Explorers were fired up when they met together and boarded Stubbs on Sunday. The weather was sunny and warm, and Vespula Veterans were primed for an adventure on the Nooksack River.
First on the docket, however, was a trip to the Sunnyland neighborhood. To follow-up from the previous skills outing about shelter building, we stopped by some seasonal squirrels’ nests on James Street. Explorers did a risk assessment check, and Matt shimmied up the tree to get us pictures of the squirrels’ homes.
He came down to find Explorers learning first-hand about corvid problem solving. Ravens and crows, like the squirrels, enjoy eating acorns. Unlike squirrels that use their teeth to open acorns, the birds have been known to set acorns in the street and use passing cars as tools to crack them open.
This wasn’t the only animal-inspired action. Jacob became the “stuffing” ground as Explorers filled his shirt with copious amount of leaves. He looked like the Hunchback of Notre Dame! Explorers learned how this was nearly the same design as a shelter, and actually a good survival technique if they were ever stuck in the cold with insufficient clothing.
After the first in-town adventure we set off for the North Fork of the Nooksack River to explore the Deming Homestead Eagle Park. Upon arriving at the park we unloaded and had an opening meeting. Matt and Dave shared about an animal that many of the Explorers hadn’t considered. Cougar and her hunting techniques became a theme of the day. We took jobs for the day and played two rounds of Hide. Little did Explorers know just how useful that game would turn out to be!
We got sidetracked many times during this exploration… by tracks and signs! We launched a discovery and study of tracks that we saw imprinted in the mud. We learned the differences between canines and felines, considered some probable muskrat tracks, and examined beaver chews. Ask your Explorer if he can share some knowledge with you about animal signs. At the same time, a few observant Explorers heard the rush of wind as a Red Tail Hawk flew within ten feet overhead as it scrambled to a nearby cottonwood tree.
Exploration of the Nooksack lead to many discoveries: a red-tailed hawk flying just over our heads, spear fishing, navigation, painting our faces with cottonwood buds, and reveling in the clear blue water while glacial till filled the spaces between our toes.
Back into the dry flood plain and Explorers took to service! They leaped into the brush and bent knotweed stalks in an effort to slow their growth. Ask your Explorer why he didn’t break the stalks or tear off any limbs. Landon used the opportunity to study the Knotweed’s “vessel” abilities and tested its water capacities. Following the motto, We’re All Teachers, he shared that the knots in the knotweed were places the plant built compartments for its own liquids. We then honored Anders for his last outing this season (you can join us whenever you are back in the area!) by burying him in leaves. It seemed fitting at the time.
In following the motto, Stretch Your Edges, Cougar inspired Matt and Dave to set up a game for the Vespula Veterans that combined many of their and skills. It was a very difficult game in which Explorers were forced to think about many different elements of the natural world at once. In response, Explorers practiced the mottoes, Turn Problems into Possibilities and Collaborate and Compromise. They worked together in order to deal with the hard situation the mentors presented them. We all agree that the game needs refinement but it was a valuable opportunity for everyone.
The second round was interrupted by an unforeseen event. Someone had crashed a car by the parking lot, and the police were there looking for him. We called the Explorers together and assessed the situation.
Strange and unlikely events like this one are a strong reason for having an Explorers’ Club. The unpredictable will always be a part of our lives and the lives of our children. The only way we can Be Prepared is to practice the art of being present, aware, and empowered. The Explorers performed a risk assessment and decided to head back to the bus with the front and back scouts keeping the group together. Great job, Explorers!
We finished our day with a Circle of Thanks at Ben’s house. On the way home we waved at passing vehicles and even got a truck to honk his horn. And we ended the day pulling safely into the Sehome shopping center and cleaning up Stubbs, our faithful bus.
Thank you for the diligent work, Vespula Veterans! And parents, thanks for your unyielding support and encouragement! Please check out pictures from the outing on the photo gallery.
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