Little did we all know that Ol’ Cody Coyote was in charge on this wild day when the Daredevil’s Club met Stubbs on Sunday morning. Turns out that we had an eventful outing despite not exploring too far away from our loyal bus. In fact, we were rescued by parents because Stubbs stubbornly wouldn’t start! More on that later, but HUGE appreciation is in order for all of you flexible parents and to the people who participated in the Emergency Call system.
Thank you, Susan, for initiating the plan and the feedback about how to make it better. Thank you to Rachel, who not only set up this entire protocol, but drove to take boys back to town. And the last thank you to Tony who came with a smile and more seats to escort boys safely down the mountain.
In the Haggen parking lot Explorers immediately took to the tent caterpillars that have made home in Bellingham. We saw how the alders growing in the parking lot’s side drainage were overwhelmed by fuzzy red-and-yellows. Then we gathered together to set an intention before getting on the bus. We acknowledged that Stubbs may remind us of school and that it’s important to remember that Explorers Club has a different model than schools might. So we should treat the ride as another opportunity to explore.
As Dave drove us east on Mt. Baker Highway, Matt read two stories to set the tone for the day. One story was about Crooked White pudding, and the other was about two brothers who inherited different rings. Please ask your Explorers which story they remember… and see if he can tell them to you.
We drove over the river (Nooksack) and through the woods (along the North Fork Road) and finally found the right road for Racehorse Falls. Instead of stopping at the trailhead, however, Stubbs marched up the hill through some clear-cut areas. Whereas the last outing last season was into the heart of old growth forest, we saw a distinct contrast by seeing the vast space and sky created by clear-cut logging. We stopped the bus and investigated our surroundings.
With the road bisecting two different logged areas, we observed how fast plants come back to the area. We figured that the lower cut happened within three years and the upper one might have happened seven years ago as it was much more verdant. Explorers also examined the ecotones, the edge of two distinct ecosystems. In this case we compared and contrasted not only different clear-cuts but also a clear-cut with the adjacent forest. Sword ferns for example looked sickly and reddish in the cut area but vibrant green and full in the forest.
Boys found all sorts of trash while we clambered back to Stubbs: bullet casings, motor oil bottles, targets, plastic, alcohol bottles, and even an old car! The area seemed to resemble a wasteland. Upon arriving back to Stubbs, we discovered that our loyal yellow bus just wouldn’t start! For whatever reason, Stubbs wouldn’t turn over the engine and left us feeling stranded.
We had lunch and Matt called for help. He initiated the emergency response system (Thank you Rachel for setting this up in the first place!) which worked well in getting us assistance. Meanwhile, we calmly brainstormed the survival needs we have studied the past couple of seasons. Explorers examined the landscape to determine where we might search for water, build shelter, and harvest food. And after the prep work was discussed, Daredevil’s Club explored along the road, played games, and tried their hand at team-building initiatives.
It was bizarre to spend so much time in an area that had been deforested and trashed. The energy of the area was an erratic mixture of new-sprouting growth and premature death. Though there were many native plants taking hold, the destruction of the bigger trees left a void in my heart; this wound to the land would need many more years to heal. I felt sad and distraught with the amount of trash and bullet shells we found. If you feel like this dialogue might be worth exploring with your boys, then I encourage you to ask them how they felt about that land. Though they all told us they had fun, we mentors are curious to know what deeper understanding they might have garnered from being exposed to the clear-cut area.
Eventually we ventured off the road, up the older clear cut, and practiced moving stealthily through the shrubs and trickling waterfalls. It was at that time when Tony and Rachel pulled up and we all came together for closing meeting. Explorers gave thanks and shared apples to practice our motto,Attitude of Gratitude. We concluded the season and also reminded everyone to look forward to the Summer Solstice Gathering on Thursday, June 20th,Summer Camp (July 8~12), and the Baker River Ramble (August 27~29).
This is how the story ends: Boys started to pile into parents’ vehicles and Matt, the “Bus Whisperer” must have said the right thing because he tried to start Stubbs one last time and our loyal yellow bus roared to life, and made it all the way back to Bellingham with no problem. Maybe Stubbs was more coyote than bus on that day, but as a result we all have a chance to consider clear-cuts, our use of public lands, and how we might care for our environment.
Explorers, thank you for another great season. You are getting more mature with each outing and it is a pleasure to see. Parents thank you for such incredible support of these boys and this program. Indeed you are a vital and appreciated part of the Explorers Club community. Please peruse the photo gallery for more pictures and we look forward to seeing you in the Fall Season too!
No comments:
Post a Comment