Outing at 100 Acre Wood: 11-21-15

The morning was cold and sunny: A Be Prepared challenge day! While waiting for everyone to arrive, the girls enjoyed playing a couple of favorite EC games: Pack Leader and "Woody, the Woodchuck." Then after a lengthy check-in around clothing, our favorite Harry Potter house, some early snacking, and talking about how animals protect themselves from the cold, we were on our way to explore! 

Checking-in about appropriate clothing.

Walking into the 100 Acre Wood we discussed Firs and Cedars, licorice root and mushrooms. There were a few side trips from the main trail to explore shelters, and search out a sunny spot. Our ultimate destination was a small open area with tall cedars; perfect for a day of exploring, game-playing and hot cocoa!

The girls enjoyed playing HIDE and Spider's Web to keep energies up and bodies warm.

Rebecca, being sneaky in HIDE!

Our outing also included Circles of Comfort, a special activity around Stretching Our Edge. We had a great discussion about a previous outing (North Lake Whatcom ) where several girls had been significantly stretched beyond their learning zone. Using circles laid on the ground, we talked about many situations, and how we are all challenged differently. We talked about feeling pressure from others in certain situations, and the difference between peer pressure and encouragement. And we discussed what it means to follow our Internal Compass.

Circles of Comfort

Reflecting on the season past, we ended our day by creating the Web of Life from things we'd all connected to this season: trees, mud, North Lake Whatcom, the sky, and personal growth, just to name a few. We agreed that humans are connected to every aspect of this web, and have tremendous power to impact it in both positive and negative ways. This underlines our GEC motto, All Things Are Connected, and helps us understand that whenever one thing in the web is altered, it affects all other aspects. We reiterated that GEC is all about strengthening the web of life, as well as the bonds between each other. All Pikas who wish to continue to be part of our web are invited to return in the spring. We hope they will!  

Check out our photo album for more pictures from our exploration to 100 Acre Wood. Have a happy winter, everyone!

Service with Greenways: 10-31-15

What could be more scary than a pack of Pikas on Halloween??!!  Actually we weren't very scary, at all; the girls were determined and engaged for our service with Greenways near Padden Creek in Fairhaven.  Our group was missing a few girls and rain was threatening, but spirits were high!  We began our day with our usual check-in and then revisited the motto, Our Cups Overflow.  The girls shared their deep understanding and appreciation of just how much they have in their lives. We left Fairhaven Village Green and headed for the work party site, the anticipated stormy day brewing ever so slightly.

Removing invasive species

Our "project" was a sweet little patch of young trees near the creek.  We pulled weeds and cut back invasive Himalayan Blackberry.  We gently unwound Morning Glory.  We learned about how to best support a young tree.  And, we hauled monstrous amounts of mulch to spread at the base of the trees. 

Hauling mulch

Bird's nest

We Widened our Circle, working alongside new friends.  The weather was just right for working and it was quite enchanting to be there all together in our tiny little grove.  Someone even discovered a bird's nest! We found earthworms and spiders.  When we finished we had supported 7 or 8 small trees to grow in a healthy environment, working to help restore this land to the ancient forest it was long ago...

Newly weeded and mulched tree

Now we set off through the woods, girls in charge of navigation.  After Collaborating and Compromising, we did some exploring and sharing, then headed back towards Fairhaven.   As we got closer to the village area we realized that it was trick or treating time!  The streets were full of vampires and Harry Potter characters.  There was candy to be had!  So we took a collective deep breath and headed into the fray as....a group of Explorers!

The skies let loose with rain and soon we were all bone-chilling cold.  We wrapped-up with a quick game of "Look Up, Look Down" and Closing Circle, then parents arrived just in time to whisk away their young Explorer for the rest of her Halloween festivities...

"Look Up, Look Down!"

Words of the Day: Service, Sun, Rain, Fun, Candy!
  
Check out our photo album for more pictures from our Padden Creek service.