The morning began with a deluge of wind and rain; the Branch Hoppers arrived at North Galbraith Trailhead well layered and prepared for exploration. Heading up the trail a few of the boys made a beeline for the lower bike jumps. Following their inspiration the group ran and played on the jumps. For Explorers and mentors alike it reminded us just how vital it is to run and be free in the woods.
Circling up for an opening meeting the mentors told the boys it was imperative that we did two things on the outing. First that we explore a new section of woods that another group of Explorers had found and second that we begin carving chopsticks. The mentors had spent some time crafting Cedar chopstick blanks for the outings with the intention of creating more focus around their seasonal skill of carving. Handing the circle over to the boys we tasked them with passing out the jobs. This proved to be difficult for the Explorers, not due the difficulty of the task, but in their inability to focus as a cohort. As mentors we always look for the powers in the boy’s challenges and the challenges in their powers. The Branch Hopper’s challenge lies in their struggle to take responsibility for their own actions and disruptive behavior while the group is trying to make decisions or share in circle. The group shows great leadership in many areas on our outings, but this continues to be a theme.
Their power in this challenge lies in their ability to let go of and reign in their individual impulses and desires and recognize how their actions are affecting others. Often times the Explorers disregard for each other and what the group needs results in their peers and mentors feeling frustrated and disrespected. We recognize that these boys are growing and learning and it is their consistent engagement with group process that will help them develop skillful interpersonal communication. Our expectation as mentors is not for the boys do this perfectly every time, but that they make a genuine effort to try. The unfortunate consequence of this behavior is extended circle time, which cuts into our exploration time.
After fifteen minutes we were back on track and our Front Scout led us down the trail towards the new location. After crossing the power line clearing the group headed up a dried creek bed and over a few small valleys. As we hiked we were struck with how beautiful this patch of land was. The tall stands of Cedar, Spruce, and Cottonwood mixed with a lush ground cover of Fringe Cup, Vanilla Leaf, Salmon and Huckleberries were fragrant with the smells of spring. It felt as though we had the entire area to ourselves, our own little private forest.
The Explorers scouted out an open spot along a ridgeline and we got to carving. The boys practiced the delicacy and technique needed to carve a chopstick out of the soft Cedar strips. The first step in the process is to turn the wood into a cylinder and then start to taper one end down. As the boys worked a mentor carved a chopstick and sanded it down into a fine point to demonstrate the process. He then proceeded to work on his Fire by Friction kit. The boys were anxious to try to make fire, but the mentors encouraged them to continue to make their chopsticks and embrace our motto slow is fast and fast is slow.
Carving takes patience, focus, and practice; parents we encourage you set up a safe space at your home for the Explorers to practice. These basic knife skills are the foundation for many of the other Earth Skills we practice with the older groups. Carving also encourages creativity and helps the boys slow down. Although their hands are occupied their minds still have time to process, reflect, dream, and wander in a mental state coined by Rachel and Stephen Kaplan as “Soft Fascination”. Handwork is a powerful tool and in a natural setting it helps contribute to the restorative and therapeutic qualities that nature induces in these boys. To read more about this topic check out this article by Stephen Kaplan from the Journal of Environmental Psychology on “Attention Restoration Theory” or a book also by him and Rachel titled The Experience Of Nature: A Psychological Perspective.
The boys did some excellent work on their chopsticks and after a solid hour of carving we set up a game of Spider’s Web in the valley below. The boys called for a mentor to be the Spider and choose Brian because they thought he was less experienced. Little did they know every mentor the Boys EC hires becomes an expert at Spider’s Web. Our course was challenging and required careful route planning and stealth. Many flies fell victim to the spider’s keen senses. The mentors would like to commend the Branch Hoppers for playing the game with such enthusiasm and honor. They embraced the difficult course as an opportunity and played with maturity and integrity. 
Calling our game a little early we circled back up for a closing meeting. Sharing apples and thanks the boys signed a thank you card for the staff at SOG Knives for their generous donation they had been carving with over the last two outings. The boys expressed gratitude for Galbraith Mountain, Cedar, friendship within the group, their ability to participate in Explorers Club, and the beautiful weather. Brian and I would like to express our deep appreciation for the opportunity to mentor these boys long-term; for the opportunity to grow and learn with them, they are our medicine and part of our own restorative experience. We look forward to our chance to serve the land with the Branch Hoppers and the Connelly Creek Restoration Site next outing. Branch Hopper parents, thank you for building a strong community with your Explorers group. It is wonderful to see this group sharing experiences and friendships both in and out of the Boys EC.
For more photos from the outing please visit the Branch Hopper’s photo gallery
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