Exploring Fragrance Lake Road with the Branch Hoppers

Low clouds coated our landscape as the Branch Hopper Explorers gathered for their first exploration of the season. We had decided to take our exploration to the Clayton Beach parking lot, and our vision was to explore in a direction that no Explorers Club had explored before. We wanted to see what lay up Fragrance Lake Road. Explorers came tearing out of their vehicles, immediately picked up bundles of leaves, and started out with a flurry of leaf throwing.  Spirits were clearly high. Sometimes no opening game is necessary: the landscape and the playfulness of youth do all the work.

We did circle up to start out our day and to bring our minds together. We discussed what we had ahead: a true exploration; a mission to scout out new landscapes; a vision to play at least one epic game. Sometimes there is no finer education than an authentic wander. We looked at the map and considered what we might find just down the road.  We then circled up on trail for a quick round of name game to help out Greg, our EC mentor, and Wes, and Explorer visiting us from the Grey Fox Kits Explorers. Names were shouted and giggled until we had a pretty good idea of who was who. Then it was time to start exploring.

As we began walking down the trail, there was a sign posted in plain view. Explorers were asked to take a look. A few did, but most squirreled out and paid very little attention. Mentors tried a few more tricks, but the information was quite important, so it was time to gather up and get serious for a moment. We looked at the sign and recognized the necessity of paying attention to it. It warned us that there was a bike race on this very trail on this very day. Bikes would inevitably be whizzing by us at full speed, which was a very real hazard. We discussed how to negotiate this, and practiced what would happen if someone yelled “bike!” We got it. Ready and willing, we moved on.

We had gone maybe 100 yards down the trail, when Greg noticedsomething interesting in the landscape just off the trail. We paused and looked. We considered whether or not we should go check it out. Explorers decided to enter the unknown, and, stepping carefully, we began an exploration that would end up guiding us through the entire day. Just inside, Explorers began emitting bursts of excitement as they discovered fascinating fungi, curious plants, or the watchful winter wren. We found a deer trail and decided to let our curiosity get the better of us. Following the trail we found vast openings with giant trees, fascinating shelf fungi, ample track and sign, frogs, and plenty of indicators of what lay just beneath the surface of the soil.

When we came to the edge of a large expanse of sword ferns, we gathered together, sat down and had some lunch. After eating, many Explorers continued checking the land out. After some time, mentors proposed a game of Eagle eye, a game at which many excelled. After a couple more hiding games, we decided to move on to find a good spot for an epic game of Spider's Web and a good sit spot. In order to find a good spot, we needed to learn how to read the land. We noticed particular trees growing amongst an area where there were many sedges. We noticed different trees growing amongst the sword ferns. Given the character of those plants, Explorers learned that they could read what was just beneath the soil --- particularly, in this case, how much moisture. We then considered impact and intention. With that in mind we navigated toward the sword ferns and found an excellent spot to set up our base of exploration.

Here and there, we worked on interpersonal relationships, which is a part of the work of being in community in nature. We found sweet little teachable moments offered to us by the landscape. Some explorers grasped these gems, some resisted. This is part of the work of natural education: nothing is forced, but much is perpetually offered. We then set up Spider’s Web.  The best spider of the group was picked. So much embodied learning happened in this game. Everyone got to know trailing blackberry intimately, and everyone got to know more about sword ferns. Explorers learned how to work in teams, how to work solo, how to communicate in challenging environments, the ramifications of not communicating, the ramifications of not working together, how to read the landscape, how to listen, how to stay still, how to crawl slowly and intentionally, how to move both fast and quietly. The game finally ended with quite a bit of confusion as the flag was out of sight for a long time. But lo and behold it showed up at the base.

We gathered up in a circle, had a drink of water, and had two rounds of discussion. The first round was focused on sharing something that we learned from the game. The second round on sharing how we might improve. A variety of answers came forth. Finally, Matt was inclined to share his thoughts, and felt the call to share a story and to teach the explorers a little more about animal forms. But, oh, you Branch Hoppers Explorers, you are a wonderful set of boys -- smart, fascinating people. You also have some work to do to learn the essential human skill of stillness and attention when needed. Nature does such wonderful work to teach this, and the land is infinitely patient. So the mentors have learned from the land, and the story and the lesson did not come, but it will when these boys are ready.

Mentors did notice that the Branch Hoppers have such wonderful attributes, and each individual has such power, but they have yet to learn how to bring this power together into a solid, cohesive group. They do wonderfully in the outdoors, and they are a great group of individuals to explore with. They will learn eventually that Explorers Club offers so much more, and they will learn this as they learn how to focus their energy. Mentors did play a bit of a coyote track, recognizing that these boys needed a challenge and needed to get into their bodies --- and they needed to recognize situations where working together was necessary.

So Matt took off running. He careened through the landscape, taking on the animal form of a cougar as best he could, he dived and dashed, and Explorers scattered after him as best they could.  Then he disappeared, and Explorers were puzzled. Where did he go? Huffing and puffing they were stumped.  Then he popped up and the chase was on again.  It was not until one Explorer realized how to work with the land and the other Explorers that he was caught.  Explorers were tired, and questions came forth? How do you move with the land?  How do you work together?  Then Greg took off.  Edges were stretched here, make no mistake.  But also the foundations were laid of a need to engage more deeply and to work together.

As Greg was finally caught and we gathered for our final meeting, the goal was set.  Mentors will challenge these Branch Hoppers increasingly from now on.  Our mission is to find situations in nature and amongst the group where their individual powers will work toward creating a group power that is greater than the whole.  Our mission is also to set up situations where Explorers will develop a real desire to catch those teaching gems offered by nature in every moment.  So much wonderful raw material is there. And it is a perfect time for growth.

Thank you to the land and to all the parents for your great guidance.  Thank you, Branch Hoppers for your great powers.

Don’t forget to check out pics from the outing in our photo gallery.