The weather in Fairhaven Park on Saturday was warm and cloudless when the Red Tail arrived. The goals were to learn about safe exploration and lay the foundation for understanding camouflage. Moreover, as the group was new, much of the day was spent getting to know other group members. We played Evolution and Squirrel Tagto get out some energy and start to learn other Explorers’ names.
In order to safely practice the Art of Exploration, we began with our Explorers’ Club mottoes: Being Prepared and Safety First. As such, explorers learned about and assumed trail jobs for the day. This meant that every participant was critical to the group and that our number one goal besides having fun was that everyone could contribute. We also discussed how to behave if someone gets lost or needs to use the bathroom while exploring.
Finally the heat had made its statement and we took cover for coolness in the 100-Acre Woods. This was a great time to review what camouflage is and how it plays a role in the natural world. Explorers learned the rules of Hide and then practiced their first understandings of camouflage by blending into the woods! By hiding we learn about the natural surroundings and start to understand the landscape. Though some us had played Hide before, it was our first chance to play as a group.
Isaac’s beige shirt turned into a good learning opportunity. As he hid in the tall grasses, we lost sight of him from only 20 feet away. We then took turns recognizing how colors and movement play a role in camouflage. This led into a round of camouflage gauntlet in which the mentors hid colored chenille sticks (pipe cleaners) along the trail (try to spot some in our photos!) We searched for them in the duff, on the trees, above our heads. Of note was Steve’s incredible “blackberry” at eye level!
Like butter on a warm piece of toast, Explorer’s melted into the forest. We explored the spiders, fungi, and trees. We learned about the Hawthorne’s helpful berries and its sharp thorns. We revisited the motto, Safety First, to learn about identifying potential plant hazards like Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica), Holly (Ilex opaca), Hawthorn (Crataegus), and Oregon Grape (Mahonia aquifolium). Then, we were primed to play Hide again and learned about camouflage in the thick foliage found in the under story.
An important closing note was the motto: Attitude of Gratitude. In a circle, we shared with one another one thing for which we were grateful. In this sense Explorers develop an appreciation for things or events in their life, even outside of Explorers’ Club. We had apples together and then rolled down the hill to meet the parents who were waiting for us. Some Explorers even rolled up the hill so they could try rolling down it again! Thanks for your dedication and gung-ho attitudes, Explorers! And Thank You parents for encouraging your boys to explore!
Don't forget to check out pictures in the photo album!
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