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!
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