Salamander Efts Find Their Namesake at Lake Padden

With the rain pouring down the Salamander Efts arrived at Lake Padden knowing they were in for a wet one. Luckily, being comfortable with a cold, wet forest is part of being a salamander and today this group lived up to their name. We were at Lake Padden because of some unfinished business that we left from a spring outing where we got a start on a group shelter but never finished it! Trekking through the downpour, and up a fresh flowing stream that was at one time the trail, we clambered off trail up a steep hillside and at the top found our old shelter right where we left it!

Taking shelter under the tarp for lunch

Getting to work on the roof of our shelter. Giant slabs of Douglas Fir bark made for nice shingles.

Gathering together we decided to set up a tarp shelter to keep us and our gear dry during the outing. This was a great practical pop quiz for the Salamander Efts who managed to get a somewhat passable tarp shelter up before they hunkered under and ate lunch while the mentors and a few of the more determined Explorers put the finishing touches on the shelter utilizing a few specific knots like a Trucker’s Hitch and similar adjustable knots to get the desired tautness of a quality tarp shelter. With our tarp set up we set out to put a roof on our shelter. Gathering more sticks and proper latticing material the structure of the roof was finished. Next onto covering the roof. With some puzzlement one Explorer discovered an old Doug Fir log allowed us to break planks of bark off that we shingled on the roof. Next for debris we scrounged around scooping up armfuls of duff to add insulation to the roof. While doing this we discovered our group’s namesake… twice! Not one, but two separate species of salamander were discovered. What a fitting way to wrap up our outing.

We found or first salamander while gathering debris for our shelter.

Out second discovery of a different species of salamander.

 See if you can figure out which species we discovered on our outing using this guide!

With the roof on, we reflected on what we had accomplished, and what we could improve upon. Again, work ethic and feeling a sense of urgency to complete the shelter was missing this outing. Of course our time on outings is often valued for the fun that can be had goofing off with friends in the forest, but it is important to get into the right headspace when you’re practicing survival skills. We practice so that when we are faced with a real situation we have the confidence in our abilities to stay cool and calm under pressure and execute the skills necessary to stay safe and sound. Luckily, we have plenty more outings to continue to grow and learn how to practice with a purpose. In the end, the Salamander Efts survived, if not thrived, during the rainstorm finishing the roof to their shelter while discovering two species of native salamander along the way. Despite some moments of getting lost in goofing off, when called upon to get it together this group rallied and finally finished what they started in the spring.

With the roof on we reflected on our work and took a moment to review important keys to a survival shelter

Make sure to check out the rest of our photos from this outing here!

Salamander Efts get rained on at North Lake Whatcom

Go outside into the rain for five hours then come back inside and settle down to read this blog. Your hands are cold with minimal dexterity and that rain gear you thought worked really well has soaked through in many spots leaving you with a damp feeling.  The Salamander Efts were welcomed by steady and heavy rain for their first outing of the Spring season. We all gathered, finding some protection from the giant Red Cedars and Hemlocks, at the North end of lake whatcom. This location is great offering mature forests along the steep slopes that flank Lake Whatcom and our watershed. As soon as everyone had arrived we walked into the woods and embraced the rain.

Despite the rain we still made time to find a spot for an opening circle;  reconnecting after the Winter and setting our intention for the day and season. Despite the rain and the fact that the longer we sat the colder we got many of the boys found it hard to focus on each others words and not derail the circle. These boys have the tools they need to make effective decisions and utilize the circular leadership we model even if they don't always use them. Tim and I held the circle letting the boys make their own decisions about the day. Finally we were moving, heading toward the shores of the lake.

We moved along the path at a brisk pass, our motion warming our bodies as we noticed the budding indian plum and salmon berry. We decided to just walk for a while since the rain made it hard to stop for too long. The rain quieted our surroundings and made it feel very peaceful with the lake stretching out to our right and the dense forested slopes rising to our left.

After hiking for about 1.5 miles we again had a decision to make; some of the boys wanted to head up a trail that broke away from the lake while others wanted to continue along the main lake trail. It is always a balancing act know which group decisions the boys have the skills to tackle and which ones they need more guidance with. This decision of which way to go on the trail is one that the Salamander Efts have made many times and are well versed in. Tim and I did not say much and waited for the boys to organize themselves.  After close to twenty minutes of half hearted attempts to make a decision Tim and I realized the boys were not going to make this decision on their own and would need some guidance before standing in the rain caught up with us. With a little help from the mentors the Salamander Efts came to a decision and we headed up unto the woods to find a lunch spot.

After a short lunch we headed back down to the main trail as the rain had made the steep roots and rocks of the hillside very slippery. Back on the main trail we again settled into a brisk hiking pass. We even stopped to play a few games of hide and cougar stalks deer as our bodies warmed up. As we hiked we all kept shuffling layers and breaking into short runs to keep our bodies warm.

By about 3:30 we reached the 2.5 mile mark and decided this was our turn around point. Dropping our packs we began throwing rocks into the lake and exploring rotten logs. the movement was good. A few of us started doing jumping jacks, sprints, and pushups to keep ourselves warm. It was time to start hiking again and we turned around feeling warmer and happy to be headed back toward the warmth of cars and houses.

The day was a test for many in staying warm and also mentally handling hard conditions. It is not easy to stay out all day in the rain, relying only on your cloths and trees for protection. This wet day stretched all of our edges mentally and physically. Another lesson of the day was in group decision making. The Salamander Efts still have work to do in this area, but given the hard conditions of the day they are right where they need to be.

I realized what a wet day it had been when on the way home i opened my pack to get my lunch to fine a standing puddle of water and a soggy sandwich. Thank you Salamander Efts for exploring even in the rain and thank you parents for your continual support. Be sure to check out the Photo gallery for more pictures!  

Salamander Efts Take Shelter at North Galbraith

On a damp drizzly Sunday afternoon, the Salamander Efts had their third outing of the fall season. This was truly salamander weather and the boys were going to have to tap into their inner amphibian to make it through this outing. As the first couple of boys showed it up at the North Galbraith Trailhead a light sprinkle slowly picked up. Thereafter it seemed like each boy that arrived brought out more and more of the rain. By the time the last Salamander Eft showed up it was a complete downpour; perfect weather to inspire a solid day of shelter building.

We began the day with a sense of urgency. It was wet, cold, and dreary and all we could do was start moving to make sure we stayed warm. The first task was to find a place to have opening meeting. The Salamander Efts have been around long enough to know what to look for. Remembering back to their first season studying the Art of Shelter we all were keeping our eyes out for nice big cedar trees, preferably a small cedar grove growing close together so their canopy of J-shaped branches could provide us cover from the rain. Unfortunately no matter where we looked it was inevitable, we were going to be getting wet. A quick hop off of the trail and we found a sufficient location for our meeting.

The opening meeting was a quick one. It was clear the priority here was shelter. Nature has a funny way of teaching, and today nature was forcing our hand. It almost felt like an exam. These boys knew enough about shelter building from past seasons, but today their skills were going to be put to the test. We continued along the trail looking for promising locations. Dry(ish) level ground, decent canopy cover, and abundant resources were all on the check list for where to set up shop. After a few minutes we came upon a promising location and got to work.

It took awhile for these boys to grasp the situation. It was cold, it was wet, it was miserable for some. These boys are reaching an age where they will begin to learn that sometimes they themselves are the only ones that can improve their situation. The mentors made it clear that it was no time to dilly dally, stand around, or complain about the elements, yet a good handful of the boys seemed to not know where to begin. The mentors split up to two locations and decided to give the boys a little help. One group dropped down to a cedar grove and the other went just up above the trail. Each boy was left to decide which group they wanted to join and soon it was clear the lower group had the majority of the boys and only three or four decided to go to the other location. Perhaps this would be an opportunity for the boys to see the motto “many hands makes light work” but alas there was still trouble finding motivation and compromise in how best to build the shelter.

As the lower group planned out a large shelter for their larger group, the upper group was still having difficulty deciding how best to approach the situation. As one of the boys from the lower group got frustrated with lack of effort and cooperation from his comrades, he decided to move to the upper group where his ideas were openly accepted and a shelter began to take form. The boys quickly realized that making a shelter in adverse conditions is no easy task. Even deciding which type of shelter to construct was rather confusing. So many great ideas just didn’t seem to work out in actuality as it did in their thoughts. After some trial and error, the lower group built a large framework that would have plentiful space for the whole group. The upper group decided to develop a cozy debris shelter.

As the shelters grew and took form, so did the boys morale. Although some boys had to take a break to warm up running along the mountain bike jumps, most of the boys finally got some good shelter building in and soon realized the work kept them warm, their minds occupied, and the time passing relatively quickly. One of the boys found taking shelter in the nearly complete debris hut kept him warm and dry. Although the couple of boys gathering the rest of the debris were only mildly amused by this notion, it provided ample evidence of the insulating properties of all the Big-Leaf Maple leaves we were piling up on the shelter.

Soon enough the rains began to let up. As the clouds lifted, so did the boys spirits. Boys were laughing and scurrying around playing various games with one another. Some of the boys found an excellent muddy hillside primed for sliding down after all the rain. Other boys were still highly motivated to finish the shelters. After a short discussion, the boys decided to spend the rest of the time putting the finishing touches on their shelters and enjoying the scattered beams of sunlight breaking through the tree cover instead of playing any games. Both mentors found a lot of maturity in this decision and were proud of the boys for wanting to finish what they started.

By the end of the day the boys had been through a lot. The elements did their best to make things miserable for them, but on the hike back to the parking lot any passerby would have had no idea. Everyone was laughing, cracking jokes with one another, and playing the whole way back.  When we finally broke through to a posse of anxious parents, it was clear there was some relief to see the Salamander Efts in high spirits. It was certainly a trying day, but the boys came away with a whole new appreciation for warmth and dryness. The Art of Shelter may not be the most glamorous, but these boys further solidified their knowledge, ability, and mastery of a skill that could one day save their lives, or at least keep them a little more comfortable in inclement weather.

Salamander Efts Take Shelter at North Galbraith

On a damp drizzly Sunday afternoon, the Salamander Efts had their third outing of the fall season. This was truly salamander weather and the boys were going to have to tap into their inner amphibian to make it through this outing. As the first couple of boys showed it up at the North Galbraith Trailhead a light sprinkle slowly picked up. Thereafter it seemed like each boy that arrived brought out more and more of the rain. By the time the last Salamander Eft showed up it was a complete downpour; perfect weather to inspire a solid day of shelter building.

We began the day with a sense of urgency. It was wet, cold, and dreary and all we could do was start moving to make sure we stayed warm. The first task was to find a place to have opening meeting. The Salamander Efts have been around long enough to know what to look for. Remembering back to their first season studying the Art of Shelter we all were keeping our eyes out for nice big cedar trees, preferably a small cedar grove growing close together so their canopy of J-shaped branches could provide us cover from the rain. Unfortunately no matter where we looked it was inevitable, we were going to be getting wet. A quick hop off of the trail and we found a sufficient location for our meeting.

The opening meeting was a quick one. It was clear the priority here was shelter. Nature has a funny way of teaching, and today nature was forcing our hand. It almost felt like an exam. These boys knew enough about shelter building from past seasons, but today their skills were going to be put to the test. We continued along the trail looking for promising locations. Dry(ish) level ground, decent canopy cover, and abundant resources were all on the check list for where to set up shop. After a few minutes we came upon a promising location and got to work.

It took awhile for these boys to grasp the situation. It was cold, it was wet, it was miserable for some. These boys are reaching an age where they will begin to learn that sometimes they themselves are the only ones that can improve their situation. The mentors made it clear that it was no time to dilly dally, stand around, or complain about the elements, yet a good handful of the boys seemed to not know where to begin. The mentors split up to two locations and decided to give the boys a little help. One group dropped down to a cedar grove and the other went just up above the trail. Each boy was left to decide which group they wanted to join and soon it was clear the lower group had the majority of the boys and only three or four decided to go to the other location. Perhaps this would be an opportunity for the boys to see the motto “many hands makes light work” but alas there was still trouble finding motivation and compromise in how best to build the shelter.

As the lower group planned out a large shelter for their larger group, the upper group was still having difficulty deciding how best to approach the situation. As one of the boys from the lower group got frustrated with lack of effort and cooperation from his comrades, he decided to move to the upper group where his ideas were openly accepted and a shelter began to take form. The boys quickly realized that making a shelter in adverse conditions is no easy task. Even deciding which type of shelter to construct was rather confusing. So many great ideas just didn’t seem to work out in actuality as it did in their thoughts. After some trial and error, the lower group built a large framework that would have plentiful space for the whole group. The upper group decided to develop a cozy debris shelter.

As the shelters grew and took form, so did the boys morale. Although some boys had to take a break to warm up running along the mountain bike jumps, most of the boys finally got some good shelter building in and soon realized the work kept them warm, their minds occupied, and the time passing relatively quickly. One of the boys found taking shelter in the nearly complete debris hut kept him warm and dry. Although the couple of boys gathering the rest of the debris were only mildly amused by this notion, it provided ample evidence of the insulating properties of all the Big-Leaf Maple leaves we were piling up on the shelter.

Soon enough the rains began to let up. As the clouds lifted, so did the boys spirits. Boys were laughing and scurrying around playing various games with one another. Some of the boys found an excellent muddy hillside primed for sliding down after all the rain. Other boys were still highly motivated to finish the shelters. After a short discussion, the boys decided to spend the rest of the time putting the finishing touches on their shelters and enjoying the scattered beams of sunlight breaking through the tree cover instead of playing any games. Both mentors found a lot of maturity in this decision and were proud of the boys for wanting to finish what they started.

By the end of the day the boys had been through a lot. The elements did their best to make things miserable for them, but on the hike back to the parking lot any passerby would have had no idea. Everyone was laughing, cracking jokes with one another, and playing the whole way back.  When we finally broke through to a posse of anxious parents, it was clear there was some relief to see the Salamander Efts in high spirits. It was certainly a trying day, but the boys came away with a whole new appreciation for warmth and dryness. The Art of Shelter may not be the most glamorous, but these boys further solidified their knowledge, ability, and mastery of a skill that could one day save their lives, or at least keep them a little more comfortable in inclement weather.