The Black-Tailed Deer 2016-17 year kicked off with a
traverse from Galby Lane to Lake Padden. Once we had all arrived the group
headed into the woods in search of a location big enough to hold an opening
meeting that was also dog poop free. Looking around the circle their was some
new members of our group. The Explorers introduced themselves to one another
and our guest mentor for the day Holly Rodger. Holly explained that she was
covering for a new mentor named Jedidiah and that she is the coordinator of our
Community Programs and
a mentor for the Girls Explorers Club.
Recognizing the groups need to revisit our Explorers Club
culture the mentors asked the group to think about the
vital questions we ask each other before embarking on any exploration:
- What are the hazards of this location?
- What do you do if you get lost?
- What animals and plants might we encounter?
- How should we treat our fellow group members?
- What can we do to respect the place where in?
- What is our plan for the day?
Once our minds were oriented to our location the mentors explained
our plan for the day and framed the skill for the Fall, Navigation. For the next three outings the group would be undergoing
a series of traverses. Once the group was familiar with the nature of a
traverse we handed out the jobs we would need along the way. Our Explorer Club
jobs are not only ones that are required of an expedition team, they also model
the interdependency we share as a group and with our natural environment.
Handing the map to our Front
Scout we opened it and found our location in the South Lake Padden forest.
Pulling out a compass one of the boys learned to hold their hand out flat and
take a reading on which direction was North. Pairing their bearing with the map
they shifted North on the map to align with North on the compass. The mentors
explained that the map was now oriented with the landscape.
Quickly the boys realized there were two different way to get to
our pick-up location. Looking at the topography lines and mile marker lines on
the map the boys determined that one route was much longer and involved lots of
elevation gain and the other was shorter and had a few interesting natural
history features along the way.
Our Tribal Elder for the
day circled the group up and led them in the group decision-making process. After
taking a vote the group was mostly in consensus about which trail they were
going to navigate, but a few wanted to take the longer route. After going
around the circle and listening to the reason for each decision the group
collaborated and compromised, deciding that they might go less distance on the
shorter route, but would be able to explore more of the surrounding area.
Before
we headed out one of the boys revealed a feather he had found lying next to
him. Examining the feather one of the boys identified
it as a Woodpecker. Holly pointed out the white spots near the base and the
sharp point at the end of the feather. Holly went on to explain that this point
acts similarly to the tree spikes an Arborist uses to scale a tree, allowing in
our case the Downy or Hairy Woodpecker to balance as it excavates the cavities
in dead trees. What a cool natural history find!
Hiking down the trail the boys searched for Pileated Woodpecker
cavities in trees while playing rounds of an Explorer Club favorite game of Hide! South Lake Padden has beautiful
ecology; the group passed through stall stands of Western Hemlock, Grand Fir,
Western Red Cedar, and Doug Fir. The mentors let the group know that one way we
could tell this forest was a little older was by the amount of dead snags that
stood throughout the forest. Looking at some of them closer the boys started to
notice the stages of decomposition throughout the forest. Calling the group
over the boys examined a Douglas Fir stump for fatwood (resin impregnated grains wood inside stumps that are resilient to rot)
and learned that it could make excellent fire starter in a survival situation.
Coming to a junction in the trail the boys found a map of our
location on small sign attached to trail marker. Orienting the map the boys
used the cardinal direction to stay on their chosen traverse route. Arriving at
lunch rock the group hydrated and refueled while we played a few rounds of an
advanced form of Hide called Eagle’s Eye. They boys had a great time
and didn’t want to leave. The mentors reminded them that we were on a traverse
and need to keep better awareness of our location to the parent pick up spot.
Heading down the trail we made a few more group navigation
decisions and found a giant downed Western Hemlock. Immediately the boys
started to climb all over it and the mentor stopped the group reminding them to
keep safety in their minds as they scaled the tall root mass. Walking the trunk
of the tree over a wetland the boys navigated without touching the ground using
a network of downed trees. Simultaneously we heard a Raven croakus call
overhead as if marveling at our behavior. If flew right over us allowing the
boys to see it large wingspan and fanned tail.
The group grew tired as we began to get closer to the Lake Padden.
Stopping to look at a Maple that made an umbrella over the trail mentor Steve
explained to the group the difference between Vine Maple and a Big Leaf Maple.
He went on to explain that Vine Maples were extremely strong and he had used them
before to ascend trail avalanche gullies in North Cascades. Hanging off of the
thickest trunk the Vine Maple halfway uprooted and hung over the trail as a
perfect clothesline for a oncoming biker.
The group worked for a half and hour to try and pull each section
of the Vine Maple off of the trail while holding it up for oncoming trail
traffic. They even enlisted the help of a fellow hiking group, but in the end
all the group’s applied physics and might, couldn’t move the tree. Tying a Wild
Whatcom bandana around the tree the group left the situation as best we could
until the mentors were able to return with a pack saw.
Already five minutes late the group circled up and gave some
thanks. The boys expressed gratitude for reconnecting with their group members,
for the challenge of the traverse, for games and food, for new members and
guest mentors, and for watching their mentor struggle with the puzzle of the
Vine Maple incident (who in turn expressed his gratitude for humility and
learning right along side of the boys).
The
Black-Tailed Deer really stepped up this outing, improving their interpersonal
communication and ability to speak their truths when needed. Our mentors are thankful for a strong start to our 2016-17
year and for supportive and caring families that make up this group.
For more photos from the day please visit this photo album.
