Townsend's Chipmunks Explore Lake Padden

On an unusually cold November day the Townsend’s Chipmunks gathered at Lake Padden park for their final outing of the Fall season. Frost covered the fallen leaves and the small puddles along the parking lot and trail had a thin layer of ice covering them. We began to gather in the small patch of sunshine playing games and waiting for the other last few explorers to arrive. Finally, we circle up and did some animal forms to stay warm; fishing heron, hunting raccoon, owl with a pellet. Then the boys began to make up their own animal forms; proud pigeon, the crab, happy cat.

Feeling warm and limber we made our way into the forest. Almost immediately, the boys took us on a small deer trail leading up a steep bank. Finding ourselves off trail so early in the day was a great way to start. We hit another path, but the boys crossed it and again began forging their way up a steep hillside through stands of devils club and sword fern. As we made our way upward the hill grew steeper and steeper until finally we were threading our way through large slabs of sandstone. Barely clinging on to the hillside with the help of roots and hardy salal bushes we reached the summit. We were welcomed by a lush valley of sword ferns. Perfect terrain to play Spiders Web!

This is the Townsend’s Chipmunks first season as a group and they have heard of Spiders Web from elder brothers and friends in Explorers Club and have been asking to play all season. They have been practicing their skills of camouflage and stealth through other games and have reached a point where they are more then ready to play Spiders Web. After we discussed the rules of the game we set out to find a suitable place for the Web and the Food Source.

The game began and apart from a few questions to clarify rules the boys disappeared silently into the forest. From my hiding places, I would occasionally hear boys being found or hushed discussion from sword ferns on the strategy of the game. I was impressed by their integrity while playing and their ability to work out their few disagreements with little or no help from the mentors. As we debriefed the game, the boys were very articulate in discussing what they liked about the game, what was challenging about it, and what they would try in future games.

The cold had caught up with us and it was again time to keep moving through the forest. We spotted a sunny stand of hemlocks on the ridge and made our way toward them in search of warmth. We crossed a log bridge and made our way up onto a beautiful ridge overlooking Lake Samish and the Chuckanuts. It always amazes me that even in parks that I feel I know really well I always find myself in new places on these outings. We all sat on the ridge soaking up the sun and marveling at the view. Exploring the ridge, helping each other over hard terrain, finding new plants, looking at mushrooms, laughing in the sun, Hide!, new places, and a true joyfulness at the sunlight we had found.

As we headed back we all kept exclaiming at how fun our off trail trek at been! Being in places that feel so far away from other people really is an inspiring feeling. We ran down a steep hill bounding like deer. We stopped suddenly as we saw the trail far below us. None of us wanted to get back on the trail and put an end to our romp through the forest. We all looked back up the hill at the ridges and valleys we had explored that day then turned around and headed back onto the trail.

Parents, thank you for bringing your explorers to us this season, what a great fall! Explorers, thank you for being such a great group to work with! I hope to see you all over the winter and look forward to working with all of you in the Spring. For only being together as a group for one season you all are very capable and fun individuals to explore with. Make sure to check out our photo gallery for more pictures.