Vespula Veterans Serve Connelly Creek with the Barred Owlets

Serving the land is a critical component of the Boys Explorers Club.  Service is an act of humility and the land demands that—ask any of the boys who were on our “mellow” backpacking trip to the Lilly and Lizard lake this summer.  In Boys Explorers Club we often use the land more than other folks traveling in our area.  We leave the trail to seek deeper connection to the place where we live by studying the abiotic and biotic elements in the landscape.  We leave the trail to practice sit spot, and play games that teach us to move quietly through the land and pay attention.  Our service outing is a way for us to repay the land and our community for the gentle impacts we do make.

Steve and Greg spent quite some time discussing how to best prepare the Vespula Veterans for working with the younger boys—The Barred Owlets.  Though the age difference between the two groups isn’t vast, they are in very different places in they journey with Explorers Club as well as their broader lives outside.  So when all of the Vespula Veterans had arrived we quickly gathered and headed to the service site.  Steve and Greg presented the work that needed to be accomplished before the Barred Owlets arrived and tasked the Vespula Veterans organize and run our opening meeting.  They quickly dispersed and got to work.  They organized the tools and gathered in a circle to both discuss how they would present tool safety to the Barred owlets as well as listening to Greg and Steve present so background and useful tools on working with the age group that the younger boys were in. 

The Vespula Veterans have become very efficient at group work.  They have a healthy balance of keeping our circles light and fun but also getting the work done and being willing to struggling with things that are more complex or difficult to discuss as a group.  Because of this efficiency the Vespula were able to hide and ambush the younger boys.  This has become somewhat of a tradition at this point.  It provides the older boys with an opportunity to see how well they can camouflage themselves and the younger boys (who arrive an hour later) a chance to see how well they are paying attention to the land.  For the first time the older boys remained completely undiscovered!  It was also a sneaky way for Steve and Greg to disguise a 25-minute sit spot!

With both groups together the Vespula presented how to safely use tools and set our collective service team up for a good day of work.  Our tasks at the service site remain the same as last season.  We are trying to get the Reed Canary Grass under control by promoting the growth of Red Alder trees, and various native shrubs such as Willow, Red Osier Dogwood, and Hardhack to create shade and eventually displace the Canary grass.  We are still digging out Blackberry Roots and spreading much and wood chips to aid in this process.

The Vespula and the Owlets worked side-by-side getting the work done.  This service day was very focused in where we applied our efforts compared to other service days in the past.  The boys were focused and their efforts digging, cutting and hauling were tremendous.

At 3:15 Steve and Greg called the Vespula Veterans out of the service area and we headed to a different part of Connelly Creek a couple of minutes away.  This section had been restored about 10 years ago and is free of the invasive species that are in our service site.  Under the shade of alders we held our closing meeting.  Once the apples were sliced we were able to give thanks and then hold a discussion about the day.  Steve and Greg wanted to hear from the Vespula Veterans about their experience and asked “What surprised you the most about working with the younger boys?”  There were many rich comments.  Some were surprised at the Owlets strong work ethic.  Some were surprised by the inability to ignore the machete that was “off limits” to them.  One sibling was surprised (and apparently relived) to discover the typically rambunctious behavior of his younger brother was not present in Explorers Club.  Our conversation was rich especially given that this has been the first opportunity for the Vespula Veterans to take on their EMA (Explorers Mentoring Apprenticeship) work as a whole group.  At our next two outings Greg and Steve will be making space at our opening meetings to hear and EMA stories or puzzles so that the mentors can continue to support the growth of the Vespula Veterans in their Four Shields Journey.

Our day concluded with a look ahead to our upcoming outing on Sunday, October 12^th.  We will be piling aboard Stubbs and heading to Hovander Homestead Park to meet community member Time Flores who will show us some ancient hunting tools and offer us the opportunity to learn how they work.  If you still have your atlatl from the summer backpacking trip bring it along.  If you left it behind, or accidentally put in the fire like Greg do not fret as there will be many to share.

As always thank you Vespula Veterans for your hard work helping to restore balance to the land, your compassion for the younger boys and your willingness to take on all the leadership roles we have thrown at you.  It is such a pleasure to work with you and I am glad to joining you again so soon.  Finally thanks again to the parents and families that support all of us in this work.  Steve and Greg feel so fortunate to be working with your sons and appreciate your trust!

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.

The Barred Owlets Explore Whatcom Falls Park

The Barred Owlets arrived at Whatcom Falls Park for their first Exploration ever! It was nice to see that so many Explorers in the group already had either explored with us on a summer camp or was a little bit oriented with the Boys EC culture. Saying goodbye to our parents and circling up we played a round Name Tag to get acquainted. After the game the mentors took a little time to introduce the Explorers to our circle style council and talk about its importance within our group. In the Boys EC our circle is scared. A circle is the space where we can work out our differences, Speak Our Truths, andCollaborate and Compromise. Our circle is a place for inclusion and somewhere to belong to. On our outings we strive for interdependency amongst our group members and we act on consensus through shared leadership. This model of interdependency amongst peer’s roots from the interdependent relationships we see in our larger community in our outings.  

On our Explorations each Explorer is given a job, which helps the group function. Recognizing that the group was ready to move the mentors handed out the first job, the Tribal Elder. The role of the Tribal Elder within the group is to help everyone make decisions. Since We Are All Leaders in the Explorers Club the mentors asked the boys which way we should head. Going around the circle it was clear that the boys had many opinions on which way we should go. After some group process and facilitation by the Tribal Elder the boys decided to head towards the bridge and then loop around to Derby Pond on the way out. It’s powerful to watch the Explorers learn to work as a group and let go of their individual wants and accommodate the feelings and ideas of others.

Crossing the bridge in Whatcom Falls the Explorers marveled at the waterfall and Sandstone cliffs. Once we were in a safe spot the mentors called the group in to teach them a very important Explorers Club game called Hide! To playHide all an Explorer has to do is call it out. Once he calls Hide the rest of the group has thirty seconds to find a place where they are hidden from the seeker but can see him. Then the seeker tries to find as many hiders as he can, eventually holding up a number on his hand and those who were not found can come out of their hiding place and whisper the number in his ear to let the seeker know that they could see him. Hide is not only a fun and challenging game, it also helps the Explorers learn the Art of Camouflage. The more they experiment with blending into their surroundings the more they start to recognize how patterns, colors, and shapes are connected in the forest. These connections are an essential tool as the Explorers deepen their skills in tracking and naturalist observation.

After a few rounds of Hide the group was in need of lunch. Finding a nice spot along the trail the group ate as Brian shared some naturalist knowledge about Barred Owls. There is much to be earned from the Barred Owl in the way of awareness, camouflage, and stealth. Brain explained that owls have excellent peripheral vision and this helps them hone in on prey. Practicing our Owl Eyeswe spread our arms out as far as we could see while looking straight ahead. Recognizing that this animal form could help them in Hide and other games the Explorers were eager to learn more. Brain also taught the group Deer Ears. Deer’s have large bowl shaped ear that can turn to face the direction that they hear movement. These sensitive ears can pick up even the slightest movement or bird alarm in the forest.  Cupping our ears with our hands we turned to face Whatcom Creek and found that the sounds of the rushing water was amplified ten fold. Taking our hands away from our ears we could barely hear the water.  In the landscape, no matter how big or small, everything has a lesson and a skill to teach if we pay enough attention.

Heading out from our lunch spot we navigated off the beaten path and followed a deer trail. It was exciting to watch the Explorers track the deer’s movement. Crawling over fallen trees and pushing through Sword Ferns the group ended up at to prime location for games. It was an edge to be off trail for a few Explorers. This was a great chance for the mentors to talk about navigation through the forest and the importance of always being aware of our surroundings and the cardinal directions. Circling up the Mentors explained the rules to what we believe to be the greatest game, Spider’s Web.In this game one person is the spider and the rest are flies. The goal of the flies is to try and find the food source and bring it back to their home without getting captured and put into the spider’s web. This game combines the stealth and camouflage skills of Hide with elements of capture the flag. Brian was the spider in the first game and it proved to be quite a challenge. In the end the flies were able to retrieve the food source and get it back to their base. The game of Spider’s Web lasted for over forty-five minutes and once we were done we circled up to decide how to best use the last hour and a half of the outing. Coming to another collaborative group decision the boys decided to play another round for a half hour and then navigate back to the creek for what could be the last opportunity to swim until next summer.

For the next round of Spider’s Web we decided to have two spiders and the challenge of this adaptation proved to be a point of contention for the group. After twenty-five minutes of a very frustrating game for some, we circled up to try and work out some issues. The group was arguing over who had won and whether or not the game was fair. Going around the circle we gave everyone a chance to share and be heard and in the end the mentors shared that it did not matter who won and lost what really mattered was that we had clear agreements on the rules before starting, challenged ourselves even when the task seemed daunting, and played the game with honor and courage.

We ended our day by swimming in the creek. Some of the boys crawled over a log that spanned the creek while others navigated up stream, trying to balance on rocks as the current pulled them in the opposite direction. Calling the group in for a closing meeting, the boys didn’t want to get out of the water. We held them to the time management decision they made earlier. Our closing meeting is a chance to debrief our day and to give thanks as a community. Practicing our Attitude of Gratitude the Explorers gave thanks for the ability to explore such a wonderful patch of land, for games and challenges, for the beautiful weather, for friendship and comradery, for wild places to swim, and for the opportunity to work together. The Barred Owlets are forming as a group and doing a great job wrestling with the new challenges that come with the Boys EC’s group culture. Dealing with those tough processes like: how do we Collaborate and Compromise, respect each other’s physical and emotional space, make each other feel safe and welcomed, and hold to the agreements that we make as a group? The Mentors are thankful for such a warm and sunny outing at Whatcom Falls. We look forward to many future explorations with the Barred Owlets, rich with exploration, adventure, and group process. 

For more pictures from the outing please visit the Barred Owlet’s photo gallery.