Spring Tides and Spider’s Web with Salamander Efts

The Salamander Efts arrived at Clayton Beach trailhead ready to explore off-trail on Chuckanut Mountain. Circling up the Mentors shared the news that we would not be heading up towards the Chuckanuts, but instead we would be hiking down to the beach. The reason for the change was at 12:35pm there would be one of the lowest tides of the year and intertidal exploration would be at it finest. Mentors further explained that often we make a plan for the day but are always ready to give it up based on what the moment and environment offers.

Before we headed out we introduced two new Mentors to the group. Jake Ray is a part time Mentor and Peter Sundberg is a Volunteer Mentor, and both would both be joining us on our exploration. With Dave and Matt off in the Chuckanuts backpacking with another group and Greg at the grand opening of his wife Rebecca’s practice, Birthroot Midwives and Birth Center, it was the perfect opportunity for the boys to meet the new Mentors. As Mentors we firmly believe that exposing the boys to many Mentors within our community helps convey that there are many ways to be a healthy and caring male in the world.

We gave the floor to the Explorers and they handed out and explained our culture of jobs and safety to the new Mentors. With that we headed out, anxious to get down to the beach. After crossing the treacherous obstacle of Chuckanut Drive we found ourselves hiking down an old railroad grade. Looking at the landscape the Mentors called the group together for a game. In the game of Cougar Stalks Deer the Cougars stalk the Deer as it moves down the trail, but whenever the Deer’s eyes catch the Cougars moving he can send them back to the end of the line. Using the landscape the Cougars found a parallel trail on a ridge above the railroad grade. While the Cougars on the main trail distracted the Deer the Cougars on the ridge ran ahead and waited for their moment to ambush. In the end the Deer perished to the clever Cougars, what fun!

Arriving at the beach the group let out a cheer and we dropped their packs. Walking the mud flats the Explorers marveled at the exposed Eelgrass meadows and Clam beds. The Mentors took a moment to mention that it was important that we watch our step because many of the intertidal organisms are hidden just below the mud and grass. It was apparent to see how abundant and complex the intertidal ecosystem is in the Salish Sea.

As we roamed I could hear Explorers calling from all over “Check this out!” and “Whoa, over here!” Using all our senses we investigated and found that the diverse invertebrates littering the beach all had unique coping strategies and adaptations for staying cool and wet while the tide was out. Getting down close to the mud and sand we observed that some organisms hid while other closed themselves inside their shells. One of the most exciting finds of the day was the rare Hooded Nudibranch gliding gracefully through the Eelgrass meadow.

Once we had had our fill we lounged and ate on the Chuckanut Sandstone basking in the sun. As Mentors we covet the down time in outings because it is a wonderful chance for us to connect one on one with the boys and see what is going on in their lives. Cultivating a personal relationship with each boy gives Mentors the ability to track their growth over time and allows us to help them work though their challenges and find their powers and gifts.

After lunch some boys spotted each other as they climbed on boulders and others felt inclined to teach Peter the important Explorers Club game of Hide! Peter did quite well for his first round by lying behind a blind of Honeysuckle and Snowberries, but the keen eye of the seeker eventually spotted him. After a few more rounds the Mentors called the group together and we circled up on the sand. During lunch a few of the Explorers had expressed interest in playing a game called Spider’s Web and others wanted to stay at the beach. Conflicts of interest arise naturally during outings and they are an excellent opportunity for Mentors to hand their facilitation power over to the boys so that they have ownership in the process and outcomes. Our Tribal Elder for the day has the job of facilitating the groups’ decision-making process during the outings. The Tribal Elder guided them through the process: deciding what questions needed to be asked, brainstorming ideas, evaluating the solutions, making a decision and checking in, and finally compromising with those who still disagree. Wow! The Salamander Efts are quickly becoming confident and versed with this vital life skill for working together amongst community members.

Coming to a compromise the group decided to spend a few more minutes at the beach and then to head out. Before crossing the tracks we listened for trains and sure enough we heard one off in the distance. Moving well out of the way the group watched the train thunder by. The Mentors take road and track crossings very seriously and for good reason. Mentors reminded the group that this navigation skill is also very transferable for crossing obstacles on our backcountry trips this coming summer.

Hiking back the group dropped into a lush valley full of second growth Cedar and head high Sword Fern. Circling up a few of the Explorers explained Spider’s Web to those who had never played before and boys got to setting up the course. This Spider’s Weblocation is one of the Mentors favorites because of the creek that intersects through the center of the valley making it challenging. Jake was chosen to be the Spider and through his keen awareness and vantage point was able to hold the flies back from the food source for quite a long time. In the end through teamwork the flies came out victorious by capturing the food source.

Calling the group back in we debriefed the game and shared our camouflage and stealth strategies. When we had finished Jake called the group to do a sit spot. Spreading out over the land the Explorers got quiet and lied back in the sun and moss as they listened to the land. After about fifteen minutes the group came back in and shared what we had observed while passing around apples.

We had just enough time for a closing meeting and a round of thanks. The boys gave thanks for the tides and Clayton Beach, for the chance to explore with friends, for the sound of rushing water and smell of healthy forests, for the chance to carve and climb, and for Spider’s Web. The Boys EC Mentoring Team would like to thank all the parents for their support this season and to the Salamander Efts for stepping into deepened leadership within their own group and amongst the younger Explorers on their service day.

Don’t forget we will have a summer solstice gathering at Hovander Park on June 14^th. You can find more details at the bottom on the Salamander Eft’s spring page. Also, if you haven’t already check out the summer camp and excursion offerings for the Salamander Efts.  

For more pictures from the outing please visit the photo gallery!

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.

BEC: Art of Carving with the Salamander Efts

After a long day of rain the Salamander Efts met at Galby Lane to recreate their group culture and learn the first steps along the Carving Journey. With Greg out due to sickness, Matt swung over from a different outing to guide the Efts through some important considerations as the boys learned to use their edged tools.

Reminder about Explorers Club: Safety is a huge consideration in our program. If we are prepared with equipment, tools, knowledge, and compassion then we have different means to survive and thrive in outdoor settings. Indeed, we can consider the forest home once we see the abundance of food, medicine, shelter, water, and fire available in the ecosystem.

As we are learning those basics in every successive season, it is crucial that Explorers come prepared to outings with a backpack, water, extra clothing layers, food, and other items that will make their day fun. They’ll even need some space in their pack to carry group gear like our snack, toilet paper, and various resources. Boys usually make the mistake of wearing cotton clothes… hopefully they only make that error one time. Many of the Explorers were prepared but it’s important to reiterate this message to everyone. If you have any questions, please contact us!

Though we had an objective for the day, the slippery efts had other tasks in mind. The first, and most important, was to redefine the culture of the group. There were new faces to welcome and old faces to remember. As such we had a round of names and an opening meeting. Explorers kept their eagerness to carve on the backburner as we participated in these fun first steps.

We also had to go over the rules and then play a round or two of Hide. This game, as simple as it is, is really the first steps in nature connection. We use our awareness to help us quickly discover a fun and creative place in which we are to camouflage ourselves. We reawaken our innate ability to find a safe place in a given environment. If you are new to BEC, then please ask your son where he hid! If you have been involved for one or more seasons you may even ask your son to teach you how to play :)

Boys were eager to work on shelters they had built in the fall. How did they hold up through the winter? What new puddles and down trees would there be? As such we found that location and boys took to building shelters. Other groups took the responsible role of breaking down pre-existing shelters. Not for the sake of destruction but as a way to redistribute the shelter resources back into the ecosystem.

Some boys began to destroy a huge stump without awareness of the living mosses and other bryophytes growing in conjunction with the decomposition. They were asked to put things back to the way they once were, including every particle of sand. In this impossible task, the question came up: Is it ever possible to redo the impact we make? This is an important question from which we can all learn.

This may hopefully resonate for the boys in their lives as they let it settle into their hearts. As we gathered our things late in the day, boys found small sprouts; with some consideration and care they replanted these baby Bigleaf Maple shoots in those hopes that they might grow into mighty trees. Explorers have started processing the lesson about our human impact as their power takes root in a healthy way.

With a lunch break, the carving journey began. Matt told us a story about his teacher; exemplifying the motto, A Tool is an Extension of the Body. Dave then explained the basics of knife use and boys were keen to share their knowledge too. A also identified an important motto, The Difference Between a Tool and a Weapon is You. Ask your Explorer to elaborate on those mottoes if he remembers.

Boys found safe spaces to carve (we call them Blood Circles) and were handed some green Red Alder pieces to practice making a feather stick. Blade control is crucial for these boys and simple tasks of learning the blade and its resistance to the wood helps their hands’ muscle memory. Along with the emotional content of being responsible for their own safety and learning, these boys were focused and intent on their carving journey for well over 30 minutes. It was tough for mentors to ask them to stop so we could have closing meeting and a circle of thanks.

Following the motto, Attitude of Gratitude, we’d like to thank Explorers for their diligent work in a short outing. It was great for us to start this Carving journey alongside you as guides. Parents thank you for the trust as we use knives with your sons. They are gaining valuable strength and power through this skill and your support is much appreciated.

Please look at the photo gallery for more pictures from this outing. Next outing is next weekend; please see the schedule for details and come prepared to continue the carving journey and have a fun day of exploration- we are soon due for a game of Spider’s Web!

BEC Salamander Efts and the Teddy Bear Traverse!

The weather was ominous as the Salamander Efts gathered in the North Chuckanut Trail head parking lot.  Volunteer mentor Mike MacKenzie joined Dave and Greg offering his wisdom and bringing his enthusiasm for the Chuckanuts! A slight drizzle had turned into a steady rain by the time opening meeting had started and jobs assigned for the day.  While waiting for a late arrival the boys and mentors scrambled down a fern filled hillside to investigate the salmon in Chuckanut Creek.  The boys waded and jumped while observing Chum Salmon heading upstream.  There were many dead salmon along the creek banks rotting away.  While they had a powerful smell in places their role in returning nutrients from the ocean back to our forest is a vital part of our coastal ecosystem.

We returned to the parking lot and collected our last explorer and set off for the first leg of the traverse.  The first leg of our journey was the most treacherous.  We navigated crossing Chuckanut Drive, and wound down a faint trail to a small patch of wetland below a giant slope of mossy fern clad talus.  We discussed a new hazard for our group-Devil’s Club.  These tall spine covered plants are the sentinels to our sneaky trail through the woods and require lots of respect.  Ask your explorer what the Girls Explorers Club calls this plant and why!  The Salamander Efts balanced across logs hemmed in by a thicket of Devil’s club and finally made it to the other side completing the first challenging leg of our traverse.  Well done lads! 

After the navigating the wetland we encountered a small patch Nettle. Dave showed the boys the technique of harvesting, preparing, and making cordage out of the fibers harvested from the outer layer of the plant.  The group began to feel some tension as we felt a desire to both learn this important skill, and to press on toward our destination.  One important Explorers Club motto is “It’s about the journey, not the destination” and mentors were working hard to keep the boys from becoming too fixed on making it to Teddy Bear Cove and missing the rest of the journey and the chance to learn new skills!

We emerged from the forest into sunshine and a cool breeze at Woodstock Farm.  The boys and mentors took a well-earned rest near groves of Pacific madrone still laden with brilliant red fruit.  Some boys attempted to make coals with Dave’s bow drill fire kit.  This is a skill that explorer’s will develop after they learn the Art of Carving and begin to gain the skills to harvest and prepare their own kits. Being able to create fire from a number of methods in all weather conditions is an important wilderness skill and one that is very fun to practice!

With the sun dropping towards the horizon the Salamander Efts began the last leg of the traverse.  Climbing up out of Woodstock Farm, the Mentors led the boys back across Chuckanut drive and up Spokane Street to the interurban trail.  We followed the interurban until we reached the sign marking the stairs down to Teddy Bear Cove.  After we snapped a few victory pictures we crossed the road for the final time and descended down to the ocean!  The late afternoon light was stunning when we arrived at the beach.  The boys immediately dispersed exploring every nook and cranny they could safely venture into.  A few boys found a beautiful grotto adorned with ferns and moss and when it was time to return for our closing meeting, several were reluctant to leave such a magical spot.

In Explorers Club we believe in strong beginnings, strong middles, and strong ends.  With this in mind the Salamander Efts and their mentors held a powerful closing meeting on beach looking out across Chuckanut Bay.  We reflected on a full season of adventure that began back in early Fall with the Art of Camouflage and ended here at the ocean with a group knit together by shared experiences.  The Salamander Efts have grown together and in store for many more adventures!  As we enjoyed our apples we all shared a highlight of the season and something we were grateful for.  The final circle of the season was powerful and while there was a sense of wistfulness at the close of fall, already boys are looking ahead to winter outings the beginning of the spring season.

Dave and Greg offer a huge thank you to the Salamander Efts! Boys, you made this season a huge success and we look forward to working with you this spring! Parents, you deserve a huge thank you as well! We couldn’t do this important work with your sons without your support.  Working with your sons has been fantastic; they are such terrific young fellows!  Please check out more pictures from the outing in the photo gallery.  We look forward to seeing you at our first ever Winter Solstice Gathering on December 14^th.

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!  

Shelter & The Storm

Gray skies, the threat of rain, the promise of learning the art of shelter, and two eager mentors greeted the Salamander Efts and their families at the Galbraith lane parking area. Eagerly, we carried our belongings into the forest to find a suitable place for opening meeting. Explorers were eager for jobs and a chance to share stories since the last time we met. 

The weather provided the perfect backdrop for shelter building.  Gray skies, cold wind, and rain were important for illustrating the need for good shelter.  Dave led the boys to a place where the Boys Explorers Club has been practicing the art of shelter building for several seasons. After seeing the shelters, the boys scattered to begin work on their own. Mentors roved around, offering help and advice regarding the importance of where a shelter is located. These were questions like: Is the ground well drained?  Is it exposed to wind or hazards like rotting snags above?  Is it near easily available shelter materials? 

The Salamander Efts' energy towards building shelters was incredible!  Mentors began construction on a classic debris hut to illustrate a reliable way build a shelter in any wooded area. The boys cycled through the classic hut, helping to find all the parts necessary to building and insulting it. During construction an important event occurred. The Salamander Efts found Ensatina eschscoltzii, a salamander species that is common in our forests, yet elusive due to its small size and effective camouflage.  This particular Ensatina demonstrated an effective defensive measure by severing its own tail, which thrashed about next to the salamander.  Finding the namesake of this group of explorers is an exciting marker as it speaks highly of the Salamander Efts ability to pay attention to the landscape and notice even the smallest of its inhabitants.   

As Explorers’ energy began to lull, mentors brought in some magic to shift the days events. Suddenly,  boys transformed into cougars and Greg transformed into a fleeing deer! After hiding carefully from his pursuers, the deer was stalked and captured by Connor!  Back together after the hunt, the Explorers headed further up the trail, climbing up every old growth stump along the way. 

The wind demanded our attention when we were on the trail.  Dave twice attempted to set up a game of Spider's Web, a wonderful game of sneaking and stalking, but the weather demanded that we could not play. While we were all disappointed to not learn how to play Spider's Web, there was no denying that the wind had increased as evidenced by healthy branches that were falling nearby. Without a safe place where we felt comfortable playing in this part of the forest, Explorers held a meeting to determine the next course of action. They decided that the best plan would be to head back to the shelters and spend some more time working on them and exploring that part of the forest. 

Before we resumed work on the shelters we held closing meeting. This was a chance to share with the boys how mentors had been assessing the weather throughout the day. We shared that a wind storm in September is tricky because the Maples, Alders, and Cottonwoods all still have their leaves. Thus, these deciduous trees catch the wind more than they would in November through January, when we typically have our largest storms. And this turns them into huge sails, making them vulnerable to losing branches. We concluded our meeting in our typical fashion of offering gratitude and sharing something we learned that day.  Many boys were thankful for a safe day in a windy forest and a chance to learn the art of shelter building.  Mentors were thankful for the opportunity to have another day afield with these boys.  Thank you Salamander Efts Families!

Despite the rain, the Mentors remembered to get out the camera and took a number of pictures during the outing that you can find in our Salamander Efts photo gallery located here. Our next outing is at Connelly Creek and it is an opportunity to do some service and meet another extraordinary Mentor Tim Massey. We will be working to restore balance to the landscape with the goal of repatriating salmon to this part of the watershed. This will be a great opportunity for Explorers to strengthen their connection to the land by giving back in the form of habitat restoration. See you then!