The Ozette Passage

THE OZETTE PASSAGE:

 Written by: Steve Keller

            The Firstalkers transition from the Boy’s Explorers Club to the Four Shields Program was marked on their two-day backpack to Lily and Lizards Lakes. The passage recognized the need for the program that grew with the maturing abilities and mindset of the Firestalkers while connecting them to a larger community who recognizes them as contributing members.  As the Four Shields pilot season went on, it was clear to see that the Firestalkers were undergoing part of a much large transition, sitting at the juncture of a childhood to adolescence. The Firestalkers have begun wandering through the wilderness of our culture while the growing shadow of self-awareness follows closely behind them. Time and time again they expressed the desire for autonomy and self-reliance. Adolescence and independence can be both a crisis and a opportunity. At this point in an immerging adults life, it is common to be faced with: introspection, guilt, self-judgment, repression, addiction doubt, anger and fear. It is also a stage in our lives where we can find our self-worth, self-acceptance, and gifts. This is the place where we grow and mature feeling the powers inherited along the way to adulthood. Our present day society as a whole lacks a proper means by which we mark the transition from the childhood into the phase of life immerging adulthood. The Firestalkers story and experiences on this Ozette Passage have served as psychical and spiritual marker this transition. For 50,000 years different cultures have been using various Rite of Passage ceremonies to mark these transitions. The Ozette Passage is yet another form of the same ancient ceremony. This passage has have defined what it is to find meaning in life changes and what it is to be a growing and caring male in the world.  This work will continue to empower individuals to become vital forces of the community and who care deeply for each other long after are gone.  

            For the Firestalkers the Ozette Passage not only marked the entrance into their new life stage, it was also the culmination of years of Earth Skill development on outings and overnights in order to be able to survive, thrive and enjoy in the wilderness.  This expedition to rugged North Coast Wilderness would serve as one measure to test the Firestalker’s: skill, trust, group dynamics, self-reliance, courage, endurance, and patience.

A Journey to a Costal Wilderness: Day 1 

            After days of food and equipment gathering, expedition planning, and email sending - Stubbs was gassed up and the mentors were ready to go. The Firestalkers gathered at the parking lot of Samish Woods Montessori with their backpacks in hand. We quickly packed up the gear on Stubbs and headed south on I-5 minus one Firestalker, Asher. He was late and with some quick thinking we arranged to have him meet us in Port Townsend on another ferry. Crossing over Deception Pass and then Straights of Juan de Fuca as they surged into the mouth of the Puget Sound was awe inspiring. As we waited at the Port Townsend CO-OP we gave the reigns and itinerary to the Firestalkers, allowing them to brainstorm questions for the rangers and a battle plan for the day. With Asher aboard we headed west as a group to face whatever challenges that lied ahead. We oohed and awed as Stubbs snaked around Discovery and Sequim Bay, taking in some beautiful views of Vancouver Island across the straights. As we traveled we talked about the natural history of this landscape and remembered the travels of early explorers and naturalists like, Captain George Vancouver and Archibald Menzies who sailed through the lands of the Klallam, Makah, Chemakum, Quileute, Twana and Lushootseed in the late 1700’s.

            Arriving at the Olympic National Park Ranger Station in Port Townsend the Firstalkers presented a list of questions to Ranger Scott while they collected our bear canisters and permits. The Firestalkers frantically wrote trail beta and risk management info onto the maps and outlines for the trip. Scott informed us that our journey to South Sand Point the first day would not be challenging enough so he redirected us to Yellow Banks making our first hike a total of 7 miles. We thanked him and had a quick meeting in the parking lot to bring our focus together. We came to the conclusion that we would not have time to stop at beautiful Lake Crescent, for we still needed to collect firewood, find a campsite at Ozette as well as discuss the backpacking plan.  17 miles out of Port Angles we arrived at Lake Crescent which is place known for its brilliant blue waters and exceptional clarity which, is caused by a lack of nitrogen in the water. This inhibits the grow growth of algae making the lake crystal clear. The 12 mile long lake is over 1000 feet deep and is home to the endemic Beardslee Trout and the Crescenti Cutthroat Trout. We heard a chilling tale from Matt about the “Lady of the Lake” and a special process created in its depths called “soapification” which, I’m sure the Firstalkers can give you much more details about. As we passed Lake Crescent we couldn’t resist our urge to swim; hot, sweaty and tired we scrambled out of the bus and suited up. The clarity of the water was incredible. As we dove in, effervescent bubbles continued to rise up long after our splash had settled. We could see the 60-degree slope of the lakebed almost fifty feet below us as it sank into the abyss. We emerged refreshed and ready for a few more hours of driving.

            The outer perimeter of Olympic National Park is met by a boarder of National Park logging lands. The Firstalkers being the ethical harvesters that they are scouted from the windows of Stubbs for an appropriate place obtain fire materials.  Searching a clear cut along highway 112 we found a large brush pile ready be burned. We quickly harvested enough dry and downed material, strapping it to the back of Stubbs rolling it up in a tarp. After thanking the land for the wood and doing some service with intermittent Marionberry picking we embarked on our last leg of our travel.

            With a little bit of luck we arrived at the Ozette Campground and rolled right into the perfect spot, it was meant to be. One of our nightly lead chefs, Kyler cooked nature burgers over an open fire while the rest of the group organized Stubbs and set up camp.  That night around the fire us Mentors held the first focused discussion of what this trip was going to look like and the work that we were here to do. Mentors also provided an open space to discuss immerging adulthood with the Firestalkers so that we could start to wrap our heads around this stage of life. With the door open mentors introduced the purpose of the Ozette Passage and the tone was set for the trip. That night we slept out under the Hemlocks and Spruce getting some much needs rest after an eventful and exciting day of travel.

Headlands and Hurdles: Day 2

            The Firstalkers awoke to a sky filed with misty clouds rising off the coast. Even with the signs of rain looming over Lake Ozette and the tents, we were slow to break camp tired from yesterday’s long journey. With a friendly reminder the Firestalkers delegated jobs, group gear was divvied out and the trip was frontloaded with individual and group responsibilities. After filling our water bottles and saying our final goodbyes to amenities like potable water and plumbing the Firestalker’ s circled up and made some last minute backpack adjustments. Crossing the Wilderness Boundary on the headwaters of the Ozette River at 12:00pm, we knew we were in for quite a journey. Immediately the Firestalkers set an eager pace through a forest of towering Western Red Cedar old growth laden with Deer Fern and Bunchberry; the mentors however lagged behind keeping a steady and rhythmic gate. The mentors suspected that the motive behind the hasty pace was the Firestalker’s growing awareness of their subjugation to the tides. When one enters wilderness he or she becomes subject to its natural order and can choose to fight it or harmonize with it. The tides would dictate our travel throughout this trip, if we were calculated and aware we could harmonize with them and our travel would be fluid and straightforward.

            As the Cedar groves slowly gave way to a clearing of bog and wetland some of the frontrunners of the pack started to get to far ahead creating an accordion like effect within the group. After about mile of this the group circled up and discussed what it means to be a responsible group member and how to stay together. Pulling out the map and the tidal charts, Kyle, our Front Scout, realized that we had 6 miles left to reach Yellow Banks Campsite as well as headland crossing at the 5.5 mile mark. Upon reading further beta Kyle concluded that a “headland crossings must passed two hours before or after the specified danger tidal height.” Soren looked at the clock and said, “It’s 1:15 and we have a 8.43ft tide at 5:43pm with 5.5 miles to go before the headland. We need to get going.” After a few more miles of Boardwalk the Firestalkers noticed a dramatic change in the forest ecosystem and entered a coastline dominated by ancient Sitka Spruce and head high Salal.  We started to feel the salty ocean breeze blowing through the trees as we dropped into a rugged wilderness coastline with towering sea stacks and crashing surf as its backdrop. All sense of time was lost as we ate and explored the beach basking in a short break in the clouds.

            After lunch we crossed over to the south side of Sand Point and we were met with our first major challenge. A cold Northeast wind blew across the beach chilling us to the bone, all the while a distant headland loomed as the tide swiftly crashed against the cliff walls. The group discussed the possibility of not making the headland and alternative camping locations.  As we drew near, the headlands sharp cliffs rose directly from the rocky headwall. Through the binoculars James could see that we would need to wait out the tide. As we looked for a place to rest out of harms way, we heard a Firestalker call out “over here!” we had found a rope ladder that would take us up to the top of a bluff where we could wait out the high tide. As we talked sat a relaxed, it became clear that we were in need of food and we were beginning to run low on water. Through intuition and exploration the Firstalkers scouted and found the South Sand Point campsite where we initially had reservations. This sight had a tannin filled stream running through and it proved to be our only source of water. As low blood sugar and the exhaustion started to kick in we started to become D.I.C.- disoriented, irritable and combative; we knew we needed to eat quickly.  After dinner, in the dusk, we discussed the implications and risks of a headland crossing at night with headlamps versus not camping at our designated sight. We decided that it was already much too late to leave and put up camp in the wee hours of the night. We closed the day with a nightly meeting and discussed how we could improve our preparedness and environmental awareness the next day. That night we crawled into our sleeping bags exhausted and content from a full day of challenges and hurdles.

Finding our Rhythm at Sand Point: Day 3

            Waking up at South Sand Point we were overjoyed to find that all eight bear canisters and the bear hang had survived through the night. The early birds set about the Camp, collapsing tents onto other slumbering Four Shielders. While we were messing around with our gear, Matt had been having a moment of inspiration over in the kitchen area. Constructing a table out of beach driftwood and washed up ply-board. Matt laid out a paper grid with the four survival needs: food, shelter, water, and fire. This format gave the group a clear understanding of how they could organize, prioritize and complete their daily living tasks efficiently while sharing their workload. The firestalkers used their tool and collaborativly created an excellent plan for the day. By this time the frustration and exhaustion experienced by the group the night before started to set in again. Tensions were still a little on edge and focus was very scattered. A bewildering lack of cohesion and collaboration within the group and more of low blood sugar decisions making resulted in the calling of a group meeting and some focused directives from the mentors.  After the Firestalker’s were given the tools and the framework that was necessary to guide the group they started to work together.

            It was inspiring to watch the light click on for the Firestalkers, they implmented their clear vision for the day and set about the camp to complete the four needs. For all backpackers alike sometimes even the best-laid plans are derailed by hurdles of direct experience and the need to practice. Within one hour of the meeting the two of the three water purification systems were compromised resulting in a slow process of sanitizing cups and bowls from the previous nights dinner. We ended up eating breakfast at 12:00pm! We found that even though we were quite hungry and tired from meeting survival needs it was important to give thanks before the meal. We also gave Asher a belated birthday circle of appreciation as we sat and shared a chocolate bar to mark the special occasion. Once we had some food in us, we split up the group gear and headed out into the beach. By this time it was 2:00pm, thank goodness that we did have a headland crossing.

             As we traveled north back to Sand Point we freely roamed the expansive miles of coastal beach watching the Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons soar directly overhead as they hunted in the intertidal zone. James and Tristan climbed the extensive network of driftwood piles that sheltered the forests fragile soil as it met the sand of the beach. They found garbage of different varieties: American, Korean, Japanese and Chinese. It was easy for the group to see the direct results of the overabundance of our one-time use products and the repercussions of our cross-culturally wasteful consumer habits. Dave and Christian simultaneously searched the tide lines for the perfect consistency of sand that would minimize the resistance in their steps.      

            The Firestalkers harmonized and found their stride as a group. We lunched at a creek crossing that flowed through the beach and directly out into the Pacific Ocean. We basked in the sun once again taking a leisurely lunch to enjoy just being out and away from it all. A quarter mile before the final stretch to San Point three Firestalkers scouted up another creek for water, not taking their opportunity to harvest lightly.  Filling their cooking pots they trudged the last leg trying not to spill this life giving resource. Soren and Matt were the first to walk into Sand Point camp and they quickly located a tent site and a cooking location with a spectacular view to the North. Instead of looking at the view the Firestalkers sprang into action setting up tents in record time and organizing their gear and smellables while setting up dinner. They finished a majority of our tasks with such precision and drive that mentors offered to do the rest of the cooking while they roamed the vast tidal pools and climbed the grass covered bluff at the edge of Sand Point Camp. The vantage point from the bluff was breath taking. To the North there were shallows filled with an expanse of tidal pools stretching from Sand Point to Cape Alava. In their distance distance rose the jagged cliffs of the headland crossings before Point of the Arches. To the West lied limitless Pacific Ocean, to the South Rialto Beach and La Push and to the East a lush costal rainforest curving out to both sides of the bluff.

            Everyone gathered as we finished cooking dinner and gave thanks for the place that we were in and the opportunity to eat dinner and clean dishes while there was still light. As we ate, James and Marcus explained that they had tracked a pair of Bald Eagles which had been waiting on a sea stack close by for over two hours.  It seemed like only a few minutes had passed when we saw one of the Eagles closing in on gull over the bay. The gull made swift and fluids maneuvers as it evaded the Eagle’s talons. The first Baldy however had a back up strategy, out of nowhere the second Eagle soared in and dived the Gull. The pair dived repeatedly and relentlessly at the gull until it was exhausted and eventually perished to a pair of razor sharp talons. The male then took the gull to large Sitka Spruce and proceeded to clean it for his partner; this must have been one of his favorite hunting trees.

            What an end to this incredible day, however we were not quite ready for bed, a focused meeting still needed to be held. In the stillness of the night, sitting in a tight circle the mentors held a meeting, or as we call it a council to recognize the four stages in life: Childhood, Adolescence, Adulthood and the Elder. Each of these life stages are marked on a map by cardinal directions. Each of these directions represents different life stage and that holds characteristics and responsibilities that attributed to  the process of this stage of life. This directional approach was a tool passed on to the Firestalkers so they could use it couple with their other realizations to navigate through life. Mentors then explained the sequence and process of the solo and what the fasting would be like. Mentors explained that there was real risk involved and that the Firestalkers needed to prepare themselves for this journey. They had to go alone, they had to go without food, and they had to go without shelter. The fasters also had to go out with an intention that would be claimed in front of their community. They would need to cultivate a mind set in which they were willing to meet the challenges and responsibilities that the journey would offer them; these were terms and conditions. The Firestalkers stated their intent to go on solo and set the self-directed goal that they would be out of camp at 9:30am. They had three miles of headland crossings with a high tide at 1:30pm. If they could break camp and make it to Cape Alava then they would demonstrate their ability to meet the challenges of their solos ahead.

Highway to Cape Lava: Day 4

             Mentors awoke to find camp stirring with Firestalkers busily packing tents and organizing food and packs. Tristan and a few others had already hiked a back to the stream a half a mile to the south and collected cooking water. We ate breakfast with purpose, keeping our 9:30 objective in mind. As we finished eating, a native Columbian Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus)bounded up and stopped five feet away from our camp. Locking eyes with us the deer proceeded to prong directly onto a large fallen spruce tree and prance across it with all the grace of a tight rope walker. At the end of the log he leaped into the Salal and disappeared. Just then we also noticed a Coyote sneaking down the beach in the opposite direction.  The spotted youngster was keen to be wary of Coyote because they often hunt the young calves in the spring. In this moment we were reminded we were not the only hunters in the wilderness.  As we left camp we followed Coyote’s tracks until we found blood stained sand and an injured Northwestern Garter Snake; he was paralyzed from his mid section down. We discussed whether or not to end hissuffering and decided that it was not our place to determine when his life ended. This fueled a heavy conversation of what it means to take life in the name of our own survival. Interactions with wildlands and the natural order of its biotic community fueled our introspection and reflection into some of life’s bigger questions, through out the day.  The Firestalkers are truly arriving at immerging adulthood. In this life stage they will confront the concepts of aging, decomposition and death and find what it means to be self-conscious and aware of their actions within a self and group context. Often certain innocence is left behind from the experience and it takes a lot of focused thought and discussion to process and cope with it.

            As we refocused our minds to the task at hand Soren asked for a time check, we realized that we needed to make some headway. In haste we crossed the first headland spread out and disorganized. We needed to listen to the guidelines that the landscape warranted.  The Firestalkers pushed on vacillating between periods of excellent leadership and navigation and periods of indecisiveness and disagreement. We decided to have a snack at Wedding Rocks, our last headland of the day. Wedding Rocks were also the templates for forty-four ancient petroglyphs carved with bone, antler, and metal by the Makah people approximately three hundred years ago. The Makah depictions of both pre and post-colonial history are a testament to the Salish way of life, art and their culture of storytelling. As we explored the rocks Steve called out, “I think it’s a whale!”, and sure enough with a closer look through the binoculars we spotted a Gray Whale migrating south down the coast. It was truly magnificent to see this giant of the sea flourishing in its wild element. We watched the spurts of mist from the blowhole until we were forced off the headland by the incoming tide. As we neared Cape Alava we pushed ourselves further, resting only once more to admire a juvenile Sperm Whale carcass that was decomposing on the beach. We arrived at Cape Alava and feasted on some lunch. As soon as the bear canisters were out of the packs Dave, pretending he was a bear, started attacking one of the canisters. The Firestalkers had to quickly retrieve it before this wild animal pushed it into the woods.

            With quite a bit of deliberation amongst the mentors, some risk management consideration and solo sight scouting, we came upon the perfect spot that would serve as our basecamp for the passage. Once we settled in the Firestalkers delegated jobs, set up camp and prepared gear for the solo. As we were setting up the tents an explorer who will remain unnamed, quickly walked back from the pit toilet holding his rear end. He called out, “Oh god, ooh, aah that hurts!” Just to give a little more context here, the Firestalkers had used the last piece of their large toilet paper roll on the night of day 3. Now the Firestalkers were using what was readily available to them and this Firstalker had chosen a leaf in quite a rush. He harvested from a plant in the carrot family,Apiaceae and suffered uncomfortably for a few hours from contact dermatitis. After the ordeal the Firstalkers set out to gather enough wood to make a fire that would last 48 hours. The Firestalkers scoured the beach lashing piles of driftwood together with bull kelp and drift boards. Once the four survival needs were taken care of the Firestalkers were sent out onto the land to explore a possible sight for their solo. Exploring the land was the tangible push that brought out a lot of anxiousness and questions about the passage to come.

            That night around the fire we held another serious council to bring our minds together for the solo and passage. Mentors spoke again of the fears that might arise while out on the passage and purpose of fasting and going without. “The risk out there is real and your fears will test your commitment, will, and patience. You cannot escape your fear out there, these fears will feel as though they are welling up from just underneath the surface of your skin. Tomorrow you will cross the threshold leaving behind everything and be cut off from the familiar. You will stand at the limits of your ego and the boundaries of your influence. Once you are through the threshold you will begin a story with a new identity and a place on Earth free from the moral judgment and culture of modern society. What is no longer important will fade away and what is important can be revealed. You will feel a shift in mindset and will start to become very aware of yourself. As the land reveals itself you will start to feel a part of the whole biotic community. Every action that you take will brings self-awareness and you will have to accommodate, be accountable, and suffer for any consequences of your actions.” (Some of this wording was directly taken from, The Roaring of the Sacred River, Steven Foster and Meredith Little)

            We informed the Firestalkers that in the morning they would be put in front of a council of their mentors and peers and asked: Why are you taking part in this? What is your intent? What are you claiming about yourself? What transition are you marking? Without a clear and focused intention statement from each Firestalker, the mentors would not be able to send these arriving adults on there passage. With these questions in mind the Firstalkers went to bed thinking deeply about their own intentions and what they would claim when they were asked.

Marking our Intentions and Crossing the Threshold: Day 5

            We woke up to a steady westerly wind with a clear vision for the day; we had a lot of work to do. After camp had been situated and a meager breakfast was eaten the Firestalkers were instructed to hike out to the solo sight and with a bandana, headlamp, sleeping bag and their water bottles. They were to mark the spot where they would fast and tuck in for the night. The mentors offered a little advice, “This place will call to you, expressing something unique about the landscape, your inner self. A landscape that invokes your own personal power and desire for growth.” Other than that the mentors could only offer advice pertinent to the fasters survival. The solo territory was located due east of basecamp. As the Firestalkers traveled out towards their place on the land they passed through a marshy lowland of chest deep grass, crab apple, and willow. As they walked further they became very aware of the distance between the familiar basecamp and coastline and where their path lied ahead.  Many found their sights on top and west-facing slope of a ridge dominated by canopy of ancient Sitka Spruce. This was a rugged patch of wildland with a ground cover of head height Sword Ferns riddled with Deer trails, Black Bear scat and endless mysteries.

          After their spots were flagged and roughly mapped it was time for the Firestalkers to sit in council and claim their intention statement. This intention is held in purposeful sentence starting with “I am” and ending with a statement that that marks what new life role the faster is going to step into. Each faster had a about a half an hour to walk down the road of conversation and reach an intention statement. The process of finding an intention before a council of peers and mentors is called Mirroring for Intention.  As we sat in a circle one Firstalker would ask to speak taking the talking stick and saying what he believed to be his intention. The mentors would take terns responding to the developing statement back using speaker’s words as a mirror to reflect the health, wisdom, and strength in their content and truths. Using skillful questioning and deep listening the Mentors searched their language; looking for challenges, tools and edges that the Firestalkers nervously and uneasly sat on the verge of claiming. The Firestalkers opened up to being vulnerable and looked deep into the reflection of their true selves. We stoked the fire and sipped tea as we sat in council for five hours. Firestalkers claimed intentions of: self-forgiveness, self-affirmation, locus of control, leading with the heart, saying what you need, giving and receiving care, and processing and being comfortable with fears. With their intentions as their guides the Firestalkers crossed the threshold into the land to find their gifts and powers and mark their emergence into a new life stage. As they spread out on the land a siege of Great Blue Herons sat out on their own individual rocks silently fishing in the tidal flats. Most of the time the land provides a better mirror than the mentors can, we just need to take the time to listen to it.  The mentors stoked the fire all night and stayed up into the wee hours of the twilight holding the space in case one faster decided that he needed to come back for any reason. The mentors gave thanks for a day truly worth living, what a pleasure and joy it was to guide the Firestalkers through this passage. Sitting around the fire we discuss many questions that come up in our work to help cultivate and define what it truly means to be a genuine, strong, sensitive and compassionate and caring male in our modern world. As we sat a quote by Henry David Thoreau was mentioned and I believe it sums the day up perfectly,

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

The Road Home: Day 6

            At first light the mentors went out to greet the Firestalkers. We were overjoyed and delighted to see each of their smiling faces and we quickly scurried off so that they could make the journey back through the threshold on their own. In a passage the fasters return from the land with stories and newfound gifts that they could bring back to their community. The Firestalkers emerged one by one from the ancient land crossing once more through the tall grass and were meet by the mentors to be reincorporated at the threshold. Once all the Firestalkers had crossed the threshold they broke their fast eating a meager breakfast and giving thanks for their experience.  After the tea was poured we met in council to once more, this time to telling their stories. This council process is called, Mirroring for Empowerment. Through the story the teller reaches a greater self-understanding; much like Mirroring for Intention, the mentors reflect the health, wisdom, and strength of their story. Emptiness, solitude, and exposure to challenge create efforts that are genuinely the fasters own. Fasters often find empowerment through their tribulations: weakness to find a source of strength, loneliness to evoke those who are truly loved, boredom to open the eyes of awareness, the Earth to teach centeredness, balance and a sense of harmony with all things,emptiness to produce fullness... 

            Through story the teller finds greater self-understanding and can find empowerment and purpose. The Firestalker’s stories were deep and significant with lessons and gifts but, these stories are not my own to tell. Sitting in council I was reminded with a quote, “Now we see the makings of the best persons. It is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the Earth.”-  Walt Whitman

            The Firestalkers returned with the purpose of incorporating into a new life stage of immerging adulthood. They found that they hand incredible gifts to bring to their communities as they grew and matured outside of their comfort zone. Included here are just a few of the gifts the Firestalkers found they could give to their communities: the desire to bring compassion and care to others, the courage to address societies tough questions, a strong inner self to engage in authentic and genuine forms of leadership, the ability to providing teaching and shelter for a community, the strength to speak with a confident voice to benefit the self and the whole, and the compassion to forgive and ask for forgiveness. As the firestalkers continue to tell their story to others it will continue to reveal its challenges and opportunities. The firestalkers are now initiated into a community who will recognize and validate their life transition. After we told our stories and dispersed from council we thanked the land and each other for the amazing experience and started on the road home.

Photo by Warner Blake, 6/26/2012 

            As the Firstalkers shouldered their packs to start the long journey back to their community waiting for them in Bellingham, they took on the responsibilities and privileges of their newly founded community role. Hiking back to Stubbs the Firstalkers passed once more through the coastal forest of Sitka Spruce and head high Salal, which quickly gave way to a lush Hemlock shaded forest filled with massive Evergreen Huckleberry and Oval Leaf Blueberry. The Firestalkers hiked quickly with lightness in their step with the goals of pizza and ice cream in Port Townsend. The mentors also hiked with lightness in their steps but their motivation was driven by a looming ferry reservation deadline. We only rested a few two times along the way to appreciate the awe inspiring and expansive Ozette Prairies.  Opening our awareness and using our owl eyes we discovered all sorts or rarities such as the Swamp Gentian flower and the Great Burnet, Sanguisorba herb, which is classified in the Rose family. These two plant’s nectars are sought out by a rare and endemic inhabitant of these prairies, the Makah Copper Butterfly. What a treat is was to see such an extraordinary and unique ecosystem.

            After crossing the prairies, we arrived once again at the towering Western Red Cedar old growth laden with Deer Fern and Bunchberry. We crossed the Ozette River and soon we were at the trailhead.  Organizing Stubbs, we quickly lunched and hit the ground running. Traveling back the Firestalkers sang, laughed and reveled in their experience as we winded along the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  We arrived at the ferry just in the knick of time and with some incredible planning, Dave, like the genius he is, had arranged to have the pizza delivered in to the ferry terminal. That night we returned home with sand in our hair, dirt in our boots, and intention in our hearts for a joyous reunion with friends and family.  

            The mentors would like to give a huge thanks to all parents, Wild Whatcom Staff, on-call contacts, and volunteers for making this trip possible. Without all of your support, effort, and trust we would not be able to guide such wonderful trips. We as mentors are thankful for being provided not only the opportunity to teach but to learn and grow from experiences and interactions with the Firestalkers and the land we work in. It is a humbling it is to find a deep sense of gratification and fulfillment from our connection to this work. We would also like to give thanks to all of the Firestalkers for being the unique and wonderful individuals that you are. As you all step into arriving adulthood the mentors are delighted to know you are strong group of quality individuals who are willing to put in the work and effort towards being genuine and whole individuals. You have all recognized what its means to be valuable, responsible and accountable members of a much larger community than yourselves.  Finally we want to give thanks to the Olympic National Parks Department and to the Makah and Quileute Nations for managing this precious stretch of northern coastline and for all its wonderful inhabitants for enriching our experience.  The Ozette Coast is truly a wildland where one can explore the wildness of the biotic community and the wilderness of their culture and self-identity.

Please look at the photo gallery for many more pictures

Cascadian Explorations August 17th-21st- 2015

With summer drawing to an end, we kicked off our Cascadian Explorations camp at the 100 Acre Wood. This is a classic Explorers Club location, but this day we decided to switch things up a bit. Instead of tromping on into the woods, we took a detour to Hoag’s Pond stopping along the way under some trees for an opening circle. This gave us a chance to get acquainted with one another and catch up with the familiar faces. Summer camps are great because you get a medley of different boys from different groups and it is always exciting seeing how everyone settles in to the group. After passing out jobs we took some time to familiarize ourselves with some of the hazards we may encounter during the week. Specifically we focused on bees, hornets, and wasps.

We continued on to the pond where we decided to circumnavigate the pond playing awareness games and doing some plant identification along the way. We even got a chance to learn about the Belted King Fisher whose cackling call would resurface throughout the week. Finishing our jaunt around the pond we settled in for lunch and story time with Dave. We listened to the story of Mouse and his journey to find the Roaring River meeting Raccoon and Frog along the way. The Explorers even got a chance to see what a real raccoon felt like when Dave pulled out his raccoon pelt. Finally we transitioned from story time to a new spot up in a ravine for a few games of Spider’s Web before the day was over.

 On Tuesday we met at Bakerview Beach to begin our traverse to Locust Beach. With Mount Baker to the east, the Nooksack Delta to the west, and the extensive mud flats to the south we knew the day was ripe for exploration. Kicking the trend of our usual trek out to the mud flats, we turned west and hoofed it to the Nooksack Delta. Following meandering streams through the sand some of the boys chased after young flounder that shot out from beneath their feet only to quickly burrow themselves a few feet further ahead. Other boys investigated various tracks in the sand with Tim; counting toes, examining direction and gait, piecing together the puzzle of who made the track, where they were going, and what they may be doing.

Finally reaching the delta, half the group settled in while the rest of the group made its way back in from exploring the tide flats. Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron, and Turkey Vulture all made appearances in substantial numbers. Some boys even flushed up three huge eagles from the tall grasses and witness their immensity up close and personal. Taking a dig in the delta and swimming to the far shore, a large dead flounder was discovered, but as Tim picked it up it flopped wildly and shot back into murky water. It was now time to trek across the mud flats to Locust Beach. Boys played in the mud building a mud city, plopping mud atop their heads, and having a wonderful time. We made such good time we even had a chance to learn from Dave how to walk like a salamander in the mud. With a quick dip in the water it was time for pick up. Another great day in the books.

Meeting at Lake Padden we learned what it meant to “hoof it” as we gathered up and decided to hit the trail right away, escaping the dog poop, bikes, walkers, and trail runners as we receded into the wood towards Galby Lane. Game upon game of HIDE were played and the boys really had a chance to practice their camouflage skills. Reaching a clearing for the power lines one Explorer spotted a Garter Snake slithering off into the bushes. Boys scrambled to catch it, but Tim was eventually able to get a hand on it and allow a chance for a closer inspection.

Reaching a good location to settle in for the day, boys ate lunch, explored, and prepared themselves for a game of Spider’s Web. But first it was important to revisit rules and allow each boy to calibrate their concept of distance by pacing out twenty five, fifty, and one hundred feet. There was some controversy over distances in our last game, so we hoped this would get everyone on the same page. Finally we got into a game of Spider’s Web. The first game went by quickly, so we went for another. This game took longer, but some boys grew frustrated when it became apparent the flies were unlikely to win. This resulted in some unkind remarks shared that immediately ended the game. A long debrief ensued that took up the rest of our outing. It was painfully apparent sitting in circle was asking a lot, but it was of the utmost importance to learn from what had happened, find growth, and devise a way to make sure our emotions didn’t get the best of us in the future. Hiking back it was clear we lost all time for swimming during our debrief, but luckily we would have ample opportunity to swim later in the week.

Our second to last outing was another traverse, but this time from Larrabee State Park to Clayton Beach. After a trying time the day before, we hoped for smoother day today. Little did we know, this would not be the case. Everything started per usual; we gathered up, the group decided where to go and devised a plan for the day, and we had a great bit of exploring along the rocks of Larrabee State Park’s beach. But as we transitioned to hiking towards Clayton Beach, the boys just wanted to play game upon game of HIDE. After a few games the mentors decided it was time to go, but instead of wrangling to the group up thought it would be interesting to test the group’s awareness of itself. So Tim and Dave began walking… one, two, three boys followed, but the rest all were so caught up in their game they didn’t even notice. The mentors stopped just beyond a Western Red Cedar and observed the group. After fifteen minutes there was still no concern or worry that not only some of the group members were missing, but the mentors as well. Enough was enough and the boys were gathered. Showing little concern for what had just happened, it was necessary for the mentors to take a sterner tone with the boys to ensure they understood the severity of what had happened and the importance of keeping track of the group ensuring the wellbeing of all the individuals that make up the greater group.

Afterwards we trekked over to Clayton Beach, but again were confronted with differences within the group and we found ourselves back in circle trying to work things out. It was time for the boys to put what they’ve learned to work as the mentors stepped back and gave them the opportunity to figure things out on their own. This took time, and a few nudges from the mentors, but eventually the boys came to a compromise, but not before some frustrations and testing of patience amongst the group. In the end we were left with twenty minutes at Clayton Beach. Everyone would have liked more time, but again, our challenges in circle kept us from maximizing our time for beach explorations. In the end everyone had a good day and found growth, which is just as important, if not more so than exploration anyways.

Our final day brought us to Bloedel Park. Meeting up next to the field the mentors thought it was a perfect opportunity to do a fun blindfold activity. Everyone has a dominant foot, and this leads to a turning over many strides that can get a person very turned around if they are lost and not aware of it. To do this activity everyone got into pairs and took turns trying to go from point A to point B with a blindfold on while their partner kept them safe from hazards or running into other explorers. Next we ventured to the “Corner Store” where we discovered the medicine and food that our plant neighbors offer us in abundance. Be it the antiseptic properties of the Black Cottonwood, or the common and tasty fruit of the Himalayan Blackberry, the Explorers were excited to learn that sometimes all you need is in your backyard.

Our adventures took us to a beautiful little rocky spot beside Whatcom Creek for lunch, some swimming, and explorations of crawfish, fresh water mussels, giant tadpoles, and many other fun things. After lunch we trekked down the creek finding an abundance of tracks and other natural treasures like a dead trout, and a bald faced hornet that had drowned in the water allowing us to inspect this fearsome creature up close. Eventually we found ourselves at the base of Derby Pond’s dam where a beautiful swimming hole offered up a great session of splashing in the water despite the overcast weather. But soon enough it was time to head back to Bloedel for pick up. We had just enough time for closing circle where everyone shared something they truly appreciated, something that stretched their edge, and their favorite memory from the week. Reflecting upon all the fun times we had during camp was a great way to wrap up our week. With a quick jaunt across the field we finished a fantastic camp of explorations, adventures, challenges, and growth. We couldn’t have asked for a better way to wrap up our summer season.

Remember to check out Photo Gallery for all the photos from camp!

Chuckanut Wilds # 2 - 2015

On the first day we all met in a Summer drizzle at Whatcom Falls Park. A large Maple and Douglas fir provided Shelter as we all gathered and prepared for the day. We started off with a quick name game and then headed across the parking lot and down toward the creek and the woods that lay beyond. We hiked for a while on the main trail hoping to move deep enough into the park to find a place off trail to play games and explore. Soon we found a deep valley with dense sword fern and fallen trees, perfect for a game of Spiders Web. After establishing the food source and web we chose a spider and began playing. As the game finished the sun began to break through the cloud cover and we unanimously agreed to head down toward the creek. We found a great stretch of creek with a series of deep swimming holes connected by cascading waterfalls. There was an osprey nest just above us and we had excellent views of the large birds coming and going. We spent the rest of our afternoon exploring this spectacular stretch of creek.

Our second day was and exploration of 100 aker wood. This patch of forest has long been a staple of Wild Whatcom programs and offers numerous opportunities for wandering and discovery. With many winding and forking trails this forest is also the perfect place for the boys to practice their navigation and group decision making skills. Our day went quickly with some good focused carving time and a couple rounds of Spiders Web 

For our third day of camp we met at the Bakerview Mud Flats, an infamously fun and dirty outing that is always a favorite among the boys. We had a quick opening circle in the logs just above the high tide line,now the start to the deep mud, and made our plans for the day. We decided first to head West down the beach to the meeting of the Nooksack River and the ocean. As we walked down Tim and I had the boys stop and place a blindfold over their eyes. We then had the boys form a long line, each grabbing on to the pack of the boy in front of them. The leader had no blindfold and led the boys through the muddy landscape. Every few minutes we would switch leaders. What had started has an exercise of relying on our other senses besides eyes quickly morphed into an excellent exercise in group dynamics and communication. We spent the rest of the day building shelters, swimming in the nooksack, building sand cities, tracking coyotes, and exploring the intertidal life.

Our Fourth day marked the beginning of our overnight at Larrabee State Park. after loading all the overnight gear into the car we circled up to figure out how we wanted to spend our day. From our location at Larrabee the options are endless. After much discussion the group decided to head up into the Chuckanut Mountains and toward Fragrance Lake. Along the trail we played Hide!, looked at the wildlife along the trail, and steadily climbed toward the lake. Soon enough we were distracted by a pile of sandstone boulders, We all dropped our packs and ran over to look at them. All the boys had fun as they scrambled up and down one particularly large boulder. After an hour or so of playing we called the boys back in so they could decide if they wanted to keep moving up toward the lake. The boys had little focus in this circle and found it very hard to make a decision. This was a good lesson in how much time making these decisions can take if everyone isn’t focused. With our day running out we made it up to the view point and decided this would be our turn around point. 

Back down at Larrabee we performed the basic chores around camp of getting tents set up, a kitchen organized, and all of our gear put away. They boys all showed a lot of leadership in making sure that all of these things were completed. 

After dinner we headed down to the big field just above the bay. Some boys played soccer, some of us sat and chatted in small groups, and others lay down on the cool grass relaxing from our long day. As the light grew dim we all layed on the grass to watch the bats and emerging stars. We all reflected on the camp and shared memories from the past week as the darkness really settled in. for our walk back we decided to spread out a couple hundred yards from one another for the short stretch through the forest. Many of the boys were apprehensive and nervous about this, but we all agreed to try it. Once on the other side of the walk we circled back up and everyone relayed their experience. All of us had positive things to say about this. These boys stretched their edge in confronting the nervousness of being in the woods at night and did an excellent job growing from this.

It was a wonderful five days with these boys, exploring and playing, learning and growing. It was a pleasure to spend this much time with them and i look forward to working with each of them more in the future. Thank you explorers for you enthusiasm and ever positive attitudes. Thank you parents for your support and sending your boys out with us. Be sure to look through our photo gallery for more pictures from the camp!  

Anderson & Watson Lakes Backpack 2015

The Explorers arrived at Samish Woods Montessori with a healthy mixture of excitement and nervousness for their journey ahead. After the cars were packed and goodbyes were made, we headed south to the Sedro Woolley Ranger Station in route for the Anderson & Watson Lakes Trailhead. Passing over the Baker River Dam we bumped up the nine-mile dirt road stopping a few times to take in the expansive views of Mt. Baker & Mt. Shuksan, and once to remove a rock that got stuck in the wheel-well of the truck. The boys coined the rock “The Chipmunk” due to the high pitch sound it made as it rattled around.

Once the Chipmunk was out of the wheel-well we circled up at the trailhead and divvied out the group gear. With only six Explorers on the trip it was an excellent opportunity for each boy to carry a fair share of gear. The Explorers found there is always a little more room in a backpack. Lining the packs up each member of the group lifted each other’s packs to check if the weights were comparable.

As we compared and contrasted, it brought up a great conversation around what would become a strong theme of our trip, Expeditionary Behavior. Simply put Expeditionary Behavior is caring for the needs of individuals and the group, as you would care for yourself.  Good “E.B.” is not only one of the foundations of a successful trip but is also a critical skill in learning to be a caring member of a community.

One of our favorite mottos is All Things Are Connected and is apparent within the interpersonal dynamics of an expedition. Being in the wilderness exposes our base need for human connection and community. Unlike our front country culture, which can be tricky to navigate, our Wilderness experience allows the group to create a culture built around trust, care, and support. A climate in which any disagreement or breakdown is dealt with openly and honestly.

Our aim for Wilderness Experiences is to create a group climate where the boys are not employed to help one another because of the benefit to the group, but called to help one another because they recognize the intrinsic worth of other individuals; that they are deserving of care and support. That helping and anticipating what others needs are is intrinsically tied to their own happiness and wellbeing. These boys discovered that the community work is the reward; an endless source of nourishment and belonging that strengthens character and builds socially just leadership.

Shouldering our packs we climbed our way up into the alpine. Passing by a babbling brook the boys took a moment to dunk their heads and cool off from the 85-degree weather. Overheated and sweaty we descended down into the Anderson Lakes basin where we were greeted by meadows laden with Heather and clustered with Mountain Hemlocks and Sub-Alpine Fir. The views of Mt. Baker were spectacular! The boys were anxious to cool off in the water, but there was work to be done. The group worked hard to pump water, set up a backcountry kitchen, bear hang the food, and pitch the shelters.

Once camp was in order the boys spent the rest of the afternoon swimming in the lake and scrambling up the talus field that led to Anderson Butte. Gathering back up for dinner, we cooked a hearty meal of ramen, avocados, and sweet potatoes and shared some thanks. Cooking is a skill that requires a great deal of focus and safety in the backcountry, especially preparing fresh veggies, but the boys were eager to learn. As mentors we love to teach cooking techniques because these skills transfer so well to life in the front country.  

After dinner the boys tidied up camp and bear hung their smellables while the mentors, who graciously offered, did the dishes. As the twilight hours settled in the air got cool and crisp, we bundled up, brewed some tea, and star gazed until we could keep our eyes open no more. The moon’s crescent sliver hardly lit the sky making the array incredible.

Waking up a little after first light we had our traditional Explorers Club Oats, got camp in order, and packed our daypacks for a full day hike into the Noisy Diobsub Wilderness. After an impromptu session of rock skipping we began hiking up the steep drainage towards Watson Lakes. The group was thankful to be hiking through the shady stands of mature Hemlock and Silver Fir. It is not too often that the Alpine environment reaches the mid-eighties and we certainly felt the full exposure of the sun.

Pushing onward the boys found the junction to Watson Lakes and motored up over the small pass that separated the Western and Northern drainages of Mt. Watson. Breaking through a tree line gave way to a drainage of Sitka Alder and Alaskan Yellow Cedar that offered stunning views of the aquamarine lakes framed under Mt. Watson and Bacon Peak. The Noisy Diobsub Wilderness looked rugged and steep and beckoned us onward.

Descending down to the first lake we stopped to snack and orient ourselves to the topo map in order to make a group decision on where we wanted to go. With some collaborating and compromising the group decided to continue on to the Upper Watson Lake for some lunch and a swim. Hiking to the junction between the Watson lakes the boys found a primitive sign with a not so privative outhouse symbol. It was not until the last day that we found out that there was a latrine at Anderson Lakes, so the boys were all inclined to take advantage of the opportunity. As they waited their turn the boys looked like a group of hungry black bear cubs feasting on the Mountain Huckleberries and Blueberries, which were perfectly ripe and juicy.

Upper Watson Lake was gorgeous with large slabs of granite that funneled streams and waterfalls directly in the crystal clear lake. As we submerged ourselves the upper layers of the lake felt refreshing and warm enough to float in and swim. Diving down the boys were enamored by the visibility under the water, discovering that the low layers of the lake were still quite cold. The mentors would like to thank the Explorer who shared his goggles with the group; we think he may have invented new the recreation of alpine lake snorkeling.

In the heat of the day a gentle breeze blew in refreshing us and drying our swimsuits. The boys reveled in how luxurious backcountry living can be. Leaving the lake we felt light and free as we played rounds of hide and carved. It was at this moment one of the boys sliced his thumb. With some careful sterilization and some creativity the cut was bandaged and immobilized. It is experiences like these that present what mentors have coined “the gentle reminders from the wilderness”.  Paying attention and being deliberate in the backcountry is generally the best practice and this experience was a great opportunity for the boys to shift their focus back into their Expeditionary Behavior.

Climbing back up the pass we were again in the shade, which the group was thankful for. Passing by talus fields on the way down to Anderson Lakes the Pikas cheeped out their alarm calls as they darted from rock to rock. Getting back to camp we took a moment to rest and mustered our energy for one final push for dinner. Once the veggies and cheese were prepped, we poured our dehydrated beans into the boiling water and found ourselves with a massive quantity. After second and third helpings the mentors were glad they had chosen to sleep under the stars! Dinner clean up was done by the whole group and after our work was done we laid out in the Heather and gazed up at another amazing night of stargazing. As our minds drifted our conversations wandered from laughter and silliness to introspection and reflection. Through all the logistics, permits, and hurdles it takes to run our Wilderness Experiences, all is forgotten in these powerful moments of mentorship. It is our hope for every seven-year-old Explorer that he might one-day stick with the program long enough to be able to share what is on his heart during a wilderness experience. 

The mentors awoke the morning of the last day to sunlight creeping over the ridgeline. Walking over to let down our bear hangs they spotted a dark shadow 300 feet away moving through the high alpine meadows. Calling the sleeping Explorers they scrambled out of their tents to catch a glimpse of the Black Bear. The group was in awe as two cubs emerged from the Hemlocks, sticking close to their mother as they foraged through the meadow roots. This safe and rare moment was the Boys EC’s first encounter with a bear on a trip. It was powerful to see the boy’s excitement for the encounter and they shared their thanks before we ate breakfast.  They stood quietly observing the trio until they disappeared into a cluster of Sliver Fir.

Shouldering our packs we made a last sweep of the campsite and cleared it of any micro-trash. Climbing out of the Anderson Lake Basin was a struggle for a few of the boys who stopped quite a few times on the way up, but persevered and stretched their edge. At breakfast the group had decided to pack up and get out of camp early so that we could drop packs and day hike up to Anderson Butte. Arriving at the junction half the group was energized and ready to climb, while the other half lay over their packs tired and in need of some rest. Recognizing our need the boys circled-up around the topo map to make a game plan. The group determined that there was in fact time to make it up to the bluff, but we would be pushing it and could be in risk of exhausting the some of the group. Through an outstanding self-directed group-decision making process the boys weighed in on the options, checked in on how each other felt both physically and emotionally, and considered the logistics and back up plans necessary determining that it was to risky. Not only did the some boys make a sacrifice on behalf of the other group members, they did so with selflessness in their hearts and saw it as an honor. This was Expeditionary Behavior at its finest and these Explorers should be proud.

Arriving back at the cars we handed back group gear and shared lunch together. Bumping down the dusty logging road we stopped for one last sit spot on a pull out that over looked the Baker River Valley. As the group looked across the valley at Mt Shuksan and Baker the wind made music through the Fireweed and Alder.  In the background the words of Walt Whitman echoed through one mentors head, “All forces have been steadily employ'd to complete and delight me, Now on this spot I stand with my robust soul”.

What a gift it was to spend three days in the backcountry with these boys. It is experiences like these that call us to dig deep and venture into the unknown. These experiences bring the best in us and realign us with what is important, strengthening our internal compass and identity. The Noisy Diobsub Wilderness is indeed rugged and vibrant and we are so thankful for the mysteries and wonder it revealed in itself and the group. We are thankful for the wonderful weather to give us warm days and cold clear nights and for stars and vistas. We are also thankful for this group of boys who are growing into whole and caring arriving adults. Lastly we are thankful for the support and encouragement of the parents. Our programs are built with a sturdy safety net, but lie on a foundation of trust formed by our parent community.

For more photos from the Anderson & Watson Lake Backpack please visit the summer photo gallery. 

Red Squirrel Kits Camp # 2 - 2015

If there was a question about effective ways to connect twenty-first century boys to their natural environment, it was quickly answered on the first day of our Red Squirrel Kits camp. Our opening circle, during which we discuss our ideas for the day and assign jobs (Medicine Man carries the first aid kit, Knowledge Keepers carry plant and animal field guiles, etc.) was punctuated with requests for games. There is great power in games played in the forest and along the shore. The boys are physically active, the games teach the dynamics of life in the wild, and they’re fun!

In December of 2013, the city of Bellingham purchased roughly 82 acres of wooded land, added 29 acres ofadjacent parkland, and created a “hundred-acre wood”. “From the squishy mats beneath the forest to the banks of small swampy ponds everywhere, wetlands at this site hold and filter lots of water,” Wendy Scherrer, former director of the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA), once described the setting. “Soggy places, the cedars and firs, the cottonwoods and willows, the mosses, rushes and cattails and shrubs help moderate storm runoff and absorb floodwater. The site is a sort of big natural reservoir for Padden and Chuckanut creeks—nature’s kidneys.” It was into this jewel that we ventured on that first day of camp. Eleven eager and energetic boys endured our opening meeting with admirable restraint, then literally ran into the forest for Hungry Hungry Martin, Hide!, and Spider’s Web.

After a few hours of high energy activity, it was time for lunch and some free exploration. Whereas the games elicit the gut-level release that can accompany time spent in open spaces, free exploration (and the sit spot - more on that in a moment) offers the possibility of deep nature connection. We encourage our explorers to slow down, to notice the small details that reveal so much. In this case, their exploration revealed a hornet who stung the youngest of our group, which took some of the wind out of those sails. It also highlighted our Explorer Mentor Apprentices (EMAs), two of whom we were fortunate to have volunteering with us for the camp. Max and Jordan are long time members of one of our oldest Explorers Club (EC) groups. Max was quick to sit with our patient, treat his wound and sooth his anxiety, demonstrating and living our goal of connecting with the land and each other. Jordan would prove his worth later in the camp.

Time for our sit spot. A prized tool of nature connection, the sit spot involves, well, sitting in a spot for a while, alone and quiet. After a few minutes of quieting, the senses kick into high gear; the sound of the birds, the feel of the breeze, the speckling of the sunlight through the trees, the feel of the bark against which you find yourself leaning. Along the beach, you might taste the salt air. The boys take to this activity in different ways. At this age, there is the predictable fidgeting (although a few of this group was asking for the sit spot on days 2 & 3!), while those more experienced can be seen drifting off to a special psychological place.

A game of Cougar Stalks Deer on our way back to the trailhead and our time in the hundred-acre wood drew to a close.

Monday’s game play was a hard act to follow, and our games on day 2 weren’t flowing with the same vigor and excitement until mentor Steve found a treasure while playing a game taught to the group by one of our explorers. Boys explorers groups visit Lake Padden often for the magical forest to explore, the inviting lake toswim, and the space to play games. The game our explorer taught us involved hiding in the ferns and trees until found, then running to escape capture. While hiding, Steve used his owl eyes to spy a bird skeleton in the underbrush. When he returned to our “base camp” with his find, even those explorers who had lost interest in our games became laser focused. The question was pure naturalist study: what kind of bird was this and how did he meet his demise? The bones and feathers were examined and the nature guide consulted. Theories were put forth and photos snapped. The interest and energy level of the group rose in moments.

It’s simple, really. As mentors, we work to encourage nature connection through facilitated exposure to all nature has to offer, but as with any endeavor, interest can wane and attention wander. Steve’s discovery became the point where mystery, interest, energy and attention converged...a teachable moment.

As we were reminded on this day, these moments can happen at any time as long as we follow where the land and the boy’s interests take us. The skeleton was still on the minds of several of the boys when we worked our way down to the lake for a swim to end the day. We no sooner splashed into the lake than we spied several ducks swimming near the shore and had the answer to our investigation. The tail feathers were a good match for the ones Steve found with the skeleton. The victim was a Mallard duck.

Mystery solved and explorers refreshed from a dip in the lake and Tuesday’s outing was at an end. The question on the mentor’s minds related to how well these young boys would do on a third consecutive day of exploration. The answer surprised us.

He was so eager, we just had to let him try it! Wednesday found us hiking down to Clayton Beach, along the shore of the Salish Sea. As we’ll find out in a bit, the beach is a wonderland of fun and discovery, but we would be remiss to walk right past a great Spider’s Web spot, so we stepped off trail to play one last game for our camp. This time, thanks to his insistence, one of our explorers played the spider. (For younger boys new to the game, a mentor or EMA usually plays this role.) The “flies” managed to capture the food source despite the excellent job done by our spider and we were off to the beach.

The tide was in when we arrived, which meant we needed to keep to the rocks or walk in ankle-deep water as we explored along the beach. Tough spot for young boys, wouldn’t you agree, having to scamper along on the rocks to avoid the surf? Or, wade through the surf to avoid the rocks? We had several takers for each route and it was the rocky option that provided the setting for EMA Jordan to strut his stuff. As a few explorers edged along a rising crease in the rocks, Jordan asked an outstanding mentor question, “Have you thought about how you’re going to get down from there?” The boys looked up to where their path was taking them, considered their options, and reversed course. Jordan had ensured their safety while prompting the boys to think through their situation and decide on their best option. Outstanding work!

The next few hours involved swimming, rock climbing, “surfing” down a large sand dune, exploring for creatures in pools of water left behind by the receding tide and general lazing in the sun. Of course, a game was also in order; this time we played Otter Steals Fish on the beach. When it came time for our third and final sit spot of the camp, we were delighted to encounter a group from the Girls Explorers Club. Luckily for the mentors, at this age such a meeting isn’t what it might be for older explorers, so the sit spot went off without a hitch as the silent islands broke the sun’s reflection off the water.

Is it possible to be tired and energized at the same time? As the boys gave thanks In our closing meeting, they touched on the power of place we experienced in our 3 day camp. The nurturing hundred acre wood, the refreshing Lake Padden and the inviting and challenging Salish Sea, all within a stone’s throw of our homes, offer a deep dive into the connectedness of our natural world.

With the capable assistance of our EMA's and an active curiosity about the natural world from your explorers, this Red Squirrel Kits camp was a great experience. Thank you, parents and guardians, for your support of the program and for sharing your boys with us for this adventure. Check out the photo gallery for more glimpses into our time together.