The Black-Tailed Deer arrived at the Sehome Arboretum to a closed
gate just before the lower parking lot. Upon further investigation the group
found that someone had actually crashed into the gate, bending the steal pole
that connected its two sides. It would need to be cut open. Fortunately for the
police officers that later arrived on the scene, the driver who crashed into
the gate and fled left their license plate behind!
After introducing Jedidiah Forsyth, our newest BEC staff and
the Black-Tailed Deer new consistent mentor, we circled up for an opening
meeting. Looking around the circle we had a few new faces to the group and
there was a need to introduce ourselves, review the outing jobs, group culture,
and safety. Once our focus was brought back towards our exploration, the group
talked about an EC motto, turning problems into possibilities.
The boys decided that even though the parents could not pick us up at the
top of the Arboretum they wanted to try to complete a round trip hike and make
it to the lookout tower.
Before heading up the trail Jedidiah showed the boys a skull
he had recently found in the 100-Acre Wood. Jedidiah asked the group what type
of animal did they think this skull belonged to? Through questioning and
observation the group deciphered that it was an adult raccoon skull. Jedidiah
then went on to ask them how the raccoon died. The boys puzzled over this
mystery until they reached their breaking point and asked Jedidiah to reveal the
mystery. Pointing out the teeth marks on top of the skull and thinking about
the large mammals live in the 100-acre wood, he said it was most likely a Coyote.
Through this investigation the boys learned that sometimes the answers to
questions can be found when we slow down and use our observation skills and the
critical thought process.
Heading out on the trail we used the group decision-making, facilitated
by our Tribal Elder, to determine
which trail we wanted to follow to the top. The day was beautiful and the
colors of fall were abundant in the canopy of Big Leaf Maples and Red Alder. After
climbing up the ridge and playing a few rounds of hide we came to a Sandstone Cliff.
The boys asked if we could follow the steep path to the
bottom to do some bouldering and free exploration. The mentors felt that the
boys could handle the risk management aspect of the location, but reminded the
group that we are all mutually responsible for each other’s safety, and it was
on that contingency that we could explore the location.
The boys bouldered on the cliff until it was time for lunch.
As we ate a few of the Explorers started to lose their awareness while near the
cliffs edge and the mentors decided it was time to move.
Along our journey to the lookout we discovered Banana Slugs,
Vanilla Leaf, Snowberries, and Oceanspray. Arriving at the tower the boys
gathered Samara seedpods from Big leaf Maples by the handful and launched them
from the top of the tower. Watching the Samaras “helicopter” downwards the boys
were enamored and the activity quickly turned into a game of seeing how many
they could catch. The moment was spontaneous and engaging. In-between Samara
launches the boys soaked up the clear views and sunshine while the mentors
oriented them to the topography from Bellingham’s watershed to the Nooksack
Delta. We also caught some glimpses of the Cascade Mountain peaks!
Feeling some inspiration and the crunch for time we walked to
the upper parking lot where the mentors informed the group that we were going
to follow the road down to the bottom of arboretum. The mentors explained that
our decision to hike the road was three fold: a unique opportunity to see
Sehome Arboretum’s Eastern ravines, the ability to explore road car free, and that
it provided enough time for us to have a sit spot and a circle of thanks before
parents arrived. This was yet another example of turning problems into
possibilities. As mentors we aim to model and be transparent in front
of the Explorers in our co-leadership deliberation and decision-making in the
field.
Hiking down the road we admired the unique U-shaped folds in
the Sandstone that seemed to run one after another down the flanks of the
arboretum. Arriving at the bottom we stopped in a tall stand of Douglas fir and
spent a little solo time listening to the land on a sit spot. Circling up we
shared apples and thanks while we soaked up the warmth of the splendid autumn
outing.
For more photos please visit the Black-Tailed Deer photo album from the outing.
