Turning Problems into Possibilities with the Black-Tailed Deer at Clayton Beach

The mentors arrived at Cleator Road for their Rock Trail adventure with the Black-Tailed Deer only to find an event coordinator redirecting traffic away from the road!  The coordinator informed them that the Chuckanut 50k was currently underway, and that there would be hundreds of runners on Cleator Road! With some on the fly thinking the mentors scooped up the group at the bottom of the road and changed course to head to the Clayton Beach trailhead.

Water poured out of every drainage in the Chuckanuts and the birdcalls filled the air as we hiked along the interurban trail. Stopping along the side of the trail for an opening meeting the mentors talked with the group about the importance of rain gear on a day like this. A few of the Explorers choose not to heed the mentor’s advice and the leaders thought is best to let the boys learn by natural consequence. After handing out jobs and introducing our EMA for the day, Cole Zecha from the eldest group in the BEC, we were ready to formulate a plan for the afternoon.  Nominating a Tribal Elder the boys were squirrely and the mentors had to rein in the circle a few times.  We presented two options to the group and the boys unanimously choose to hike to Clayton Beach.

Continuing along the trail the signs of spring were abundant throughout the forest. The mentors took a moment to introduce the group the beautiful flowers of the Pink-flowering currant and the bitter cucumber tasting leaves of an Indian Plum shrub. The groups also spotted a nest of an unidentified raptor nestled in an eroded Sandstone cave nearly forty feet in the air. The group pulled out their binoculars and tried to get a closer look to see if anything was in the nest. At that moment the frontrunner of the Chuckanut 50k was spotted heading down the trail towards us. It was time to put away our binoculars and keep our awareness up. The Explorers did an excellent job moving to the side of the trail for the runners and were actually quite excited to witness the race in action.

Arriving at the Fragrance Lake Trailhead the group looked tired and called for a snack. This was the perfect time to talk with the group about an EC motto that would help guide our attitude for the day:

            Turning Problems into Possibilities - We understand that what may look like a    problem can transform – with our help – into a possibility. We work to see how         we can shift a situation, and our attitude, to come up with solutions.

Safely across Cuckanut Drive the group lunched under the cover of the amphitheater, peeling of their soaking jackets while they laughed and joked together. Refueled the boys headed out along the coastal bluff trail south of Larrabee in route to Clayton Beach. As we hiked the group noticed that many of the Western Red Cedars were partially stripped of their bark. Stopping at one particularly maimed cedar the mentors pointed out that the person who did this harvesting clearly did not understand their impact. They had not only harvested from an improper location, but had also taken far too much cedar bark from one area.

This was a great opportunity to mention what type of land designation we were venturing through and why it is important that we really practice and understand Earth Skills so that we don’t do considerable damage to the areas that we love. The boys seemed to internalize this message and felt the weight of the harvester’s actions and the impact it would have on all State Park users who visited the location in the future. 

Cresting over a rise in the trail the boys heard the voices of another group of Explorers. Immediately we got on our bellies and stalked the other group. It was not too long before they found us and we joined with the elder Explorer group, the Gray Wolf Pups, to see what they were up to it. It is powerful for the younger Explorers to mix with the elders because they get a great taste of where they can go in the program if they stay committed and engaged.

Mustering their energy the group made one last push to Clayton Beach. Within fifteen minutes the boys had all but flooded their boots and soaked their bottom layers in the saltwater. One boy even decided to dive head first into the surf. Sensing some urgency, the mentors circled up the boys and had a talk about preventative thinking and consequently how to recognize the stages of hypothermia.

Within a few minutes a few the soaked Explorers were shaking and feeling the full weight of their decision. Fortunately for those Explorers they had some extra gear in their packs to change into. It is amazing what lessons the natural world can easily teach our participants that a mentor would struggle to impart. For this group it was a great time to check their egos and understand that they too are in charge of their own safety as well as the groups.

Our intention was to do some nature journaling on the beach, but with cold participants we choose to spend the next half an hour running up and down the sand dune. We ended our day with a sit spot and the modified task of drawing something that we were thankful for. The boys really responded well to our activity and brought back some heartfelt thanks from their sit spot. The mentors again brought the Explorers focus back to our motto for the day, Turning Problems into Possibilities. We let the group know that our original plan was to search for invertebrates and salamanders at lost Lake and explore the Rock Trail, but we ended up at Clayton Beach. Thank goodness we did too, because if we had not been faced with the challenge of having to find a new location we wouldn’t have gotten to explore Clayton Beach, see all the wonderful signs of spring, meet the Gray Wolf Pups, and learn a powerful lesson about exploring outside in the winter months.

Jedidiah and I are thankful for another great outing with the BTD, the flexibility of parents in response to our location mix-up, and for Cole joining us as an Explorers mentor Apprentice.

For more pictures from our outing please visit the Black-Tailed Deer photo album from the day.

Teddy Bear Traverse with The Black Tailed Deer

Our Teddy Bear Traverse was a rich experience full of natural history and exploration. Meeting at the North Chuckanut Trailhead the mentors wanted to cover an important safety topic before we headed out on our traverse. In order to complete our trek and make it to our pick-up location the group would have to cross Chuckanut Drive three separate times. The mentors cautioned the group to stay hyper vigilant and focused during these times.

Lined up and ready for our first crossing both North and Southbound traffic stopped and an annoyed driver tried to pass one of the stopped vehicles. The driver spotted our group across the road and immediately came to a stop. Safely on the other side of the road the boys circled up for our opening meeting and we debriefed what had just happened. It was a great reminder of the number one rule of the wilderness: pay attention.

Looking at a map of the traverse the boys worked hard to orient to the landscape and cardinal directions. Once jobs were divvied up the Tribal Elder facilitated the group’s decision to head due south across the wetland, and we were off!

Crawling and climbing through a dense thicket of Salmonberry, Vine Maple, and Devil’s Club the boys followed each other closely, choosing the easiest lines of travel. Once the group had navigated the wetland the Front Scout made a keen observation. Looking at the retaining wall above us, he suggested that an easier path of travel might be along the wall as there was graffiti it’s entire length; which meant there must have been a footpath at its base. Jedidiah explained to the boys that reading the landscape as the Scout had just done and the type of inference he was able to make from his observations was a key component of tracking and navigation.

The group decided not to venture up towards the retaining wall because of the significant erosion it would cause. The mentors went on to explain that the first quarter mile of our traverse was in the Chuckanut Creek watershed and there were salmon currently spawning. Any erosion we created would significantly impact the salmon runs.

After another twenty minutes of travel through a lush valley of Sword Ferns we arrived at Woodstock Farms and headed down to Mud Bay for some lunch. Looking out across the bay the boys noticed a few clusters of shore birds foraging in the tidelands. Jedidiah pulled out his binoculars and each of the boys took a turn. It was a great day by any birders standards. We spotted Surf Scoters, Goldeneye, Mergansers, Eagles, Heron, and Grebes. One of the boys also noticed that the eroding shoreline seemed to be made up of entirely of clams and oyster shells. Crawling under the overhanging bank the mentors explained to the group that this was a pile of Shell Midden leftover from the Salish peoples. Shell Midden piles can be found throughout the Salish Sea along with all types of artifacts preserved by the calcium from the shellfish. The boys were excited and wanted to dig through the pile but the mentors stopped the group, explaining that it was our job to leave this piece of natural history intact to it would be there for generations to come.

We left Mud Bay and weren’t more than five minutes up the trail when one of the boys called everyone over to puzzle at a bone that he had found. After some investigation the boys discovered that it was a salmon bone. The mentors asked the group why a salmon bone would be so far from the bay. Scanning the landscape the boys determined that it must have been a Bald Eagle feasting on the Salmon from atop a tree. The mentors pointed out that the salmon bones and carcass provide vital nutrients from the ocean to the forest, which wouldn’t be present without their journey up stream.

Nearing our second Chuckanut Road crossing we started to hear voices of what could only be the Girls Explorers Club. Sure enough we crested the hillside and there were three groups of GEC girls working on a service project. We chatted for a little while and the girls let us know that there was an owl pellet ahead on the trail. Saying our goodbyes we rounded the corner and took a close look at the owl pellet, which Jedidiah determined to be Coyote scat with Cottontail bones and fur in it. One of the Explorers pointed out that our traverse through the land was giving us a snapshot of the animals that lived and migrated through this area.

Safely across Chuckanut Drive we made some ground along the interurban trail only stopping to look at a Robin’s nest. Coming to our last Chuckanut Road crossing the group was very patient as they waited for the seemingly endless line of cars to pass by. Hiking down the steep switchbacks the boys realized they had made it to Teddy Bear Cove.

Pulling out the remnants of their lunches the boys spread out over the Sandstone bluff and soaked up the views. NOAA had forecasted heavy rain for our outing, but miraculously the day had been dry with the occasional sun break. Looking over the Olympic Mountains the sky was fiery orange and yellow and we could see the almost sheet like rain coming down in buckets. It was a great time for the boys to decompress and revel in their accomplishment.

The boys wanted to spend some time on the beach and navigated to the North side of the cove where they spent quite awhile harvesting clay from the embankment near the breakwater. This was the perfect container for the mentors to sit back as the boys engaged in free play. Their play led to two more natural history discoveries: River Otter poop and the mysterious intertidal creature called a Hooded Nudibranch.

Calling the group together we played a few rounds of Otter Steals a Fish and circled up for our closing meeting. The boys gave thanks for the fall season and for all the mystery and wonder that lives in the landscape. This closing meeting would mark the end of the first half of our 2016/17 season of traverses. Looking back we recalled each our traverses and revisited the powers and challenges of our experiences. Our mentors look forward to picking up where we left off in mid-January. Parents, dates for the second half of the 2016/17 season will be posted on the Black-tailed Deer group page by December 5^th.  We appreciate all your support and encouragement for the work we do. We hope you have a wonder Holiday break!

For more photos from our outing please visit the BTD’s photo album from the day.

The Black-Tail Deer Traverse Galby Lane to Lake Padden

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.