When an Explorer spends time in a natural environment they
begin to recognize and anticipate the cyclical events by which the natural
process follows. The Branch Hopper’s outing
at Stewart Mountain marked the revisiting of two such events. First, exactly one
year ago the group explored the exact same location on the cusp of the Vernal
Equinox. Second, it would be the third year in a row that the group had shared
an exploration together on their consistent mentor’s birthday.
Circling up at the trailhead the boys were squirrely but
managed to pull their focus together enough to formulate a plan for the day.
The boys were anxious to head up into Stewart Mountain’s watershed and play a
round of Spider’s Web. In keeping
with our theme for the season the mentors had brought the materials to create Char Cloth so that the boys could add
yet another tool to their fire making kits. Fire skills, along with a long sit
spot, were the only two activities that the mentors were adamant about holding
to.
With that we were off and the boys choose to hike directly
up the logging road instead of using the engineered trail. The road was steep
and soon the group was peeling off layers and guzzling water. In the early
spring the fringes of the logging roads are a great place to track the seasonal
changes that occur. Hiking along the boys ate the fresh Indian Plum leaves,
noticed the nettle shoots popping up, and marveled at all the kinds of
different buds sprouting on the trees and shrubs.
Just outside of Whatcom County Parks land the boys plopped
down in the power line clearing and ate some lunch. Calling for the Tribal
Elder the group choose to spend some time exploring the woods on the opposite
side of the clearing to look for the ideal place to play Spider’s Web.
Crossing under the power lines the group noticed how many invasive
species were growing. The mentors explained that anywhere the forest canopy was
cleared left an opportunity for invasive plants like blackberries and Scotch
Broom to capitalize. Across the clearing the group entered into the wood and
quickly found a viewpoint that looked east into a valley that seemed rarely
explored. Tracking the groups curiosity and desire to venture into uncharted
territory the mentors could infer that these Explorers have truly internalized
a wonder and interest for the natural world.
Back at our basecamp the group got to work creating Char Cloth for their fire kits. They did
an excellent job being present for the process and holding their focus. As we
worked the sun broke through the clouds and the group laid back in the grass
and absorbed some much-needed vitamin D. Check out the steps to making Char cloth below, and don’t forget to
share these with your Explorer.
Making Char Cloth
What is it?
- “Char cloth (also called char paper) is a swatch
of fabric made from vegetable fiber (such as linen, cotton or jute) that
has been converted via pyrolysis into a slow-burning fuel of very low
ignition temperature.” — Basically, char cloth is created by combusting an
organic material in a way that releases its gasses without burning it up
completely.
- The resulting substance has a low ignition
temperature — just a single spark or point of heat can start it burning.
Once the char cloth has been set off, it will ignite your tinder easier
than had you employed the original spark/heat source directly to it. Char
cloth smolders longer than a match,
What do I make it out of?
- Make sure the fabric is 100% cotton, linen, or
hemp. It needs to be a plant fiber for the pyrolysis reaction to work. A
man made fiber will melt and a protein fiber like wool or silk won’t have
the same chemical reaction.
How do I do it?
- Step 1: To
ensure complete, uniform charring, cut your cotton material into
strips/pieces that can be placed into your can without their being rolled
or folded up.
- Step 2: Make
a small hole in the top of your can with a nail or other tool. The hole
will allow the smoke/gasses out of the can. You don’t want the hole too
big, as this will let oxygen into the can, causing the cloth to burn.
- Step 3:
Seal the container and place it on a small fire or a bed of coals. Smoke
should escape from the hole in the can. If flames appear around it, that’s
okay. Watch the can, and once it has stopped smoking, turn it over. It
will begin to smoke again. Once this smoke has stopped, remove the can
from the fire.
- Step 4:
Inspect your char cloth. It should have turned black but not become ash,
and feel semi-rigid without being brittle.
·
Step 5: Separate the pieces to give them a little air, and
then either store them in the charred can (wipe off the soot and peeling paint)
or in something more compact, like an old film canister (do they make those
anymore either?).
As we packed up from our skills session a few boys ventured
out to set up a game of Spider’s Web
at a location they had scouted earlier. The course for the game proved to be
quite challenging because the spider and the food source were situated on a
knoll that gave the spider the perfect advantage for catching flies. This did
not detour the flies and they put in a valiant effort. Calling the game early
the mentors sent the boys out on a sit spot to do an activity called a sound map.
To make a sound map
one needs to sit with their eyes closed and listen to the sounds of the
landscape for five minutes. Then taking a piece of paper they draw themselves
in the middle of the page and make a drawing in the direction that they hear a
different sound. Spring is a great time to do this activity because of the
abundance of bird language that fills the forest.
Coming in from their sit spot the boys circled up and showed
off their maps. It was fascinating to see the boy’s different approaches to the
process. Our BEC mentors have identified the need to bring more intentional
programming around journaling opportunities for our Explorers on sit spots. We
feel that it will provide the space for the Explorers to process through
writing prompts and interact with the landscape in new ways.
We shared our thanks together as we passed around Mint
Chip Sugar Cookies that Steve’s wife Danielle had graciously baked for the
boys on behalf of his birthday. A few of the Explorers liked the treat so much they
asked for the recipe (which we have shared a link to above). Our mentors are
grateful to share in the cyclical tradition of birthday celebrations and in welcoming
the turning of winter into spring with these fine young men. What a pleasure it
is to walk beside them as they grow and mature together. Each passing year our
relationship as mentors/mentees grows deeper and more meaningful.
For more pictures from our outing please visit the Branch
Hopper’s Photo Gallery
from the day.
