 

We hadn’t gone 50 yards, though, when the draw of the creek proved too powerful for the explorers. Several boys dropped down from the trail to the creek and splashed in. Can you feel the nice, neat plan falling by the wayside? A few more boys in the creek and we faced a decision as a group...should we abandon the trail and hike the creek bed? Thanks to our dry spring, the water level is low, which tempted even those without water ready footwear to try rock-stepping, rock-hopping, trail-side wandering and otherwise following the water without getting too wet. Or so we thought...

The explorers were excited to venture off the beaten path. A few saw a trout, all figured out how to vault over the log lying across the creek and several tested the echo-level in one of the tunnels. We were feeling pretty good about ourselves when we got to a spot that was a bit deeper - a bigger challenge for the boys trying to stay dry, more excitement for those who were OK with getting wet.

Of course, we don’t shrink from a reasonable challenge at Explorers Club (check out our Stretch Your Edge and Challenge by Choice mottos here). And that’s a key takeaway from this outing. We challenged the boys to accomplish their first traverse and then raised the stakes by dropping into the creek for much of the hike, and they responded. It’s nice to see their connection with the land deepen with each outing. And just as nice to see them stretch their edges to accept the challenges that come with spending time in the outdoors. They’re doing great! So, all’s good, right? Well......

Back to our intrepid explorers in that higher level water. A few were doing their best to keep their boots and socks dry by edging along on what turned out to be wet clay, not the Chuckanut sandstone they thought (hoped?) it was. Quicker than you can say, “It’s raining, it’s pouring; let’s go exploring!” they were in the creek up to their navels! 

By now, everyone was wet to varying degrees. Fortunately, the boys were ready to deal with the consequences of our adventurous nature, the weather cooperated (I wouldn’t wanted to have this happen on that first outing!), and we still had enough time hiking to dry most of the pants, socks, and boots. 

When the creek and Interurban Trail parted ways, we climbed back up to the trail and headed east toward the Connelly Creek service site. Hiking the trail was a nice break that lasted until we crossed Old Fairhaven Parkway. Connelly Creek is in the tall grasses, but access is limited at this point. So, back off trail. This time, we bushwhacked our way to Connelly Creek and back into the water!

Amazingly, we arrived at the service site right on time to make some tea and enjoy the cookies Steve made to atone for forgetting the apples at Clayton Beach. A sit spot to reflect on nature’s wonders and a round of thanks in our closing meeting, and the Barred Owlets’ spring 2015 season passed quietly into posterity. 

Sincere thanks to you for entrusting your boys to our care during the spring. Try as we might, we couldn’t keep them dry (even when the sun was shining) but we believe their time in the outdoors is therapeutic. We look forward to spending more time with them at camps over the summer and back to Explorers Club in the fall. Check here for photos from our traverse.