3-10-17 Service Day at Woodstock Farm

The Pikas joined the Red Foxes this past Friday for a day of service at our adopted site, Woodstock Farm! The group gathered in the muddy parking lot of North Chuckanut Trailhead before loading onto the bus for a short ride to the service site.

At our Opening Circle, we checked our preparedness, as the weather called for a day of low temperatures and potential rain. We also talked about why we are serving today, and reviewed another motto, Our Cups Overflow. The Pikas agreed that people are not the only ones whose cups can be empty, and that today we would be filling the cups of the the plants and animals who visit and inhabit Woodstock Farm, as well as the beautiful bay beyond.

After a silly check-in, we prepped the tools, dropped packs, had a quick snack, and then spread out to do trail clean-up, dig out invasive blackberry and holly, and pull grass away from native plants.

With a good chunk of service done and many native plants left free to breathe and grow, it was time for lunch! The two groups rejoined on the bluff where we ate, chatted, and had a "vegetable off" competition. We played a giant game of Spider's Web all together and then it was time to get back to work! The girls pulled plants and cleaned up the site for a while longer until the sun began to set and the evening light beckoned us to the views. 

Enjoy the shared slideshow from the day here!

Mottos especially alive today:
Be Prepared
Our Cups Overflow
Safety First
Widen Your Circle
Walk Your Talk
You See It You Own It
Attitude of Gratitude

Night Exploration in Sehome Hill Arboretum 2-10-17

The Pikas gathered for a very special exploration. We came ready to don our nighttime senses and connect with our crepuscular and nocturnal friends while exploring... in the dark!

The girls came with an obvious excitement and energy for the day. We began our day with silly games and bounding laughter, which didn't cease for the whole outing. Our opening circle focused on preparing ourselves for exploring in the darkness, engaging in solid conversations about trust (How do we hold trust? How do we trust each other? How do we trust ourselves?), preparedness, and safety.

From there, we were ready to move up the Sehome Hill arboretum. The sun had already set by the time we were leaving opening circle, so we made quick work up the hill to the watchtower. We spent the majority of our evening there, reaching the tower just as darkness was setting in. We ate dinner and shared our own stories from our winter explorations. Soon, we were shocked by a magnificent moonrise peeking through a sliver of clouds. All of the Pikas were deeply captivated by the moon, and we spent a significant amount of time oohing and aahing.

From there, we moved into telling stories about the variety of constellations that are most present in our winter nighttime sky. The Pikas sat enraptured by the stories (which had glow in the dark constellations, so cool!), and continued to ask for more and more.

Soon enough, it was time to set down the trail, and we did so in a more quiet, Edge Stretching way without headlamps. We embraced the quiet and dark walk down the path towards campus, getting some time to reflect silently about our experience.

We closed our day with a circle of gratitude, wherein we expressed deep thanks for the many blessings of our adventure together. A memorable experience for the Pikas for sure!

To view a slideshow from our day, click here!

Pikas Exploration of E. Arroyo 11-12-16

Our Pikas gathered for a day of major Exploring with a capital "E"! It was a dreary, soggy day, but the Pikas, as always, brought their energy and excitement! We started our day interviewing a partner on some things going on in her life and shared them with the group. It was an important skill in practicing our deer ears to make sure that we could represent our partner well enough. The Pikas are doing a great job at practicing contentious listening skills, which will only continue to serve them well in the future!

We then rallied down to the creek which was ABOUNDING with salmon! In my 7 years in Bellingham, I have never seen Arroyo Park so full of salmon. It was a joyous exploration as we watched the salmon struggle their way swimming upstream. Salmon are the lifeblood of the Pacific Northwest, and it became clear to all of us why! They represent perseverance, strength, and coming home; they fertilize our soil to support massive growth of our forested communities; they travel thousands of miles each year. Salmon are a true superhero!

After our special time with the fish, we moved our way up to the Hemlock trail, where we met the "Big Rock" (so aptly named by Explorers years ago). We spent some time climbing the rock, stopping to assist each girl Stretch Her Edge in her own special way. I heard kind, encouraging language, watched girls physically help each other up and down, and really embody the motto Safety First. It was a highlight of our day absolutely.

After a while, some girls continued climbing while others set out to build a teepee. We learned from fellow hikers about places to harvest the right branches for our shelter, and where to not harvest. The girls Walked Their Talk by hearing the hiker's request, and decided to harvest in another location. Before too long, they had built a fairly impressive shelter so quickly! We stopped for lunch, and then decided to continue up trail on the hunt for the elusive Chuckanut Falls.

While we hiked, we warmed our bodies, which was much needed, and before long, we came to Chuckanut Falls! We spent some time peacefully appreciating the rush of water over the precipice, and decided that we needed to head back down the trail to make everything we wished to do that day happen. The Pikas really Collaborated and Compromised to suit the needs and wishes of everyone in their group, which always makes mentors proud! We followed the girls as they flew down the trail, all the way to the "Magic Tree", another famous GEC spot in the Chuckanuts. We climbed the magic tree, appreciated her beauty, and sat by, on, and underneath her for a gloriously rainy Peaceful Place. From there, we finished our day with our Attitude of Gratitude, where we thanked so many things, but most of our appreciation was for salmon and the things that support salmon's journey. OH, and licorice root. We love that, too :)

Laoise's licorice bounty... enough for MANY cups of tea :)

The Pikas' are only continuing to bond and connect more! I am excited to see what 2017 has to offer for this fantastic group of independent, brave, kind, heartfelt girls.

-Hannah


To see a slideshow from our day, click here!

Larrabee to Clayton Beach Traverse 10-30-16

Twas the Sunday before Halloween when the excited and determined Pikas set out on a misty, mossy, spider-web filled adventure from Larrabee State Park to Clayton beach. It was a day of close observation and connection to the forest around us, staying true to our motto, It's About The Journey, Not The Destination. After catching up and discussing our day during Opening Circle, we began our journey towards Clayton Beach. We used all of our senses (including our sense of direction!) as we wound our way along a narrow path, collecting supplies for nature costumes, and stopping to observe the many majestic spider webs shimmering in the mist. Our day unfolded with lots of laughter, creative energy, games, and even a play as a finale to our wonderful day. Some highlights of our outing included:

Reconnecting with snacks and excited discussion about Halloween costumes during our Opening Circle on the Larrabee State Park stage.

• Stopping many, many times along the trail to observe the intricate spider webs, each one unique in its own way.

 

• Playing Spiders Web (how fitting!) after a snack stop along the trail. The bugs won every time!

Collecting giant maple leaves, fallen cedar bows, ferns, and twigs to wind into decorative nature costumes!

• Having lunch and a long Peaceful Place on the windy shores of Clayton Beach.

• Enjoying an incredible, spontaneous, somewhat improve Pikas play...the first annual and hopefully not the last!

• Collaborating and Compromising to choose our path back from beach. We ended up taking the Dragons Spine, a hidden gem of a trail off of the beaten path. 
• Voicing our Attitude of Gratitude under the bridge on our way back to the parking lot.

Our words of the day?

Spider Webs, nature costumes, moss, friends, and ferns!

Enjoy the full album of the day here.

Service at Woodstock Farm: 11-11-16

In the past few days, a new personal motto has come up for me: The Antidote to Apathy is Action. Taking action can also help alleviate frustration and anxiety, and generally helps one feel purposeful. 

Four GEC groups contributed joyful purpose to our shared service day, taking pride in our new role as caretakers of Woodstock Farm.

At our gathering meeting, we learned about the history of this place and the role of generosity and forward conservationist thinking that led to its preservation. Thanks to Cyrus Gates, his family home and land has been gifted to Whatcom County for all to enjoy - Mr. Gates also had a strong hand in protecting Larrabee State Park, Arroyo and Fairhaven Parks, Sehome Arboretum, and the Mt. Baker Bulb Farm (since turned into Bellis Faire Mall due to a legal loophole).

We brainstormed on who the users of the park are: humans, yes, but also raven, salmon, chipmunk, raccoon, weasel, mouse, heron, slug and so much more. We talked about why a park needs caretakers for all these stakeholders, and what occurs without people lending a hand to manage trails and terrain. Since our gathering area was adjacent to a stand of alders, thimbleberry and salmonberry, overrun by invasive blackberry, the girls quickly understood how invasive species take over native ones rather quickly.

Then we were off on a very short trip by bus to our destination just up the road. The next few hours were spend collaborating in purposeful work, removing invasives with care and attention, singing and talking while we worked. Worms were admired, baby fir trees were transplanted, connections were made between within and between GEC groups.

Each group shared some time on the bluff overlooking the sea, marveling at this extraordinary view that is normal for us here in Bellingham, and feeling thankful that Cyrus Gates had the foresight to set this bluff aside for all to enjoy. We also gave thanks for the Clark family for it's donation of Clark's Point to the Whatcom Land Trust, and the preservation of Chuckanut Island, now owned by the Nature Conservancy (but which was, long ago, a 13th birthday present for Cyrus Gate's son!).

Other gratitudes shared included the company of one another, the chance to serve, Explorers Club, trees, the Salish Sea, connections, generosity, and people who understand that all things are connected.

Enjoy the slideshow from our day here! 

Nettle Cordage 9.16.16

Our first outing of the fall season brought us together in Fairhaven Park.  It was a crisp fall day; a perfect display of the changes we experience in the fall season.  We circled together to check in and   welcomed two new members; Claire and Piper!

We had a busy skills day ahead so we headed off to our nettle patch to harvest some stinging nettle in the tall, fall form.  Several of the girls cut the nettles, then several would strip the stalks of their leaves.  These two tasks allowed for some edge stretching among the group.  I think we escaped with just a few stings.  Once we had a pile together we went in search of a spot to learn the skills of stripping the fibers away from the pulpy part of the stalk.

The girls ate lunch, and then had a chance to collaborate and compromise on a game while Lauren and I did some initial preparation of the stalks.

Finally we got to the stripping; a meditative type of activity, and a perfect way to enjoy this fine fall day.

Here are some photos of the girls doing this work.  We will now let the strands dry and then bring them on an outing in the spring where we will learn to make cordage.









No explorers outing is complete without some games; and we spent some time after the sitting work running around playing spider's web.  Alea taught us a fun way to identify your unique laugh....pictured below:

We spent some time in peaceful place; then gathered back together for sharing our attitude of gratitude.  Lauren, Alea and I are all grateful for the fun and curious energy of the Pikas!

See more photos here

Words of the day:  Stinging nettle, games, spiders and fun!

Service with Greenways along Whatcom Creek: 5-14-16

This past Saturday the Pikas, Silver Salmon, EMA's Iris & Klara, and volunteer, Lindsey all joined forces with Greenways to help maintain the Whatcom Creek in the heart of Bellingham City. Having gotten to know Whatcom Creek upstream, on Saturday we learned more about this special waterway’s history and the ways in which we can work together to preserve this river ecosystem that winds between buildings and streets. We talked about whose cups we fill with a service project like this, and girls offered the following ideas:

-We help nature and plants.

-We help humans because we all live better when we take care of the earth.
-We help the animals that live in this habitat.

After a rousing game of Who Am I? on the green behind the library, we met up with Rae at the service tent. The groups divided and went straight to work with clippers, loppers, pitch-forks, and a mission to remove Rose, Horse Tail, and Snowberry to name a few of the plants on our “weed” list. This assignment at first seemed strange: These were native plants we were removing from their rightful place! Rae, the Greenways coordinator, explained that these plants want to grow too big and tall for their small, pavement bordered patch of earth. The Pikas dove right in to their assignment, using their eagle eyes skills to spot plants slated for cutting, and great coordination to avoid getting poked by Rose thorns! This project proved a great opportunity for teamwork, and the girls collaborated to find, pull and collect 
all of the weeds in their path. During our work we discovered:

-Mushroom Mycelium growing throughout woodchips

-Worms, millipedes, and spiders
-An old flip phone buried in the dirt (unfortunately it no longer worked)

-How fun it can be to clip and rip plants out of the dirt!

The girls pushed through to finish pulling all of the plants they could and clean up their area, even as attention spans strained. They demonstrated true integrity in continuing to work, and exemplified the motto: Walk Your Talk. It was truly gratifying to stand back and look at our transformed area when our job was finished!

When the work party wrapped up, we descended back to the library lawn for a lunch in the sun, some hilarious headstand competitions and yogi sessions, and then GAMES GALORE!

We practiced our "MOOOS!" and got silly during a game of Tipping Cows, used our Owl Eye vision for a game of Owl tail tag, and became exceptionally sneaky as hiders and seekers during a few rounds of Spiders Web.

Our words of the day? Giving And Receiving Helping Ferns And Plants Live!

To view the full album of the day, click here.