Townsend Chipmunks - N. Chuckanut Trailhead - 03/12/16
Meeting up for the first time this season the Townsend
Chipmunks and mentors arrived at North Chuckanut Trailhead. While a few of the late
arrivals trickled in, the rest of the boys were immediately drawn to the pond
beside the parking lot. Obviously eager to explore they scampered about the
logs and if not for the mentors calling them back would have likely ended up
quite wet and muddy before our outing even began! Gathering up for opening
circle we welcomed a new mentor to the group and shared all our names and
favorite animals to familiarize ourselves with one another before hitting the
trail. We also took some time to discuss our earth skills focus for the season;
Tracking and Bird Language.
A little ways into our hike we reached an intersection in
the trail yet no one seemed to pause to ensure the group was together before
moving on! The mentors crow called and got everyone to regroup to debrief what
had happened. It may seem like a tedious task to pause at every intersection,
but when these boys are old enough to go on backpacking trips in a few
years, getting separated from the group while taking a wrong turn down a
trail could be the difference between making it home safe and sound and being
lost in the wilderness. But enough of the lecturing, time for a game of HIDE!
While we played a quick round, our EMA (Explorers Mentor
Apprentice) headed off to begin a game of Stick Drag. The Explorers were
briefed that the EMA would drag a stick along the trail to leave a track,
picking the stick up from time to time and perhaps even trying to trick them a
bit with his trail. It was their task to track in down and find him. Hurrying
along they quickly picked up the drag marks and were in hot pursuit. Due to the
nature of the trail it was pretty clear which direction the EMA went so some of
the boys ran ahead, however the majority of the group really took to tracking.
Getting down and examining the various skid marks and scuffs along the trail
made tracking a bit difficult, however, looking ahead of us we could spot muddy
sections and puddles that would provide excellent substrate for finding signs
of the EMA. Picking up the pace we caught up to the EMA right at the bridge
that crosses the creek into Arroyo Park.
Enamored with our surroundings it was impossible not to get
sucked into a session of exploration. Scampering up and down the creek bed we
made numerous discoveries. First of all there was a funny looking structure of
sticks that upon further examination appeared to be some sort of hut
constructed by whomever was here before us. We also found a variety of colorful
stones, some blossoming Salmon Berry flowers, and even an adventurous WinterWren (who has one of the most complex songs of all the birds in our area!) that was residing beside the creek. Continuing upstream we practiced our
tracking skills through some muddy sections of trail before arriving at an
ancient Western Red Cedar that had fallen across the creek forming a
magnificent land bridge. This was our gateway back across the creek and into
the depths of the forest.
Pausing to eat lunch and explore our new surroundings for a
bit, we regrouped and talked a bit more in depth about tracking. One of the
best ways to hone your tracking skills is to get into the mind of the animal
you are tracking! What better way to do that than embodying the animal’s
locomotive techniques through Animal Forms. Taking turns we each practiced
various gaits and strides pretending to be different animals from bears, to
deer, to otters, and even a “crazy pig” which looked much like a fish out of
water. All this body movement made us crave a good game of Spiders Web.
Hiking up the hillside we settled into a bit of a valley
filled with chest high sword fern and a deep ravine cut out by a babbling
brook. The thick forest canopy cast a dim light on the landscape evoking the
sneaking and stalking mindset required for success in Spiders Web. We set up
the game and were underway in no time. While the game was taking place one of
the mentors held back to harvest some cedar for carving before jumping back
into the game. Skirting around the edge of the field of ferns, dropping into
the ravine to cross the creek, and snaking his way back up the other side the
mentor was feeling pretty good about his chances. Suddenly he heard some
rustling in the brush and hit the deck. Slowly but surely an Explorer came
sneaking his way towards the mentor. Noticing he was there the Explorer calmly flashed
him the food source bandana before continuing his way back to the web for a
victory. The mentor was left in awe of this group of boys who in previous
seasons couldn’t manage to sneak quietly through the underbrush, yet today they
utilized the landscape, maintained constant camouflage from the Spider, and
swiftly returned to the web without detection. In all honesty this was quite an
impressive feat for a group of boys this age and was a great indicator of the
growth both as individuals and as a group.
Gathering in circle one last time we broke out the apples
and cutting board for a circle of gratitude. It was emphasized throughout the
outing to hold a strong focus in circle, not to interrupt others, and to truly
listen and not just wait to speak. This was the final test of the day. Could we get
through closing circle without losing our focus and falling back to goofing
off? Much to the amazement of the mentors the Townsend Chipmunks held their
focus, listened to one another keenly, and shared deep gratitude for one
another, the land, the animals, and all the fun we had during our outing. The
mentors thanked the group for stepping up to the challenge and marking yet
another step forward in the growth and development of this group. What a great
way to start of the spring season!
Make sure to check out all the photos from our outing here!
