Daredevils Club hike and build a shelter in the Chuckanuts

The First Daredevils Club outing fell on the day after one of the largest Summer wind storms ever to occur in bellingham. After the previous days chaos it was an exciting prospect to spend the day hiking through the Chuckanuts looking at the effects of the storm. This season marks a huge change for the Daredevils Club with only four of the explorers returning for the Fall season. Having a small group offers both powers and challenges for explorers and mentors.

We started our day as we always do with an opening circle, setting intentions for the day and swapping stories from the summer. With only six of us we held our circle in a conversational and casual manner. After laying out our day we headed up the lost lake trail. Immediately we began to encounter large downed trees and branches. Tracking which kind of trees had fallen and lost branches was informative to all of us on where not to be in a windstorm.

At the first junction we pulled out the map and asked the boys to find out where we were and where we wanted to go. as the six of us huddled around the map the boys seemed reluctant to speak up and share their thoughts on reading the map. The anonymity that comes with a large group is lost on a group this size and I think the boys felt this as Tim and I continued to ask pointed questions regarding the map. As we talked the boys warmed up and because of the small group size we were able to have a nice lesson on map skills and navigation.

Our earth skills focus this season is shelter building with the intention of building shelters to sleep in at the end of the season. This is an ambitious goal, but one that these boys can be ready for by the end of the season. As we hiked we asked the Daredevils to tell us when they found a suitable spot for a shelter. They were reluctant to build a shelter and showed more enthusiasm for hiking. We continued upward past waterfalls, giant madrona trees, and more tangled debir from the previous day. 

Reaching our turnaround point we headed back down the hill in agreement to find a shelter spot on the way down. Toward the bottom of the hill Tim and I spied a good spot for a shelter and led the boys off the trail to investigate. We had a little over an hour left, enough time to build a basic shelter. The boys again were reluctant to take initiative and had a slow start to their shelter. They eventually began to delegate tasks and and got some good work done.

With the day drawing to a close and the Shelter nowhere near completed we sat down and talked about the day. We had a very open conversation about what it was like to be in such a small group. The Daredevils talked about how the heart and soul of the group felt lost with so few of them and how it was hard to find motivation in such small numbers. It was refreshing to hear words put to the quiet and enthusiastic energy Tim and I had been observing all day. We all had a great talk on thinking about ways we could restructure our community for this season and recreate the soul we felt the group had lost. With such a small group we were able to have a very frank conversation about these things and reach some good conclusions about how to move forward.

Throughout this outing we saw both the powers and challenges of having a small group. I am looking forward to the coming season with the Daredevils club and helping them reinvent themselves as a group and community. Thank you Daredevils club for your commitment to the program and willingness to express yourselves in an honest and heartfelt way. Thank You parents for your support of the program, be sure to look at our photo gallery for more pictures from this outing.  

The Daredevil's Club Traverse Chuckanut Ridge

We couldn’t have asked for a more gorgeous day for the DareDevils Club to kick of the Spring 2015 season. Blue skies, sunshine beaming down upon us through the trees, a new explorer to welcome to the DDC, and a traverse along Chuckanut Ridge awaiting us. As we began our ascent to the ridge, we became aware not only of the plentiful bird language, but also of a beautiful outlook to over the San Juan Islands. What a wonderful place to take a moment and fuel up or bodies with lunch before hitting the brunt of the hiking. Maintaining proper energy levels and nutrition on a hike will be key for those of the DDC who will be going on the backpacking trip this summer. This is just one of the many skills the DDC will be focusing on this season as we prepare ourselves for a summer time multi-night backpacking trip. 

Soon enough we were at a junction in the trail. What better place to get out the map and compass and figure out where the heck we are?! Many variables are at play with navigation, so the boys took a moment to focus on their surroundings and focus their awareness. The sun, the landscape, landmarks in the distance, sounds. Next we transitioned to map and compass to ascertain more information to help our decision making. Finally we settled on a route and took the left path instead of the right. Perhaps a seemingly simple decision, yet one path led toward home and the other away from home. The difference between warmth, shelter, and food, or a cold, dark, hungry night in the woods.

As we traversed upon the upper most section of the ridge, we were suddenly surrounded by a new noise. Not one easily heard at first, but more like a meandering stream in the distance. Only this stream flowed with cars not water. Without the mountain to deflect the sound waves, the interstate suddenly became very aware to us. Along with the new noise was a tremendous view of Mt. Baker glowing in the afternoon sunlight. These observations not only help us hone or senses, but are vital bits of information that we can patch together to determine our location and the direction we must go.

Descending down the northern most section of the ridge we began to notice one of the concentric rings extending outward from our unseasonably early spring. Sprouts and buds. All around us plants were beginning to push out fresh new leaves, some even beginning to open up there flowers. Incredible at this time of year! Not only is it fascinating to witness the arrival of Indian Plum and Salmonberry blossoms, but to notice the arrival of the Roufus Hummingbird and other creatures who rely on these flowers for nourishment. What will happen when the Salmonberries are ripening? Will the Swainson’s Thrush know to plan a return flight from Southern Mexico three weeks earlier than usual?

After some pop quiz plant I.D. to pass the time on the trail, we finally arrived at Arroyo Park. There’s nothing quite like a giant glacial erratic with an enormous downed tree teetering atop it to suck explorers into a vortex of interaction with their natural environment. Free play; there truly is nothing quite like it. 

Alas, to end our day we gathered upon the top of the large boulder for a closing circle. While sharing apple slices we each shared something we were grateful for in that moment. This gave us a pause in our journey to reflect on where we had been, what we had done, and what we will be taking with us from this experience. Some of us taking home bird language in our ears, others a lesson on the difference between what you can do and what you should do, but all of us learned a thing or two about the concentric rings of influence that ripple out from an action we, others, or the natural world makes.

Make sure to check out the photo gallery from our outing! There you can see all the pictures from our outing.