Arriving at Connelly Creek the Vespula Veterans greeted each other and quickly circled up to introduce themselves to a new Mentor. Adnan is a climbing guide from the mountainous northern region of Pakistan. Adnan is studying sustainability at Whatcom Community College and will be interning with the Explores Club. He hopes to gain more insight into the way the Explorers serve and connect with the land. It’s always a privilege to have volunteers join us in our work.
Walking to our service site the Mentors asked the group to veer off trail to explore a section of the creek just southwest from our site. As part of a 10 year mitigation for the creation of Happy Valley Park, Bellingham Parks and Recreation has been restoring the wetlands down stream. As we walked we investigated the unique wetland shrubs at work. A mix of 6-10 foot high Black Twinberry, Red-Osier Dogwood, Pacific Nine Bark and Salmonberry were doing their work to shade out the invasive grass below them. A mixed stand of Red Alder, Cottonwood and Sitka Spruce grew just out of reach of the Himalayan blackberries vine like grasp. The forest floor was rich with Columbian Black-tail Deer and Raccoon tracks. This walk gave the group some inspiration and vision for the day and the site.
The Connelly Creek Site has represented many years of investment for Bellingham Parks Department and with help from strong Mentors they have recognized the need to the turn some of this work and vision over to the Explorers. The Vespula’s have put in strong work and effort at the site and within their commitments to the program. Today would be an opportunity for them to offer their guidance and care to another group, the Gray Wolf Pups. With inspiration and intention the group looked over the site and made a game plan for the day.
While roaming the group heard the sound of laughter from across the creek. The Vespulas dived into the bushes, staying close to the trails, but completely camouflaged. The group got quiet and listened to Hummingbirds buzzing about and watched the insects crawl on the soil until the first Explorer walked by. The Gray Wolf Pups had been informed that along the trail the Vespula Veterans had taken a sit spot with the goal of being close to the trail, but remaining hidden. Their challenge was to individually find the hidden members. By the time both groups had gathered for an opening circle all the Explorers had learned more about stealth and observation!
The combined group of boys and Mentors gathered in a large meeting to eat lunch and share their names. While snacking the Vespula’s gave a talk about tool safety and usage. The Vespula’s comedic skits modeled both the proper and improper ways to use tools. A big thanks goes out to the older Explorers for setting a strong intention and example for the younger Explorers.
Over the course of the next few hours the boys did a tremendous amount of work. The wall of Himalayan Blackberry has been pushed back nearly to the property line of the park. Bucket after bucket of canes were clipped, raked, and hauled out to the trail. Another group worked on digging up the blackberry roots; each root presented its own challenge as it twisted and wound through the thick clay soil. Another group was focused on planting Willow and Dogwood cuttings. These Explorers removed the mats of canary grass and then mounded mulch around the cuttings to protect the new plants. Finally a small team of boys cut back the reed canary grass, freeing some of last year’s plantings from the threat of shade!
Watching the care and focus the Vespula’s put into working with the younger boys brought joy to the Mentors hearts. Whether it was helping them lift a heavy can of mulch or holding back a blackberry to get at its stalk, these boys showed leadership.
After three hours of combined work the Vespula Veterans said farewell to the Gray Wolf Pups and left for a closing meeting. Passing around apples the Mentors brought to focus the Mentor Training Journey coming up for this summer excursions. The group will be traveling up Blanchard Mountain for a four-day backpacking trip to explore and learn some wilderness skills, but will also be spending some time together around the fire thinking about this very idea of mentorship. One of the Explorers gave gratitude for the opportunity to work with the younger groups and it provided the perfect segue into sharing our culture of thanks. The group gave thanks for the ability to identify and plant species that work in community with the sites needs, for the ability to have many hands making our work light, for comradery and friendship, and for all the creatures moving through this patch of land.
We would like to offer big thanks to Bellingham Parks Department and Nooksack Salmon Enhancement for providing the guidance, tools, and pick-up for the project. We would also like to thank the Vespula Veterans for their work stretching their edges and expanding their influence, and to all parents for your unwavering support for the program and to the development of your boy’s growth into whole and caring men. We couldn’t do it with out you.
Be sure to check out the Vespula’s photo gallery for more pictures from the day!
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