Service at Woodstock Farm: 12-11-16

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

At our gathering meeting, we reviewed the importance of preparedness on this wintry day. We agreed that our primary shelter is clothing, and that when we layer well we can come out of our boxes (homes, schools, store, car) and truly enjoy connecting with the earth. Without this thoughtful preparedness, we can become uncomfortable, leaving us unhappy with out-of-the-box experiences and thus minimizing our opportunities to connect and protect. 

After a very short trip by bus to our destination just up the road, we discussed our GEC mottos related to service, including You See It, You Own It, Walk Your Talk, Leave No Trace, Our Cup Overflows, We, Not Just Me, Connect and Protect, Many Hands Make Light Work.  We also revisited our talk about safety nets from the previous service project, and how so many things can serve as our safety net: other people, objects, nature. Mentors shared the history of this Woodstock Farm, beginning with the Mamosee people, and the role of generosity and conservationist ethic that led to its preservation. We considered the seventh generation principle, wherein one contemplates the effects of one's actions seven generations forward. Thanks to the Mamosee's stewardship and Cyrus Gates' forward thinking, 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 talked about why a park needs caretakers, 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 snowberry, overrun by invasive blackberry and English ivy, the girls understood how invasive species take over native ones rather quickly.

The next few hours were spend collaborating in purposeful work alongside the Fiddlehead and Red Fox groups, removing invasives with motivated care and determination, singing and talking while we worked. 

During a break we shared some time on the bluff overlooking the sea, marveling at this extraordinary view that is normal for us here in Whatcom County, and feeling thankful that Cyrus Gates had the foresight to set this area 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!).

Reflecting on the season past, we ended our final shared day of fall by creating the Web of Life from things we'd all connected to this season: sandstone, Salish Sea, rain, medicine club, birds, mud, leaves, cedar, bees, wind, one another. 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 the other aspects. We reiterated that GEC is all about strengthening the web of life, as well as the bonds between each other. 

Our words of the day? Woodstock, Weeds, and Generosity! 

Enjoy the slideshow from our day here! 

EC MOTTOS that came into play today: Many Hands Make Light Work, All Things Are Connected, LIBK, Be Prepared, Leave No Trace, Connect and Protect, You See It You Own It, Our Cups Overflow, Attitude of Gratitude, We Not Just Me, Walk Your Talk

Service for the Chore Program: 11-13-16

Many of our service projects provide a “safety net” for others in our community, taking care of others who may not have the resources to take care of themselves.

The Chore program identifies homeowners who are elderly or living with a disability and unable to carry out house chores and outdoor upkeep, and pairs them with volunteers who perform these necessary tasks, allowing those in need to remain in their houses and keep their independence. It is a great program that brings communities together, relying on the kindness of neighbors to keep those that are struggling in their homes. 
There is no better way to know community than by serving it!

And so the Spotted Owls drove east around Lake Whatcom, discussing the concept of safety nets as we made our way to Gerald's home in Sudden Valley. We talked about what safety nets are, and brainstormed on why/when one would especially need support. Then we considered who makes up our personal safety nets (family, friends, neighbors, school, Explorers Club), and our community ones (the Food Bank, Lighthouse Mission, Humane Society, Search and Rescue, the Chore Program).  

Arriving at Gerald's house, we heard from the Chore program coordinator what Gerald needed from us: window washing, stair scrubbing, and lots of leaf raking. Meeting Gerald, we learned that he has mobility challenges, and that he spent his career teaching art (he explained that the bust in the garden - which we assumed was of a famous person - was of him, done by a former student). 

As we set to work, we ooo-ed and ahh-ed over Gerald's ceramic pieces, hiding under bushes and atop stones, pieces he'd relegated to the garden as castoffs, but which we regarded as treasures! Some girls carefully scrubbed each found piece - others scrubbed stairs, washed windows, and the rest worked enthusiastically to rake every last leaf on lawn (with predominantly maple trees overhead, there were a lot!). 

After a few hours of nonstop effort, Gerald came back out on his porch to survey our work, and teared up as he gave thanks. We in turn shared our gratitude to him, and admiration for his art. Gerald than offered a piece of pottery to each one of us, one-of-a-kind creations to take home and treasure. Safety nets are reciprocal - they satisfy both the server and the served!

We ended our day with lunch and conversation alongside Lake Louise, and shared our own circle of thanks for the day and its measures of magic and meaning.

Words of the Day? "Doing Our Part, From the Heart, Receiving Art... from Gerald"

Mottos in Use Today: Attitude of gratitude, Our Cups Overflow, Safety First, Many Hands Make Light Work, Walk Your Talk, You See It You Own It, Grasp the Nettle.

Medicine Club Traverse: 9.11.16

What a gorgeous day for a traverse!  The Spotted Owls met together as a "new" group Sunday morning and enjoyed a day of exploring, laughing, playing, and friendship.

We gathered together and introduced ourselves:  new members and veteran Spotted Owls.  We widened our circle to welcome Wren, Caroline, Riahanah, and Lilah.   Five members of the group have moved on to other activities.  And we will be welcoming Emery next outing.  We also initiated Stormie to her first outing as a new Wild Whatcom mentor!  Whew!  Lots of change and transition; and a perfect opportunity to have a conversation about how nature teaches us about transitions.  We discussed how we become aware of these changes through our senses: the feel of cooler temps, watching the leaves change, the different smell in the air, and even our biorhythms of knowing it's time to return to school.

The veterans shared some important EC mottos with our new members:  Safety First, LIBK, Be Prepared, Build Bridges not Walls, and Stretch your Edge.  ( Collaborate and Compromise came up later ).

Our newly formed Spotted Owls then headed to the south side of Chuckanut Drive for a walk in the forest and a chance to meet new and old plant and tree friends.  We stopped to look at Cedars and Douglas Firs; comparing and contrasting.  We got curious about ferns and stinky bob.  But the plant we were seeking out was Devil's Club, or, as we choose to call it, Medicine Club.  We had discussed some aspects of Medicine Club before we met any; particularly it's defense mechanism of many noxious and irritating spines.  The plant is covered!  But we got real close and we discovered that only the stems and the upper and lower veins of the leaves have the spines.  Most everyone felt brave enough to carefully touch the parts of the leaves where no spines were present.  We had respected the Medicine Club, and now we had a new friend.

We had quite a fun time fox walking through the thick forest as we continued on towards Mud Bay. We had our secret spider spray to illuminate some sweet webs.  And we learned how to navigate with a compass.  I think everyone was happy though when we emerged out of the thick trees and saw water.  Ah, a sunny day and plenty of time and water!!  We sat to eat some lunch and then the long pants were replaced by shorts, and the water shoes replaced the hikers.  For a good solid hour it was all play: mud, water, chasing, piggy back rides, falling in the mud, laughing, crabs and..did I say MUD!

We continued on to Woodstock Farm where we introduced the time honored game of Spider's Web. A few rounds later and it was approaching the close of our day.  We separated out for about twenty minutes of peaceful place and then walked the last section of our traverse.

Coming together once more in our circle we shared our attitude of gratitude; a practice of expressing what we were grateful for in our day.  As for us ( Stormie and Rebecca ), we are grateful for the fun, inclusive, curious energy of this group.  We can't wait to play again. 

Words of the day:  Medicine Club,  water and mud, new and old friends, navigation....peaceful

More photos here

Little Squalicum Beach Park 6.11.2106

For our final outing of the season, the Spotted Owls met at the north entrance to Little Squalicum Beach Park.  The weather was blustery and soon most everyone was pulling out additional layers! Nice work Spotted Owls in being prepared.

We needed to move!... so headed into the park, and into the large meadow where tall grasses and numerous trees provided some shelter from the wind.  Here we enjoyed some rounds of Spider's Web, and several versions of a group challenge called ants on a log.

This challenge allowed the girls to explore communication styles as well as how to support one another in a common goal.

Now warmed up, we sat in a loose circle and introduced our theme for this outing; the history of a place through story telling.  We began by sharing some of our own stories: who we are and things that matter to us, where we come from, and mostly,  how the school year has been significant.  I am always amazed at the innate ability that children have to sense each others needs, and to know the right timing for certain conversations.  I will just say that we talked a lot about friendship and boundaries and compassion and empathy.  And,  I would invite you to check in with your daughter at some point about this conversation.

We were able to make a connection to the story of this particular place; once teeming with life and providing for native peoples to the area.  We talked about changes that happen when new people arrive to area, and when progress takes place.  Lying on our backs and looking up at the trees waving in the breeze we shared how this place went from a forested area with wetlands and a creek supporting salmon to somewhat of a wasteland riddled with tunnels from digging coal and finally the site of a creosote factory.  These conversations are so powerful and allow the girls to grapple with what it means to connect to protect, and how progress can also change things drastically for multiple parties concerned.

We decided it was time for the beach so we packed up our things and off we went.  The girls found a great spot where mud and crabs and water and downed trees kept us happy and curious the rest of the day.

Our final circle would be to share our connections throughout the season in an activity called the web of life.  The girls share their connections to nature, to one another, and to that which brings them joy.  We had a short conversation about how connections are weakened and strengthened, both on a global level in reference to nature, and on a personal level as it related to their previous conversations about friendships.  Wow, these girls are full of wisdom!

With that it's back to meet parents; and, a wrap for the season.  On behalf of all the mentors who have worked with your daughters, and all of the GEC family, thank you!  We truly appreciate your support of your daughter as it relates to us...and we recognize and honor your support of your daughters desire to be involved in this group.  Have a fabulous summer.

More photos here

Words of the day:

Service with Washington Trails Association: 5-1-16

Mentors here at Wild Whatcom are connection lovers. And we're not talking about the internet, but rather the connection that happens in realtime, between humans interacting with their physical environment. This type of connection was really strong during our service project last Saturday with the Washington Trails Association (WTA).

The WTA builds and maintains trails over the entire state of Washington, and their volunteer trail maintenance program is among the largest in the nation. They log more than 105,000 volunteer hours statewide each year, and over 2500 volunteers giving back to the trails they love.

We gathered for our check-in, sharing our names and how we have been.  This was mostly to introduce everyone to our intern, Brooke! We then gathered around in council and met Kathy and her dedicated crew of volunteers who have taken many a day out of their busy schedules to Walk Their Talk and work to create and improve trails all over western Washington.

After learning about how to safely handle the multitude of tools provided, we grabbed shovels, Pulaskis, saws, clippers, and hoes, capped our eager heads with some fancy hard hats and made our way to the trail (we learned that girls with hard hats and tools grow about 3 inches in pride and confidence).

 We split into groups to become rotten bridge destroyers, ivy pullers, wood/rock haulers, rotten wood hiders, and the mud diggers. Girls worked hard prying away rotten wood and finding places for it to rot peacefully in the forest. Others hustled along the path hauling wood and rock for bridge building. A lucky group lived up to the motto "Get Dirty" and with muddy paws dug through the dirt to get a foundation for the new bridge started. All along the way, the WTA volunteers acted as our teachers, guiding us in instruction and supporting our efforts with smiles and stories.  Lots of work done with lots of collaboration between the Spotted Owls and the amazing WTA volunteers, a fantastic crew of older seasoned WTA volunteers who were open-hearted, generous in their teachings, and made this day one of beautiful connection between young and old, tool and task, girl and group, and the empowerment of giving back to nature.

At our post outing-meeting mentors agreed: those committed, hardworking, joyous, bright Spotted Owl girls left us feeling energized and inspired! We spent our day giving back to Larrabee State Park and the trail that our adventuring feet have traveled upon often, collaborating with the Washington Trails Association and its volunteers to pry away rotten bridges, haul rocks, pull ivy and dig through dirt to set the foundation for a new bridge. 

The Red Foxes not only spent the day diligently at work, they also filled it with lots of laughter, mud-painted faces, and dandelion fritter feasts. Workers young and old had smiles stretched across their faces as they sawed, shoveled, tugged, and hauled.  As our time together came to a close (we had to literally tear some girls away from the work they were THAT dedicated), we gave thanks to nature, the trees, the WTA, and to each other for filling our day and our hearts with so much inspiration and joy. A truly wonderful and inspiring day!

Outing & Navigation Skills Day at the Stimpson Reserve: 4-10-16

Many Explorers Club groups have visited the Stimpson Reserve ,and all have traveled remarkably short distances around the 3 mile loop, caught up as we usually are in our motto It’s About the Journey, not the Destination. When one walks with Explorers’ eyes, there is an incredible abundance to observe in just a short stretch of trail.

At our gathering circle, we recognized and applauded the conservation efforts of the state of Washington and the Stimpson family that resulted in giving these woods to nature (rather than to some other use, like condominiums or a strip mall). Then, we hit the trail and immediately began noticing signs of spring: the sticky buds of cottonwood (which we'll use in later seasons to make salve), nettle shoots, Indian plum blossoms, the beautiful tri-petaled flowers of Trillium (aka Wake Robin / Birthroot), the moose-like leaves of vanilla leaf, and the sounds of many different species of bird staking out their territories. We encountered nurse logs that told the story of death giving life, a few fungal friends, and trees that bore evidence of pileated woodpecker and red breasted sapsucker activity. We sleuthed out how the wetlands had been made (beavers!) and did a short activity that helped us understand how beavers are keystone species, affecting so many other species by their work creating new habitats. 

Throughout the day we continually revisited our theme of navigation and orientation. How do we decide which way to go? What direction is North/South/East/West? We practiced using a compass to determine which direction we’re going, as well as talked about the value of natural landmarks to orient us. For example, around here Water means West! Baker means East! How can we use landmarks to help us? How can we listen to our "inner compass" and how can it guide us? 

During lunch we discussed lost-proofing: ways to keep ourselves from getting lost. Aimee shared navigation stories wherein people made mistakes and the girls' task was to name what mistakes were made, such as going solo, not filing a trip report, leaving the group without a buddy, being overconfident in local knowledge, being without some of the ten essentials, not staying in place when lost, and more. These stories, while sometimes sad, are very instructive - they align with our motto Mistakes Are Teachers and Turn Problems Into Possibilities. 

We returned to discussing the different ways we can use our awareness to orient ourselves on the land. One of the ways the aboriginal people of Australia used to do this was with Songlines, oral poetic “maps” that they believed were “footprints of the ancestors” (you can read more about Songlines here). After discussing the Songline concept, the girls split into two groups and set off in different directions to create their own poetic Songline descriptions to notate landmarks. In this way, each group made a Songlines “map” of the path they had taken to give to the other group to follow. After creating our directions, we gave these metaphors to the other group to follow. For example:

Walk through the house of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas (2 Douglas Fir trees)

Watch for medusa's hair (a root wad with its long spindly roots)

Shh... When you can hear the rain you can't feel (a stream), walk past the childbirth plant that blooms when the robin wakes (trillium)

The landscape came to life as we practiced this ancient form of orientation and mapping!

We also played an awareness game, with girls being suddenly asked to close their eyes, then quizzed on some aspect of nature around them, to check if we had noticed it in passing, if we were paying attention. These kinds of awareness games are integral to developing naturalist sensibilities.

Peaceful Place among moss-carpeted trees added a welcome stillness to the day. Afterwards, we brainstormed on ways that sitting still is a skill. Girls identified it as allowing us to hear that quiet voice inside (another motto: Let That Quiet Voice Inside Be Your Guide), to quiet our minds, to access our other senses, to notice key things, to allow nature to come alive around us. 

Finally, we headed back down the trail, with a sort of trust walk, involving removing sight from one partner and using sounds to follow the other partner guide. We discussed ways people permanently without sight do this using echolocation. Wow!

Our closing circle led us to a rich conversation about how the Stimpson family protected this land so we could connect with it, and how we in turn can protect the earth so others may connect. 

Our words of the day? Stimpson Reserve + Navigation Skills = Connect and Protect! 

You may check out the slideshow from our day here. 

Mottos especially in use today: Collaborate and Compromise, It’s About the Journey Not the Destination, Attitude of Gratitude, Connect and Protect, Turn Problems into Possibilities, Safety First, Be Prepared. 

Service with Blue Skies for Children: 5-6-16

On this unusual indoor service day, we come in from exploring outside and instead explore the connections between us and other youth of our community whose "cups" aren't quite full. As we gathered, we reviewed our service ethic, which is to be of use to any aspect of our community that needs our help. We acted out Our Cups Overflow philosophy of service, that those whose cups spill over have the joy and responsibility of sharing with others whose cups aren't quite full. We introduced the concept of a safety net, created by community to "catch" those who need extra support. We'll revisit the concept of a safety net frequently in coming years, and consider who makes up our safety net. We also discussed the difference between direct and indirect service and why both are important. Finally we were ready to head inside and hear about our tasks for the day.

Volunteer Lisa shared details of Blue Skies For Children's mission, and how they help "fill the cups" of hundreds of children in Whatcom County through granting little and big wishes, providing new shoes (often the first pair of new shoes a child receives), winter necessities, and instrument loans. It was just great to witness the Spotted Owl's emerging commitment to do what they could to contribute to the BSFC mission.

The commitment on this day was to stamp, label and stuff thousands of envelopes. As we talked about direct service vs. indirect service, the Spotted Owl girls saw how this indirect contribution of labeling envelopes to potential donors could allow many children to be assisted by BSFC.

All service projects require some degree of persistence – it is work, after all. But somehow the Spotted Owls successfully made work into play on Sunday. This time was a great way for the girls to connect abouttheir lives, something we often don't have time for on outings. We shared our interests, events in our lives, lots of goofiness, and even touched on politics. We had an interesting discussion about Henry David Thoreau and his quote "If a (girl) does not keep pace with her companions, perhaps it is because (she) hears a different drummer. Let (her) step to the music which she hears, however measured or far away." We shortened this piece of advice to "Dance to the beat of your own drummer" and talked about what that means. Girls shared that those who do that in school are sometimes labeled "weird" - we agreed that we want to celebrate our unique qualities, and that GEC is a place to really support each other in that. Talk of Thoreau connected us to Gandhi and MLK Jr, to standing up for one's beliefs, to service. It was rich!

In Explorers Club, we aim to create a culture that expresses the attitude of writer Rabindranath Tagore: "I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy." Our project involved a different kind of tenacity than usual: there was no inclement weather to work with, no hard-to-pull weeds, but rather, lots of repetitive tasks. But the Spotted Owls never seemed to tire of it; they took a short lunch break, but were determined to finish the job we had come to do. This is integrity in action, following our EC motto Walk Your Talk.

Even amidst all the silliness and fun we had, this group put their best self-management skills to work. With great focus, they sticker-ed, stamped and stuffed a huge number of envelopes and donated the equivalent of 49 hours of time (3.5 hrs x 14 of us)! Filled with a sense of determination and resolve to have the biggest impact possible in a finite amount of time, they filled an additional round of envelopes up until the very last minute! They really left an impression, and received sound gratitude from BSFC board member Lisa. 

Lisa shared that it would have taken her many days to do this much work - she also shared that she is a volunteer. When we asked why she gives freely of so much time, she let us know that her parents mentored her in serving; they both did so all while she was growing up. We hope GEC is helping create similar healthy community-minded habits!

The laws of physics mean that when one's cup is emptied to fill others' cups, that cup becomes more empty. But the Spotted Owls' experience defied physics: they all could easily state that their cups were more full by helping to fill those of the BSFC kids. We shared a quote that reflects this notion that in giving we receive: "The fragrance remains on the hand of who gives the rose."

Our words of the day: Stamping, Stuffing, Serving for Sunny Skies!

EC Mottos especially alive today:
Our Cups Overflow
Walk Your Talk
Collaborate and Compromise
All Things Are Connected
LIBK (Let It Be Known)
Widen The Circle
Everyone Helps

You may view our photo album from the day here.