The Red Squirrel Kits Exploration Camp

It is impossible to fit the breadth and depth of our full camp experience into the confines of a few thousand symbols on the face of a glowing box.  In fact, one could argue, a large part of the beauty and power of a week of Exploring is that one has a chance to recuperate from our increasing overexposure to these powerful tools.  The living wilderness all around us (yes, including the little mites under our keyboards or in our iphones) is wonderfully unfetter-able.  The butterfly outside the door, thankfully, does not beat her wings in metronomic 4/4 time; the wind prefers the vortex to the straight line; the track of the coyote ages even as we look at it, responding to the constant changes in moisture, pressure, and heat.  We are change, and there is no set container.

All that said, we can share story, and those stories can shape the moment.  Stories that whisper of past events are seeds scattered in the fertile soil of the present.  If planted well, they might grow into greater actions and events in our future.  We have many story seeds to share from this past week, and it is a good idea to ask your son questions about the camp in order to find them.   Please let this little outing report just serve as a talking point and a reminder of a few highlights.

Here are a few highlights:

Hundred Aker Wood:

This was our grand introduction to Explorers Club.  Our squirrelly bunch was welcomed at the threshold and invited with a crow call into a land of mystery, of exploration, of service, of skills, of connection.  The boys were naturals.  We gathered in a circle to start, and we considered what it means to be an Explorer.  Boys shared their ideas and we crafted a pretty good outline.  We also considered how we can best act as a group, and how to relate to the wild community around us.  We then took a break for a game of Oh Deer! Explorers gathered back to discuss safety and learn about our Explorers jobs.  Each person was given a special job for the day before we set off exploring.  Boys learned the Explorers Club standby game called Hide!and immediately fell in love.  “Hide!” was called with regularity from that point on throughout the camp.  We then ventured further and came to a crossroads.  We figured out how the group could best decide where to go, and we traveled onwards.  So much more was discovered: giant shelf fungi; a mouse scurrying across our backpacks; ripe huckleberries and salmonberries; wasps!; nettles!; our good friendly medicine plant, plantain, to ease the stings; a path to a strange overhang filled with mysterious markings; a gathering for a group game and an introduction to Hungry Hungry Marten; an impromptu re-creation of the game; the misleading twisted stalk berry; an introduction to Spider’s Web; a big sit spot with discoveries of frogs, snakes, and mice; a final game with crawling and creeping; a big walk home to get rested for the next day.

Lake Padden:

This day began in the big field.  We started with a mixer game ofNettle Tag to get our energy moving and ourselves more acquainted.  This moved into an active little name game.  Finally, boys were given a short story and were challenged to lose their minds and come to their senses as they walked with blindfolds through the field toward a beating drum.  The first round was “easy” according to many, but once the drum was beat from a wilder field on a slope, the challenge began.  Explorers stretched their edges and learned how to use their other senses and how to skillfully use their bodies with a non-ocular balance center.  Finally, we gathered for the opening meeting, circled up and discussed the location.  Jobs were allocated, and Explorers were ready to go when- SCREAM!- another wasp sting arrived.  Luckily, everyone was quick to identify the plantain around them, make a poultice, and quickly soothe our hurting friend.  We then moved into the woods for more adventure.  Explorers may remember the many games of Hide!;the challenge to find Soren and Kyler; the great grand fir; the abundant lady ferns; the calls of the winter wren; the entrance to our mystery cedar palace; the introduction to devil’s club; the giant games of Spider’s Web; the story about the old man and the young man crossing the river (i.e. “it’s not the same lunch…”); a circle of thanks; discovering amazing fungi; the final walk out and the swim in the lake.

Clayton Beach:

Our final day began with a challenge: could Explorers manage to sneak past the great Kyler monster and retrieve his treasure without being detected?  We talked a little about “fox feet” and practiced walking with patience and silence.  Explorers then took the challenge.  It was difficult and all were pointed out at some time, but eventually, working together, they managed to retrieve the items.  We then moved into the opening meeting (after a few games of Hide!), discussed the day, and gave out the jobs.  At the road, we considered S.T.O.P. as an acronym for risk assessment.  We assessed the road and how to best cross, then made our way into the woods.  Explorers may remember: discovering the giant sword fern field; the big earth keeper work we did to help clean it up; the game of Alpha Wolf where Explorers had to find Kyler and Soren deep in the woods; the cherry trees; the big stream; discovering the GIANT salamander and many smaller ones; meeting more mice; the big game of capture the flag; the tromps along the sandstone; the final circle of thanks; being greeted at the very end by a deer and an eagle; the quick walk home; the great goodbye and the hope to see you all again this Fall!

Thanks so much all Red Squirrel Kit Explorers for your wonderful work!

Thanks so much to Soren and Kyler, our Explorers Mentoring Apprentices, for your amazing presence during this camp!

Thanks so much parents for making it all possible.

Please don’t forget to check out pics from our outing in our summer photo gallery.