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. 

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.  

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.