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.

Vespula Veterans Serve Connelly Creek with the Barred Owlets

Serving the land is a critical component of the Boys Explorers Club.  Service is an act of humility and the land demands that—ask any of the boys who were on our “mellow” backpacking trip to the Lilly and Lizard lake this summer.  In Boys Explorers Club we often use the land more than other folks traveling in our area.  We leave the trail to seek deeper connection to the place where we live by studying the abiotic and biotic elements in the landscape.  We leave the trail to practice sit spot, and play games that teach us to move quietly through the land and pay attention.  Our service outing is a way for us to repay the land and our community for the gentle impacts we do make.

Steve and Greg spent quite some time discussing how to best prepare the Vespula Veterans for working with the younger boys—The Barred Owlets.  Though the age difference between the two groups isn’t vast, they are in very different places in they journey with Explorers Club as well as their broader lives outside.  So when all of the Vespula Veterans had arrived we quickly gathered and headed to the service site.  Steve and Greg presented the work that needed to be accomplished before the Barred Owlets arrived and tasked the Vespula Veterans organize and run our opening meeting.  They quickly dispersed and got to work.  They organized the tools and gathered in a circle to both discuss how they would present tool safety to the Barred owlets as well as listening to Greg and Steve present so background and useful tools on working with the age group that the younger boys were in. 

The Vespula Veterans have become very efficient at group work.  They have a healthy balance of keeping our circles light and fun but also getting the work done and being willing to struggling with things that are more complex or difficult to discuss as a group.  Because of this efficiency the Vespula were able to hide and ambush the younger boys.  This has become somewhat of a tradition at this point.  It provides the older boys with an opportunity to see how well they can camouflage themselves and the younger boys (who arrive an hour later) a chance to see how well they are paying attention to the land.  For the first time the older boys remained completely undiscovered!  It was also a sneaky way for Steve and Greg to disguise a 25-minute sit spot!

With both groups together the Vespula presented how to safely use tools and set our collective service team up for a good day of work.  Our tasks at the service site remain the same as last season.  We are trying to get the Reed Canary Grass under control by promoting the growth of Red Alder trees, and various native shrubs such as Willow, Red Osier Dogwood, and Hardhack to create shade and eventually displace the Canary grass.  We are still digging out Blackberry Roots and spreading much and wood chips to aid in this process.

The Vespula and the Owlets worked side-by-side getting the work done.  This service day was very focused in where we applied our efforts compared to other service days in the past.  The boys were focused and their efforts digging, cutting and hauling were tremendous.

At 3:15 Steve and Greg called the Vespula Veterans out of the service area and we headed to a different part of Connelly Creek a couple of minutes away.  This section had been restored about 10 years ago and is free of the invasive species that are in our service site.  Under the shade of alders we held our closing meeting.  Once the apples were sliced we were able to give thanks and then hold a discussion about the day.  Steve and Greg wanted to hear from the Vespula Veterans about their experience and asked “What surprised you the most about working with the younger boys?”  There were many rich comments.  Some were surprised at the Owlets strong work ethic.  Some were surprised by the inability to ignore the machete that was “off limits” to them.  One sibling was surprised (and apparently relived) to discover the typically rambunctious behavior of his younger brother was not present in Explorers Club.  Our conversation was rich especially given that this has been the first opportunity for the Vespula Veterans to take on their EMA (Explorers Mentoring Apprenticeship) work as a whole group.  At our next two outings Greg and Steve will be making space at our opening meetings to hear and EMA stories or puzzles so that the mentors can continue to support the growth of the Vespula Veterans in their Four Shields Journey.

Our day concluded with a look ahead to our upcoming outing on Sunday, October 12^th.  We will be piling aboard Stubbs and heading to Hovander Homestead Park to meet community member Time Flores who will show us some ancient hunting tools and offer us the opportunity to learn how they work.  If you still have your atlatl from the summer backpacking trip bring it along.  If you left it behind, or accidentally put in the fire like Greg do not fret as there will be many to share.

As always thank you Vespula Veterans for your hard work helping to restore balance to the land, your compassion for the younger boys and your willingness to take on all the leadership roles we have thrown at you.  It is such a pleasure to work with you and I am glad to joining you again so soon.  Finally thanks again to the parents and families that support all of us in this work.  Steve and Greg feel so fortunate to be working with your sons and appreciate your trust!

Vespula Veterans Serve Connelly Creek with the Barred Owlets

Serving the land is a critical component of the Boys Explorers Club.  Service is an act of humility and the land demands that—ask any of the boys who were on our “mellow” backpacking trip to the Lilly and Lizard lake this summer.  In Boys Explorers Club we often use the land more than other folks traveling in our area.  We leave the trail to seek deeper connection to the place where we live by studying the abiotic and biotic elements in the landscape.  We leave the trail to practice sit spot, and play games that teach us to move quietly through the land and pay attention.  Our service outing is a way for us to repay the land and our community for the gentle impacts we do make.

Steve and Greg spent quite some time discussing how to best prepare the Vespula Veterans for working with the younger boys—The Barred Owlets.  Though the age difference between the two groups isn’t vast, they are in very different places in they journey with Explorers Club as well as their broader lives outside.  So when all of the Vespula Veterans had arrived we quickly gathered and headed to the service site.  Steve and Greg presented the work that needed to be accomplished before the Barred Owlets arrived and tasked the Vespula Veterans organize and run our opening meeting.  They quickly dispersed and got to work.  They organized the tools and gathered in a circle to both discuss how they would present tool safety to the Barred owlets as well as listening to Greg and Steve present so background and useful tools on working with the age group that the younger boys were in. 

The Vespula Veterans have become very efficient at group work.  They have a healthy balance of keeping our circles light and fun but also getting the work done and being willing to struggling with things that are more complex or difficult to discuss as a group.  Because of this efficiency the Vespula were able to hide and ambush the younger boys.  This has become somewhat of a tradition at this point.  It provides the older boys with an opportunity to see how well they can camouflage themselves and the younger boys (who arrive an hour later) a chance to see how well they are paying attention to the land.  For the first time the older boys remained completely undiscovered!  It was also a sneaky way for Steve and Greg to disguise a 25-minute sit spot!

With both groups together the Vespula presented how to safely use tools and set our collective service team up for a good day of work.  Our tasks at the service site remain the same as last season.  We are trying to get the Reed Canary Grass under control by promoting the growth of Red Alder trees, and various native shrubs such as Willow, Red Osier Dogwood, and Hardhack to create shade and eventually displace the Canary grass.  We are still digging out Blackberry Roots and spreading much and wood chips to aid in this process.

The Vespula and the Owlets worked side-by-side getting the work done.  This service day was very focused in where we applied our efforts compared to other service days in the past.  The boys were focused and their efforts digging, cutting and hauling were tremendous.

At 3:15 Steve and Greg called the Vespula Veterans out of the service area and we headed to a different part of Connelly Creek a couple of minutes away.  This section had been restored about 10 years ago and is free of the invasive species that are in our service site.  Under the shade of alders we held our closing meeting.  Once the apples were sliced we were able to give thanks and then hold a discussion about the day.  Steve and Greg wanted to hear from the Vespula Veterans about their experience and asked “What surprised you the most about working with the younger boys?”  There were many rich comments.  Some were surprised at the Owlets strong work ethic.  Some were surprised by the inability to ignore the machete that was “off limits” to them.  One sibling was surprised (and apparently relived) to discover the typically rambunctious behavior of his younger brother was not present in Explorers Club.  Our conversation was rich especially given that this has been the first opportunity for the Vespula Veterans to take on their EMA (Explorers Mentoring Apprenticeship) work as a whole group.  At our next two outings Greg and Steve will be making space at our opening meetings to hear and EMA stories or puzzles so that the mentors can continue to support the growth of the Vespula Veterans in their Four Shields Journey.

Our day concluded with a look ahead to our upcoming outing on Sunday, October 12^th.  We will be piling aboard Stubbs and heading to Hovander Homestead Park to meet community member Time Flores who will show us some ancient hunting tools and offer us the opportunity to learn how they work.  If you still have your atlatl from the summer backpacking trip bring it along.  If you left it behind, or accidentally put in the fire like Greg do not fret as there will be many to share.

As always thank you Vespula Veterans for your hard work helping to restore balance to the land, your compassion for the younger boys and your willingness to take on all the leadership roles we have thrown at you.  It is such a pleasure to work with you and I am glad to joining you again so soon.  Finally thanks again to the parents and families that support all of us in this work.  Steve and Greg feel so fortunate to be working with your sons and appreciate your trust!

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.

BEC: Serving Connelly Creek with the Vespula Veterans

The Vespula Veterans arrived at the Connelly Creek service site ready to continue their relationship with the landscape. The Explorers roamed the creek comparing and contrasting it from last season. The group found a piece of metal that would bridge the creek gap and placing it down sent one Explorer to test its stability. As soon as he got to the center, the bridge bent sending him waste deep into the creek. I commend him for having fast enough reflexes to catch a tree branch on his way down; as it kept him dry from the torso up.  That was certainly one effective way of testing out the bridge. Finnegan, our volunteer Mentor for the day, graciously offered an extra pair of wool socks to the Explorer saving him from the agony of a cold and wet service day. Circling up Adrian presented an unidentified skull to the group. The group looked in bewilderment trying to decipher what it was. After each of us took our best guess, Adrian told us that it was the skull of a Sea Turtle. The group marveled at the large eye sockets and nasal cavity, it was apparent that these were the turtle’s dominant senses. There are endless mysteries in our wildlands and following them keeps our sense of wonder and exploration alive. This joy and exuberance for life keeps us young and can rejuvenate our spirits all the years of our lives.

Holding the circle, the Mentors took a moment to discuss what had been accomplished at this service site since we were last here. Not only had seven other groups served at the site during this season, but another project taking place nearby. The Padden Creek Alliance was formed in 1997. This alliance includes: the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bellingham Parks Department, and local citizen groups.  The Padden Creek Alliance is currently working on restoration at Padden Creek. Their goals include  improving flood control and creating space for more salmon to move more freely through the creek. In 1997, a tunnel running about 2,300 feet from 17th to 22nd street (underneath Old Fairhaven Parkway) was identified as a major roadblock for salmon. In the past, fish have been stacked at the end of the narrow tunnel while attempting to return to their spawning grounds. This summer the city began the Padden Creek Daylight Project, to remove the tunnel and build a bridge under old Fairhaven Parkway in order to restore the natural flow of Padden Creek. For more information on the project, please see the link at the bottom of the blog.

Mentors informed the group that locals in the neighborhood had seen salmon running in the creek just a few weeks ago. It is important to let the boys know that they have allies who support and join with them in this work. This brought us to a great conversation about tools. The Mentors informed the group that we were borrowing tools from both Bellingham Parks Department and the NSEA and that we need to use them correctly and with care. We went around the circle and each Explorer identified a tool that they love to use and one they would like to become more proficient at using. This was great feedback for the Mentors to collect and will aid in planning the Vespula’s spring season.

At this point, the group was saturated with talking and was eager to get to work.  Therefore, we picked up our tools and lugged them over to the service site. The group was delighted to find that Bellingham Parks Department left us a huge pile of mulch to spread. As a group, we brainstormed the best possible use of the resource. This season, groups of Explorers devoted time to digging out Himalayan Blackberry roots in preparation for spreading mulch over a portion of the site. Last Season we took out the blackberries but did not get the roots. This season we learned Slow Is Fast And Fast Is Slow when it comes to these invasives.  The group decided to use a portion of the mulch to mound some young willows and the remainder to patch up a little of the old section from last season and a good piece of the new section from this season. It was excellent to see the boys working together: scooping, carrying and spreading, as a one cohesive unit. The best part about spreading mulch is that it gives the worker a sense of instant gratification; like tending a giant Japanese Sand Garden. After the mulch was spread, the boys focused on the next section of land that needed to be freed from Blackberries. Using shears, loppers, machetes, hatchets, and rakes the Explorers cleared another large section of Blackberries while minding the park boundary sign. Next to our service sight resides a neighbor who would like us to keep a section of Blackberry that grows  on her property.  The Vespula Veterans seemed frustrated by the fact that we could not remove all of them. However, this was a great talking point about what it means to be in a community with others who have needs that differ from ours. As members of the community, our group’s role includes both the work we had planned and also greeting this individual with open arms. If we respect her point of view and recognize her requests, we earn a hearing with this member of our community.  This increases the chance that, by observing our work and attitudes, she may eventually understand what we are doing and the reasons for it. This can eventually lead to both of us working for the same goals in caring for the land.

Watching the Explorers use machetes is always an edge for Mentors. This tool takes skill to use properly and demands responsibility. After great modeling of machete form and skill from Marcus, our EMA volunteer, the boys were ready. As a group we talked about the intention we were bringing into our use of machetes. If we swing with intention and focus with the care, we respect our community’s well-being while restoring balance to the landscape. If we swing with anger and intention to kill, we create violence and compromise our community’s safety as well as our own. The boys modeled some excellent behavior really cultivating their technique and increasing their efficiency. As the boys clipped away the brambles, they continued to find more garbage. The boys removed: a kiddy pool, car door, chicken wire, three purses, a bicycle, tons of bottles, plastic and countless other items. It felt like a burden was being lifted off our shoulders as we freed the soil once again.

After a few hours of work, the group was ready for some lunch and a Sit Spot. Greg encouraged the Explorers to spread out and find a spot where they could sit and listen to the land. The more we know about Connelly Creek, the better we are at discerning how to serve it. Our service here is not only about restoring balance to this area, but also involves engaging in an active relationship with the landscape that grows and strengthens over time. Once we define our connection to it, and realize that our health is tied directly to its health, we then begin to develop an ethic for its preservation. A man by the name of Aldo Leopold summed up this relationship quite eloquently in his book,A Sand County Almanac. In the book he writes, “Health is the capacity of the land for self-renewal. Conservation is our effort to understand and preserve this capacity.”

After our Sit Spot, we came back together for the last closing meeting of our fall season. We revisited and gave thanks for all the outing and memories we had shared this season: a blustery Fire By Friction skills outing at Fairhaven Park, being Earth Keepers on our traverse up Whatcom Creek, meeting for a showdown with the Daredevil’s Club and countless volunteer mentors at Galby Lane and a chance to get to serve and connect with a community much larger than ourselves at Connelly Creek. The Mentors are very humbled and grateful for the opportunity to explore with the Vespula Veterans this season and for all of the wildlife we have seen and heard moving through this patch of land. These boys are growing into mature adults with a growing sense of their role and responsibilities to this community.  This summer they will be going through a transformation on theExplorers Mentor Apprenticeship training backpack. They are the eldest group in the Explorers Club and will soon pass their culture, care and skills down to the next generation of Explorers. The mentors would like to thank all the parents, volunteers, Explorers, and staff for all their support this season.

Please check out more pictures from the outing at the photo gallery. We look forward to seeing you at theWinter Solstice Gathering on December 14th and at the winter outings we are offering for the first time ever!

Click here for more information from the City of Bellingham. Once you have clicked the link and are on the COB webpage
, click on Presentation of 60% design for a presentation and slideshow about the Padden Creek Daylight Project.

Gray Wolf Pups serve the land with the Vespula Veterans at Connelly Creek!

With ominous clouds sailing about, Matt and Greg greeted the arriving Gray Wolf Pups.  Explorers slipped and tripped along the banks of Connelly Creek until eventually everyone had gathered.  Our service outings this season have paired younger groups with older groups of explorers.  This has lead to many exciting opportunities for mentoring within the groups as well as a new game that takes Hide! to the next level of challenge.

Our opening meeting was short and Greg and Matt took the opportunity to discuss the service outing with the boys.  We recalled how the Explorers had spent their last outing traveling the length of Connelly creek from the beach at Marine Park all the way to the service site we were about to walk to.  The mentors explained that before we were off to do service we would have a challenge in the form of a new game.  The Gray Wolf Pups were informed that along the trail to the service site the other group, the Vespula Veterans had taken a sit spot with the goal of being close to the trail, but remaining hidden from the Gray Wolf Pups.  Our challenge was twofold: first we had to locate the hidden members of the Vespula Veterans and second each member of the Gray Wolf Pups had to try and do this as an individualchallenge.  The hard part is always not telling the other members of the group where folks are hiding!  By the time both groups had gathered for an opening circle all the explorers had learned a bit more about stealth and observation!

The combined group of boys and mentors gathered in a large meeting to eat lunch, hear about tool safety and usage from the Vespula Vetrans, and come together in community to serve the land.  A quick round of names revealed a volunteer mentor named Adnan, a visitor from Pakistan who is studying at Whatcom Community College, had joined us to learn more about Explores Club and help us serve the land.  It’s always a privilege to have volunteers join us in our work.  The motivation to get to work was strong and after the comedic skits of service tools do’s and don’ts we were more or less prepared to get started. 

Over the course of the next few hours the boys did a tremendous about of work.  The wall of Himalayan Blackberry has been pushed back nearly to the property line of the park.  Bucket after bucket of canes were clipped, raked, and hauled out to the trail.  Another group worked on digging up the blackberry roots.  Each root presented its own challenge as it twisted and wound through the thick clay soil.  Another group was focused on planting willow and dogwood cuttings.  These explorers removed the mats of canary grass and then mounded mulch around the cuttings to protect the new plants.  Finally a small team of boys cut back the reed canary grass freeing some of last year’s plantings from the threat of shade!

After three hours of combined work, the Vespula Veterans said fair well and left for their closing meeting leaving the Gray Wolf Pups on their own at the service site.  Matt and Greg decided it was the perfect time for a break and solicited the explorers to play the new game, which we are still in the process of naming (it’s a lot like camouflage gauntlet but with people instead of pipe cleaners).  The group split in half and we each took turns hiding and seeking.

After everyone had gotten a chance to hone both their steal and observation skills, Greg and Matt took the boys to the other side of the park where similar service work had been done 10 years ago.  This restored site had no blackberry, very little canary grass and lots of dense shrubs and small trees.  After a brief discussion of what our service site might look like in 10 years, Matt felt inspired to become a opossum and disappeared on hands and knees into the dense shrubs.  Without protest the Gray Wolf Pups followed.  We wound around clumps of Pacific Ninebark and Hardhack.  We scrunched under prickly spruce boughs, and climbed over fallen Alder trees and through willow roots.  We finally emerged onto the banks of Connelly Creek to have our closing meeting.  We gave thanks for the land and the chance to play.  With a final stalk out of the willow thicket we returned to haul the tools from the service site and meet the awaiting parents, muddy and wet, but happy!

Explorers thank you for your hard work and spirited play!  The land is looking better!  Parents thank you for your continued support of the work that we do with your sons.  We couldn’t do it with out you.  Be sure to check out photos from the day!

Serving Connelly Creek with the Vespula Veterans

The Vesupla Veterans came to Connelly Creek on the heels of the Daredevil’s Club who came out the day before. The mission: to follow directions and plans from the oldest boys and to pick up where the DDC left off. The outcome: build a stewardship ethic, heal the land, and bring salmon back to Connelly Creek!

Under sunny skies and a celebration of Gus’s birthday, four hours of service was enjoyable and exciting. Blackberry thickets were removed, the roots were exposed and uprooted, and boys morphed into treasure hunters while sifting through the trinkets buried by years of invasive plant growth. We cleaned up trash and learned of the salmon offering made the day before; Connelly Creek welcomes our service.

We want to thank two EMAs from the Firestalkers who volunteered their afternoon to assist in making sure that the plans were being carried-out properly. Kyle and Marcus, thank you so much for being good mentors and showing these Vespula Veterans how to have fun while being good stewards. Be proud of how your planning has come to fruition! Moreover you have inspired more boys to become future members of the Four Shields program.

Another thank you goes to Jake who recently offered to volunteer with the Boys Explorers Club program. We appreciate your interest in mentoring and thank you for a job very well done. Boys certainly learned a lot from you this outing.

The group was excited to learn about and use all the tools that our partners loaned us. Big thank you’s go to Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) and the City of Bellingham for partnering with us on this project. With their encouragement and resources, Boys Explorers Club has a chance to heal a part of the Connelly Creek watershed. We deeply appreciate everything you have given us for this project!

Explorers used loppers, shears/clippers, hori-hori’s, and shovels. Mentors even worked one-on-one with Explorers to learn the art of machete-wielding. As a result of responsible tool usage, we accurately and effectively followed the Firestalker’s plan in the first step which was removal of blackberry from the up-creek side of our service site. Please ask your Explorer(s) which tools he used during the outing… and feel free to put them to work in your yard too :)

Explorers dutifully followed the mottos: A Tool is an Extension of the Body andThe Difference between a Tool and a Weapon is You. It is inspiring to know that Mentors’ constant reminders of these mottos have finally sunk in because the boys knew exactly how to practice these sayings during the outing.

Hopefully through the course of this blog and the pictures here and in the photo gallery you can see the progress we made at Connelly Creek. Please ask your Explorer to show you the site sometime. We mentors are truly inspired and impressed by the work of these dedicated Explorers club members.

You should also be proud of your boys for the work they did, do, and are capable of doing. It is exciting to know that we have years of work to do and that we’ll make a huge impact. Maybe we’ll see the salmon swimming up-creek in the next couple of years. Here is a video that shows the fun we had and the work we did!

We also should remember the motto, Many Hands, Light Work. As there were fifteen people serving the land, we made quite a bit of progress. This gets even more impressive when we consider that fourteen people did work the day before and another group (of twelve) will work on the site later this season. As many as eleven Explorers Club groups will serve this land in the fall. Indeed our efforts are important and part of a much bigger project than boys may even realize. As such, please head out there from time to time and see how the land is healing!

Boys ended the day with a rendition of “Happy Birthday,” played Tree Tag, and took a hike through the site to appreciate the area. We had a circle of thanks, embracing our motto, Attitude of Gratitude, and stalked back to the cars. Nat’s dad said that we were always so loud that he knew where we’d be. We accepted the challenge and tried to sneak up on the parents, but they were all hiding in their cars :)

Thank you Explorers for the great stewardship that you exemplified! Parents, thank you for your support and encouragement of these boys and this program.

I made a small error about the next outing. We’ll still meet at Sehome Haggen at 11am but on June 15th (not May 19th) as we get aboard Stubbs and drive out to Racehorse Falls. It’s not too late to sign up for summer camp and backpacking trips so check out the summer page and get the information you need!