Catching Snakes, Playing Games, and Everything Not Hiking to Fragrance Lake

For the Mountain Goats second to last outing of the season we met up at Lost Lake Trailhead along Chuckanut Drive. We weren’t going to Lost Lake, or Clayton Beach, but to Fragrance Lake. Although our intention was to make it to Fragrance Lake, rarely does an Explorers Club group make it all the way up before getting side tracked with games, skills, or exploration of the many mysteries along the way. 

Starting things off we were immediately side tracked by a rustling in the Salal bushes beside our opening circle. Having tuned in to that specific rustle, one of the mentors paused everything to investigate. Reaffirming what was heard, returning out of the brush the mentor had a squirming Garter snake in his hand. Taking a moment to examine the animal and talk a bit about the anatomy of why a snake has a forked tongue (ask your Explorer to see if they remember!) we were soon distracted by yet another rustle in the brush. To our surprise there was another snake! Not only was there one more, but half a dozen other Garter snakes hiding in and amongst the brush. The Mountain Goats proceeded to spend the next half hour poking around through the bushes and trying to catch the newest snake to try and sneak away from us. 

Checking out the first snake

Catching Big Bertha!

Searching for more!

Foretelling how the rest of the outing would go, we finally got on the trail and within a few minutes paused to play some rounds of HIDE while tending to a minor injury to one of the Explorers who knocked his toe on a rock. Finally, we pushed further down the trail but yet again got distracted by a cool ledge to explore. Then we barely made it past the entrance to the trailhead before the group decided to scout through the thick Sword Fern for a good place to play Spider’s Web. Whatever glimmer of hope we had to make it even to the lookout, let along the lake was lost when we set up base camp only a couple hundred yards away from the trailhead.

Spreading out we discovered a well-used deer trail with old hoof prints, deer scat, and a log with moss knocked off from deer repeatedly knocking their hooves into it while stepping over. Additionally we discovered a queen Bald Faced Hornet still hibernating in a rotten log who was luckily rather lethargic and unable to do much than cling onto a stick for relocation. With a better understanding of the landscape and a hazard removed it was time to play Spider’s Web. The game we always get excited for was quickly set up by the Mountain Goats with limited assistance from the mentors. While playing the game one of the mentors prepped some materials for skills work while the other tried to help navigate a few challenges with our game.

Setting up base camp and eating some lunch

Re-locating the queen Bald Faced Hornet!

  

Finally wrapping up Spider’s Web the group naturally transitioned into some skills work. Despite being their first year, the Mountain Goats are a few years older than the usual “first year” groups. Because of this they not only have worked on the Art of Camouflage but also thoroughly took on the Art of Shelter and are hungry for a new skill. Given their growth and development as a group, demonstrated maturity and focus, and a year of safely using sticks around one another the mentors decided to see if the group is ready for the Art of Carving. 

Learning the basics of carving

Practicing the Bow Drill

Technique and form are key in being successful!

 Not wanting to jump right in, the mentors split the group up into two groups. One was working on some basic carving safety and techniques while the other group practiced with a Bow Drill (or primitive means of starting fire with friction). Both skills require immense focus, patience, and dedication to learn and become proficient. Despite the challenge, the Mountain Goats stepped up and proved they are ready to take on more responsibility and delve into the Art of Carving. Despite hiking roughly 200 yards down the Fragrance Lake trail, the Mountain Goats proved that all they need is a small patch of woods, good friends, some snacks and water, and a little bit of inspiration to stay occupied for hours and hours. We caught snacks and hornets, explored a deer trail, played a number of games, began learning the Art of Carving, and even had some left over energy to practice using a Bow Drill. All in all I would call that a pretty good day.

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

The Mountain Goats Impress On Their Inaugural Outing

The Mountain Goats met up for their first outing of their Explorers Club history on a sunny, Thursday afternoon. As one of the first ever Thursday groups at Wild Whatcom, this group was setting out on uncharted territory as we gathered together for six hours of exploration at Fairhaven Park. We started things off with a big game of “Fox Tails” to get our energy out before gathering together for our first ever opening circle.

Kicking things off with a big game of Fox Tails!

In opening circle we talked about what to expect from a typical Explorers Club outing, how we can ensure we are being safe and managing our risk on explorations, and make a plan for what we wanted to do for the day. The mentors made an intention to teach games like “Hide” and “Food and Water” to the group in order to practice our Earth Skills focus of the season “The Art of Stealth and Camouflage” which is the first essential skill for any Explorer. 

Checking out the map before heading into the Hundred Acre Wood

Through games of “Hide” we learned how to break up our silhouette using foliage, break up or our appearance by wearing colors that match those of the forest, and last but not least, how to move silently through the forest as not to give away our position. The next game we learned, “Food and Water”, would teach us how to identify good hiding spots in the forest while under the pressure of ever diminishing times to hide. Starting at 30 seconds, each round decreases by five seconds until the final round where each Explorer has five seconds to come out of their hiding spot, tag the hand of who is it, and hide again before the person who is it tries to find them hidden in the forest. Our final game was “Spider’s Web” where the whole group must work together to try and retrieve a bandana without being spotted by the “spider” who is trying to capture all of the flies on the web.

Learning how to play HIDE and discussing our strategies

Counting to 30 before looking for all of those hiding in the brush nearby

With some practice in stealth and camouflage out of the way we ate some food and took some free time to explore and play. Some of us worked on learning some basics of tracking from one of the mentors, while others spread out to work on constructing some quick shelters that could be used as camouflage blinds. As daylight dwindled, it was time to head back. We worked our way through the darkening forest and ran across the field to reunite with parents. Overall, this was an impressive first outing for this group. They made far more progress and demonstrated an ability to learn and retain information beyond expectations. The mentors are excited to see how quickly this group can learn the skills of not only a variety of Earth Skills, but also those of collaboration and compromise, taking on leadership roles, and so many other lessons to be learned throughout their time as Explorers in the Mountain Goats group.

Working on a quick lean-to shelter

Learning how to use a small stand of trees to break a large branch

Goofing off and showing the mentors this group knows how to have a good time!

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