The Branch Hoppers Showdown Games Day with the Storm Wolves

The Branch Hoppers and Storms Wolves met at Lookout Mountain for a day of games. The outing also marked the third time in the fall season that the boys had shared an outing together. Once everyone arrived the group hiked out in search of Steve and Brian who were busy setting up the course for, Life and Death in the Forest.

The morning was brisk and damp and a great reminder that without the proper gear and preparation for the day this combination of weather can be a miserable experience. Making their rendezvous with the mentors, the group circled up to listen to the rules of the game while they snacked on some food.

The mentors explained that Life and Death in the Forest teaches us about the intricacies of the food web through playful embodiment of those who call the forest home. Herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores make up the basic players in the game with food and water sources represented by cards hanging from string scattered throughout the playing field. A player not only has to collect a certain amount of food and water sources in an allotted time, they must also keep their own life which is represented by a specific number of rubber bands depending upon one’s status within the food chain.
With our game set up, the rules explained, and participants prepped, all that was left was to start. The herbivores got a head start to disperse into the landscape and begin stealthily scouring the forest for food and water. Next the Omnivores were sent off needing to pick a priority of plant food, water, or hunting to begin the game. Finally, the carnivores were let loose much to the dismay of the herbivores and omnivores who now flinched at every twig snapped and fern rustled.

For twenty minutes Explorers and Mentors alike ran, crawled, climbed, ducked, dove, scurried and scampered. The struggle between life and death becomes surprisingly real when time starts running out and the only thing standing between you and that last food source is a hungry Carnivore licking his chops for a shot at one last meal.

At the end of the round we circled back up and debriefed our experience. Initially we had picked what we thought would be a balanced ecosystem, but it turned out that the herbivore and omnivore populations had been demolished. This was a great time for the group to think about what would happen the next year to our population of carnivores. Picking new roles and trying once more to balance our numbers within the food web we played another round.

Coming in a half an hour later tired and sweaty the group circled up once again to debrief. The Explorers struggled to focus and the mentors had difficulty tracking whether it was environmental factors at play or if the boys had just reached their limit. This was a great time to talk about our expectations for the elder EC groups to be present during our outings and take initiative. After a few more reminders and some unfocused leadership the boys made the decision to clean up the game, have a closing circle, and then head back to the trailhead so that the Storm Wolves could show the Branch Hoppers their favorite game, Where’s My Egg? Although they had difficultly making decisions the boys held a solid closing circle and shared what they were thankful for openly and honestly.

Back at the trailhead the mentors took a step back to watch the Explorers try and get their game together. Similarly to what the mentors had experienced, the boys talked over one another causing some frustration and confusion. The group was able to overcome this hurdle and it was fun to watch their playfulness and companionship engaged with one another. This ended our games day on a high note and the group internalized their need for focus during circle time. The mentors also learned an important lesson that occasionally we need to step back and observe the dynamics of the group in order to be more targeted and effective mentors.

For more pictures for our Showdown outing please visit the photo album from the day. Thanks for reading!

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

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.