With gray and gloomy weather looming over head, the Daredevils Club met up at North Galbraith Trailhead to get back out on the land after taking a back from exploration to do some service on our previous outing. The thick cloud cover above brought with it a cozy feeling to the forest perfect for our earth skills focus; shelter building. Having a somewhat rough go of it on our first attempt at shelter building this season, the mentors thought it was important for these guys to get a top notch debris hut under their belts so we hit the trail and headed for a nice ravine off trail and away from the busier bike trails.
Cruising through the forest with four Explorers and two mentors felt like a breeze compared to most outings with up to twelve boys in a group. The small group size offers a tremendous opportunity for quick movement, efficient decision making, and some extremely rewarding and sincere interactions. A comradery has taken root this season amongst these boys and with it came the need to address what the future looks like for this group going forward. Taking time to sit down and discuss what we want to do took precedent at the beginning of the outing. After chatting and checking in it became apparent that these guys needed one final season to give the group a “clean death” as one could say. The mentors made a point to acknowledge that in death there is life and new beginnings. Despite an end for the Daredevils Club in sight this fine group of Explorers can embark on the transition from childhood into adolescence with intention, focus, and a greater understanding of what they will be facing in their bright futures. With the big picture stuff taken care of, it was time to get lost in the present and get to work on a shelter.
Hiking around in search of a good location to construct a shelter we sought outcroppings of deciduous trees amongst the vast conifers. Their many leaves offer an excellent source of debris for insulation while the blustery fall winds bring down fresh limbs to be harvested for Y-Sticks, a strong Backbone, and sturdy, straight ribs. Taking advantage of one of the mentors limbing saws, the boys harvested the basic structural components from a Big-Leaf Maple section that came down in our last storm. Carrying these materials away from the hazardous deciduous stand, where the very limbs that fall to provide great building materials can also pose a big risk in windy conditions, we settled on a flat area underneath a young grove of cedar trees. The mentors helped lead the charge on harvesting materials, interlocking the Y-Sticks with the Backbone, and getting a plentiful amount of ribs alternating down the backbone to finish out the structure. Everyone took a turn sawing through branches, seeing who could do it the fastest (while using intention and safety principles of course!), and bonding over the satisfaction of a little perspiration and making piles of sawdust. With the main structure in place, and everyone clear on the level of patience and intention required for structural integrity, we were left with a rock solid construction and just waiting for some latticework of hemlock branches and a thick layer of debris. Feeling confident with the debris hut, the mentors took some time to let the Explorers finish off the shelter while they focused on practicing some skills of their own like harvesting and carving spoons and making bow drill kits from freshly harvested Red Alder.
At this moment, the outing became one of the best either mentor can remember. Explorers were honing their shelter building skills for an upcoming overnight outing in debris huts, mentors were honing their personal earth skills, and the gloomy clouds comforted us like a cozy blanket while refraining from producing precipitation. The air was crisp, refreshing, and full of laughter and joy. Boys took breaks from raking up debris to chat with mentors about everything from what recipe they used to make their lunch to our society’s relationships with weapons and warfare. We even found some time to practice throwing rabbit sticks and spear like branches at a dead log and a quick attempt at starting a fire with a freshly carved bow drill kit. What more could you ask for from an outing? Explorers and mentors alike couldn’t believe it was already time for closing circle and the hike back to the parking lot. If only the outing could go on for the rest of the day and into the evening where many more laughs, conversations, and memories could be shared around a fire before cozying up for the night in our newly constructed debris huts… Oh wait, that’s next outing! After such an incredible day, one can’t help but get excited for all that’s in store for us on our next big adventure.
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