The Branch Hoppers arrived at Lookout Mountain Forest Preserve
to find the Storm Wolves group in the same parking lot. Circling up we
introduced ourselves with a silly game and the mentors drew attention to the
fact that the majority of both groups had participants who entered Middle
School in the start of the fall. Cross-pollinating BEC groups and building
strong and supporting relationships is critical as the Branch Hoppers begin
their journey into adolescence.
Circling up for an opening meeting the mentors explained
that both groups were going to find a location to play a huge game of Spider’s
Web before we delved into our focus for the outing, backcountry cooking. Thinking
back to their experiences backpacking this summer the group worked to divvy up
the cooking gear and jobs before heading down the trail.
It was our intention for both groups to mingle as we hiked,
but suddenly we saw a fire crew and the ambulance driving up the logging road.
Letting them pass we wondered what was happening. Hiking further we caught up
with a few paramedics who informed us someone had been stung by a hornet in the
area and was having an allergic reaction. One of the paramedics stepped forward
and asked Brian to lend his pack so he could carry gear up the trail. Brian
quickly dumped out his pack and it was a great opportunity for the boys to see
the power of community members answering the call to service and why it is so
important to Be Prepared for
emergencies out in the woods.
Hiking further the group passed through a thicket of
Salmonberries and young Alder, which was not an ideal landscape for Spider’s Web. Eventually we found an
interesting hillside location to set up the game. The course was a great
challenge for the boys and we crawled and crept our way through the forest
following deer trails and hiding amongst the ferns. After more than an hour the
mentors called the game and the group shared highlights and parted ways.
Brian and a few Branch Hoppers scouted down the trail to a
dried creek bed with abundant Vine Maple. Gathering the group we to set up a
backcountry kitchen and reviewed kitchen safety. The boys gathered up the gear
they had divvied out and set up the stoves. The mentors brought three different
types of backpacking stoves to showcase the different options and powers and
challenges of each.
One crew of Explorers worked on chopping peppers and
carrots, while another got our water boiling for Ramen and tea. One challenge
in teaching these wilderness skills is that there are usually not enough tasks for
everyone to participate. This challenge turned out to be a power in our day because
the other boys followed their interests by learning how to sustainably and
ethically harvest Vine Maple and Red Alder for tent pegs, bow drills, and
utensils that they spent some time carving on. Once the veggies were sautéed
and the hard-boiled eggs were peeled we circled up for what shaped up to be an
amazing Ramen feast. Passing around the Siracha the boys slurped their noodles,
shared some thanks, and with a little prompting shared a little glimpse of what
it was like to transition into middle school.
Reflecting at the end of the day Brian and I believe the
group cohesion in conjunction with the meal created the climate for the boys to
feel comfortable enough to share about their experiences at school. They talked
about their expanding interests and yearn for more autonomy, about growing
self-identity and awareness of others and societal norms, and witnessing their
classmates making both wise and risky decisions.
Brain and I aim to continue to help the Branch Hoppers learn
to recognize the internal tools and compass they have cultivated that they can
call upon which will help them navigate and thrive in this culture wilderness
that is middle school. To remind them that they can be the voice of leadership,
peace building, and genuineness and a strong ally amongst their peers. It was
great to spend some time out on the land with the guys getting back to the root
of what it means to be Explorers.
