Townsend's Chipmunks traverse Clayton Beach

With a season of outing cancellations due to high winds the Townsend’s Chipmunks were eager to explore as they gathered in the Clayton Beach parking lot. Our Veterans Day outing turned out to fall and a perfectly sunny calm day bookended by a windy day the previous day and a windy day forecasted for the next day. Once we had everyone we gathered at the edge of Chuckanut drive to prepare to cross the road and head down into the woods below.

We headed straight down alongside the creek to find a good spot for an opening circle. Soon we reached a nice flat area that had enough room for everyone to sit comfortably. We handed out jobs and talked about how we wanted to spend our day. With the sun out and temperatures feeling warm we all decided that heading straight for the beach was the best plan. We took a minute to pull out the map and discuss different routes down to the beach and touch on some of the key concepts of a map we had been learning throughout the Fall Season.

Usually groups opt to head back out and take the main trail to the beach or follow a series of maze like deer trails through the woods that eventually lead to clayton beach; the Townsend’s Chipmunks had something else in mind.

We crossed straight over the train tracks and down a steep bank right to the coastline. To our North we could see Larrabee State Park and to our South we could see a series of headlands and large sandstone formations leading down to Clayton Beach. We all found comfortable spots along the sandstone and took some time to eat food and hydrate. The temperatures were warm and soon most of us were down to t-shirts. As we lounged about a large flock of birds flew in and began feeding in the turbulent intertidal zone. Not knowing what they were a few of us watched them for a while to observe their habits.

As we moved further down the coastline our navigation skills were challenged as we clambered up and down headlands and through narrow spots in rocks. The honeycomb weathering on the sandstone was amazing to look at and provided excellent hand and foot holds for our traverse. We did not see much sign of other people as we made our way down the coast; leaving was with many opportunities to observe wildlife. We dough firs barely hanging onto hillsides cut away by the ocean, lick madrona trees, more mystery birds, and even river otter scatt ontop of a headland.

Eventually we navigated our way down to a smooth sandy beach just North of the main entrance to Clayton beach. Here we all took our packs of to eat lunch and explore. As we explored the beach we found a little ground seep of fresh water trickling out of a sandstone cliff. Right next to the ground seep we found a whole series of River Otter tracks. The boys all came over to look. As we tracked the otter we began to get a picture of what it was doing here. It looked like it had come in at a higher tide to drink from the fresh water ground seep. Of course we couldn’t know for sure, but the mystery of seeing these tracks and all the questions that they opened up was a powerful experience.

Soon we moved down the beach in search of more adventure. We walked down to the main entrance of clayton beach and decided to spread out for a sit spot. Everyone found a place along the shore that they could relax and observe the natural world. Some of the boys took a bit of reminding that a sit spot is supposed to be a quiet activity, but soon enough everyone had settled in. With the sun still shining and warm temperatures we all had time to reflect on the day of mystery and adventure. New traverses, unknown birds, tracking River Otters, and the time spent laughing together in the sun.

Content from a good long day of exploration we packed up and headed up the trail and back to the parking lot. Thank you Townsend’s Chipmunks for your enthusiasm and curiosity to explore as well as your growth as a group over the last few seasons. Parents thank you for your support of our program. Be sure to check our Photo Gallery for more pictures from our adventure!    

Townsend's Chipmunks practice Navigation

With our first outing of the season being cancelled due to high winds the Townsend’s Chipmunks had jumped right into their Fall with a service outing at Connelly Creek. With this work under their belts it was time for an outing full of exploration, play, and adventure. The sun shone through the trees, but there was an unmistakable fall chill in the air as we moved deeper into the forest.

At the top of the first hill the boys found an excellent spot for an opening circle and got themselves organized to discuss our outing. Since many of the boys were new to explorers club we had a longer opening circle; going over some safety, talking about hazards, introducing ourselves, and finally talking about what it means to explore. All the boys were patient as we went over this information and helped keep each other focused. With the talking behind us we all needed to move and played a few rounds of Hide!. 

This season the Townsend’s Chipmunks are practicing their Navigation skills in order to become comfortable and proficient wilderness travelers. Once back on the trail we pulled out a map and took some time talking about the basics of using a map. What the map key was, how to orient a map, how to read topographic lines, and how to visualize what you are seeing on the map in real life. Many of the boys really took advantage of this time to ask questions and focus on the skill of map reading. After going over some basics we identified a spot at the far end of the 100 aker woods and challenged the boys to navigate us there.

Once hiking a couple boys really too initiative with the map; pulling it out at every junction, identifying our current location, making decisions based on the map, and sharing the information with the group. As we went we played games, explored, and found fresh mushrooms along the trail. The Townsend’s Chipmunks did an excellent job navigating the winding and often confusing paths of the 100 aker wood. After a while we reached our destination and decided it was time to take a break and eat lunch.

After lunch we realized we were in the perfect location to play a group favorite, Eagle Eye. Eagle Eye is half sneaking half hiding and the perfect bridge between playing Hideand Spiders Web. A lush patch of sword fern and salmonberry provided the perfect location and plenty of creative hiding spots. After playing a multiple rounds it was time to pack up and navigate our way back toward the pickup location.

In our closing circle we talked about the importance of navigation. Many of the boys had great insights into what it means to navigate and the opportunities it opens up to feel comfortable navigating through the woods. Beyond their focus and interest in navigation i was even more impressed by how the Townsend’s chipmunks have embraced the change in the group with about a third of the group being new this season. Our new members are fitting in great and our older participants are behaving in an open and accepting way. I am excited for future explorations with the Townsend’s Chipmunks and to watch them grow as a group. Please take a look at our photo gallery for more pictures from our outing!

BEC: Townsend's Chipmunks traverse Clayton Beach

With a season of outing cancellations due to high winds the Townsend’s Chipmunks were eager to explore as they gathered in the Clayton Beach parking lot. Our Veterans Day outing turned out to fall and a perfectly sunny calm day bookended by a windy day the previous day and a windy day forecasted for the next day. Once we had everyone we gathered at the edge of Chuckanut drive to prepare to cross the road and head down into the woods below.

We headed straight down alongside the creek to find a good spot for an opening circle. Soon we reached a nice flat area that had enough room for everyone to sit comfortably. We handed out jobs and talked about how we wanted to spend our day. With the sun out and temperatures feeling warm we all decided that heading straight for the beach was the best plan. We took a minute to pull out the map and discuss different routes down to the beach and touch on some of the key concepts of a map we had been learning throughout the Fall Season.

Usually groups opt to head back out and take the main trail to the beach or follow a series of maze like deer trails through the woods that eventually lead to clayton beach; the Townsend’s Chipmunks had something else in mind.

We crossed straight over the train tracks and down a steep bank right to the coastline. To our North we could see Larrabee State Park and to our South we could see a series of headlands and large sandstone formations leading down to Clayton Beach. We all found comfortable spots along the sandstone and took some time to eat food and hydrate. The temperatures were warm and soon most of us were down to t-shirts. As we lounged about a large flock of birds flew in and began feeding in the turbulent intertidal zone. Not knowing what they were a few of us watched them for a while to observe their habits.

As we moved further down the coastline our navigation skills were challenged as we clambered up and down headlands and through narrow spots in rocks. The honeycomb weathering on the sandstone was amazing to look at and provided excellent hand and foot holds for our traverse. We did not see much sign of other people as we made our way down the coast; leaving was with many opportunities to observe wildlife. We dough firs barely hanging onto hillsides cut away by the ocean, lick Madrona trees, more mystery birds, and even river otter scatt on top of a headland.

Eventually we navigated our way down to a smooth sandy beach just North of the main entrance to Clayton beach. Here we all took our packs of to eat lunch and explore. As we explored the beach we found a little ground seep of fresh water trickling out of a sandstone cliff. Right next to the ground seep we found a whole series of River Otter tracks. The boys all came over to look. As we tracked the otter we began to get a picture of what it was doing here. It looked like it had come in at a higher tide to drink from the fresh water ground seep. Of course we couldn’t know for sure, but the mystery of seeing these tracks and all the questions that they opened up was a powerful experience.

Soon we moved down the beach in search of more adventure. We walked down to the main entrance of clayton beach and decided to spread out for a sit spot. Everyone found a place along the shore that they could relax and observe the natural world. Some of the boys took a bit of reminding that a sit spot is supposed to be a quiet activity, but soon enough everyone had settled in. With the sun still shining and warm temperatures we all had time to reflect on the day of mystery and adventure. New traverses, unknown birds, tracking River Otters, and the time spent laughing together in the sun.

Content from a good long day of exploration we packed up and headed up the trail and back to the parking lot. Thank you Townsend’s Chipmunks for your enthusiasm and curiosity to explore as well as your growth as a group over the last few seasons. Parents thank you for your support of our program.