Two and a half years of service in the same place. Wow. I haven’t even spent more than two years in the same place! The Daredevil’s Club and Red Tailed Eyas have been doing more service in the same place than they may even realize.
Remember when we started? Himalayan Blackberry taller than us, right at the trail. Car parts, a cat skull, a swing set, a makeup case, countless bottles and cans. For a couple of boys this WAS the first start at this service site. Wherever we start, let’s track our progress over time.
Now we can easily walk into the park. The blackberry border is keeping itself at bay. The reed canarygrass, once as thick and tall as a forest, is now under eight inches of mulch nearly 100 feet across. The maple tree is growing and budding much lower down, now that seven feet of blackberry is no longer trailing upward its branches…
Before the rest of this blog post continues, I’d like to remind everyone about the backpacking trips available this summer. Boys in both of these groups are eligible to go on various summer excursions. These trips were designed for boys of these ages in lieu of day camps. Please contact us if you have any questions about how these trips are incredible opportunities for your boys to capitalize on what they experience during their fall and spring seasons. THANKS!
Parents, please take a moment to track the history of our service at this site by clicking on the “tag links” below: Connelly Creek. You’ll see how the place has changed over time due to hundreds (dare I say thousands) of Explorer hours poured into Happy Valley park. And you’ll also see how your sons have changed over time too:
As the blackberry’s presence shrinks, Red Tailed Eyas and Daredevil’s Club Explorers’ statures have grown. Explorers now transform their boyhood innocence through focused service as they care for the tender, new plants that we put in the ground last autumn. The reed canarygrass has been trimmed way down whereas most boys’ hair has grown out of control!
The Daredevil’s Club has improved their role modeling and showed the Red Tailed Eyas how to work together and do service. They inclusively mentored boys two years younger than them. Some groups might have shrugged off a younger group but the DDC were kind to the Eyas and helpful too. Though they occasionally got sidetracked by birds or adolescent conversation, DDC explorers set a good example. As a group they have improved a lot since last year.
Red Tailed Eyas were keenly watching the older Explorers. They kept a strong work ethic throughout the outing. In fact, in their last hour, RTE boys transitioned from moving mulch to blackberry removal. Instead of waning toward the end of the outing, Red Tailed Eyas found energy reserves and used focused intention to use loppers, hand clippers, and rakes to free a cedar tree branch from climbing Himalayan blackberry vines deep into the service site. Impressive!
In the end, both groups can reflect on the following: Firstly, they might put a lot of road construction workers to shame! The joke is that these professionals spend a lot of time standing around—one person working while four others watch. Though that isn’t necessarily true (only when I drive by :) ) it made for a good reference point. All Explorers were working during the outing. Although some of us were standing around at different times, it is because we moved so quickly that someone was always waiting for the next group in the process.
Taking breaks IS VERY IMPORTANT. In fact, the Red Tailed Eyas played a game and then had a sit spot before going back for their blackberry work. Without these intention rest times and separation from work, we cannot do a good job. I think it’s important to take breaks and to have fun in between stretches of working hard.
Without the rest/work contrast, our work becomes overpowering and I would venture to say that the quality of work diminishes. We adults would be wise to constantly remember about the importance of transitions, breaks, and rest so we can do our work as accurately as possible. And not only in our paid jobs but in our time dedicated to family and community.
You can see pictures from the outing on the website by checking theDaredevil’s Club photo gallery.
We’ll see both of these groups again on SUNDAY, MAY 17TH.
Daredevils Club- we’ll see you on at Samish Woods Montessori so we can board Stubbs and make the journey out to Point Whitehorn!
Red Tailed Eyas- we’ll see you in the “refrigerator of Bellingham” as we explore Arroyo Park. BUT PLEASE NOTE the DROP-OFF point is at NORTH CHUCKANUT MOUNTAIN TRAILHEAD!
Thank you for the opportunity to be your nature-connection mentors. We truly value these experiences and look forward to each outing with you Explorers and your families!
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