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.

Investigating Animal Track & Sign at Tennant Lake Interpretative Center

The Black-tailed Deer arrived at the Tennant Lake Interpretative Center clearly excited to explore a new location. Once everyone had gathered we headed out in search of a spot for our opening circle. Settling in the mentors nominated a Tribal Elder and let the group know that we had three Environmental Education Students from WWU who would be exploring with us; Anna, Ciera, and Nina. The Explorers were informed that our volunteers were not only interested in exploring this unique location with us, but that they also wanted to learn about our Explorer Club culture. What better way to teach our culture than with a strong opening circle facilitated by the boys?

After handing out jobs and going over location safety concerns, the mentors presented the group with our core routines for the day: engaging in our seasonal skill of bird language and behavior, playing a game called Jays and Juncos, having a sit spot, and exploring the mile-long wetland boardwalk. The Tribal Elder did an excellent job of facilitating the group decision-making process and helping the group come to a collaborative decision to explore the wetland first and take a sit spot on the boardwalk.

As we walked the mentors chatted with the boys about the importance of wetlands for providing habitat, water purification, trapping sediment, preventing flooding, and allowing water to slowly seep into the ground table. Crossing over the first bridge the boys spotted a few Coots feeding on the aquatic plants. We also took a moment to discuss a plant that has been coined nature’s grocery store, Cat Tail. Almost every part of this plant is edible and it provides excellent nesting habitat for Marsh Wrens and Red-Winged Blackbirds. Harvesting a few of the Cat Tail’s the boys crushed up the cone shaped flower on the top of the stem and waved them around like wands, releasing the seeds into the wind.

Arriving at the boardwalk the boys investigated the roof of a beaver lodge that was thought to be abandoned for many of years. The lodge must have been fifteen feet in diameter. Looking closely the boys noticed fresh beaver chews and sticks that had been added to the holes in the roof. How cool to think that a lodge could be reclaimed and reused! One of the amazing parts about this location is the multitude of animal tracks and signs. Walking the boardwalk the group found beaver highways and chews through the Sweet Gale and Pacific Willow, River Otter scat, and all types of interesting fungi. They also had a great time smelling the “Pine Sol” scented beaver scent mounds and releasing the methane bubbles trapped in the sediment layers of the wetland.

Finding an open space on the boardwalk the group lunched and viewed some Mergansers hiding among the Cat Tail’s as a Sharp-Shinned Hawk patrolled the skies overhead. After lunch we came across an expansive view of the wetland and decided that it would be the perfect place for our sit spot. Tucking away in the Sweet Gale the boys got quiet and listened for birdcalls. As one of the mentors sat a Marsh Wren darted between him and another Explorer. Although the birds are not particularly vocal at this time of year, late winter is often the time when a number of species establish their breeding territories. 

Our solo time was quiet and going well until a number of other park users started to walk by. This caused a chain reaction in the boys and they started to get squirrely. One mentor stood up to make sure that they were leaving enough room for the other park users and stepped right off the boardwalk, soaking his pants and flooding his boots! The boys thought this was quite hilarious, as did the other mentors.

On the way over to the other side of the park the group continued to harvest Cat Tail’s and were becoming a little rowdy and they waved them around to disperse the seeds. This was an important time to circle up and talk about being respectful of the work the park staff puts into keeping the park clean and being aware of how and why we are harvesting resources and what other species might need them too.

Walking through the grass field on the way over to the patch of forest along the Nooksack River the boys played games of Hide! and viewed a pair of Bald Eagles repairing their nest in a large Cottonwood. Arriving at the location where we intended to play games we saw the river was blown out and the forest held about a foot of standing water. Turning problems in possibilities Jedidiah led the boys in a tracking exercise following some coyote scat and digs in the myriad of vole holes along the edge of the field. This led us straight to the giant Cottonwood and we got an up close and personal view of the Eagle’s nest.

Arriving at the Hovander farm we found a perfect location to play Jays and Juncos. The game of Jays and Juncos is a great model for helping the boys understand what it’s like to try to find food as a ground nesting bird while trying to keep your young alive from the ever-persistent Jays. After playing a few rounds and experimenting with ratios of Jays to Juncos the boys had some great takeaways around the balance of the forest bird ecosystem and what it was like to have to always stay hyper vigilant and aware of predators.

Circling up one last time we shared our thanks for a powerful day full a genuine Exploration and powerful moments of natural history and animal tracks and signs. The mentors would like to thank our volunteers from WWU for joining us for the day and for Heather Nelson for bringing the group some delicious cupcakes in celebration of her son’s birthday.

For more photos please visit the Black-Tailed Deer photo album from the day.

The Black-Tailed Deer Explore Frozen Streams

The Black-Tailed Deer met last Sunday for their first winter exploration together as a group.  Our outing came at the tail end of a two week cold spell and this was our first chance to see what the woods look, smell, sound and feel like during the icy grip of a winter freeze.  In addition to exploring in the winter for the first time, this was also the first BEC exploration in this spot ever! We were tasked by BEC to scout this spot and decide whether or not it would be a good place to come back to with other groups. 

Frozen streams!

We started our day by traveling through a section of very disturbed forest.  We noticed lots of blackberry and english ivy, both plants that we recognized as invasive because we had spent time getting rid of them at our service site on Connelly Creek.  In search of a healthier patch of wood, we pressed on into unknown territory.  

We eventually came to a gravel path, and on the other side we began to recognize a healthier forest.  Tall cedars and hemlocks reached skyward and jockeyed for any available sunlight in the canopy.  Instead of blackberries and ivy on the forest floor, here there were sword ferns and huckleberry bushes. We could hear the sound of running water in the distance and we let our ears lead us toward the gurgling brook.

Upon reaching the small stream, we noticed a great variety in the thickness of the ice in different places.  The mentors told us that this is because water freezes more readily when it is moving slow or not at all, and in areas of swift water, the ice would be very thin.  Normally, getting our feet a little wet in a creek was not a big deal in BEC, but the mentors explained to us the new danger of getting wet in such cold weather and how it could lead to hypothermia.  After acknowledging these risks, our inner curiosity took over and compelled us to move onto the ice and begin to explore this frictionless world.

We managed to play on the ice for over an hour before one of us found himself ankle deep in cold running water.  Luckily, this explorer had packed extra wool socks, a must on a cold winter exploration.  As this explorer was changing into dry socks, another one of us found our way into the water! Sometimes we just have to make our own mistakes in order to really come to understand something.  Fortunately, this water was just deep enough to effectively chill our feet and teach us a lesson.

At this point, the mentors thought it wise to move on from the ice.  We let our inner vision guide us to a good spot for spiders web.  We found a suitable spot and sat down for a snack before we playing our first game.  

Snack time/pig pile

We were only a group of seven today, including the mentors.  While we were playing spiders web, we realized that this gave a huge advantage to the spider as he had less flies to keep track of.  In a rare turn of events, the spider actually won two games in a row by successfully returning all of the flies to the web! 

Can you spot the explorer in this picture?

Seeing that our spring season focus is Tracking and Bird Language, the mentors thought it would be a good idea to have a sit spot to end the day and see if we could begin notice some of the bird language in the forest.  This sit spot also allowed us to come to know this forest a bit better as this was a new patch of woods after all.  

After our sit spot, we had our usual closing circle where we shared gratitude and apples.  Back at the cars where our parents were waiting for us, we agreed that these new woods were a great spot to explore and that they likely hold many more unknown and interesting spots that future BEC groups could come and discover. 

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.