The Branch Hopper's first ever Exploration to Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve

The Branch Hopper’s arrived at Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve to a light drizzle and cool temperatures. Heading up the logging road the group looked for a spot to have their opening meeting. Finding a crowded stand of Western Hemlocks the boys circled up, nestling into the duff.

The mentors brought the groups focus towards our skill for the season, the Art of Water. Giving some thanks the mentors took a moment to talk about significance of our drizzly day. April’s high pressure produced the warmest temperatures on record in the 20^th century with over fifty percent less rainfall than average for April. Getting the boys to quiet down and listen the entire forest was literally singing with joy for the rain. The Swainsons Trush and American Robins buzzed around eagerly feasting on the plump Salmonberries and bathing in puddles. The forests vibrant shades of green had come back again and a fresh smell filled the air.

Four years ago the Branch Hopper’s Explorers Club journey began with a simple activity, moving water from one jug through a gauntlet into another jug with the end goal being that the boys realizing that water is precious. Although this activity has long passed from the boys’ memory, it is apparent throughout our many outings together that the group has fully embraced the power of the rain.

Once jobs were delegated we turned our minds to our location. Lookout Mountain is comprised of a vast network of logging lands and is a major drainage for Lake Whatcom, Samish, and Padden. It is important for the Explorers to understand this watershed connection and how rainfall moves throughout the landscape.

Packing up we returned to the logging road and peeled off onto the Waterfall Loop Trail. Cascading down on a bed of Sandstone the two-tiered falls was stunning at almost fifty feet tall. Climbing down the steep Arroyo the boys spent good deal of time following the creek in search of amphibians. Although we did not find any frogs or salamanders we did find a very interesting logjam with a network of tunnels to crawl through. Meeting back up at the falls overlook the Tribal Elder did an excellent job facilitating a decision regarding how we could use the rest of our outing time.  The group decided to spend fifteen more minutes exploring the falls and then to head back up on of the logging roads in search of a bigger creek that a mentor had scouted with the prospect of a game of Spider’s Web and sit spot.

Hiking up the logging road the group feasted on the abundant Salmonberries. We also harvested some Stinging Nettles and Western Hemlock needles to make our forest tea for closing circle. Hiking along with the Branch Hoppers provided some time for the mentors to check in with each Explorer. It became apparent to the mentors that these boys are both very excited and nervous for middle school. Questions like: will I be able to open my locker, will I be late for class, and will I fit in or be made fun of all came up.

The Branch Hoppers shadow of self-awareness is growing and with that comes self-doubt, power struggles, leadership opportunities, increased autonomy and responsibility, internal conflict, and experimentation with identity.  Our ability as mentors to provide the container for these boys to share open and honestly with one another as sensitive and caring males while they grow into this next stage of life is vital. Our mentors will be tracking this closely as we go on backpacks and explore together in the fall.

Arriving at the creek there was three-times as much foliage as when the mentors had last scouted it, causing us to change our route and find another location to bring our season to a close. Looking up the road the land started to get very steep and the Explorers would have to grasp the nettle as they sweated and strained in the final push up the terrain. This was difficult for the group, but provided an excellent physical challenge for them.

Breaking off from the logging road we hiked off trail until we came to an established fire pit most likely made by mountain bikers. The Explorers decided that this would be a great place to play a game of Spider’s Web and have our closing meeting. As Brian and the boys set up the game, our EMA for the day Logan Bartz and one of the Branch Hoppers got a small twig fire going in the pit.

After a few round of the Spider’s Web Brain sent the boys out on a sit spot while the mentors prepared for a closing meeting. As the boys sat the land was calm and still bringing the group’s energy down to baseline. Listening to the sound of the wind through the trees and the faint calls of birds through the forest the boys gathered around the fire. Although the fire was a powerful way to close the spring season it proved to be a bit of a distraction as the boys all wanted to roast their apples slices while sharing some thanks. Their thanks were however heartfelt and the mentors got some great feedback on what the group would like to do next season. A few of the locations mentioned were mud mucking in Mud Bay, intertidal exploration at Point Whitehorn, bouldering at Clayton Beach, and revisiting Lookout Mountain.

Brian and I are so thankful to be part of the Branch Hopper’s lives and are excited for them to step into new leadership as they enter into middle school and go on backpacks for the first time this summer. Parents thank you for your strong support of the program and for your dedication to helping your boy’s connection with themselves, their peers, and the natural environment.

For pictures from our Lookout Mountain exploration please visit the Branch Hopper’s photo album from the day.

Branch Hoppers and Roosevelt Elk Calves initiate Spring 2016 service

You've probably heard it quoted: “Timing is everything in life!” That was certainly the case last Sunday as the Branch Hoppers gathered to initiate the service component of the Boys Explorers Club spring 2016 season at Connelly Creek. Their start time - 10:00 am; April shower (downpour, really!) commencement - 9:50 am. It’s a shame we don’t have a photo of mentor Brian and a succession of parents huddling under a raised minivan tailgate to complete service paperwork in a driving rain. Thank you, parents, for your patience and flexibility through what had to be one of the roughest starts to an outing in some time.

After a short walk to the service site, we found ourselves gawking at Reed Canary Grass as tall as

April showers

mentor Brian (I know, really tall!). This invasive plant is quite the fighter. Each of the last several seasons, we’ve stomped down the grass and covered it with bark mulch. And each time we return, so has the grass. Fortunately, we have more than one arrow in our quiver. The long term solution is to deprive Reed Canary Grass of its much loved sun all year around. So, we’ve planted alder trees that will provide shade when fully grown. Until then, we’re engaged in a tug of war with the grass. 

As we began to dig into the pile of bark mulch provided by Bellingham Parks and Rec (with tools provided by the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, or NSEA), the Roosevelt Elk Calves (REC) arrived as if to bolster our resolve in the face of our wily, stubborn adversary. The REC, 9 and 10 years old, are a bit younger than the Branch Hoppers (BH). This puts the BH in the position of role models for the younger boys, a challenge they accepted with gusto. Before long, shovels were scooping, buckets and even garbage cans full of mulch were being ferried to the newly flattened grass, and rakes were spreading mulch. As one of our BEC mottos emphasizes, “Many hands Make Light Work.”

Lopper brigade

A select crew was also working to cut back and uproot the few remaining Himalayan Blackberry bushes in the “front” part of the service area. It was about this time when a park neighbor came around to thank us for our work and to ask us to leave some of the foliage as a screen for the back of her property. This we were happy to do because we could see how that helped her and because the Bellingham Parks representatives have stressed with us the importance of limiting our efforts to the park boundaries. What at first might seem like a good-hearted deed can, viewed from a different perspective, cause unforeseen issues. In BEC, we endeavor to act with integrity, to “Walk Your Talk” (see Mottos); in this case, we focused on balancing our desire to pursue the grass and blackberries to every corner of that parcel of land with the needs and desires of the park neighbors and the Parks Department. As members of their explorers club group, these boys are practicing behaviors that will serve them well as adult members of our larger society. Everything is connected; sensing the issues and opportunities associated with that relationship is a sign of maturation for these boys. 

Through lunch and water breaks, the BH and REC groups continued to attack the mulch pile. Come

Impressive effort

early afternoon and we realized they were going to deplete the entire heap! Such industry! 

Well, as mentioned above, timing is everything. The shower at the start of the day meant we were working while wet, an additional challenge we accepted in gratitude for the nourishing rain. Now, timing was more in our favor. The bulk of our work was finished with time for some fun. The Branch Hoppers, who you’ll remember had started first, channeled their creative energies to an impromptu game they called “Double spiders web tag”. Think Capture the Flag….and more. What really struck me was their creativity and fun approach. It’s a game that may never be played again, but it looked fun.

Giving thanks!

The Roosevelt Elk Calves turned their attention to the remaining gnarly blackberries toward the back of the site. Even after having worked for a few hours on the mulch pile, the REC continued their enthusiasm for this, one of the most physically demanding tasks in service. In fact, they even figured out how to make if fun by competing for the biggest root. 

Both groups showed once again their positive attitude and inner strength in their approach to this task. The grass and the blackberries are worthy adversaries and neither is very good for spawning salmon. The effort is worthy and your explorers are more than up to the task. Look here for more photos from our outing.