Red-Tailed Eyas and Salamander Efts Learn About Life and Death in the Forest

Meeting up on a chilly morning at Lookout Mountain, the Salamander Efts and Red Tailed Eyas came together as two of the eldest groups in Boys Explorers Club. It has been a tradition over the years that two of the oldest groups of Explorers get together for an outing for an epic games day. The game of the day would be “Life and Death in the Forest” which teaches us about the intricacies of the food web through playful embodiment of those who call the forest home. Herbivores, Omnivores, and Carnivores make up the basic players in the game with food sources, water sources, and medicine sources scattered throughout the playing field. The struggle between life and death becomes surprisingly real when time is running out and the only thing standing between you and that last food source is a hungry Carnivore licking his chops for a shot at one last meal. With many of the Explorers having heard about this game from friends or family, this highly anticipated moment in their Explorers Club career was about to begin.

Gathering together for an opening circle

As we hiked together up the trail, we were immediately faced with both life and death in the forest. This time, however, was no game. At a junction in the trail a dank, decaying aroma crept into our nostrils and made us all pause. Peering through the foliage was eerie sight to behold, ribs, rotten flesh, a hoof, and looking right back at us; a skull. This was a perfect reminder that although for us Life and Death in the Forest is a fun game, for all of our furry and feathered friends it is a very stark reality. Picking our way through the underbrush, we investigated further to find the carcass of a deer. The close proximity to the trail and lack of debris covering the carcass ruled out any cougar as the culprit. Plenty of game trails came in and out of the brush where the carcass was likely indicating coyotes had been feeding here, and perhaps the occasional off leash dog that couldn’t resist a good sniff. The true killer may never be known, but since the deer seemed young in size and without much wear on its teeth, natural causes seemed unlikely. With the droning of cars on Lake Luis Rd still drifting over the hillside, the prime suspect was unfortunately an automobile.

The deer carcass we found in the woods

Moving on from the deer carcass, we continued along the trail chatting amongst ourselves when a brown blur sliced through the canopy overhead. Getting a better angle, we gathered around to observe a Barred Owl perched up at the top of a Red Alder. It lingered long enough for everyone to get a good look before silently swooping away, back into the forest in search of some peace and quiet. Having discovered impeccable instances of both life and death in the forest it was time to get down to business. 

Taking a break from the game to test Tinder Fungus as a coal extender

Traversing off trail we found a good spot to set up base camp and circle up to talk about the day. Having two groups together meant a bigger circle than usual, but everyone seemed to hold focus and let the mentors go over the game plan. With our game set up, the rules explained, and participants prepped, all that was left was to start. The Herbivores got a head start to disperse into the landscape and begin stealthily scouring the forest for food and water. Next the Omnivores were sent off needing to pick a priority of plant food, water, or hunting to begin the game. Finally, the Carnivores were let loose much to the dismay of the Herbivores and Omnivores who now flinched at every twig snapped and fern rustled. Explorers and Mentors alike ran, crawled, climbed, ducked, dove, scurried and scampered. For over half an hour the struggle between life and death was all that mattered. This crash course in survival was graded with a pass or a fail. It didn’t matter how you survived, no style points were awarded, and whether you charged fearlessly into the onslaught or crawled quietly around the melee did not matter as long as you survived. Finally the game was called to an end and despite the mayhem the majority of us survived to see another day… or at least another round!

An unsuspecting Herbivore in search of food and water...

Little did he know it was an ambush!

Finishing our second round of Life and Death in the Forest, we gathered up for some informal free time working on bow drill, testing TinderFungus, or just goofing off with friends. Everyone enjoyed some down time after all the excursion during our games and we soon transitioned into closing circle. Reminding the boys of the need for strong focus, respectful listening, and genuine openness we all took a turn speaking from our hearts and sharing gratitude with the group. Having two of the older groups together for this was a good reminder for the mentors of where the newer, younger groups are striving to be. The Salamander Efts and Red Tailed Eyas have set the bar high for the younger groups through their enthusiasm and energy, thoughtfulness, compassion, and sincerity for themselves, one another, and the natural world. As the Salamander Efts graduation from Boys Explorers Club looms on the horizon, the Red Tailed Eyas are sitting on deck to become the eldest group next fall. We will miss the Salamander Efts as they move on to the Four Shields program, but can’t wait to see how the Red Tailed Eyas respond to their new role a year from now. 

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

Gathering together for a closing circle

Hiking Chuckanut Mountain with the Red-Tailed Eyas

The Red-Tailed Eyas arrived at Arroyo Park bouncing up and down with excitement. This was partially due to the fact that they had not seen each other very much over the winter season and partially because of the warm weather. A big thanks goes out to Brian Mulligan for stepping in as a Co-Mentor for the day. In the last year the Boys Explorers Club has been building a large volunteer Mentor community. Circling up I introduced Brian to the group and we talked a little about what it means to create community and how valuable it is to build social capital amongst your community members. After handing out jobs and sharing something fun that we did this winter the group was off.

Chuckanut Creek roared next to us as we hiked through the bottom of the valley. The Red-Tailed Eyas are really developing an eye for the natural world. One of the boys pointed to a Red Alder that had fallen over the creek. Investigating the hole that was made in the absence of the Alder roots one of the boys found a skeleton of a salmon embedded in the riverbank. Another Explorer asked if the group thought the salmon was fresh. Tracking that Chum and Coho Salmon usually run up Chuckanut Creek from October through December we knew that it must have been from the last salmon run. This was a great opportunity for Mentors to talk about the importance of salmon in our ecosystem. When the salmon die and decompose in streams the soil then becomes enriched with ocean minerals that are leached into the ground, creating a habitat that is able to support a richer diversity. Our question about the mystery behind this salmon carcass also led to the question of who might have eaten it. Was it a coyote or a Bald Eagle? Through our investigation we oriented to each connection that we make when we deepen our appreciation for the natural world and build a relationship with the landscape.

Looking at the forest it was plain to see that there had been turbulent changes throughout the winter storms. Downed Cedar and Alder littered the landscape. As a group we remembered back to the heavy snowfall we had received a few weeks earlier. The snow loading on the trees and the heavily saturated soil caused carnage. Starting up the steep switchbacks we came upon a piece of missing trail. An Alder had fallen, taking the section of trail down the hillside with it. Examining the Alders upturned roots it was easy to see how vital these root systems are to keeping the soil in place.

Just as we came up to our first trail junction someone shouted Hide! It turned out to be a very challenging game for the Explorers. With so many downed branches there was an abundance of great hiding spots. This was also a good time to talk with the Explorers about the importance of being aware of widow-makers and snags. Mentors explained that, “as much as we investigate on the forest floor we need to be aware of the potential hazards that lie above.” Sometimes trees and branches are weakened or only fall halfway. With this in mind we turned once again to our days exploration. As a group the boys worked together to Collaborate and Compromise on which trail they would take next. They chose to challenge themselves and take the high road. Learning how to flex with the groups needs while still listening to individual needs is a skill that is forming in the Red-Tailed Eyas. With each outing their leadership is tested and grows.

Starting back up the flanks of the Chuckanuts the group pushed themselves, mustering their energy. The Explorers were anxious to make it to a location that they had explored a few seasons prior, Cougar Rock. Cougar Rock sits on a shelf like ridge on the steep flanks of Chuckanut Mountain. This glacial erratic is not made of sandstone but of a much older rock that was carried by glaciers from the BC Coast Mountains. The Explorers climbed all over the rock; getting to practice the spotting techniques they learned last time they were here. While some of the boys climbed others stayed on the ridge shelf, carving with Brian. Providing the boys with the free time to explore and follow their inspirations is one gift we as Mentors can give them. I really see the creative side of the Explorers come out in these moments. As we were getting ready to move on one Explorer was struggling with the fear of jumping off Cougar Rock. It was wonderful to watch the boys support and encourage him in overcoming his fears.

Once we had our fill of climbing the group called for a game of Spider’s Web.The Mentors challenged the group to find a new location to play the game. This would mean hiking further than they had ever been before. They rose to the occasion and turned the hike into a trail game. Getting into our animal forms we played Cougar Stalks Deer. Halfway through the game the deer ran too far ahead leaving sound distance. This was an important time for the Mentors to talk about staying within sound distance even when were in the height of a game. This is the only way we can stay safe and be responsible for one another as a group.

Hiking further up the trail we came upon a cascading stream that flowed all the way down the valley to Chuckanut Creek. We listened to what Mentors and a few of the boys agreed to be one of the most soothing sounds, falling water. Just beyond the creek we came upon an old cabin sitting atop the ridgeline. This was the location that the Explorers had been looking for. The group scouted the land and came back to report on the best place to play. In the midst of deciding we heard multiple Barred Owl calls. Breaking our circle we crept over to the patch of trees we thought they were in. One of the Explorers spotted them and realized that there was a third. We heard a fledgling begging call and realized that it was most likely a pair and their fledgling. What a special moment to witness with the group. The Explorers decided that they should give the owls some space and this guided their decision on where to play.

After a challenging game of Spider’s Web it was time to start hiking down, but not before sharing a snack and having a closing meeting. Sitting in a circle we gave thanks for blooming Indian Plums and Nettles, for the owl fledglings and all the other signs of spring, for the chance to challenge ourselves as a group, for Cougar Rock, and for games and play. Brian and I encouraged the Explorers to continue challenging themselves in all aspects of their lives. Just as our challenge on this outing led to an animal sighting and new locations, challenges in our lives will lead us to finding our gifts and growing. The Mentors would like to thank all the parents and support staff that comes together to facilitate these wonderful outings. We look forward to our upcoming spring outings with the Red-Tailed Eyas. 

Be sure to checkout more pictures of the outing in our photo gallery.