A beautiful day at the 100 Acre Wood is a perfect way to kick off a Red Squirrel Kits Camp, and that is exactly what we had on Monday. As parents dropped boys off it became clear that we were going to have a week full of unique individuals and personalities, strengths and weaknesses, powers and challenges. Starting things off with a name game to break the ice the Explorers began to get a feel for one another even if they weren’t always on point with the names. That would come soon enough. Before too long it was time to hit the trail and get into the woods.
Travelling back into the depths of the 100 Acre Wood, the group began to learn the ins and outs of Explorers Club culture. We introduced “jobs” like Medicine Man, Front/Back Scout, Tribal Elder, Earth Keeper, Knowledge Keeper, and the ever important Totally Terrific Toilet Paper Person (aka T.T.T.P.P.). We also discussed what a “crow call” means and how you are supposed to come together and form a circle whenever you hear one. But most importantly we learned how to Collaborate, Compromise, and come to a Consensus when it was time for the group to make a decision. This process takes a while to get used to, but is the basis of every outing and balances group needs with needs of the individuals who make up the group. We also learned the ever exciting game of HIDE! and ensued to play a few rounds.
Along the trail we found a wonderful playground of dirt mounds, sticks, rocks, plants, and trees that at one point might have been used as bike jumps. But today, those bike jumps turned into an enchanting playground for the Explorers. Whatever shyness lingered from earlier quickly fell away like autumn leaves as boys came together to play with sticks, dig holes, build structures, and in general make a mess of things in the best way. After a few hours of free play we decided it was time to play a game. Eagle Eye seemed like a good choice as it is the next step up from HIDE but not quite as advanced as Spiders Web. The boys took a fondness to this game and it was a mainstay throughout following outings.
Before we knew it the time to go was upon us. Packing up our things we gathered for one last circle where each Explorer shared something they were grateful for during the outing. The mentors stressed the importance of giving gratitude and showing appreciation as a way to reflect upon all the fun times we had and acknowledge what made those fun times possible. Finally we hurried back to meet parents for pick up and day one was done.
Day two brought us to Lake Padden. Traversing up into the horse trails, and eventually off trail, to a beautiful ravine tucked away in the hills behind the lake allowed the Explorers a chance to see a whole new side of Lake Padden. The terrain into the valley proved difficult for some, but slow and steady wins the race… unless you stir up a Bald Faced Hornets nest like we did, then it is important to move quickly! Luckily enough we escaped with only a couple stings to go around.
After eating lunch and exploring the valley a bit, it was time for some games. Of course there were many requests for Eagle Eye after the fun we had on Monday, so Eagle Eye it was. The varied terrain of the valley, big sword ferns, fallen trees, and steep slopes gave a new flavor to the game and also pushed the boys to really hone their skill in camouflage and hiding. Although games are a great way to get to know a place, it was time for something a little different so we decided to try out a Sit Spot for the first time. This is a wonderful time where each Explorer finds their own space in the valley and sits quietly for about 10-15 minutes. Some like to draw, others listen to the birds, or observe their surroundings. It is truly amazing what the forest reveals when the hustle and bustle of thirteen Explorers dies down.
Hiking out of the valley, we were hoping to get back in time to do some swimming before pick up. Unfortunately we just couldn’t manage to stick together as a group on the trail. As much fun as it is to run down the steep horse trails, it is also important to track the group and make sure to stick together. This proved difficult for some, and we had to have a discussion about getting separated from the group, and what sort of challenges that presents if there was an emergency. Having to wrangle the group multiple times and then finally sit down and talk about sticking together left us with no time to go swimming. I think we all learned a little about what it means to be a part of a group, and that putting the group ahead of our personal needs is important.
Our third and final outing brought us to a beautiful Bellingham gem in Clayton Beach. Although it was overcast and a little drizzly, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that we were going to have a great day. After navigating the hazards of Chuckanut Drive, we ducked down into the forest and immediately someone yelled “HIDE!” sending the rest of the group diving under bushes and tucking away behind trees. Round upon round of HIDE were played until the mentors finally called an end to the fun in order to get to our destination, and even more fun.
Dropping down into a ravine we found a creek with boulders, waterfalls, sword ferns aplenty, and the perfect spot to learn Spiders Web. Taking time to circle up and discuss how to organize our time, the Explorers decided they really just wanted to get there wiggles out by exploring the creek bed and the surrounding forest before playing any games. This exploration inevitably turned into hours of getting lost in imaginative free play, teaming up to flood rocky pools along the stream, or traversing up the creek bed to find fossils. The group could have easily done this all day, but it was important to stick to our commitment of exploration followed by Spiders Web.
Organizing a complicated game like Spiders Web isn’t always an easy feat, but the mentors managed to wrangle enough focus to explain the rules, set up the Food Source, Web, and designate a Spider. Without a moment of focus to spare, the boys were off running, jumping, sneaking, hiding, planning, and otherwise getting lost in the game and having a blast doing so. A very diligent spider made it difficult for the flies to secure the food source, but eventually they did and were delivering it back to base when the game was abruptly interrupted.
A couple of the boys that were sneaking around a rotten stump managed to disturb a lively hornet’s nest that put a stop to the game. Six stings and a sprained ankle later left the mentors triaging while the rest of the group reverted back to splashing in the stream. Luckily we had a tough bunch and everyone was taken care of in no time. Parents were called, ice packs administered, and ankles wrapped. Before we knew it camp was almost over!
Circling up one final time brought a moment of realization to the group: this was going to be the last time they circled up together. Some boys were fine with this, and just happy to have had a great camp, but others felt a little saddened by the thought. As we gave our gratitude one boy shared how grateful he was to have come to such a fun camp full of wonderful people. He was grateful for all the fun he had and wished he could come to camp the next day, and the next day, and the next day. Not only was this a powerful moment for the mentors to hear, but exemplified how a group of unique personalities and individuals could form an impressively functional and resilient group. These Explorers had gone through a lot during camp. They came together to enjoy fun times and overcome hard times. Yet in the end they were left with new memories, new friends, and a greater appreciation for the mysteries, lessons, and adventures the natural world has to offer.
Make sure to check out the Photo Gallery to see the rest of the pictures from camp!
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