Scouting North Galbraith with the Daredevil’s Club Explorers

As the Daredevil’s Club gathered for this Sunday’s Spring outing, the tumbling grey clouds above seemed to be saying, “we could if we wanted to…”  The nettles surrounding us seemed to be saying, “we will if you go there…”  The dog poo by Matt’s shoe waited patiently, confidently.  The whole living world saying, “if you dare to explore me, you’ll learn to respect me.”  And, like tripping a snare, the word Hide! was shouted, and the world exploded.  Nettles stung and poo nestled smugly in the treads of Matt’s shoe.  A raindrop splattered on an Explorer’s arm, as if the sky itself were mischievously winking at us.  It was a day where you don’t choose to ride the wave; the wave is taking you for whatever ride it wants to.

So, as good Explorers on a scouting, we went forward and experienced the full ride.  We started with a short walk in toward a meeting spot.  The Daredevil’s Club Explorers showed many signs of Spring Fever, a condition this Explorer is starting to recognize more and more adeptly.  Wiggles and laughs, darting in different directions, like long-cooped cats let out of their pens into a world of wiggling strings and fluttering things— the Explorers were bursting.

We gathered as best we could, and, with the aid of Steve, our most excellent new guide, we managed to form a circle (for a little while, at least.)  We brought our minds to the day.  Greeted.  Considered where we were and what our visions were.  We talked briefly about the rule of 3s for survival.  Any Explorers remember what the 3s were?  Hint (only if you need it): each three was a unit of time.  Then we played a little game of Head Honcho.  After a few rounds we were synched up a bit more and could focus on that ever-important topic of safety.  Super important.  Especially on Galbraith.  After a good focus, we handed out jobs and started exploring.

Not long into our adventure, the Explorers’ Club seemed more like the Exploders’ Club.  Oh yes, nettle stings and disputes, vying visions for the day, interesting things under rocks, curious questions, all came at once, but not as a group.  Strangely, many were directed at this one Explorer.  Bikes whizzed by in tight intervals, dividing us onto the sidelines again and again.  It became apparent that we needed to stop and recollect.  We brought our minds together about Explorers’ Club.  About circular leadership and how it is about giving the Explorers’ the tools to handle situations themselves.  We paused.  Took out our lunches and had some food.  Talked about nettles and ways the Explorers could handle the situation or help their friends do so.  We breathed.

Soon the cooped-up-cat syndrome resurfaced, and it was time to move.  But where?  Explorers had a difference of opinion.  They looked to their adult guides, but they did not get any directives.  It was time for our Daredevil’s Club to figure it out as a group.  A few little suggestions and a bit of help here and there from Steve and Matt helped them keep moving forward.  But it must be confessed, the process was long!  How apparent it was that group processing is a community skill born of necessity (and often born out of frustration.)  And, little by little, our Explorers found ways to solve their problem.  They went through the steps of communication, formation, compromise, and, finally, action.  Good Work, Explorers!  This will pay back in the long run!

We headed uphill and poked all about.  We found some great trails and finally came to an overlook of Bellingham.  Some spontaneous scouting and then some spontaneous stalking of the scouts lead to even more trail discovery.  But the day moved on and it was apparent that, after outings of Skills work and Service work it was time for a good game of Spider’s Web.  We traveled down and found a perfect spot.  Filled with old ramps and jumps and no bikers.  We considered safety and then explored.  The game, when it happened, was epic, of course.  We even stepped it up and tried a very hard challenge, and the Explorers responded with zest.

As it is prone to do, time slipped by and before we knew it we were having snack and closing up the day.  Overall, this was a great day for us, filled with a lot of lessons, some good fun, and the building blocks for further explorations.  Much thanks to all the Explorers for your great work!  Much thanks to all the parents for your enduring support!