Branch Hoppers at Point Whitehorn 4/22/18

If you’ve ever been to Point Whitehorn, you might have noticed several bridges as you walk the trail to the beach. I certainly have. So, when one of the Branch Hoppers challenged me on the way back to the bus to guess just how may bridges there are, I guessed two. He “guessed” 19 and made a bet with me as to who was closer to the actual number. Turns out there are 19. Good guess?…not really. He knew there were 19 because he counted them on the way in.

I mention this because counting them could be considered a childlike behavior. At Wild Whatcom, we try to sweep away the distractions of our twenty-first century world in order to connect our Explorers to their natural environment. We call it wandering or, as we say it in our motto - Be Here Now. One indicator of that connection is the release of the pretenses and tensions associated with our wired existence and the reversion to such childlike behavior. Let’s take a look at what we did on Sunday to see how well we accomplished this objective.

We hiked…

We combed the beach…

We dug in the dirt, damming a tiny stream then releasing a “torrent” on the village we had created below, wreaking untold havoc on its unsuspecting occupants…

We sheltered from the cool sea breeze…

We cooked maple blossom fritters…

We lounged in the sun…

This was a pleasant adventure, replete with innocent play. Mentor Ellen and I (Steve was off getting recertified in advanced first aid to lead our longer backpacking trips.) saw more harmony within the group this outing than has sometimes been the case. Chalk it up to maturity; put it down to the beautiful natural environment; I’m leaning toward excellent mentoring! Whatever the cause, it went great!

This was our last outing of the 2017-18 year. 2018-19 will be the Branch Hopper’s last in Explorers Club (the Four Shields program awaits all who are interested in continuing — ask us for details). Next year’s schedule will be a bit different in that there could be fewer, longer outings, including an overnight or two. Service might look different as well. Details to follow when the schedule is complete.

I should know better than to accept a bet from an Explorer. Now I’m on the hook for a “treat” when we reconvene in the fall. It’s worth it, though, for the reminder to me to relax into the wonders of nature.

Photo gallery. Have a childlike summer. 

Backcountry Cookin' and an Epic Game of Spider's Web at Lookout Mountain

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.

For more pictures from our outings please visit the Branch Hoppers photo album