Connelly Creek Service Project: Red Tailed Eyas

Showing posts with label Red Tailed Eyas. Show all posts

Thursday, November 3, 2016

The Red Tailed Eyas and Black Tailed Deer Spread Mulch!

For the second service outing of the Fall BEC season, the Red Tailed Eyas and the Black Tailed deer pooled their efforts to help heal Connelly Creek on what was likely the last warm, sunny day of 2016.

Moving mulch

We started the day as all service outings do with an opening circle and tool safety demonstration by the older group, in this case the Red Tailed Eyas. We then took a tour of the site and got to see all the good work that the Pine Martens and Salamander Efts did the day before pulling up reed canary grass. Our job for the day was clear; mulch, mulch, and more mulch! We set out to cover the newly exposed dirt with mulch in order to prevent the grass from sprouting again.

The warm sun that had broken through the fog earlier that morning warmed our bodies and gave us a focused energy. Right off the bat both groups were working together well and we were moving mulch at a great pace. After about an hour of some seriously good work, the tediousness of the task began to slowly chip away at our work ethic. As a group, we decided to take a break and play a huge game of squirrel tag with both groups out in the field.

Sunshine and squirrel tag.

As the game wound down, we gathered around the backpacks for a quick snack and sip of water. Suddenly, sauntering down the trail was a big buck! He certainly was not intimidated by us and we gave him the right of way as he made his way through the park. We noticed his big set of antlers and thick, muscular neck and knew that these were signs that he was likely looking for a mate.

Just before the buck appeared.

As we refocused our intention on the mulch, some of us (including some from the Black Tailed Deer, the younger group!) came into leadership roles and helped us to maintain intention in our work by leading by example and encouraging fellow explorers to give their best.

Somehow, one of us got partially buried in the mulch pile!

While we were spreading mulch we came across a salamander that had made the mulch pile his home during the last few days. This was a Northwestern Salamander and we all got to look at it up close. We were glad that we got to move him to a safe area closer to the creek and away from all of the shovels and boots!

A Northwestern Salamander

We noticed our energy waning toward the end of the outing, but we still had a good bit of the mulch pile left to move. So we challenged ourselves and set a goal of moving the rest of the mulch in the remaining time that we had together. It was all hands on deck in an effort to meet our goal and, just before we had to leave, we ended up getting all of the mulch spread! Today the Black Tailed Deer and the Red Tailed Eyas put in some great work, played some fun games and got to have some cool animal encounters as well.

Be sure to check out the rest of the pictures from this outing here.

Sunday, January 3, 2016

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!

Red-Tailed Eyas and Gray Wolf Pups Work Together

Daredevil's Club & Red Tailed Eyas do great work!

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!

Daredevil's Club & Red Tailed Eyas do great work!

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!

Planting Red Alders at Connelly Creek with the Red Tailed Eyas and Gray Wolf Pups

We arrived at Connelly Creek service site under dark clouds but no rain for our last service outing of the Fall season. for the last month there has been four groups of Explorers working on this site every weekend. The transformation of this land has been amazing to watch and be a part of. This final outing of service for the Fall season was such a great way for the Red Tailed Eyas and the Grey Wolf Pups to not only see all the work that groups before them had done, but also to put in the final push of work before we leave this site until Spring. Our task today was to plant the seven 10ft tall Red Alders that the Parks Department had left for us. We needed to dig holes for every tree, set up supports, and finally cage in and mulch around the base of the trees.

While we waited for the Grey Wolf Pups the Red Tailed Eyas had a discussion about one of the main species that is affected by the work that we do; the Salmon. The Alders are great nitrogen fixers for the soil as well as providing shade to stunt the invasive reed canary grass. The boys had some really insightful observations on what makes good habitat for salmon and how our work is benefiting habitat.

When the Grey Wolf Pups arrived the combined energy of the two groups swept us into productive work. Digging holes, throwing mulch, finding roots, clearing Reed Canary grass, moving Red Alders, setting up cages, massaging roots, laughing, new friends, dirty hands, more holes, and plenty of strong work.

The power of having two Explorers groups work together is so tangible when doing this work at Connelly Creek; So much hard work and new connections with each other. After a solid few hours of work the Red Alders were no longer laying on their sides in a pile, but instead happily standing in freshly dug and mulched holes. It was really amazing to look around and see a miniature forest of Red Alder saplings instead of the Reed Canary grass that had carpeted the ground previously.

As the Red Tailed Eyes left the Grey Wolf Pups geared up to spread the last of the mulch that remained. A forty five minute explosion of work from the Grey Wolf Pups left the previously mountainous mulch pile a mere bump on the land. At this point the focus was gone and the group was ready to explore. Even on these days that are focused on a strong ethic of service work it is important for these boys to have time to explore the land. As these boys Explore the land around the service site they learn more about what the land needs and how the work they are doing affects it.

As the energy from the exploration came down the Grey Wolf Pups came back in wet and muddy from the creek, scrapped by the blackberries, and excited by all their discoveries. We packed up and settled into a closing meeting. While going around and giving thanks for the day I was touched to hear so much appreciation for the day. Many boys voiced their thanks for the land and our opportunity to give back to it. Peter asked the explorers; Who does this service benefit and how does it affect us? Some explorers pondered this questions as they finished the last of their apple slices. The salmon? The neighbors? the community of bellingham? the deer? the Trees? us? After a while a few explorers said this work benefits everyone. We all seemed to agree with this explanation.

Thank you Red Tailed Eyas and Grey Wolf Pups for all your hard work at connelly creek. It was a true pleasure to work alongside all of you. Parents please talk your sons into taking you back to this site to see all their hard work. This time of year is a great opportunity to see it before the mud season truly begins. Please check out our photo gallery

Planting Red Alders at Connelly Creek with the Red Tailed Eyas and Gray Wolf Pups

This final outing of service for the Fall season was such a great way for the Red Tailed Eyas and the Grey Wolf Pups to not only see all the work that groups before them had done, but also to put in the final push of work before we leave this site until Spring. Our task today was to plant the seven 10ft tall Red Alders that the Parks Department had left for us. We needed to dig holes for every tree, set up supports, and finally cage in and mulch around the base of the trees.

While we waited for the Grey Wolf Pups the Red Tailed Eyas had a discussion about one of the main species that is affected by the work that we do; the Salmon. The Alders are great nitrogen fixers for the soil as well as providing shade to stunt the invasive reed canary grass. The boys had some really insightful observations on what makes good habitat for salmon and how our work is benefiting habitat.

Raccoon Kits meet the Red Tailed Eyas and serve Connelly Creek

A little rainy, a little cloudy, a little grey with the hope of clearing. Our service site at Connelly Creek in Happy Valley Park is similar; seeming cloudy and almost ominous because there is so much work to do but at the end of the day we are left with the light that we have made good progress and that our work will one day be finished.

Raccoon Kits met on Saturday to do service work for their first time ever at the Boys EC adopt-a-stream site. The Connelly Creek site in Happy Valley Park is part of a partnership with the City of Bellingham Parks and Rec Department. We’d like to thank Rae and Ellen for their hard work guiding us and providing us with mulch, plants, and debris removal. Another important partner is the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) that provides us with many tools and guidance as well. Thanks Phoebe for helping to coordinate our project days. It’s nice to have a community of groups and people who support our commitment to serving the land!

Little were the Raccoon Kits aware of the group of Red Tailed Eyas that awaited their arrival. The RTE had been hiding in the shrubs and grasses for 30 minutes, blending into the surroundings and giving the younger Kits a chance to harness their awareness skills. The older Eyas showed an exemplary character as they mentored the younger Explorers not only in how to do service work but in how to be a part of the land.

We ate lunch while mentors demonstrated how NOT to use tools. It’s a good thing they were joking otherwise they might be a few fingers and teeth short. Then we reviewed how to safely use the tools and we got to work.

Explorers learned the tasks for the day: trim reed cannarygrass, dig blackberry roots, and lop away blackberry stems, cut them up, and remove non-grass debris. We also took to spreading mulch and working in teams to carry heavy loads. After all, Many Hands Make Light Work. We planted willow sections that we found in the area and made mulch rings to prevent other species from growing in their immediate vicinities. Boys of all ages showed distinct focus and commitment to the projects in which they were involved. Everyone’s focus (from ages 7 to 10 to 37) was unwavering during our time on the land. That was the second most impressive thing on Saturday.

The first most impressive thing was the cross-group and multi-aged collaboration. This Explorer stopped for a second to relish in the work being done and the process of cooperation that he knows all of these boys have inside their hearts. It brings tears of joy to my eyes as I remember hearing, “1, 2, 3, Lift; 1, 2, 3, Lift; 1, 2, 3 Lift” repeated by mixed groups of Raccoon Kits, Red Tailed Eyas and mentors in unison.

This is why we scheduled the days staggered and with different groups. These boys stepped into the space with open and willing hearts with caring attitudes while serving the land. They asked nothing in return and received the satisfaction of teamwork and a job well-done.

These pictures and the photo gallery will tell the rest of this story but the best thing to do would be to revisit the area with your Explorer so he can guide you along the work that he did. The sooner you get out there, the more prominent the changes will be when you return next time. With 10 groups visiting this season, we have made quite an impact already.

Thanks for your great work, Raccoon Kits!!! You continued the strong precedence for other groups who will be serving this season. Parents, thank you for supporting these Explorers and for giving them the chance to serve the land with us.

Next outing will be the last one of the season, June 7th, to learn about the Art of Water. We’ll see you at Arroyo Park at noon unless our paths cross in town before then!