Serving Connelly Creek with the Salamander Efts and Barred Owlets

The headline might read “Connelly Creek Restoration Work Continues Apace”. Because it does, in part thanks to the efforts of the Salamander Efts and Barred Owlets on Saturday. Reed Canarygrass was “walked down” (it turns out the grass cutting we did in the fall was misdirected effort that actually encouraged growth!): bark mulch was shoveled, hauled and spread over the flattened Canarygrass: Himalayan blackberry was clipped and hauled off. TheConnelly Creek restoration site (see Happy Valley Park on the map) is better off for the strong effort put forth by these two Explorers Club groups. Service is an integral part of the Wild Whatcom mission. This work is a good thing and would make a nice story in the local newspaper.

At Wild Whatcom, we expect and strive for more, however. And for this outing, the deeper story is more nuanced. So let’s look past the headline by reviewing my admittedly arbitrary benchmarks for a service outing. 

Focus/hard work - Once I’ve seen three 60 - 80 pound boys struggling under the weight of a trash can full of bark mulch, I can’t easily question effort. However, pull the camera back during the outing and the boy sitting in a tree comes into the picture, as do the boys battling each other with bark chips as projectiles. Much work was done but the effort was inconsistent across the members of the Salamander Efts and Barred Owlets and rippled unevenly across the afternoon. 

Teamwork - I bring you back to the three boys carrying the loaded trash can. Two boys couldn’t carry that can, nor could the three of them get it to where it was needed without active communication. Likewise, a sole explorer couldn’t have dismantled a roughly 10 by 10 foot section of blackberry on his own. The mentors saw many examples of excellent teamwork throughout the afternoon. We were especially proud to observe the older Salamander Efts modeling good work habits for the Barred Owlets. 

Initiative - There’s a small ditch that bisects the work site about 3/4 of the way back. Thanks to explorers’ efforts over the past several years, most of the blackberries have receded to beyond the ditch. At one point a few hours into the outing, I jumped (ok, stepped) across the ditch to check on the blackberry work, only to find 3-4 explorers slicing through thorn-thrusting vines with the intensity of a family of beavers in spring. Rather than cut across the front of the infestation, they were tunneling from two directions and working back through the segregated area to clear a small room size area in a single effort. Nice work! I’m sure the two boys sitting along the creek, Huck Finn style and out of sight, would agree that the blackberry ravaging boys were making a real difference.

Task completion - Those who were part of the initial effort to restore Wild Whatcom’s Connelly Creek service site to ecological balance tell me the area was all but covered with invasive plants, such as Himalayan blackberry, and human trash (broken bottles, discarded beverage cans, car parts, piles of nails, and the like) when they first arrived. Well over half has been cleared and native trees and shrubs planted. Even since I joined the effort in the fall, the improvement is dramatic. Saturday’s work pushed this effort forward. It is gratifying to see the progress: these explorers are to be congratulated. 

Integrity/Honor/Respect - More could have been done on this day, however, with greater focus and discipline. There was too much squirreling out; too often did I turn to see bark being hurled at another; too often were individuals content to allow others to carry the load. I, for one, was disappointed.

Of course, what is life if not a succession of trials offering lessons and the chance to do better next time? The boys are young. This is the time for them to learn the satisfaction that comes from performing well and honorably. We’ll be back at this soon with more opportunities to help carry the heavy trash can and cut the irascible berry bushes. 

And, no doubt, I’m right in there with the boys. I can think of several times during the outing where a guiding word from me might have encouraged an explorer to lend a hand rather than squirrel out or start a bark battle. Fortunately, I get to put my lessons to work soon as well. Life is forgiving in that it offers second, third and, sometimes, fourth chances. Now there’s something for which we all can be grateful!

The Salamander Efts get back to it on Saturday, May 30, with an exploration of Blanchard mountain's alternate incline trails. Click here for the schedule.

The Barred Owlets pick up their water curriculum on Saturday, May 30 as well, when we traverse from Marine Park in Fairhaven to the Connelly Creek location. You'll find that schedule here.

Finally, check out the photos from our service work here (Salamander Efts) and here (Barred Owlets). See you out there.

Salamander Efts at Connelly Creek: Serving the land and mentoring younger boys

Spitting rain threatened to make our day wet and challenging. Fortunately the smiles that the Salamander Efts brought with them warded away the clouds and the sun came out! The day took a U-turn when Matt showed up to fill in for Greg, who had to take his truck to rescue Steve and the service tools. No wonder it’s hard to remember all of the mentors’ names; we are always interchanging with one another :)

The Connelly Creek site in Happy Valley Park is part of a partnership with theCity of Bellingham Parks and Rec Department. We’d like to thank Rae and Ellen for their hard work guiding us and providing us with mulch, plants, and debris removal. Another important partner is the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association (NSEA) who provides us with many tools and guidance as well. Thanks Phoebe for helping to coordinate our project days. It’s nice to have a community of groups and people who support our commitment to serving the land!

Explorers learned the tasks for the day: trim reed cannarygrass, dig blackberry roots, and lop away blackberry stems... AND lead by example for the Branch Hoppers who would arrive an hour later.

We decided that the best way to start the mentoring example would be to stalk and sneak up on the younger Explorers! Efts hunkered down while the Branch Hoppers got settled into place. Dave lured them past our hiding spots and we stayed as camouflaged as possible. In the end, very few of us were detected… well done Salamander Efts! You learned from older mentors too; remember how the Firestalkers snuck up on you at our first outing last fall at Fairhaven Park? Who knew that mentoring could come in the form of fun!

Younger and older Explorers introduced themselves to one another and then we were all introduced to healthy habitat on the other side of the park. With that example, we realized that we had our work cut out for us. Explorers, do you remember the name of at least two plants we saw in the healthy habitat? How about the “blue” tree?

We ate lunch while mentors demonstrated how NOT to use tools. It’s a good thing they were joking otherwise they might be a few fingers and teeth short. Then we reviewed how to safely use the tools and we got to work.

These pictures and the photo gallery will tell the rest of this story but the best thing to do would be to revisit the area with your Explorer so he can guide you along the work that he did. The sooner you get out there, the more prominent the changes will be when you return next time. With 10 groups visiting this season, we could make quite an impact.

Highlights include: Removing more car parts, digging up huge blackberry “heart” roots, freeing a tree completely of the blackberry that had overtaken it, learning the names and building mentoring relationships with member of the Branch Hoppers.

Thanks for your great work, Salamander Efts!!! You set a strong precedence for other groups who will be serving this season. Parents, thank you for supporting these Explorers and for giving them the chance to serve the land with us.

Next outing will be the last one of the season… May 17th. We’ll meet you at Clayton Beach parking area for a long overdue exploration! Let’s make it an effort to play Spider’s Web, OK?

BEC: Salamander Efts on the Connelly Creek Traverse

When mentors planned this outing originally, we thought that it might make for a nice adventure in potentially colder spring temperatures. As it turned out, however, the sun came out and it was a gorgeous day as the Salamander Efts gathered at Marine Park to start the Connelly Creek Traverse.

It was apparent that we should have changed the outing at the onset, and spent all day lounging near the coast because the day had a hint of summer expansiveness that was not conducive to “completing” a traverse, or anything. Nevertheless, the boys stretched their edges to balance fun and exploration with the outing’s focus of reaching the Boys EC service site in Happy Valley Park.

After reviewing names and welcoming mentor Greg back into the fold, we embraced the spring warmth. Explorers threw rocks, basked in the sun, and ran around the beach at Marine Park. We finally garnered momentum and began the two and a half mile trek by checking out the Great Blue Heron rookery adjacent to the water treatment facility. We counted a dozen birds and nests atop the grove of tall, skinny Red Alders.

We pushed onwards until we had a nice view of Bellingham Bay before having lunch. Boys ate, joked, and laughed. Some slept and others continued their carving journey from last outing. Once again, we got the gears moving slowly and found the interurban trail which was to guide us for the most of the rest of our outing.

Some games of Hide kept us occupied as we passed 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th streets. We learned to identify plants as we walked. Please ask your Explorer if he remembers the three trees (Western Hemlock, Douglas Fir, and Grand Fir) we found along the first part of our route.

Then came some coincidences. Dave had everyone practice what to do when bicyclists approached and everyone moved to the side. He called out “Bicycle!” and then three riders appeared from around the corner looking rather shocked at having been called out without being seen.

The next occurred when boys and mentors explored a gorgeous plant with pink tubular flowers. Ribes sanguineum is one of the first blooming spring plants and is connected with a unique pollinator. Ask your Explorer if he remembers the coincidence and what that pollinator species is!

We identified Indium Plum, the leaves of which your Explorers may tell you smell like cucumber when crushed. Its drooping clusters of 5-petaled white flowers are yet another sign of this primary bloomer. We walked upcreek in the shade of giant Black Cottonwood trees, all the while tracking the route of the salmon.

Indeed one of the objectives of this outing (yup, we do have some goals in mind :) ) was to connect Explorers with the service work they will do next outing. By tracing the salmons “steps” up to Connelly Creek from Bellingham Bay, we hope that the boys will see how vital their service work is to the salmon, the watershed, and to our community. Habitat restoration will lead to clear, clean water upcreek that flows and weaves through the entirety of Happy Valley and Fairhaven to the ocean.

We played some games to quicken the pace and then took a long break for water, food, and to practice skills. Greg created an ember, and then a fire by using his hand drill which impressed some Explorers. You too can do this, boys, if you practice! Practicing the Art of the Carving can lead you to this Art of Fire too. And sure enough boys cleared space for blood circles and safely carved. The first blood of the season was drawn when one Explorer nicked the tip of his finger while using his edged tool. The lesson here: stay focused, don’t rush, and watch your work.

The last stage of the day was finding Padden Creek after it crosses under Old Fairhaven Parkway. We wandered through thickets of salmonberry and blackberry and marshy footing as we arrived to the confluence of Padden and Connelly Creeks. At this juncture we held closing meeting, shared apples, and participated in a Circle of Thanks.

As we ambled through the rest of the riparian zone we came to the Connelly Creek bridge and considered, albeit briefly, the habitat downcreek versus upcreek of the bridge. We have a lot of work to do to help this habitat, Explorers. Uncharacteristically, we arrived to our parents right on time. What an outing- we managed to balance our wanderlust with a focused intention!

Thank you Explorers for such a strong presence today. You are growing faster than we can keep up but we have intention for the rest of the season- service, carving, and Spider’s Web. Parents, thank you for encouraging these boys and supporting our traverse by driving to two different locations. The journey was only doable because of your help!

Please see more pictures from this outing in the photo gallery. We look forward to seeing you at the next outing from 11am-3pm on Saturday, April 26th.

Service at Connelly Creek With the Salamander Efts

With the warmth of sun the Salamander Efts reunited at the edge of Connelly Creek for a day of service.  Even before our opening meeting had started the boys were busy exploring the creek and getting to know Tim Massey who joined us for this outing in Dave’s Absence.  The magic of Connelly creek and the surrounding willow thicket was strong and upon arriving the boys were totally engrossed in leaping the creek, wading in rubber boots, and bridge building.  After a few pairs of wet shoes it was time to circle up for the opening meeting.  Right from the start Greg set the challenge of working together.  In this case it was task of hauling the service tools and all our personal gear to our service site.  Laden with buckets, loppers, shovels and gloves the boys carried our equipment to our service site.

Upon arriving the mentors asked the boys to walk around the service site and do an assessment for the presence of the invasive species Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), and  (Phalaris arundinacea).  Additionally the mentors asked the Salamander Efts to look for any animal sign while they explored.  The boys discovered that there was an abundance of Reed canarygrass and Himalayan blackberry, but we also found several willow and Red Alder saplings as well as some Black-Tailed deer antler rubs and scat.  The Salamander Efts were eager to get to work, so Tim and Greg showed them how to properly uses the tools and where to begin their efforts.

Working alongside these young men the mentors were inspired by their eagerness to give back to the land we explore and play so hard in.  There effort was incredible and our pile of Blackberry and Reed canarygrass grew rapidly.  The boys cycled through digging out Blackberry roots with spades, trimming Reed canarygrass with hedge trimmers, and raking up and hauling out the grass and canes.  Over the course of our outing we were able to free half a dozen saplings from the canarygrass, and we dug out a lot of blackberry roots.  Several community members out for a walk in the park stopped and thanked the boys for their hard work.  They were excited to see the boys working to restore balance to the landscape.

Several interesting discoveries occurred while serving this patch of land.  The boys found many buried pieces of trash, including bottles, windshields and numerous plastic containers.  Sadly this place was likely used as a dump when it was covered in Blackberry, but we were happy to haul out what we could safely remove.  The second interesting discovery was when Greg accidentally dug up a portion of Red Alder Root while trying to remove a particularly stubborn Blackberry root.  A few of the boys were fascinated to see the small nitrogen fixing nodules that the Red Alder uses to capture atmospheric nitrogen.

We closed the day with a sit spot in our service area and reflected upon the day’s accomplishments.  In our closing circle we talked briefly about how our work is connected to a greater effort to restore Connelly creek as a spawning ground for salmon and how we would likely be returning to this spot in the Spring to continue our efforts and deepen our connection to this piece of land.  We finished our closing meeting by giving thanks and sharing a challenge of the day before hauling our tools back to our starting point.  Thank you Salamander Efts for your hard work and your service to Connelly Creek!  Please have a look in the photo gallery for some images of the day.  Dave and Greg are already looking forward to our next outingwhen we will be traversing along the forest and shore of Chuckanut Bay!