Building Great Things with the Townsend Chipmunk's at Lookout Mountain

The Townsend’s Chipmunks met up at Lookout Mountain for their third outing of the fall. After doing good work at our service site, it was time to get back to exploring and our earth skills focus of the season; shelter building. Before we could even have our opening circle we were visited by a Red Breasted Sap Sucker who allowed us to get remarkably close while it searched an old nurse log for food. This was a sign of a good things to come! After our opening circle we hit the trail and were on the lookout for more glimpses into the life of animals on Lookout Mountain.

Tribal Elder passing out jobs in opening circle

At a junction in the trail we stopped for the whole group to catch up so we could decide which direction to go. But before we could make much of a decision, a dank and decaying smell overpowered our ability to focus. Investigating, we followed our noses to find a deer carcass just off the trail. Looking closer at the carcass, we found it fairly intact and left out in the open with a variety of game trails leading in and out of the surrounding forest. Clearly animals have been interested in this, but which ones? Judging from the lack of secrecy, and the fact it was not stashed in a brushy area and covered with debris, it was clear this was not a cougar kill. The next likely predator would be coyotes, but judging from the area and proximity to the Lake Louis Road, we deducted that this deer likely was struck by a car and then, fueled by adrenaline, managed to find its way back into the woods where it laid down and died from internal bleeding. This was a good reminder that where there is life there is death as well.

Deer carcass we found in the woods

Changing gears, we pushed further down the trail and found a nice location off the trail a ways to get to work on building shelters. Having just scratched the surface on our first outing, it was time to get our hands dirty and see how much information was retained. Splitting into groups, the boys found three separate locations to work on shelters and each took shape in its own unique way based on the unique thoughts and abilities of each group member. One group utilized a downed log as a backbone for their shelter, another propped a back bone up against a tree, while the third created a free standing lean-to shelter. We spent a good portion of the outing working away, refining our skills, testing new ideas, and further strengthening the bonds amongst the Explorers.

One shelter utilized a fallen tree as the backbone

One group created a self supporting structure

One group propped their backbone up against a tree

After we finished up our shelters, we took a tour and each group shared their shelter with the other groups. We pointed out what we liked about each shelter, and how each shelter could be augmented or improved upon as well. With that out of the way it was time to play. Earlier in the outing the group had done a great job working amongst themselves to arrive at a group decision regarding a plan for the day that everyone agreed upon. The final item on our agenda was a big game of Spiders Web! Everyone had a blast and after a strong closing circle we hiked back to meet parents full of energy, enthusiasm, knowledge, and a little extra mud for good measure. This group demonstrated a strong aptitude for not only building shelters but also working together as a group to collaborate, compromise, and come to a consensus. The sky is the limit for the Townsend’s Chipmunks and we can’t wait to see what our future outings have in store.

Check out the rest of the photos from our album here!

We even found a salamander!