Branch Hoppers Explore and Create at Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve

The Branch Hoppers were visibly excited as we headed out to Point Whitehorn to have an opportunity to explore along the coast. Pulling up at the marine reserve we piled out of the bus and circled up. The mentors let the group know that we had observed a trend over our last few outings that if we left the plan up to the group we would generally squirrel out instead of actively engaging in something productive. Our aim for the day was to explore to the beach at high tide, possibly do some carving, and have a nice long sit spot to listen to the migratory shore birds that frequented the area in the winter months.

Turning the meeting over to the group they decided to get out of the steady 15 mph wind and head into the forest to find a sheltered place. Nestling under a predominately Sitka Spruce forest the boys looked around and observed that the ecology was slightly different than we were used to in the lowlands around the Chuckanuts.

The boys did an excellent job of holding their focus and making a plan. We would first head to the beach and spend some down time following our interests, then try and build some sort of driftwood structure while some of the group carved, leaving enough time to hike the mile long preserve to the end of the point for a sit spot and a closing meeting.

Traveling a quarter mile through a dense coastal wetland of Salmonberries, Rose, and Salal the group arrived at an overlook. Although the weather forecast called for heavy rain we were in the perfect micro climate for mild weather. The light cast amazing shadows over the northern Salish Sea and we could see the Canadian Gulf Islands shrouded in shades of gray. What the mentors did not anticipate was the wind blowing due West, creating four to five-foot wind generated swell that crashed on the beach’s high tide line.

The Explorers were immediately captivated and spread out on the cobbled beach playing games of chance as the waves crashed at their feet. It was clear to the mentors that at this moment the land was speaking to the group and the boys were deeply present with it. Following inspiration they gathered beach logs and began to create a giant wind block. The immense power of the wave energy

brought in all sorts of wonders from the intertidal zone onto the cobbles: Decorator and Dungeness crab shells, massive clumps of Bull Kelp and Turkish Towel seaweed, bones from shorebirds and Sculpins, and straight grained Cedar perfect for splitting and carving.

Gathering flat smooth stones one Explorer made a perfect circular fire ring and began to split Cedar for kindling. The mentors brought the group together and asked if anyone noticed the sign at the beginning of the trail. One boy responded “yes” and informed the group that there were no fires allowed at the preserve. The group did a great job of holding to that rule even though they knew they could have a sustainable fire and cover it up without anyone knowing.

Following the Explorers’ inspiration one of the mentors cut a length of Bull Kelp and remembered a story he had read about the Makah Nation sewing together the mouth of a Humpback Whale after the hunt with Bull Kelp so it wouldn’t sink as they paddled it back in. Enlisting a few boys to help, the

mentor lashed three straight poles together at the top with a Bull Kelp and raised a teepee like structure. The Explorers searched the beach for plank like shapes of driftwood and lashed them to one side of a teepee, creating Salish style back rest.

With some wild success at their first creation the group strategized together and wondered if we could make a giant teepee like structure. The boys asked the mentor how many times he had built a teepee. The mentor replied “never”. It was a great learning moment for the group that sometimes trial by fire and experimentation are the best methods for learning a given skill. We tried three times to raise the teepee and found that straight ridgepoles of medium weight gave us the best structure. The teepee must have been 12 feet tall when it came together!

The boys sprang into action wrapping at least one hundred lengths of Bull Kelp horizontally around the ridgepoles. Then something miraculous happened! The group figured out that they could split shingles out of Cedar and weave them throughout the kelp to create a cedar shake style siding. The group worked for an hour with each Explorer entirely focused on the task. Three-fourths of the way through they finished with their creation; the mentors looked at the clock and realized if we wanted to head to the point we would need to leave immediately. This was a tough leadership decision for the mentors. We wanted the group to connect deeply with the place through a sit spot, but we also recognized that they were already connecting with the location through their Earth skills.

Making a triangular decision to head down to the beach the boys seemed frustrated and confused. As they packed up the mentors called the group back together and revisited the decision, recognizing that even we make errors in judgement occasionally. The group unanimously decided to stay and work on the shelter with the mentor’s caveat that we need to hold to a sit spot at the end of the outing.

Through some focused effort and perseverance the group completed their shelter and reveled in their accomplishment. Calling the group back in we packed up and spread out on the beach for a sit spot. As the boys settled in a sun beam broke through the cloud ceiling and illuminated the thriving Eelgrass beds, revealing their aquamarine blues and emerald greens. Common Mergansers, Surf Scoters, Grebes, Loons, and Buffleheads foraged through the beds and rode the wind swell with grace and ease.

The Explorers were present and calm in that moment and did not want to leave, but leave we must. Circling up one last time the group reflected on the season and shared their highlights. We passed around apples after sanitizing our hands and transitioned into the sacred portion of the meeting. The mentors reminded the boys that life is a dance between the sacred and the profane. That a balance of both are important and that our circle of thanks was sacred moment. Reverence for this practice has become deeply engrained in the BH’s culture over our last five years together.

The Branch Hoppers’ thanks gravitated towards heartfelt connection with their peers, the power of the land to inspire, and the sense of craftspersonship that comes with hand work completed in the natural environment. What a pleasure it is to explore and grow with the Branch Hoppers. If there is such a thing as hitting the mark on outings, I would say this was one.

Parents thank you for your support and dedication to the program and for raising your boys with the ideals of love, truth, health, and connection. It is an honor to walk alongside them as they step into Middle School. For more photos from the outing please visit the Branch Hoppers’ photo album and if you have not already checkout the second half of the BH’s 2016-17 schedule posted on their group’s page.

The Branch Hoppers explore Stewart Mountain & the Art of Shelter-Building II

This being their fourth year in Boys Explorers Club, exploring and connecting with the Branch Hoppers is as familiar as coming home. Being the seasoned Explorers that they are, the boys arrived on Sunday adorned in rain gear with high spirits. The Mentors were thankful to hear that no one from the group was seriously impacted by the storm. Circling up it was great to be in the presence of a familiar cohort and hear about summer adventures. Brian informed the group that instead of spending the day by the lake we would be climbing the lower flanks of Stewart Mountain in search of a good place to build shelters and to be sheltered from any hazards leftover from the storm.

On their last outing of the spring 2015 season the Branch Hoppers made a few outing location requests for their upcoming fall season. The group has spoken fondly of a previous excursion to North Lake Whatcom, in early September. Looking out the window Saturday morning with its ominous rain clouds and occasional gusts it was hard to believe this was the same time of year. The previous year’s outing had been sunny and warm as we spent hours swimming on Whatcom’s shore.

As outdoor guides our mentors are continually impressed by the power of the dynamic landscape in which we live. The Saturday before the Branch Hoppers’ outing now marks the strongest pacific summer storm on record for the Whatcom County area. This storm brought wind gusts up to 56 mph and took down large deciduous branches throughout the county. With much of the foliage still on tree limbs, coupled with brittle branches from the seasonal drought, it was indeed the “perfect storm” causing the Explorers Club to cancel all outings. The Boys EC mentoring team would like to thank the Girls Explorers Club and Wild Whatcom team for their quick response and attentiveness to the change in weather patterns and overall commitment to the safety of our Explorers and mentors.

The mentors told the group that the Alevin Explorers, who are only two years older, were scheduled to climb the west side of Mt. Baker on the Ridley Creek Trail. This difficult terrain required multiple creek crossings and unconsolidated riverbanks. Using this scenario as our frame, the group envisioned that they were the Alevin and had decided to go on the outing anyway, crossing the Ridley Creek in the morning only to find that with the heavy rain and debris flow during the day they were now unable to cross it in the evening. This is one of many scenarios in which a day hike can become an overnight survival situation in the blink of an eye. The boys’ task was to search out an ideal shelter location to weather the storm and take shelter until the creek flow decreased.  

As we hiked the boys looked for a safe shelter location. They were searching for a well-drained, mature stand of Cedar and Douglas Fir with relatively abundant amount of debris and downed branches close by. Scanning the landscape our senses attuned the sweet aroma of morning rain that brought a freshness about the landscape. The Sword Ferns had sprung back up with liveliness and Robins called out in song for the abundance of life giving water and the relief of the southerly wind.

Ten minutes into hiking the group came to a junction in the trail. We realized that no one had handed out jobs and there was no Tribal Elder to facilitate a group decision on which way to go. The boys took a vote and those that were the minority graciously offered to follow the rest of the group on the trail to the right. The Branch Hoppers are becoming skilled at considering transition times when there is a need to flex to each other’s needs and ideas in circle. Brain and I are inspired by their growth and maturity in this arena.

Climbing onwards we passed through second growth stands of Cedar and Maple that eventually gave way to a massive power line clearing. Steeping out of the cover of the forest the sky opened up with rain and we retreated under the dense canopy of Cedars. Pulling out some lunch we nestled ourselves under the umbrella like branches of a Western Hemlock. The temperature was warm and all the boys looked refreshed by the rain.

We then turned our attention to our skill for the season, the Art of Shelter-Building II. The group decided that they would first try to build their own shelters in teams without any guidance and then the group would build the frame and base layers of a freestanding shelter together. All the Explorer teams decided to use existing structures as the base of their shelters. The mentors later cautioned that although finding a lean-to under a tree or shrub can be effective time saver in an emergency, trees often drip water down the trunk and finding just the right shelter materials to fit the shape of the tree can be time consuming.

As the boys worked on their shelters half the group really engaged in the process while others attention dwindled. The mentors attributed the groups’ lack of cohesion and focus to the boys’ excitement to see each other and catch up about their hobbies. On one side of the coin, this behavior is exactly what we want for the boys. They have become so comfortable and relaxed in the natural world and amongst their peers that they carry on as though they were hanging out in their living room. Showing a deep sense of connection with place. On the other side of the coin, their cohesion presents issue when mentors are trying to have the Explorers hone in a specific skill and they are interest in following their own agenda.

Recognizing the need for cohesion and change the mentors stopped the shelter construction to play a few rounds of Hungry Hungry Martin to help break up the task. Once our focus had returned the group revisited and constructed the frame and inner workings of a simple, but sturdy freestanding shelter. The group started off with a strong push, but again half the group broke off in side conversations. In the end those that did participate learned a lot about setting up a shelters frame, matting, and insulation.

Our third outing of the season will provide the perfect opportunity and abundance of resource for the boys to learn the about the second step (insulation) and Final step (3 feet of debris!) of the shelter building process. In our closing meeting the mentors shared with the group that we have been tracking their maturity and see it as vital that they as seasoned Explorers deeply know the skills required for wilderness living. This will not only benefit them on day outings and in emergency situations, but on our backing trips that they will all be eligible for come Summer 2016.

Passing apples around it was clear to see that our core routine of giving thanks holds meaning for these boys. Before our circle closed an Explorer, who shall remain anonymous, gave thanks for the vastness of the wild spaces that is so close to Bellingham. He gave thanks for the vibrant wildland and mentioned that he did not think it would be there when he was old. After further questions and some elaboration he expressed that with all the change in weather patterns, population growth, development, and forest fires he feared this patch of land would most likely not be there when he was old. It was a great time for mentors to encourage the Explorer and group that the future of these and our front country wildlands relies on our ability to know these places deeply while advocating and serving them as a community. It was truly a powerful moment for the boys and a lot for them to hold. This is a conversation that we will continue to revisit over the course of the season.

Finishing our thanks the boys expressed gratitude for: the rain, exploring a new part of a familiar location, storms creating abundance of resource, a powerful start to the fall season, and for the sunshine that broke through the clouds halfway through the outing. Thank you Branch Hoppers for a strong start to the fall 2015 season.

For more pictures from the outing please visit the Branch Hoppers’ photo gallery. 

The Branch Hopper's Continue their Carving Journey

Circling up off trail we tried to track what had happen to the land.  After some investigation and observation we decided that strong southeast winds had blown through the area downing many Alders and Maples. The group decided that we would need to be on high alert for trees leaning precariously and branches waiting to fall. Once we were oriented to the land the group revisited knife safety, highlighting our motto A Tools vs. a Weapon and some of the carving techniques that we practiced the first outing. It is vital that we go over knife safety every outing because the second that that the boys get overconfident or careless with their knives will be the time when they cut themselves or worse another.

Passing a few items around the circle the mentors showed the group the utensil set that they had carved to try and give the group some inspiration for their carving projects. Handing out jobs and turning the meeting over to the boys, the mentors asked the group how they would like to spend their time. Through some collaboration and group process the boys decided they would search the area for some carvable wood and end their day with a round or two of Spider’s Web. We enjoy being able to hand the leadership over to the boys and follow their inspirations.

Packing up we headed down the trail and not before long we found a downed Maple branch. We took a couple shattered pieces of the Maple and made them into shims. We pounded the shims into a split in the Maple Branch and it quickly popped in half under the pressure. Then taking our knives at a parallel angle from our bodies we split the wood into a carvable size with a technique called battoning. Once the boys had their carving blanks they got right to work.  It is refreshing to see them settle into the land and get quiet. The boys leaned against the trunks of a few old Cedars and relaxed in the duff of the abundant nursing stumps as they carved. It is plain to see that they feel at home in the woods. Our aim as mentors is for the boys to slowly come to know the woods as a place of nourishment, feeling as comfortable on the land as they do in their own homes.

As we carved the mentors asked a question to the group, “What do we have in our homes that does not come from the land?” It was interesting to hear some of the boy’s responses: computers, steel, microwaves, clothes, cars, etc.… It was important to reiterate to the group that everything we have comes from the land. It is the force that sustains our lives and we are dependent on it. Connecting the boys with Earth Skills like carving helps them establish this connection. When we harvest a piece of wood and turn it into utensils and then eat and cook with them we can tangibly make this connection. Our hope as mentors is for the boys to have a reverence for the life giving resources that the Earth provides and start to build an awareness of what it means to conserve and take, in order to live.

We commend the Branch Hoppers for their careful awareness and respect for their knives. The boys carved for two hours straight and the whole time they made each other aware when they were in each others Blood Circle and slowed down enough the really practice proper form and technique that this vital skill demands. The boys ended up carving some beautiful forks and knives. The group has made a goal that by the time summer camp roles around they will all have hand carved utensils to eat with.

Packing up we headed to explore a new location. On our way over we played a few rounds of Hide. We came across a giant Western Hemlock that had cracked at its base and rested precariously on a small Maple. It had broken and fallen in a northern facing direction, confirming our assessment that the storm had blown in from the south. Hiking on Jake called the group over to a nursing log with hundreds of mushrooms sprouting off of it. We all agreed that it is amazing to witness the power of fungus to decompose such large organisms like a nursing log.

We closed our day with a round of Spider’s Web.The area that we played in was perfect for the game. With two giant fallen old growth Cedars crisscrossing the playing field the Explorers were able to get on their bellies and sneak the length of them. We held our closing meeting next to the base of a Douglas fir stump and shared some thanks. The boys gave thanks the multitude of ways they found to use their knives, for the time and space to be able to freely carve, for the storms which bring about an abundance of resource, for friends and family, and for the ability to learn new skills and still get the chance to play.

It was a great outing with the Branch Hoppers and they really rose to the occasion. As mentors we intend to hold a fine line between use and misuse of knives and the group showed that they were ready for the responsibility. We encourage the Explorers to continue carving in their free time at home.  Parents, we would love updates on how the boys have been doing with their knives at home. Modeling proper knife safety and skill should be practiced in every situation when the boys are using their knives. We would be happy to answer any questions that you might have regarding our culture of knives and safety. Together as community we can help transform the violence in our society by empowering the Explorers to become skilled craftsmen while keep good intention in their hearts and hands.

For more pictures from the outing please visit the Branch Hopper’s photo gallery