Jumping Mice, Storm Wolves and GEC Swallowtails advance the restoration of Connelly Creek service site - 10/29/16

“What happens when we’re finished?” Great question from an Explorer during a service outing last weekend. There is a “Groundhog Day” element to this work. Each fall and spring, we uproot blackberry bushes and stomp down and cover the tall grasses. It was very prescient of that Explorer to pick his head up from the work to look at the big picture. The answer, which we do well to keep in mind, is that the work is finished when the ecology of the site is restored to balance, at which time it can manage its flora and fauna without our help. When that happens, there will be other important projects for the Explorers of tomorrow to tackle.

That’s a long way off, however. As noted in the BEC motto, "It's about the journey, not the destination". Fortunately, we have a plan, thanks to the leadership of Bellingham Parks, that involves removing invasive, non-native Himalayan Blackberries and shading out the sun loving invasive, non-native Reed Canary Grass. This fall, we’re continuing to wrestle the blackberries into submission (motto - Grasp the Nettle...err, blackberry) and covering the Canary Grass with bark mulch. We’re also planting native alders and plants such as Ninebark to provide the aforementioned shade. Thanks to the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Assoc. for the use of their tools in this work.

Getting down to work.

A first for the Connelly Creek service project - the Swallowtails, a Girls Explorer's Club group, were one of three groups working last Saturday

Himalayan Blackberries produce delicious fruit....AND grow deep roots that are tough to dig out.

Gotta move that bark to cover the Reed Canary Grass

Last year, we planted native species and put a wire fence around them to keep out the deer. Unfortunately, it doesn't deter the blackberries. Two of the GEC Swallowtails spent most of the day cleaning up this important patch.

Here's that patch all cleaned up....nice work, girls.

Hard work and rain can't dampen their spirits...

New life

I don't think that's what we had in mind.

Just as important as restoring the habitat along the creek is Wild Whatcom’s interest in providing the space for your Explorers to practice, as David Brooks put it in The Road to Character, “…the virtues of people who are inclined to be useful but don’t need to prove anything to the world: humility, restraint, reticence, temperance, respect and soft self-discipline.” Given that both endeavors are bigger than any of us, the scene has undoubtedly been set; your Explorer’s mentors are ever grateful for the opportunity to work with these wonderful kids in this meaningful undertaking.

A thousand thanks to mentors Hannah and Lauren and all the Swallowtails for pitching in with grace and ardor. Let's see if we can do that some more!

Photos of wet kids doing good work! The Storm Wolves next gather on Sunday, November 20th, for an exploration at Racehorse Falls. Details here. Next up for the Jumping Mice is an exploration of Arroyo Park via North Chuckanut Mountain Trailhead on Sunday, December 4th. Their schedule page here. The Swallowtails' schedule shows that they continue with service on Saturday, November 19 at the GEC Service Site. 

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. 

Serving Connelly Creek with the Alevin and Grey Fox Kits

The Alevin Explorers arrived at Connelly Creek and quickly ran down the embankment, as they were anxious to see how the site has transformed over winter. Calling the group in the Explorers mustered their strength the carried the tools over to the site. They were excited to continue the tradition of camouflaging themselves from the next group, the Grey Fox Kits, who were soon to arrive. The mentors decided instead to use the time to work on our fire by friction and carving skills while chatting with the group about our upcoming summer backpacking trips.

Before the blog post continues, we’d like to remind everyone about the WE: Wilderness Experiences available this summer to the Alevin Explorers. Grey Fox Kits we look forward to backpacking with you in the summer of 2016. These trips are an investment in a lifetime of leadership and skills; their rewards extend far beyond the three to eight days they take place. Many of our Explorers have found them to be life changing, with benefits and tools for living that are carried and applied for many years to come. Please contact us if you have any questions, thanks!

The Grey Fox Kits arrived and the Alevin retired their skill session and both groups circled in the field. The mentors encouraged Explorers to think back to their last outing to Clayton Beach. The outing held powerful lessons about group decision-making, collaborating and compromising, and inclusion. Today would be yet another opportunity to work together while and serving the land. These boys have been working on this site for over two and a half years; they have developed skill and efficiency in their work as well as intimate knowledge of this sites needs.

Instead of painstakingly going over how to us the tools the mentors simply asked the group to be responsible with them. It is wonderful to have cultivated this level of trust within these two groups. They have continued to show their commitment and integrity with safe tools usage. Their eagerness shows they’re hungry for more responsibility, greater skills, and bigger explorations - the mentor’s bow to that.

Breaking our circle played a few rounds of Deer oh Deer Come and Run through my Forest.  This energetic tag game brought the two groups together and that same energy transferred to our work. Running over to the site the boys quickly lined up. Our project for the day was to walk down the Reed-Canary Grass, spread a giant pile of mulch over the area, and finish up with some blackberry trimming. Forming a long line we stomped down the Reed-Canary Grass. It was a fun way to warm up and release some energy. Turning our efforts to the mulch pile the boys took on one of three jobs: a mulch spreader, carrier, or filler. The group worked cohesively and as an onlooker you wouldn’t have been able to tell one group from the other. Slowly Dave started to develop a funcompetitive aspect where the mulch fillers were trying to keep the buckets filled and the carriers were trying to dump them before they could be filled. This led to an inspiration for a game. Dividing into three teams by birth month, the boys took their positions. Their goal was to fill three 32-gallon cans and move them across the service site where the rakers would make three 4 by 3 foot squares. Their teams would be judged on who could get through three cans the fastest, how they worked as a team carrying the buckets, and how neat their squares were. When the game started the boys burst into action. It was amazing, what fun!  The boys really dug deep giving it their all. In the end every team won in a different category.

Spreading the last of our mulch the Alevin Explorers said goodbye the Grey Fox Kits and broke off for a closing meeting. The Grey fox Kits worked on diligently making a big dent in the Blackberry thicket towards the back of the site. Focused and determined the boys cut, trimmed and bagged the Blackberries and hauled them across the site.  

What fine work these Explorers are doing, they should be proud of their accomplishments here at Connelly Creek. The care they show for the saplings and shrubs they planted last fall and their fellow Explorers is outstanding. In their closing circles the Explorers gave thanks for the opportunity to work with each other, for skills and games, for the ability to give back, for the sense of accomplishment and progress they feel, and for the beautiful sunshine and warmth on our spring service outing.

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 thousands of Explorer hours poured into the Happy Valley Park. You’ll also see how your sons have changed over time too. 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!

For more pictures from the day please visit the Alevin’s or the Grey Fox Kit'sphoto gallery. 

Serving Connelly Creek with the Alevin and Grey Fox Kits

The Alevin Explorers arrived at Connelly Creek and quickly ran down the embankment, as they were anxious to see how the site has transformed over winter. Calling the group in the Explorers mustered their strength the carried the tools over to the site. They were excited to continue the tradition of camouflaging themselves from the next group, the Grey Fox Kits, who were soon to arrive. The mentors decided instead to use the time to work on our fire by friction and carving skills while chatting with the group about our upcoming summer backpacking trips.

Before the blog post continues, we’d like to remind everyone about the WE: Wilderness Experiences available this summer to the Alevin Explorers. Grey Fox Kits we look forward to backpacking with you in the summer of 2016. These trips are an investment in a lifetime of leadership and skills; their rewards extend far beyond the three to eight days they take place. Many of our Explorers have found them to be life changing, with benefits and tools for living that are carried and applied for many years to come. Please contact us if you have any questions, thanks!

The Grey Fox Kits arrived and the Alevin retired their skill session and both groups circled in the field. The mentors encouraged Explorers to think back to their last outing to Clayton Beach. The outing held powerful lessons about group decision-making, collaborating and compromising, and inclusion. Today would be yet another opportunity to work together while and serving the land. These boys have been working on this site for over two and a half years; they have developed skill and efficiency in their work as well as intimate knowledge of this sites needs.

Instead of painstakingly going over how to us the tools the mentors simply asked the group to be responsible with them. It is wonderful to have cultivated this level of trust within these two groups. They have continued to show their commitment and integrity with safe tools usage. Their eagerness shows they’re hungry for more responsibility, greater skills, and bigger explorations - the mentor’s bow to that.

Breaking our circle played a few rounds of Deer oh Deer Come and Run through my Forest.  This energetic tag game brought the two groups together and that same energy transferred to our work. Running over to the site the boys quickly lined up. Our project for the day was to walk down the Reed-Canary Grass, spread a giant pile of mulch over the area, and finish up with some blackberry trimming. Forming a long line we stomped down the Reed-Canary Grass. It was a fun way to warm up and release some energy. Turning our efforts to the mulch pile the boys took on one of three jobs: a mulch spreader, carrier, or filler. The group worked cohesively and as an onlooker you wouldn’t have been able to tell one group from the other. Slowly Dave started to develop a funcompetitive aspect where the mulch fillers were trying to keep the buckets filled and the carriers were trying to dump them before they could be filled. This led to an inspiration for a game. Dividing into three teams by birth month, the boys took their positions. Their goal was to fill three 32-gallon cans and move them across the service site where the rakers would make three 4 by 3 foot squares. Their teams would be judged on who could get through three cans the fastest, how they worked as a team carrying the buckets, and how neat their squares were. When the game started the boys burst into action. It was amazing, what fun!  The boys really dug deep giving it their all. In the end every team won in a different category.

Spreading the last of our mulch the Alevin Explorers said goodbye the Grey Fox Kits and broke off for a closing meeting. The Grey fox Kits worked on diligently making a big dent in the Blackberry thicket towards the back of the site. Focused and determined the boys cut, trimmed and bagged the Blackberries and hauled them across the site.  

What fine work these Explorers are doing, they should be proud of their accomplishments here at Connelly Creek. The care they show for the saplings and shrubs they planted last fall and their fellow Explorers is outstanding. In their closing circles the Explorers gave thanks for the opportunity to work with each other, for skills and games, for the ability to give back, for the sense of accomplishment and progress they feel, and for the beautiful sunshine and warmth on our spring service outing.

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 thousands of Explorer hours poured into the Happy Valley Park. You’ll also see how your sons have changed over time too. 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!

For more pictures from the day please visit the Alevin’s or the Grey Fox Kit'sphoto gallery. 

Barred Owlets Connelly Creek Service Outing - 10/4/14

It was a perfect Saturday afternoon for the Barred Owlets to partake in a day of service. We met near Connelly Creek, all thankful for the morning showers and the life they bring, but also glad things had cleared up a bit before we got to work healing the land that heals us. As the boys were dropped off, they quickly made their way down to the creek scampering back and forth across natural bridges of fallen trees making it safe and dry to the other side, well at least a majority of the boys and their feet remained dry. Little did they know the eldest group, the Vespula Veterans who had arrived an hour earlier, were staked out in the nearby shrubbery waiting patiently to surprise the younger group. Once all the Barred Owlets had arrived, we meandered our way to the service site all whilst being watched unbeknownst to the younger boys. As we rounded the bend in the path and arrived at the service site there was a rustling in the bushes. In the blink of an eye a dozen elder boys had joined our group, ready and willing to teach these younger boys the importance of our service work and how to do it safely and responsibly.

We gathered in a circle, much larger than usual with two groups, and all shared our names and familiarized with one another. Next came a quick briefing by the Vespula Veterans on all the different tools that NSEA (Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association) had lent us to use for this outing. The older boys taught us which tools to use for which job, and how to properly handle the tools in a safe and responsible fashion. Armed with knowledge and a plethora of shovels, shears, loppers, and clippers the boys were now ready to begin understanding the Boys EC motto; “Many hands make light work.”

There was much to be done at the service site. There were still many fearsome and resilient Himalayan Blackberries tangled amongst the trees and bushes. The ones that had been cut back the previous week still had their powerful roots dug in deep, clinging to the soil. Many of the boys tackled this dilemma by quickly setting up a system; some of the boys hacked away at the thorny vines while others jammed the freshly cut pieces into a large garbage can where still more boys were waiting at the ready with clippers to cut them down to size for bagging. While this was going on, the rest of the boys were snipping away at the rugged reed canary grass with their shears stemming the tide in the grasses battle with the native red alders over the nutrients in the soil.

Once we had made good progress on the blackberries and cut and flattened a good patch of reed canary grass it was time to spread the huge pile of mulch that was left by the park service. Boys young and old scurried over the large mound like ants over a nest, busily shoveling mulch into empty garbage cans so they could be carried off by more boys, dumped, and spread. We focused our work around a juvenile dogwood that is struggling to establish itself and join forces with the native red alders in shading out the invasive grasses. As the mulch pile slowly shrunk, it was time for the older boys to leave providing the Barred Owlets an opportunity for some good group bonding while finishing up the rest of the mulching process.

With the elder boys gone, the younger boys didn’t miss a beat and took after their hardworking elder brethren. In fact, it almost seemed as though the younger boys were on a mission to outdo the older group. The mulch pile seemed to shrink as though a sink hole had opened up beneath it. The boys were demonstrating a tremendous work ethic in conjuncture with impressive group management skills that will serve them well in their bright futures. With the mulching done, the boys transitioned seamlessly from labor to leisure as they took turns crawling into the empty garbage cans and rolling one another around the service sight leaving a wake of smiles and laughter.

Because the boys worked so hard and finished their service work with time to spare we were able to play a fantastic game of Fox Tails in the field. As the game began, a light drizzle settled in adding a new, rather slippery element to Fox Tails. However, it was impossible to tell a difference in the boy’s attitude and demeanor and an epic round of Fox Tails began to unfold before us. The boys were diving for one another’s bandanas, sneaking up on one another, and even attempting to lure in an unsuspecting pursuant by pretending to be oblivious of their presence only to spring their trap at the last second and snag the bandana of the opposition.

Before we knew it, the time had come for our closing circle. We gathered up and each boy took a turn sharing something they were thankful for while apple slices were shared amongst the circle. Many of the boys were thankful for the land we have been honored with the responsibility of caring for. Other boys were thankful for various acts of kindness from the other boys that helped make our service outing that much more enjoyable. We then gathered up our packs and trudged back to meet the parents after a long day of service. Most reasonable people would have figured the boys tired and ready for a meal and some relaxation, however this was not the case. On the way back boys battled one another with their bandanas establishing a few playful rivalries and sowing the seeds of strong friendships for the future. The boys briefly acknowledged the presence of their loving parents before slipping back down the muddy bank to the creek to continue their bandana duels and splash around in the water clearly unconcerned with the interior of their parental unit’s vehicle; just another day in the life of a young explorer.