Salamander Efts and Cave Dwellers Learn About Service

The meticulous process of root removal

As a small crew of Salamander Efts arrived at the Connelly Creek service site they immediately noticed the progress that had taken place already this season. It is pretty incredible how big of an impact a bunch of Explorers can make on a landscape when they are motivated. The big key here is; motivated. With only three Salamander Efts present it was going to fall on them to really push themselves and set an example for the younger group, the Cave Dwellers, who would be arriving shortly. After walking around the service site and seeing where our efforts would be best suited for the day, the Salamander Efts picked up some tools and got to work.

Immediately the mentors noticed a lack of effort and motivation from the boys. Understandably, hard work removing thorny blackberries and digging up stubborn root balls is not something most boys their age voluntarily get excited about doing. That being said, it was important for us to revisit why we were doing this work and dig deeper into the greater context of service to unearth the motivation that would sustain our efforts. What a great time for the Cave Dwellers to arrive! After the groups met up and went over where to focus our efforts for the day the mentors led a conversation while we snipped blackberries and dug up roots.

So many bags of Himalayan Blackberry... in one day!

Our discussion began with the intention of mitigating our impact from exploration off trail. Hiking off trail and sustainably harvesting natural resources is an important part of being an Explorer so of course we needed to give back to the land. So often we trek and tromp through natural landscapes and inevitably leave some sort of impact. Doing service is a way for us to compensate for some of our negative impacts on the landscape while we are off on our explorations. Second, we must recognize the importance of giving back to our community. Many of us have lived our whole lives in the community of Bellingham and have benefited a lot from a fairly progressive and active community that continually strives to improve itself. One of those improvements is the Padden Creek Daylighting Project.  This project has been in the work for a long time and is finally coming to fruition opening fresh opportunities for fish migration to return to Padden Creek and the adjoining Connelly Creek where we are doing our work. If we can repair the riparian zone beside Connelly Creek we can provide an optimal environment for wildlife, including the beloved salmon, to return to areas where they have been absent for far too long. This is most definitely a big picture context that can sometimes be hard to grasp when you are sweating buckets, getting pricked by blackberry, and just can’t seem to yank that root out of the ground. However, if we can remember why we are doing all this hard work and tap into that ever elusive motivation, there is a wealth of energy and enthusiasm that will surge within each and every Explorer.

Nothing like shoveling mulch to build character!

The third reason we do this work may not be as immediately pertinent as the first or second, at least right now, but in the future it will be paramount. At this age, most Explorers enjoy a relatively comfortable lifestyle of school, home cooked meals, and aside from the few chores here or there and some homework, there is not often an opportunity to truly build work ethic and wrestle with what work ethic means to each Explorer. Work ethic is defined as: a belief in the moral benefit and importance of work and its inherent ability to strengthen character. Again, this is one of those big picture concepts that often is difficult to grasp at the age of an Explorer, but sometimes the mentors like to think that we plant seeds. Perhaps we never get to see those seeds come to fruition, and maybe they never do, but at least a seed has been planted. If an Explorer can see the change they affect upon the landscape of Connelly Creek throughout the seasons of hard work, then they may grow to believe that they have it within themselves to affect change through hard work. If they can gain this wisdom then the sky is the limit for what they can accomplish in their lives. Our hope is that through service they may harness this locus of control and begin applying it throughout their lives.

Now THAT is a root ball!

It was clear today that these boys were beginning to tap into their locus of control, harnessing motivation, and turning that into hard work on the ground, in the present. The Salamander Efts teamed up with the Cave Dwellers and despite their small numbers they affected tremendous change upon the landscape. Gigantic root balls were dug up, copious amounts of Himalayan Blackberry were eradicated. A large grove of Willow was liberated to bask in rays of sunshine for the first time in years if not decades. Today the Salamander Efts and Cave Dwellers not only helped mitigate our impact upon the greater landscape of Whatcom County, nor did they just continue to drastically improve riparian habitat for a hopefully resurgent salmon population in the future, in fact these Explorers did something much more. Digging deep down, deeper than that pesky blackberry root-ball, they delved deep within themselves to harness their locus of control and channel their rambunctious energy into a strong work ethic. The best part about it is they didn’t even know what they were doing, that they were building this work ethic or harnessing their locus of control. However, to any outward observer, witnessing a group of motivated and hardy Explorers tearing up roots and ripping out blackberry with a zealous energy, there was clearly something greater taking place and manifesting within each individual. This is why we do service. These Explorers are our future and after a powerful day like today it is clear that our future is bright.

Check out the rest of our photos from our outing here!

The Alevin, Townsend's Chipmunks and Jumping Mice transform Connelly Creek!

Sunday dawned cloudy, breezy and cool - more typical May weather than we’ve seen this spring. In short, perfect service project weather!

This is how it's done

The Boys Explorers Club has been working at the Connelly Creek site for a few years now. In that time, we’ve stomped down enough Reed Canary Grass to blanket more than a few soccer fields, removed a shameful quantity of trash, cut back scores of Himalayan Blackberry bushes and dug out their roots and, yes, climbed a few trees and rolled fellow explorers in the trash cans we use to haul bark mulch. It’s difficult work (if you don’t consider the tree climbing and trash can rolling), a challenge to our spirits due to the persistence of the tall, invasive grasses as much as to our muscles as we dig, shovel, carry and disentangle from thorny blackberry canes.

It is also important work. For some time, the site was used as a trash dump by some and was taken over by non-native, invasive plants; in short, it was a mess. Through our work in collaboration with Bellingham Parks and Recreation and the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA), we’ve spent one outing each Fall and Spring season over the last 3-4 years working to restore the area to ecological health. When we’ve succeeded in replacing the blackberries and Canary Grass with the Alder trees and Ninebark and other shrubs we planted, and will continue to plant, the resulting biodiversity will cool the creek water to the delight of migrating salmon and the trees and shrubs will offer food and shelter to rodents to the delight of hungry owls and other predators. Perhaps deer will find enough tasty foliage to decide to spend less time in your garden!?! We’re looking forward to the virtuous cycle that will ensue for the land and for the boys as their time connecting with the land leads to an ethic of protecting it (see Mottos). 

Ornery blackberry root!

Persistence will be required for this to happen as we plan. When we’ve returned to the site each of the last few times, the grasses we had beat down and covered with mulch the previous season had returned to full height. Discouraging almost isn’t a strong enough word to describe the feeling. However, on closer examination, we noticed that the slower-growing blackberries would, if we had a time release video, seem to be disappearing before our eyes! And many of the new plantings have taken root and are beginning to take their place in the habitat. I don’t need to tell you how important this lesson is for your boys. To have a lasting, meaningful impact on the important things in life often takes time and relentless focus. Through this work, we’re balancing some of the disruption we cause when we scramble off trail on our explorations and traverses, and we’re putting our values (for example, “Walk Your Talk” - see Mottos) into action.

Three explorers club groups - the Alevin, the Townsend’s Chipmunks & the Jumping Mice - reported for work this service day. At an average of 12 years, the Alevin are one of our senior groups. We scheduled them first so they could show the younger Townsend’s Chipmunks (11 years, give or take) and Jumping Mice (about 9) how it’s done. The Alevin have done the work several times so they understand proper tool use, they often initiate tasks and, importantly, they sometimes coach the younger boys on efficient effort. The mentors work for multiple layers of benefit by scheduling it this way. The younger boys learn the work while the older groups practice leadership.

To be recycled/composted

As this was our last service outing of the Spring, we not only stomped down Canary Grass, spread bark mulch and cut back and uprooted blackberries, we also “buttoned up” the site for the season. This involves raking up all pieces of blackberry canes from the ground, re-staking around our plantings and accounting for all the tools we borrow from NSEA. 

The focus, sustained effort, teamwork, peer coaching, creative problem-solving and ingenuity we strive for was evident at times and nowhere to be found at other times. The older boys needed some direct coaching on their dual role of workers and leaders while the younger boys had the usual challenge sustaining the work. Of course, the need for persistent effort applies to parents and mentors as well as to the boys!

Lookin' better!

Our service efforts are finished for Spring, 2016. Thanks to all Explorers for their exceptional effort. We’ll return in the Fall to continue our slow, steady effort. For now:

• Alevin - Click here to see where and when you meet next,
• Townsend’s Chipmunks - Your schedule is here, and
• Jumping Mice - Check your next outing here. 

All three groups, click here for photos from Sunday’s outing. 

The Red-Tailed Eyas and Gray Wolf Pups serve at Connelly Creek

Clipping Himalayan Blackberries in the Willow grove

The Red-Tailed Eyas appeared excited as they arrived at our new Connelly Creek drop-off location. Their excitement was not for the new location itself, but for the clear skies and warmth of the sun as it crested over the foothills of the Padden Creek Watershed. A lone mentor, Steve Keller, greeted the group and reconnected with these long-term Explorers Club participants. 

Our service outing structure provides an excellent opportunity for our mentors to work with groups who they don’t consistently mentor. Although it is important for the Explorers to have consistency in their mentors, it is just as important that they are connected to many examples of what it means to be a healthy male in the world. 

Our mentors would like to the thank parents for their flexibility with our new drop-off and pick-up location. After getting feedback from parents, it sounds like the new location has a much better flow and was not too far out of the way.

Walking the group over to the site the boys asked why they were not dropped off next to creek. The mentors explained that we had moved our drop-off location based on feedback from the neighborhood. We talked a bit about our EC motto collaborate and compromise and how it is important that we as mentors walk our talk as we live our EC Mottos the same as we ask the Explorers to do.

The Long-toed Salamander – Ambystoma macrodactylum

The boys were eager to start working, but it was important that we had an opening meeting to bring focus to our service. The mentors let the group know that the Gray Wolf Pups would soon be joining us and asked the boys to remember last fall when they had worked together at the site. Being slightly older Explorers, it was important that the Red-Tailed Eyas set a good example for the other Explorers.

With the day frontloaded we revisited tool safety and reminded the group that the equipment was borrowed on the contingency that we used them with intention and treated them with respect. By this point in the Red-Tailed Eyas and Gray Wolf Pups EC journey our mentors expect to not have to police the group, but more so make them aware of their responsibility as tool users.

Our goal for the day was to engage with the tangled mess of Blackberry and Willow on the southern edge of our site next to the creek. Getting to work on that part of the site was very exciting for both the RTE and GWP. Their satisfaction came from previous seasons of being asked not to work on that side of the site. Our Explorers are starting to come to the realization through their service experience that being thorough and going slowly is deeply satisfying.

Making progress on the mulch pile

Grabbing their loppers and bow rakes the boys cut a path into the brambles and started to free the stand of Willows along the creek. After their opening meeting the Gray Wolf Pups joined the Red-Tailed Eyas. Their work started off focused and strong with the entire group working in a very condensed area. The group laughed and joked with one another as they clipped and dug. With their hands engaged the boys minds freely wandered in healthy decompression and reflection. Their topics of conversation ranged from who could tell the cheesiest joke, to their thoughts and opinions on certain presidential candidates. A wise mentor once said, “a mentor should only talk twenty percent of the time when they are with their mentees”.  In this case it was powerful just to work along side the boys and track their conversations.

Amassing a large pile of Blackberry canes the mentors noticed our number of workers were dwindling. Upon further investigation the mentors found a portion of the group playing games in the Reed-Canary Grass and others that had stopped for lunch. Part of the intention that we had set for the day was to clip Blackberries until we filled the six remaining bags we had left, then break for lunch, after which we would spread the pile of mulch adjacent to the Willow grove. The mentors reminded the boys of this and gathered them back together.

Playing Deer oh Deer in the field

Filling the last of the bags the group realized that they had cut much more Blackberry than they had room for. It as important to reiterate our EC motto, slow is fast and fast is slow. The consequence of our actions would be that the next group would have to do the unpleasant work of clipping and bagging the debris. Shifting our focus we started to move mulch.

Out of any task that we preform at our site, this is by far the most beloved by our Explorers. Much like with the Blackberries, we started off with a strong push and eventually lost our focus. This ended up being our biggest challenge of the day. Both GWP and RTE powers in this challenge will be to learn how to hold their group focus. It was not that the boys were lazy of did not want to put forth effort; it had everything to do with the fact that they distracted themselves with games and leisurely lunches.

In the end we did end up spreading all the mulch and made a large dent in the Blackberries. One of the best parts about working with these boys is their comradery and ability to be open and honest with one another. Although they vacillated between working and playing they really showed up for our closing circle and gave a heartfelt round of gratitude.

The boys expressed their thanks for the ability to come out and work on a piece of land that they feel is their own. It is clear that these boys are coming to understand that they hold a real power to influence and give to their community. Although these boys might not be able to articulate it yet, they are coming to realize that restoration of the land is in fact restoration of one’s self. Sitting under the shade of a Cherry tree the boys relaxed back into the grass as they ate their apples.

For more photos from our outing please visit the Red-Tailed Eyas and Gray Wolf Pups joint photo album from the day.

The Vespula Veterans, Black-Tailed Deer, & Short-Tailed Weasels join for Service at Connelly Creek

Sipping coffee the mentors waited in the morning sun for the Vespula Veterans who would be the first of three groups to arrive for a full day of service. The mentors would like to the thank parents for their flexibility with our new drop-off and pick-up location. After getting feedback from parents, it sounds like the new location has a much better flow and was not too far out of the way. This location change came up with each of the three groups and led to great discussions about what it takes working within a community. The mentors highlighted the connection of their decision to move the drop-off location, based on the feedback of the neighborhood and our EC motto collaborate and compromise. It is important that we as mentors Walk our Talk as live our EC Mottos the same as we ask we ask the Explorers to do on our outings.

Once they had gathered the Vespulas Veterans walked over to the site and circled up for an opening meeting. As elders in their community the Vespula’s had been scheduled to work with two of our youngest Explorer groups; the Black-Tailed Deer and the Short-Tailed Weasels. Above the physical component of serving the land their primary focus for the day was to help guide and mentor the younger boys. After seven years in the program the Vespula’s transmission of culture and leadership is a vital presence in the Boys Explorers Club.

Having three years under their belt at the service site the Vespulas had a pretty good idea of what needed to be done and what the site should look like. Although the site was experiencing significant saturation it continues to look healthier and healthier each time we return.

As the two younger groups arrived and started their opening meetings the Vespula’s worked hard to weed our native plantings and caged Alders of Reed-Canary Grass. Reestablishing the stick rings marking each native sapling the boys did excellent prep on the site and set up the younger groups for success. Once the site was ready they got digging and immediately hit an underground nest. The group immediately thought the nest was Bald-Faced Hornets, but it turned out to be a type of ground-nesting bee. Thankfully no one was stung. This resulted in the perfect opportunity for the Vespula’s to gain some leadership skills.

The Vespulas brainstormed a plan for the bee nest while the Black-Tailed Deer and Short-Tailed Weasels were simultaneously reviewing a few key service points before joining them in the work. One important topic mentors cover in each of our service meetings is the question, “for whom and why are we serving?” This question helps bring the Explorer’s focus and remember why it is a gift and opportunity to be able to serve. 

It was also important for us to cover our EC Motto, A Tool vs. Weapon. Using our tools with intention on our service outings holds two important meanings in our Boys EC culture. First it is our commitment to use our restoration equipment as tools not weapons and to recognize that we each are personally responsible in controlling this difference. Secondly it means understanding how to use the tools and how to care for them. In our case recognizing that our partnership with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement and Bellingham Park & Rec is what provides us with the resources and guidance needed for the project. Maintaining our tools with a high level of care is part of maintaining a healthy partnership.

After a tool demo the Explorers spread out over the site working in tandem with the Vespula’s. One group worked to limb the dead branches of a crowded stand of Willows in order to build an earthen fence to establish a wide radius around the bee’s nest. Once this group was finished they moved to the back of the site to duplicate their technique and enforce the park boundary line.

The second group worked to remove Blackberry roots and stalks from the southern corner of the site. Digging Blackberries out of the ground is hard labor and the boys did excellent work being diligent to unearth the entire root system. By the end of the day the boys had hauled out a large pile of roots and clippings. Comparing scratches and scraps the boys seemed quite satisfied as they worked.

During service days it has become habit for us not to call lunch break and for the boys to self-regulate this need. One of the benefits of this is that it allows boys from all ages and all groups to mingle amongst one another. It is rare for middle and high school aged boys to share experiences and mentoring/mentee relationships with eight and nine year olds boys. It is powerful sight to witness.

Calling a halt to our service work the mentors gathered the entire crew into a circle and we sang Happy Birthday to one of our fellow Explorers while his dad passed out popsicles for everyone! The mentors would like to thank Carol and Bill Hawk for providing some much needed refreshment in the heat of the day.

Breaking off from the group the Vespula Veterans gathered their packs for a closing meeting. This was a perfect moment to debrief the one-on-one interactions that they had with the younger groups. In the end a powerful lesson was learned; the younger boys are always observing our elders behavior and the Vespula’s sustained awareness of this is needed as they make decisions and discuss topics in their presence. Vespulas and Vespula Parent’s don’t forget that our next outing is an overnight campout at Baker Lake. Click this link to be directed to the Equipment List for the overnight.

Waving goodbye to the Vespulas, the Black-Tailed Deer and Short-Tailed Weasels made one last effort to spread a large pile of mulch over our work site area before joining in their own closing circles. In both circles the boys gave thanks for: the ability to serve with a lot of new people, for the opportunity to use loppers and shovels and build fences, for the amazingly sunny weather, for water and food to nourish us, and for the ability to help restore the land. 

The mentors would like to thanks over volunteer for the day Hal Wershow for coming out and modeling a strong example of what it means to be a healthy and caring male in the world. We would also like to thank the boys for their efforts and ability to work together.

For more pictures from the outing please visit the Black-Tailed Deer, Short-Tailed Weasels, & Vespula Veterans joint photo album from the day.

Daredevils Club, Storm Wolves, and Barred Owls Help Clean Up Connelly Creek

Meeting at our new park and ride drop-off location the Daredevil’s Club were finally all present for their last service outing as a group. With plenty of sunshine to accompany us, we walked over to the service site to take inventory of what had been done by previous groups, what was left to do today, and how we would make the most of our time. We also talked about the importance of setting a good precedent for the younger groups, and leading by example and emphasizing safe tool usage, proper technique, and strong work ethic. At first it took the group a little while to get going, but after taking a quick snack break and drinking down some water the Daredevil’s kicked it into gear and got down to business.

As the Daredevil’s Club finished constructing a make-shift fence around a recently discovered bees nest the next group, the Storm Wolves, arrived. After taking some time to walk through the service site with the Daredevil’s Club the Storm Wolves had no hesitation and jumped right into cutting back the blackberries and digging up root balls. It was great to see these two groups get together after both groups found plenty of enjoyment discovering one another’s shelters during previous explorations this season. Each group continued developing the other’s shelter, one at Galbraith and the other at Clayton Beach, and created some pretty impressive structures despite having never met the other group (until now!). As the outing progressed the groups intermingled and found that they actually had quite a bit in common. Watching the Daredevil’s Club working alongside the Storm Wolves, the mentors took note of their maturity and impressive role modeling. Coming from a group that can sometimes get side-tracked with goofiness, these older Explorer’s really stepped up today and were very impressive.

While the Daredevil’s Club and Storm Wolves were making solid progress, everything was kicked up a notch when the Barred Owls showed up. After getting a demonstration on proper tool usage from the Storm Wolves they get right to work. Talk about a bunch of motivated Explorers! Half of the group took on the extensive bramble of Himalayan Blackberry that has been choking out a willow grove for years while the other half grabbed shovels, began digging up blackberry root balls, and clearing out an old drainage ditch. This by no means is easy work and the whole day the mentors never heard a peep of complaining out of any of the Explorers.

With lots of solid work getting done the service site began to transform. The once tall Reed Canary Grass lay flat, stomped down by Explorer’s feet. The ground churned from shovels digging up massive clumps of blackberry root. The willow grove once choked out by blackberry finally stretching out to absorb the sunshine that was previously getting all sucked up by the broad leaves on the climbing vines of blackberry. Despite not having any mulch today, the site has been prepped for the next group to get a thick layer of mulch down. Vast tunnels have been slashed through the massive blackberry bramble allowing the Explorers to divide and conquer the remaining patches the formidable thorny plant. Not only did these boys fill numerous garbage bags full of Himalayan Blackberry, but they did a great job of taking the next step towards really establishing the natural stability of the Connelly Creek service site.

With the Padden Creek Daylighting Project well underway downstream all of our hard work is suddenly taking on a new perspective. Not only are we working towards eradicating invasive species alongside Connelly Creek, creating natural habitat with native species,  and developing a self-sustaining native habitat, but we are creating a piece to the proverbial puzzle. With salmon able to swim up Padden Creek for the first time in in over a century the Explorers are creating an optimum habitat for them to return to Connelly Creek to spawn and continue their prolific and dynamic influence on our region. For now it may seem like hacking at blackberry and shoveling mulch, but the impact these boys are having on their community is one that will last for years to come. One of the Explorers on this outing actually mentioned this and said he dreams of one day being able to pull a salmon out of Connelly Creek with his hands. Now that is a vision we can all appreciate and thanks to all the hard work from the Daredevil’s Club, Storm Wolves, and Barred Owls that dream may one day become a reality. 

Make sure to check out the rest of the photos from our outing here!

Branch Hoppers and Roosevelt Elk Calves initiate Spring 2016 service

You've probably heard it quoted: “Timing is everything in life!” That was certainly the case last Sunday as the Branch Hoppers gathered to initiate the service component of the Boys Explorers Club spring 2016 season at Connelly Creek. Their start time - 10:00 am; April shower (downpour, really!) commencement - 9:50 am. It’s a shame we don’t have a photo of mentor Brian and a succession of parents huddling under a raised minivan tailgate to complete service paperwork in a driving rain. Thank you, parents, for your patience and flexibility through what had to be one of the roughest starts to an outing in some time.

After a short walk to the service site, we found ourselves gawking at Reed Canary Grass as tall as

April showers

mentor Brian (I know, really tall!). This invasive plant is quite the fighter. Each of the last several seasons, we’ve stomped down the grass and covered it with bark mulch. And each time we return, so has the grass. Fortunately, we have more than one arrow in our quiver. The long term solution is to deprive Reed Canary Grass of its much loved sun all year around. So, we’ve planted alder trees that will provide shade when fully grown. Until then, we’re engaged in a tug of war with the grass. 

As we began to dig into the pile of bark mulch provided by Bellingham Parks and Rec (with tools provided by the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, or NSEA), the Roosevelt Elk Calves (REC) arrived as if to bolster our resolve in the face of our wily, stubborn adversary. The REC, 9 and 10 years old, are a bit younger than the Branch Hoppers (BH). This puts the BH in the position of role models for the younger boys, a challenge they accepted with gusto. Before long, shovels were scooping, buckets and even garbage cans full of mulch were being ferried to the newly flattened grass, and rakes were spreading mulch. As one of our BEC mottos emphasizes, “Many hands Make Light Work.”

Lopper brigade

A select crew was also working to cut back and uproot the few remaining Himalayan Blackberry bushes in the “front” part of the service area. It was about this time when a park neighbor came around to thank us for our work and to ask us to leave some of the foliage as a screen for the back of her property. This we were happy to do because we could see how that helped her and because the Bellingham Parks representatives have stressed with us the importance of limiting our efforts to the park boundaries. What at first might seem like a good-hearted deed can, viewed from a different perspective, cause unforeseen issues. In BEC, we endeavor to act with integrity, to “Walk Your Talk” (see Mottos); in this case, we focused on balancing our desire to pursue the grass and blackberries to every corner of that parcel of land with the needs and desires of the park neighbors and the Parks Department. As members of their explorers club group, these boys are practicing behaviors that will serve them well as adult members of our larger society. Everything is connected; sensing the issues and opportunities associated with that relationship is a sign of maturation for these boys. 

Through lunch and water breaks, the BH and REC groups continued to attack the mulch pile. Come

Impressive effort

early afternoon and we realized they were going to deplete the entire heap! Such industry! 

Well, as mentioned above, timing is everything. The shower at the start of the day meant we were working while wet, an additional challenge we accepted in gratitude for the nourishing rain. Now, timing was more in our favor. The bulk of our work was finished with time for some fun. The Branch Hoppers, who you’ll remember had started first, channeled their creative energies to an impromptu game they called “Double spiders web tag”. Think Capture the Flag….and more. What really struck me was their creativity and fun approach. It’s a game that may never be played again, but it looked fun.

Giving thanks!

The Roosevelt Elk Calves turned their attention to the remaining gnarly blackberries toward the back of the site. Even after having worked for a few hours on the mulch pile, the REC continued their enthusiasm for this, one of the most physically demanding tasks in service. In fact, they even figured out how to make if fun by competing for the biggest root. 

Both groups showed once again their positive attitude and inner strength in their approach to this task. The grass and the blackberries are worthy adversaries and neither is very good for spawning salmon. The effort is worthy and your explorers are more than up to the task. Look here for more photos from our outing.