Sunday, March 27, 2016

Townsend's Chipmunks Track at North Chuckanut Trailhead



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!

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