Alevin Explorers Service Project - Connelly Creek

The Alevin gathered at the Connelly Creek service site excited to see how the land had transformed over the summer. The day was gorgeous. Not a cloud in the sky and the warmth of the morning sun was just starting to creep over the foothills. Giving the boys five minutes to scout the land the mentors asked the group to track what work had been done so far this season and what worked needed to get done today.

Circling back up the Alevin tracked that the Reed-Canary grass had grown through the six inches of mulch they laid last season and the Alders that had been planted were taken over by Morning Glory during the summer. Although there was much work to do they did track that someone had put in a lot of work to unwind the invasive weed from the Alder’s cages and reestablished the mulch rings around them. They also found that each shrub planted last fall had been weeded and staked out.

Checking the back of the site they found the previous weekends service party had made a large dent in the Blackberries by really putting in an effort to remove their roots. I think it is encouraging for the Alevin to witness the efforts of their fellow Explorers. Our service each season is condensed into four weekends in a row, where each group comes to the same site. In their spring 2015 season the Alevin were the first group out to the sight and spent a majority of their time just trying to maintain what was done in the previous fall 2014 season. This outing they would have a chance to make real headway on the site.

The mentors let the group know that the Red-Tailed Eyas and Gray Wolf Pups would both be joining them. It would be the first time three Boys EC groups would work together in one day and it was up the elder boys (the Alevin) to set the example for the younger ones. We needed to think back to our last wilderness outing and bring the same focus and intention to our service work that day. We let them know that although the other groups were only younger by a year or two they would be looking to them for guidance and mirroring their behavior.

Springing into action the group immediately moved to the back of the site to start loping and digging out the massive blackberry patch. Digging blackberry roots is hard work and the boys are becoming quite skilled with their techniques.  In the Boys EC if someone unearths a massive blackberry root ball it is tradition to hold it up proudly and let out a cheer. After a solid half an hour of work a majority of the group ran off to stalk the arriving Red-Tailed Eyas.

Calling the group back together the boys returned to their tools. It was then that some of the boys decided to turn their focus to cutting back the seemingly endless blackberry hedge while others kept up their work on the roots of the blackberries that were cut in the previous outing. As the other groups joined in the effort became less focused with a majority of the boys deciding to lop blackberries. As blackberry canes piled up the few boys that were digging roots and trimming the pile for bagging became overwhelmed.

As the situation developed a few of the boys, Alevin included, developed a technique for breaking through the dense thicket of dead blackberry canes by breaking them up with large sticks so they could be raked up. This proved too much for the boys who had a hard time keeping their awareness. With the group at critical mass the mentors called the everyone together. We first addressed the importance of having good intention with your tool. This is something that all the groups know well and should be aware of. We then addressed the larger issue of our lack of focus. Having the group take a look around it was clear that we would have to spend the majority of the rest of the outing cleaning up the blackberries we had just lopped. The teachable moment and take away for some of the Explorers in our discussion was their recognition of two important themes, We not Me and Slow is Fast and Fast is Slow. 

Our haste in lopping a large amount blackberry had left us with the slow work of trimming and bagging. The mentors explained to the group that with so many Explorers it was important that we work as a team and if we all follow our own interests we will work against each other. Being able to recognize the needs of the group over our own was vital to our ability to get our work done and give back to the land.

Refocusing our efforts we bagged blackberries until we ran out of bags and soon after it was time for a closing meeting. Circling up on the grass we revisited our wilderness excursion. We had used our group focus to venture deep in the wilderness safely and responsibly and it was important to recognize that the tools we cultivate in the wilderness translate directly to our lives in the front country.

After a lenghty conversation it is important to recognize the good work that the boys were doing. Although unfocused at times, we got a lot done and are doing the important work of giving back to the land that gives so much to us. We then shared some thanks: we were grateful for our time together, for the opportunity to work with our hands and have a relationship with this little patch of wilderness right in our backyards, and for the amazing weather the day provided. With 1,252 of service hours in the last year there is no telling what we can accomplish this year with our number at 169 strong. Parents thank you for your support and care for our work in the community. It is a pleasure to serve with your boys.

For the more picture from the day please visit the Alevin's photo gallery. 

Red-Tailed Eyas and Gray Wolf Pups Work Together

As an organization, Boys Explorers Club has an impact on the land. We spend a lot of time off trail, building shelters, harvesting carving wood, and generally just spending time in the forest. We try to tread lightly, using game trails when possible, picking up trash as we go, harvesting plants only when they are abundant enough to support it, and taking care of places we visit. In the end, though, there is no way to explore a place without leaving some trace and having at the very least a small impact. Our outings at the Connelly Creek service site are our opportunity to leave a positive impact on the land and really dedicate a day to leaving a place much better then we found it.

The Gray Wolf Pups and Red-Tailed Eyas had the perfect day to be out at the service site, warm weather and sunshine. We started our day with a big opening circle focused on getting to know the other group a little bit and talking for a few minutes about tool safety and usage. Since both the Gray Wolf Pups and Red-Tailed Eyas are seasoned Explorers group the opening circle went quickly and smoothly. Soon we joined the third group, The Alevin, at the service site to get to work. The Gray Wolf Pups and Red-Tailed Eyas got to work quickly on chopping blackberries and removing their roots. 

All the boys worked in a focused and efficient manner for a couple of hours before they even started to talk about taking a break. Soon the boys started to trickle off for a well deserved lunch break in the sunny field. The boys were all tired, but proud of their work as they are lunch and surveyed what they had accomplished that morning. After lunch We called them back over to put in a solid effort before it was time to pack up and leave.

We spent the last hour cleaning up all the trimmings of blackberries so they would not reroute themselves and then stomping down and spreading mulch over the reid canary grass. The work of spreading mulch was gratifying and was a nice reward after the hard work of clearing blackberries. As we spread the mulch the site was looking better and better and less like an overgrown jungle. Soon it was time to put in our last few minutes of effort and then end the day. 

We had a really nice closing circle in the sunny field and admired all the work that we had done. All the boys had really positive and sincere things to share in closing circle and all expressed their enthusiasm for service outings. It was a really powerful day with a lot of great work being done by all of us.Thank you Red Tailed Eyas and Grey Wolf Pups for all your hard work and enthusiasm. Parents next time you are close by have your explorer show you they service site so you can see how much they have put into this spot and don’t let them tell you they can’t do yard work. Be sure to check out the Grey Wolf PupPhoto Gallery and the Red Tailed Eyas Photo Gallery for more outing photos!

         

Raccoon Kits Show Short-Tailed Weasels How It's Done at Connelly Creek

There was no better way to welcome October than with a great service outing. The Raccoon Kits, Short Tailed Weasels, and even a Girls Explorers Club group, The Fiddleheads, teamed to form a young, yet formidable foe for the Himalayan Blackberry and Reed Canary Grass. The girls got things going by showing up early, getting a walkthrough from Steve, and breaking up to tackle the various tasks at our Connelly Creek service site. First was tending to the new trees and shrubs that were planted during the Spring season, making sure they had a fresh mulch ring and were properly staked out to prevent any unwanted trampling. Second was to get going on spreading mulch and expanding upon all the hard work from last season. Last but not least; the blackberry removal team. Everyone was working hard when a rascally bunch of boys showed up.

Kicking off the service outing for the boys were the Raccoon Kits. Not only was it a surprise that they were going to be the eldest group today, but mixing in girls too?! Despite the lofty expectations set upon this young group to introduce proper tool usage to the Short Tailed Weasels, demonstrate a strong work ethic, and be role models, they took it in stride and flourished. After a slow start due to the necessary introductions to the Short Tailed Weasels of where our service site is, what we’re doing here, and why we are doing it, everyone jumped right into the work. The Raccoon Kits were eager to get to hacking back the blackberries and digging up the massive root balls. As for the Short Tailed Weasels, they kicked off their illustrious service careers with a classic; shoveling mulch.

As the hours ticked away, the girls departed after putting in some tremendous work. Left to their own devices, the Raccoon Kits took this opportunity to attempt to unearth a massive root ball. It took the whole group, but eventually they got it, and in only a few hours erased years of growth by the Himalayan Blackberries. Not even wanting to stop for lunch, the Raccoon Kits showed an outstanding drive and superb work ethic that impressed all the mentors present.

For the Short Tailed Weasels, they also had a strong day of work, however it was broken up by a little more play, jokes, and even experimental cooking. As they dug into the mulch pile they noticed the vast warmth that was imitating from within due to the decomposition process. Just as mother crocodiles incubate eggs in large mounds of debris, some of the explorers decided to test the warmth with a chunk of cheese (which completely melted) and a container of apples (still to be decided on cooking effectiveness). After all was said and done the Short Tailed Weasels had some fun, but finished strong by moving the majority of the mulch that was left by the parks department for us to use. Not a bad start for their first service outing.

As the torch has been passed from group to group, tending, nurturing, and caretaking Connelly Creek has become a Boys Explorers Club Legacy, a legacy that is now fortunate enough to add Girls Explorers Club and the Short Tailed Weasels alongside the veteran Raccoon Kits. Mulch was moved, blackberries battered, roots were wrangled and there was even enough time for some laughs to be shared as well. What a wonderful day and strong beginning to our service work at Connelly Creek.

Make sure to check out the rest of the photos in our Photo Gallery!

Roosevelt Elk Calves work at Connelly Creek

The Roosevelt Elk Calves gathered for their Service outing under sunny skies and warm temperatures. This weekend was the start to our service outings and would require a lot of hard work to clear and create space for future work. We were all excited to see the Connelly Creek service site and what it would look like after not seeing it for a whole summer. Upon arrival we saw that the Hardhack, Spirea, and Alders we had planted the year before were flourishing. We saw that the reed canary grass and invasive blackberry had also flourished over the summer and would yet again need our attention.

After surveying the site we gathered in the sunshine for a quick opening meeting to review tool safety and finalize a plan for the day. The Roosevelt Elk Calves did an excellent job explaining proper tool use and demonstrating to each other the best practices with each tool. After breaking from our closing circle we quickly got to work.

Our first task was to clear morning glory that had climbed up the wire cages around the Alders as well as the small trees themselves. The work was slow and delicate as we carefully unwound the morning glory trying not to damage the more delicate leaves and branches of the saplings. We also worked on clearing out the reed canary grass from around the base of the saplings to give them more space. This is an important task this time of year since by clearing the canary grass and morning glory we are allowing the tree to absorb more sunlight in these shortening days.

After the alders were clear we circled up to congratulate each other on our efforts and turn our focus to the next task at hand; blackberries. The blackberries are a tenacious plant that is extremely hard to get rid of. any small clipping left on the ground can re root itself and easily undo all of our work. with loppers and shovels in hand we approached the blackberry thicket and began carefully chopping and extracting the blackberry vines.  

The Roosevelt Elk Calves put in a couple hours of really focused hard work and made great progress on the blackberries. Even though this is a service outing we wanted to give the boys a little time at the end of the outing to focus on their carving since they showed so much skill and excitement about this last time. Some of the boys chose to make more chopsticks or finish existing chopsticks while others who had completed a nice pair of chopsticks moved on to carving spoon blanks. Again the Roosevelt Elk Calves handled their knives very well and showed a lot of natural talent at carving. After about half and hour of carving it was time to pack up and have a closing circle.

We had a wonderful closing circle with all of the boys sharing really heartfelt and sincere gratitude for the day, the work, and each other. The Roosevelt Elk Calves have come along way as a group and are a true pleasure to be out in the woods with. Individually all the boys have done a lot of personal growth and as a group they have really bonded. Thank you Roosevelt Elk Calves for a great service outing and thank you parents for your continual support and enthusiasm about our program. Please check out our photo gallery for more pictures from the day.  

Vespula Veterans and Racoon Kits serve Connelly Creek

Sunny Skies greeted the mentors as they unloaded gear and prepared tools and paperwork for a day of tending the land at the Connelly Creek service site.  Mentors look forward to the service outing for a number of reasons, but above all is a chance to give back to the land.  In both the Explorer’s Club and the Four Shields Program we utilize the land as a teacher.  Our mentoring community firmly believes that our boys learn best when they can leave the trail behind and immerse in the forest or beach.  Inevitably our exploring has impact upon the land.  There are undoubtedly small plants that are stepped on, and birds that are disturbed, but we tread with care and a deep respect and gratitude for the places we visit and the opportunities provided by them.  Our service outings are a way we can say thank you and offer our hard work in exchange for our hard play and exploration.

This outing marks the 5^th season of service at the Connelly Creek site for the Vespula Veterans and the 3^rdseason of service for the Raccoon Kits.  Our eldest group, the Vespula Veterans, arrived at 11:00am and carried the tools over to our site.  After quickly unpacking and organizing them for the work ahead, the boys took the first hour to practice some of the wilderness travel skills they will be using in their upcoming overnight outing at Racehorse Falls (and for some their summer backpacking trip to Olympic National Park).  The boys practiced lighting stoves, and setting up Wild Whatcom’s new Backpacking tents.  Mentors offered insights and suggestions about technique, but the boys took on the responsibility to practice the skills and gain comfort with these pieces of equipment.

After a brief capacity test of the tents, some of the boys decided to have stealth sit spot and see if they could scout the Raccoon Kits as they arrived.  Other Vespula Veterans worked on their fire by friction skills and got a preview of saw skills, which they will be learning on their trip to Racehorse falls.  Once the Raccoon Kits arrived we gathered in a large circle to forge our service team.  Since all had done service at Connelly Creek before we quickly reviewed tool safety and our service goals.

Bellingham Parks department, who overseas our work in the park, tasked the boys with two primary jobs: first to “walk down” the invasive Reed Canary Grass, and second to mulch over it.  In the past we have cut the grass back, however it appears that when it is cut it grows back with even more vigor.  So we set out to trample the grass and spread the mulch.  Last season the Boys Explorers Club planted several alder trees, as well as some small shrubs.  All of them survived our mild winter and appear to be growing.  Currently their biggest threat is getting stepped on by a well-meaning explorer in the midst of doing service.  To reduce this possibility the boys enhanced rings of mulch around these vulnerable plants to make them more visible and to help retain moisture near them as the weather warms this summer.

The mentors were impressed at the boy’s ability to move mulch.  Without prompting several teams emerged and began to move the mulch from the pile to the plants and the trampled grass.  One group shoveled the mulch into buckets and trash cans, another was hauling the mulch, another was spreading the mulch, and yet another was weeding grass around the plantings.  After moving the entire mulch pile, it was time for the Vespula Veterans to say farewell to the Raccoon Kits and have and have their closing meeting.    The Raccoon Kits stayed for another hour and transitioned to digging out stubborn blackberry roots before finishing their day with gratitude and apples at their closing meeting. 

The Boys Explorer’s Club and Four Shields Mentoring Community would like to thank Mentor Jake Ray for stepping in as an alternate in Brian’s absence.  The mentoring community would also like to extend our gratitude to all the boys and their families.  Without all of you we simply wouldn’t be able to do this work and for that we are

Service outing with the Salamander Efts and Black Tailed Deer

Exploring is what we do in BEC, and the majority of that exploration is off-trail. Exploring off-trail allows a deeper connection to our natural habitat as we share space with all kinds of forest dwellers.  Magical fungi, towering Douglas firs, loud Douglas squirrels and inconspicuous owls are just a few of the beings that we come to know through our romping. Even though we do our best to Leave No Trace, we undoubtedly have an impact on the forested areas that afford us fun, peacefulness, and learning opportunities. Our service outings allow us to give back to the Earth that gives us so much. 

This was a combined outing; the older Salamander Efts took a leadership role and oriented the first season Black Tailed Deer to our service site. In our opening circle, the Salamander Efts demonstrated how to safely use clippers, loppers, shovels, and rakes. We understood the risks that these tools had, but recognized that being intentional with them would allow us to get lots of work done at our service site.

The first of two tasks was clearing blackberries and removing their frustrating root wads. We became skilled at using loppers and clippers to remove the big vines and then used the shovels to dig up their roots. We had fun trying to see who could dig up the largest root.

The second task was to mulch the newly cleared areas so that no Reed Canary grass would sprout in the blackberries absence.  We learned that Reed Canary grass is an invasive species that grows especially well in streamside habitats. The fast growing grass chokes out slower growing native vegetation such as Nootka Rose and baby Western Red Cedar. The mulch we laid will stop the growth of this grass and allow our newly planted native plants to grow into maturity and shade out the invasive grass on their own. We discussed that we are helping this land heal itself; just get it started and the forest will begin to thrive again.

As we cleaned up our tools and took off our gloves, we recognized the need for play, so the Black Tailed Deer got to play a few rounds of Deer Oh Deer. Even after a day of manual labor, playing games allowed us to tap into unknown energy reserves as we raced around the field trying to avoid becoming a cougar snack.

Of course this is BEC, and the day wouldn’t have been complete without a lesson form the land. This lesson came in the form of an uninhabited paper wasps nest. We got to examine the papery structure of the outside and look at the perfect honeycomb pattern on the inside where the larvae hatch. In deciding whether or not to take this treasure home with us, we decided that since this nest came from this forest, we needed its nutrients to remain in this forest so that they could nurture the plants and animals that live in and near Connelly Creek. Together we separated the nest and spread it about the service site.

To see more photos from the day, click here.

Serving Connelly Creek with the Salamander Efts and Barred Owlets

The headline might read “Connelly Creek Restoration Work Continues Apace”. Because it does, in part thanks to the efforts of the Salamander Efts and Barred Owlets on Saturday. Reed Canarygrass was “walked down” (it turns out the grass cutting we did in the fall was misdirected effort that actually encouraged growth!): bark mulch was shoveled, hauled and spread over the flattened Canarygrass: Himalayan blackberry was clipped and hauled off. TheConnelly Creek restoration site (see Happy Valley Park on the map) is better off for the strong effort put forth by these two Explorers Club groups. Service is an integral part of the Wild Whatcom mission. This work is a good thing and would make a nice story in the local newspaper.

At Wild Whatcom, we expect and strive for more, however. And for this outing, the deeper story is more nuanced. So let’s look past the headline by reviewing my admittedly arbitrary benchmarks for a service outing. 

Focus/hard work - Once I’ve seen three 60 - 80 pound boys struggling under the weight of a trash can full of bark mulch, I can’t easily question effort. However, pull the camera back during the outing and the boy sitting in a tree comes into the picture, as do the boys battling each other with bark chips as projectiles. Much work was done but the effort was inconsistent across the members of the Salamander Efts and Barred Owlets and rippled unevenly across the afternoon. 

Teamwork - I bring you back to the three boys carrying the loaded trash can. Two boys couldn’t carry that can, nor could the three of them get it to where it was needed without active communication. Likewise, a sole explorer couldn’t have dismantled a roughly 10 by 10 foot section of blackberry on his own. The mentors saw many examples of excellent teamwork throughout the afternoon. We were especially proud to observe the older Salamander Efts modeling good work habits for the Barred Owlets. 

Initiative - There’s a small ditch that bisects the work site about 3/4 of the way back. Thanks to explorers’ efforts over the past several years, most of the blackberries have receded to beyond the ditch. At one point a few hours into the outing, I jumped (ok, stepped) across the ditch to check on the blackberry work, only to find 3-4 explorers slicing through thorn-thrusting vines with the intensity of a family of beavers in spring. Rather than cut across the front of the infestation, they were tunneling from two directions and working back through the segregated area to clear a small room size area in a single effort. Nice work! I’m sure the two boys sitting along the creek, Huck Finn style and out of sight, would agree that the blackberry ravaging boys were making a real difference.

Task completion - Those who were part of the initial effort to restore Wild Whatcom’s Connelly Creek service site to ecological balance tell me the area was all but covered with invasive plants, such as Himalayan blackberry, and human trash (broken bottles, discarded beverage cans, car parts, piles of nails, and the like) when they first arrived. Well over half has been cleared and native trees and shrubs planted. Even since I joined the effort in the fall, the improvement is dramatic. Saturday’s work pushed this effort forward. It is gratifying to see the progress: these explorers are to be congratulated. 

Integrity/Honor/Respect - More could have been done on this day, however, with greater focus and discipline. There was too much squirreling out; too often did I turn to see bark being hurled at another; too often were individuals content to allow others to carry the load. I, for one, was disappointed.

Of course, what is life if not a succession of trials offering lessons and the chance to do better next time? The boys are young. This is the time for them to learn the satisfaction that comes from performing well and honorably. We’ll be back at this soon with more opportunities to help carry the heavy trash can and cut the irascible berry bushes. 

And, no doubt, I’m right in there with the boys. I can think of several times during the outing where a guiding word from me might have encouraged an explorer to lend a hand rather than squirrel out or start a bark battle. Fortunately, I get to put my lessons to work soon as well. Life is forgiving in that it offers second, third and, sometimes, fourth chances. Now there’s something for which we all can be grateful!

The Salamander Efts get back to it on Saturday, May 30, with an exploration of Blanchard mountain's alternate incline trails. Click here for the schedule.

The Barred Owlets pick up their water curriculum on Saturday, May 30 as well, when we traverse from Marine Park in Fairhaven to the Connelly Creek location. You'll find that schedule here.

Finally, check out the photos from our service work here (Salamander Efts) and here (Barred Owlets). See you out there.

Red-Tailed Eyas and Gray Wolf Pups Work Together

As an organization, Boys Explorers Club has an impact on the land. We spend a lot of time off trail, building shelters, harvesting carving wood, and generally just spending time in the forest. We try to tread lightly, using game trails when possible, picking up trash as we go, harvesting plants only when they are abundant enough to support it, and taking care of places we visit. In the end, though, there is no way to explore a place without leaving some trace and having at the very least a small impact. Our outings at the Connelly Creek service site are our opportunity to leave a positive impact on the land and really dedicate a day to leaving a place much better then we found it.

The Gray Wolf Pups and Red-Tailed Eyas had the perfect day to be out at the service site, warm weather and sunshine. We started our day with a big opening circle focused on getting to know the other group a little bit and talking for a few minutes about tool safety and usage. Since both the Gray Wolf Pups and Red-Tailed Eyas are seasoned Explorers group the opening circle went quickly and smoothly. Soon we joined the third group, The Alevin, at the service site to get to work. The Gray Wolf Pups and Red-Tailed Eyas got to work quickly on chopping blackberries and removing their roots. 

All the boys worked in a focused and efficient manner for a couple of hours before they even started to talk about taking a break. Soon the boys started to trickle off for a well deserved lunch break in the sunny field. The boys were all tired, but proud of their work as they are lunch and surveyed what they had accomplished that morning. After lunch We called them back over to put in a solid effort before it was time to pack up and leave.

We spent the last hour cleaning up all the trimmings of blackberries so they would not reroute themselves and then stomping down and spreading mulch over the reid canary grass. The work of spreading mulch was gratifying and was a nice reward after the hard work of clearing blackberries. As we spread the mulch the site was looking better and better and less like an overgrown jungle. Soon it was time to put in our last few minutes of effort and then end the day. 

We had a really nice closing circle in the sunny field and admired all the work that we had done. All the boys had really positive and sincere things to share in closing circle and all expressed their enthusiasm for service outings. It was a really powerful day with a lot of great work being done by all of us.Thank you Red Tailed Eyas and Grey Wolf Pups for all your hard work and enthusiasm. Parents next time you are close by have your explorer show you they service site so you can see how much they have put into this spot and don’t let them tell you they can’t do yard work. Be sure to check out the Grey Wolf PupPhoto Gallery and the Red Tailed Eyas Photo Gallery for more outing photos!

         

Raccoon Kits Show Short-Tailed Weasels How It's Done at Connelly Creek

There was no better way to welcome October than with a great service outing. The Raccoon Kits, Short Tailed Weasels, and even a Girls Explorers Club group, The Fiddleheads, teamed to form a young, yet formidable foe for the Himalayan Blackberry and Reed Canary Grass. The girls got things going by showing up early, getting a walkthrough from Steve, and breaking up to tackle the various tasks at our Connelly Creek service site. First was tending to the new trees and shrubs that were planted during the Spring season, making sure they had a fresh mulch ring and were properly staked out to prevent any unwanted trampling. Second was to get going on spreading mulch and expanding upon all the hard work from last season. Last but not least; the blackberry removal team. Everyone was working hard when a rascally bunch of boys showed up.

Kicking off the service outing for the boys were the Raccoon Kits. Not only was it a surprise that they were going to be the eldest group today, but mixing in girls too?! Despite the lofty expectations set upon this young group to introduce proper tool usage to the Short Tailed Weasels, demonstrate a strong work ethic, and be role models, they took it in stride and flourished. After a slow start due to the necessary introductions to the Short Tailed Weasels of where our service site is, what we’re doing here, and why we are doing it, everyone jumped right into the work. The Raccoon Kits were eager to get to hacking back the blackberries and digging up the massive root balls. As for the Short Tailed Weasels, they kicked off their illustrious service careers with a classic; shoveling mulch.

As the hours ticked away, the girls departed after putting in some tremendous work. Left to their own devices, the Raccoon Kits took this opportunity to attempt to unearth a massive root ball. It took the whole group, but eventually they got it, and in only a few hours erased years of growth by the Himalayan Blackberries. Not even wanting to stop for lunch, the Raccoon Kits showed an outstanding drive and superb work ethic that impressed all the mentors present.

For the Short Tailed Weasels, they also had a strong day of work, however it was broken up by a little more play, jokes, and even experimental cooking. As they dug into the mulch pile they noticed the vast warmth that was imitating from within due to the decomposition process. Just as mother crocodiles incubate eggs in large mounds of debris, some of the explorers decided to test the warmth with a chunk of cheese (which completely melted) and a container of apples (still to be decided on cooking effectiveness). After all was said and done the Short Tailed Weasels had some fun, but finished strong by moving the majority of the mulch that was left by the parks department for us to use. Not a bad start for their first service outing.

As the torch has been passed from group to group, tending, nurturing, and caretaking Connelly Creek has become a Boys Explorers Club Legacy, a legacy that is now fortunate enough to add Girls Explorers Club and the Short Tailed Weasels alongside the veteran Raccoon Kits. Mulch was moved, blackberries battered, roots were wrangled and there was even enough time for some laughs to be shared as well. What a wonderful day and strong beginning to our service work at Connelly Creek.

Make sure to check out the rest of the photos in our Photo Gallery!

The Daredevil's Club & Branch Hoppers Serve at Connelly Creek

The Daredevil’s Club and Branch Hoppers arrived at the Connelly Creek Service Site only to see the sky darken and the clouds open up with rainfall. Quickly adorning their rain gear the boys weren’t fazed at all. Doing a once over of the site the group noticed a lot had changed. The Reed-Canary grass had made a comeback, but not quite as much as years previous. The Blackberries were slowly creeping their way over the mulch and re-rooting. The Morning Glory vines had intertwined themselves with our caged Alders and a late summer storm had taken down a tree, scattering branches everywhere.

The group was slightly disheartened, but not defeated. After two and a half years of tending the site the boys are learning the valuable lesson that all relationships take work and maintenance. Their relationship with this patch of land is slowly and persistently testing the boys’ fortitude and diligence to their task, while cultivating their character.  

Our mentors have observed two very distinct character traits budding in our Explorers, as coined by Dr. Kurt Hahn, the famous educator and founder of Outward Bound, 

"I regard it as the foremost task of education to insure the survival of these qualities: an enterprising curiosity, an undefeatable spirit, tenacity in pursuit, readiness for sensible self denial, and above all, compassion.” 

These “Five Pillars of Hahnism” are part of the core character traits we hope to cultivate and reinforce in the Explorers. Their “undefeatable spirit” for and “tenacity in the pursuit” of restoring balance to this patch of wilderness is a very real window in what their journey and struggle to be stewards of the land might look like in our modern age. The Explorer’s access and exposure to a plethora of information on environmental dilemmas that await their generation is enough to dishearten anyone. It will be their “undefeatable spirit” and “tenacity in the pursuit” that will enact monumental change in our world and in their own lives personally.

Circling up the boys were excited to begin working, but before they did we needed to cover a few things. With two boys in casts we thought it appropriate to get acquainted with one another by sharing our names and our “best” worst injury. This icebreaker seemed to derail our focus and Tim called the Explorers to bring their attention to the task at hand and remember why we were doing the work. The mentors often remind the boys that our explorations have an impact on the land, and that this service outing is our one chance each season to give back restore balance to the land.

Once we were acquainted the Mentors explained that our initial task would involve maintaining the work that was done the previous season, as Bellingham Parks & Recreation needed to drop a large load of mulch for next weekend’s work.  After an Explorer led demonstration of tool safety the Mentors pulled out a tool, which the group have previously not worked with, handsaws! An Alder had toppled that blocked the path for the Park Department’s truck to dump mulch and the boys would need to work together to limb it and saw up the trunk.

Getting to work the boys put in a solid hour of pushing back the blackberries at the front of the site, clearing and staking out the shrubs that we planted last year, and unraveling the Morning Glory off the Alders. While they worked the group vacillated between focus and distraction. I have to hand it to the boys in their ability to be creative and keep themselves busy. They created a verbal fantasy role-playing game without a board or dice. Their struggle however was to keep their hands working while they played.  This skill takes time to develop and most adults have not yet mastered it.

Their work may have come in waves, but the group got a lot done and should be proud of their effort. We would also like to commend the boys for using the saws with patience and to their upmost potential. Throughout the course of our outing not one Explorer joked with or misused the saws. It was powerful to watch the boys skillfully use these tools. As mentors our hearts lighten to see our motto Tool vs. Weaponempowering the Explorers. They are letting us know that they are ready for more responsibility and although they did much fighting and welding of weaponry in their theoretical fantasy game they can clearly differentiate between the two.

Finishing up our work the crew basked in the sun sharing apples and thanks. With a rainy start to the day the group unanimously expressed their gratitude for the warmth and comfort of the mid-day sun. Thank you Daredevil’s Club and Branch Hoppers for a strong start to our fall 2015 service project. With 1,252 of service hours worked there last year there is no telling what we can accomplish with our number at 169 strong. Parents thank you for your support and care for our work in the community. It is a pleasure to serve with your boys.

Click here for the more picture from the day in Daredevil’s Club orBranch Hoppers photo galleries. 

Clip, clip, dig, dig - Grey Fox Kits and Barred Owlets finish Connelly Creek fall service

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.” Rabindranath Tagore

BEFORE: Car parts, broken bottles, rusted nails (thousands of rusted nails!), wire fencing, miscellaneous trash…numerous bags of trash. Rats - several of the deceased and the scurrying kind observed. Invasive Himalayan Blackberryand Reed Canarygrass that had largely overtaken the restoration site alongConnelly Creek. Humans and plants had invaded and degraded several acres along the creek, which feeds Padden Creek. 

WHY BOTHER? Ecological biodiversity is the mix of ecosystems, natural communities and habitats. It’s the variety of ways that species interact with each other and their environment. Change one factor (e.g., plant diversity), and everything else is affected. Biodiversity is an important part of ecological services that make life livable on Earth. They include everything from cleaning water and absorbing chemicals, which wetlands do, to providing oxygen for us to breathe - one of the many things that plants do for people. Biodiversity also allows for ecosystems to adjust to disturbances such as fires or floods. If a reptile goes extinct, a forest with 20 other reptiles is likely to adapt better than another forest with only one reptile. 

So, our humble restoration site at Connelly Creek offers an excellent opportunity for our explorers to learn first hand how ecosystems work while causing a real and observable positive impact on something that really matters. 

THE WORK: For several years now, the Boys Explorers Club (BEC) has worked under the guidance of Bellingham Parks and Recreation to restore the site to greater health. Using tools provided by the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, your boys have cleaned out the garbage, cut back and uprooted blackberry vines, stamped down the Reed Canarygrass, planted native trees and shrubs, and spread bark mulch…..yard after yard of bark mulch!

This is a long-term project. We’ve made mistakes, such as when we cut down the Canarygrass, which it turns out encourages future growth! So, we stomped it down, a la Godzilla, and covered the site with several inches of bark mulch, only to return to the site after a few month’s absence to find the Canarygrass having returned to its former “glory”. It’ll take years for the alders, ninebark and other species we planted to shade out the grasses and reclaim the land, the best long term solution. In fact, the project just might outlast the Grey Fox Kits and Barred Owlets time in Explorers Club! Of course, it’s a shame we have to do this work. But the lesson for the boys is clear: there will always be work that needs to be done for the good of the larger society and each of them can have a positive impact. In fact, there is joy is service to others and to the land.

This weekend, we worked to clear blackberries from an area roughly 20 by 50 feet along the creek. While that might not seem like a big area, consider the number of blackberry root balls that needed to be extricated, or the fence that saw the light of day for the first time in years, or the tree that was liberate from the strangle hold of the prickly vines. The scratches they proudly display came from the 10-15 foot long vines they cut down to a size that could be bagged and carted off. The tired, sore muscles are the result of wrestling (2 or 3 working in tandem, at times) with stubborn roots or digging holes to plant more trees and shrubs. The goofy smiles on their faces can be traced back to the hard-earned satisfaction of having done meaningful work, and done it well, as the photos will attest. 

While the boys worked hard and accomplished much on this day, we cannot claim unblemished pride in our actions. Some boys could be seen climbing trees or exploring the creek when work waited; we get it, they’re boys. Not a problem. With a little prodding, they usually return to the work. However, when the mentors learned that someone had apparently cut down a spruce sapling that had been planted as part of the project, we decided to call all the explorers together to re-emphasize the serious, important nature of the work and of the responsibility each of us has to behave with honor and respect for each other and the land. Message delivered, we returned to the work and mustered a strong finish for the day and for our service work this season.

AFTER: While there is still work to be done, check out the photos here and in the gallery. The results speak for themselves…your explorers are officially part of the solution!

They have earned the right to stand tall because they have performed with honor and to great effect. They each can rightfully echo the words of one of their colleagues as he walked away from the site after completely his work: “I feel proud.”

Check out the rest of the photos from our service outing here (Grey Fox Kits) and here (Barred Owlets), and check the web site for the details on your explorer’s next outing - Grey Fox Kits, click here. Barred Owlets, clickhere.

Townsend's Chipmunks and Jumping Mice Serve the Land

This weekend concluded our month long stretch of service outings at Connelly Creek. Throughout this time  we have had all fifteen groups (169 Explorers!) come out and give back to the land in a meaningful way. For this final weekend of work our main tool provider and partner in the project, the Bellingham Parks Department, came out to join us. Ray Edwards from the parks department has helped us immensely throughout the course of this project; from providing tools and starts to detailed guidance and instructions on how best to target our efforts. For this outing the Townsend's Chipmunks worked closely with Ray to learn how to use some new tools and techniques for planting species.

In our opening meeting the parks department had the Townsend's Chipmunks do something that was almost unheard of in Explorers Club, they were asked to take a test. The boys hardly flinched and quickly completed a short questionnaire on different species around our area and what it means to participate in Service Work. Leaving Paper and Pencils behind We gathered around Ray as she instructed us on our tasks for the day. That day we had Several different species to plant including; Ninebark, Red Osier dogwood, and sitka spruce. The Townsend’s Chipmunks did an excellent job giving Ray their attention and really engaging with the information.

At This time the Jumping Mice showed up and we all began the work of preparing the ground for planting. We dug blackbeary roots, racked up blackbeary trimmings, and packed it all out in trash cans. While most of us focused our work on the blackberry removal some of the boys worked on putting up a circular wire fence that would protect our new starts from the grazing deer that frequent Connelly Creek.  All the boys worked really hard during this time and we accomplished a lot. After about an hour we were ready to plant. 

Everyone Grabbed the starts and we began digging holes for each start. It was hard work but also very gratifying to see what had been a patch of blackberries turn into the beginnings of a native habitat. It didn’t take too long to plant all the species and get a solid 6” of mulch spread around everything. Standing back we all admired our work.

Throughout the whole outing I was continually impressed by the boys ability to work together as a group and communicate with one another even while doing physically demanding work. It was a really good opportunity for many of the boys to become good leaders amongst their peers and really support one another in their efforts. 

With our time running out we decided to focus the last part of our outing on spreading more mulch throughout the site to leave it in a good place for the next days group. As the Townsend’s Chipmunks Peeled off for their closing circle the Jumping Mice worked to tidy up any loose ends and organize the tools.

Explorers thank you for all of your hard work this weekend. It truly makes a big difference. Parents be sure to walk through this site with your Explorer so they can show you what they have been working on. It is truly amazing what the combined efforts of all these boys can do. We also have more photos from the outing in the Jumping Mice photo gallery and the Townsend’s Chipmunks photo gallery.  

Roosevelt Elk Calves and Branch Hoppers do Service at Connelly Creek

The sun was not only shining but also full of warmth as the Branch Hoppers and Roosevelt Elk Calves circled up in the large field adjacent to the Connelly Creek service site. For most of the boys this was their first look at the site since our efforts the previous Fall. We all took a moment to be proud of our work last Fall and recognize the work that other Explorers groups had already done this season. After these moments of reflection and recognition of our work it was time to turn our attention to our task today.

In our large circle we talked about using the tools with intention and keeping in mind blood circles and safety as we worked. After discussing the tools we moved on to talking about what exactly needed to get done today. The main work that needed to be done today was to move the rest of the mulch out over the flattened Reed Canary Grass and continue to cut back the black bearies that seemed to continually grow closer and closer to our site. Despite two other groups putting in many hours of hard work the day before the pile of mulch still stood tall.

Armed with buckets, rakes, and shovels the Roosevelt Elk Calves and the Branch Hoppers got to work on the mulch. While part of the boys shoveled the other part moved the large buckets of mulch out to the places it was needed. This effort took teamwork and planning since each bucket needed; one or two Explorers to fill it, three or four Explorers to move it and another couple to spread the emptied mulch. Both the Branch Hoppers and Roosevelt Elk Calves showed great work ethic and group coordination as they moved the mulch. After a solid hour and a half of work the mulch pile was flattened and we all stood, sweating, as we admired our work.

The boys ran after Steve as he led the way down to Connelly Creek for a refreshing head dunk in the Creeks chilly water. Reinvigorated the boys came back ready for the next task. Our next project was to begin clearing the back part of our service site of the invasive blackberry vines. The boys got to work lopping the vines, stacking the vines and moving them into large trash bags. Again the boys quickly figured out the most efficient assembly line for this task and coordinated it gracefully.

Soon it was time for the Branch Hoppers to leave Connelly creek. After bidding the Branch Hoppers farewell the Roosevelt Elk Calves turned to the task of gathering all the remaining blackberry clippings into piles to put into trash bags. blackberry is an incredibly resilient plant that can replant itself from just one clipping so the job of cleaning up all these scrapes was very important. The Roosevelt Elk Calves buckled down for the last bit of work to clean the service site before we left it.

Our day ended with some time to just play and explore the site that we had been working so hard on. The hard work is important, but so is connecting with the place your are doing the service work at. Laughter filled the site as the Roosevelt elk calves ran through the creek; jumping along the bank, and sometimes into the creek, to see what was around the next corner. Parents be sure to stop by connelly creek sometime and have your Explorer show you all the work they have been doing, it is really impressive. Thank you Explorers for you hard work this weekend! Be sure to look at our Branch hopper photo gallery and Roosevelt Elk Calves photo gallery for more pictures.    

Connelly Creek service site transforming: Gray Wolf Pups & Townsend's Chipmunks

We shoulda taken photos (Check that - we did. Track the history of our service at this site by clicking on the “tag links” below: Connelly Creek). I wasn’t there, but I’m told that when the Boys Explorers first set eyes on the Connelly Creek service site a few years ago, the scene was dominated by Himalayan blackberry bushes and tall Reed canarygrass. Both are invasive, non-native plants that detract from the health of the creek. And, of course, the blackberry brambles hurt! Hidden in all that growth was an equally unpleasant discovery - trash. Apparently, the area had been used as a dump by people with nails, car parts, rusting wire, plastic, concrete and more to spare. The thing is, as an explorers club motto puts it, all things are connected. 

Himalayan blackberry was introduced from Eurasia. It often spreads over the top of other plants and crushes or smothers them. It can root at branch tips and spread from roots (suckers). Birds can spread the berries over long distances. It is a Class C weed in Washington State, which means it is already widespread. And, as the scratches on arms and legs will attest, it has a strong defense against well-meaning service workers.

Reed canarygrass forms dense, highly productive single species stands that pose a major threat to many wetland ecosystems. The species grows so vigorously that it is able to inhibit and eliminate competing species. According to the state department of Ecology, the species poses a significant threat to the state’s wetlands. 

Salmon, of course, need the ecological balance that these aggressive species will eliminate if not combatted. As I said, it’s all connected.

So, once each fall and spring, each explorers club (EC) group spends an outing working at the site to replace blackberries and canarygrass with native species. With guidance from Bellingham Parks and tools on loan from the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association(NSEA), the boys devote their time and energies to clipping and uprooting blackberries and then stomping down canarygrass and covering it with bark mulch to deprive it of the sun on which it thrives. They’ve also planted trees and bushes to shade the area, providing a more permanent solution to the “problem” sun. In this way, the explorers, parks and NSEA are connecting and protecting, another EC motto.

I’ve been through two seasons of service outings now, and can personally attest to scores of bags of brambles and roots (and dozens of scrapes!). I’ve witnessed multiple groups of explorers cutting (which turned out to be the wrong strategy - encourages growth) and stomping down (better approach) canarygrass, and moving dozens of yards of bark mulch in buckets large and small to cover the grass. And I’ve supervised the removal of rusted nails, plastic who-knows-whats, and much more trash. (We shoulda inventoried.) The work was done willingly, even eagerly, as a rule. Despite the occasional bark battle, the irresistible tree waiting to be climbed, and the allure of the creek, the explorers keep at it, demonstrating again the EC motto - many hands make light work. 

So now there are young alders reaching for the sky and native shrubs such as ninebark restoring ecological balance to the area. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Read it aloud - it sounds even better that way...restoring ecological balance. Nice. If you’re interested, check here for information on native, non-invasive plants for your garden. Along the way, we liberated some trees that were being swallowed up and a fence that was hidden in the blackberries. Here’s a panoramic view (pardon my poor photography skills) of the site today. 



Saturday’s was our last service outing of the spring. We’ll be back at it in the fall, again with the collaboration of the Bellingham Parks and NSEA. Your final EC motto for the day - Everyone helps. Your boys are learning the importance of caring for the land. As they return twice a year, they’re excited by the progress they’ve made and can see the change they can affect. Sure, the creek is better off, but no more so that all of us who have the privilege of putting the blackberries and cararygrass in their rightful place. 

Gray Wolf Pup families, click here for the gallery of photos from Saturday’s service outing. Townsend's Chipmunk folks, click here.

The Gray Wolf Pups return to exploring on Sunday, June 7 with a traverse. Click here for further information on that outing.

The Townsend's Chipmunks are also back at it on Sunday, June 7 with a traverse (different place!). Look herefor the outing description.