The Townsend’s Chipmunks arrived at Lake Padden to a chill
in the air and frost on the field. Finding a sunny spot the group circled up
for an opening meeting. Making a plan for the day the boys decided they would
like to explore the off-leash dog trails, play a round of Spider’s Web, and spend some time carving and learning to sharpen
knives.
After sitting for ten minutes the group started to get cold
so we headed down to the field to play and generate some heat with few rounds
of Tail Tag. The Explorers dodged and
weaved as they tried to pull each other’s bandanas off. The whole group engaged
in this activity and played with honor in the spirit of healthy competition.
The boys used the frozen ground to slide towards one another and make dynamic
evasive maneuvers, what fun!
Feeling a little warmer and in high spirits we headed out in
search of a spot off-trail to engage in some skills. Crossing over Padden Creek
the Explorers noticed lots of dead trout floating in the water. The Mentors
explained that there was a recent toxic blue and green algae bloom on the North
side of Lake Padden that made it unsafe for humans and pets to swim in the
lake. From the looks of it the algae had either come from the creek or traveled
up it, killing the fish that lived there.
This was a great time to discuss the importance of
protecting our freshwater systems and the impact humans can have on lakes and
streams by polluting them with common household products that we might not be
aware of until we experience first hand.
Finding a sunny and quiet spot off-trail the boys ate their
lunch while the mentors demonstrated how to sharpen a carving knife using
sharpening blocks. A few of the Explorers really took to sharpening their knives.
Running the knife blade at an angle along the blocks, the boys went through successional
sanding grits starting at 320 and ending at 2,500. The whole process took 300
hundred focused and controlled passes along the sharpening blocks and the
mentors were impressed with the boys attention to detail and commitment to the
process.
The Townsend’s Chipmunks group dynamic and energy is unlike
many other BEC groups. These boys have a heightened sense of awareness and care
for one another and their role within the group all while holding a strong
ability to focus and be present on outings. These traits benefit the group
because it allows mentors to pass along skills that require a high degree of patience
and concentration, as well as making group decision-making processes smoother.
After a solid hour and a half of working on knife skills the
boys reached their saturation level and called for a game of Spider’s Web. Circling up the group set
a time limit for the game, laid out a plan for the rest of their day after the
game, and then got to setting up the course. The boys ended up making the game
course quite challenging for themselves and the spider took full advantage of
this, further increasing the level of difficulty.
Throughout the game the boys began to get frustrated with
the Spider and by the end of the allotted time for the game group members were
beginning to blame one another which signaled to the mentors that we were in
need of some interpersonal work. The mentors reminded the boys that the point
of Spider’s Web was to have a good
time and that it was important to play with honor, which meant accepting
whatever challenges the game brought and keeping a positive attitude while
doing it. Our aim as mentors is for these lessons and experiences on outings to
transfer into tools and values that the Townsend’s Chipmunks can use to
approach issues that arise in their own lives moving forward.
I don’t know if it was the chill in the air or energy level
of the group, but the boys were slow to pack up and had trouble sharing the
trail with the myriad of mountain bikers, runners, and dog walkers that passed
by. Stopping the boys on the way back to the parking lot Tim reminded them of
why it was important to share the trail and be respectful of other parks users,
and that we represented our organization while on outings. In Explorers Club we
are slowly building the foundations of community awareness and participation in
our Explorers and moments like these help our participants understand how they
are connected to others and that their actions matter.
Circling back up on the frozen field we shared apples and
our thanks for the day. As mentors we are grateful to work with these maturing
Townsend’s Chipmunks and for the unique energy and opportunity their group
brings. We are also thankful for the trust and support we receive from our
wonderful families, which allows us to engage in this transformative work. We
wish all our families a wonderful holiday season filled with laughter, joy,
connection, and restfulness.
For more photos from the outing please visit the Townsend’s
Chipmunks' photo album from the day.
