Meeting at the bus is always the first sign that we are due
for an adventure. The Four Shields arrived at Cascades Montessori looking
forward to an overnight to wrap up the spring season. With this being the first
year of ever implementing the Four Shields, it was great to see a solid crew
roll up to the bus with packs loaded and ready for an adventure.
We cruised out Mt Baker Hwy to Racehorse Falls where the
seasoned group unloaded the bus and lugged the gear to our campsite. First
things first was to set up camp.
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| Setting up tents is always a good idea to do first! |
After taking care of our camp chores we finally had some
time to explore Racehorse Creek poking around for fossils and everything else
this amazing place has to offer. Eventually the mentors rallied the group for a
demo on safe and proper saw use. With a variety of saws, and a downed maple
over the trail we had everything we needed for the lesson plus the incentive of
clearing the trail to “leave this place better than we found it.”
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| Demonstration |
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| Implementation |
After clearing the trail, eating some lunch, and feeling
settled in we decided to take a trip up to Racehorse Falls in search of
materials for a carving project: a coat hanger. It was great to stretch our
legs, carve our knives into some green wood, and have some fun joking around
with one another at the same time.
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| Checking out the falls |
As evening approached the group was getting hungry,
especially after our trek to the falls. Setting up our kitchen we got a crew to
help us make our dinner; pasta and red sauce. The mentors appreciated the skill
and care taken while preparing dinner with camp stoves and we all enjoyed a
belly full of warm food to get us through the night.
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| Gourmet backcountry chef in the making |
With dusk upon us we got everything packed up, did one last
sweep for smellables and loaded it all into the bus. With all our tasks for the
evening done we put our focus towards starting a fire and processing fire wood.
Good thing we had so much left over from learning how to use our saws earlier
that day!
Gathering around the fire we held council where everyone has
the opportunity to check in with the rest of the group. This can range from
sharing how you’re feeling in the moment, thoughts about the trip, how school
is going, sharing recent life events, or electing to pass since we always stick
to our motto “challenge by choice”. After our check in the mentors prompted the
Four Shielders to share a little bit about what they liked about their first
year in the Four Shields, what they wanted for next year, and if they thought
they would be signing up for another year.
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| Hanging out around the fire |
It was great to hear that the Four Shields offered an escape
from the hustle and bustle of school, sports, clubs, and everything else that
fills our daily lives to the brim. Everyone said they appreciated a chance to
get away from the city and spend some time in the forest where things slow
down, responsibilities dilute to eating, drinking, establishing shelter,
staying safe and having fun. The simplicity of the outdoors and the presence of
mind the natural world pushes upon a person seems to be the antidote these
young men crave from the pressures of day to day life in the city. The mentors
innately know these benefits, but to hear the group resoundingly voice that
they feel such a strong sense of comfort and nourishment on these outings and
campouts brought a sense of solace and confidence this program is headed in the
right direction.
After a powerful evening of reflection on our year and
looking forward to what the future of this program can offer this group we woke
up to an incredibly gorgeous, sunny, and hot
day. The sun was unrelenting as it crested over the tree line and baked
Racehorse Creek. Everyone found a way to cope with the heat from playing cards
in the woods to taking a nap like a leopard in a tree.
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| Cards was easy to decide on, but which game proved more challenging |
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| Hiding from the sun as only a Washingtonian knows how |
Packing up camp we loaded up the bus and headed out to get
in a hike to focus a bit on track and sign interpretation. This little jaunt in
the woods proved fruitful as we found a variety of animal sign from old deer
tracks to fresh weasel tracks to browsing by a rodent along the trailside. The
heat proved too much and our focus soon drifted to cracking jokes and
appreciating the warm weather through playfulness.
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| Bone fragments from a large animal |
One last closing circle and we all gave some thanks before
loading back into the bus. The group was glad to return to Racehorse Falls
despite the original plan to go to Cascade River Road. The majority of the
group had been here before and appreciated the opportunity to witness how
things have changed since they had last explored this area. Though it likely
wasn’t apparent to them, the mentors new that as much as the landscape had changed
from their previous excursions, so had this group of arriving adults who have
been taking strides towards maturing into a group of young men. Though they
still have a long way to go, they demonstrated a level of responsibility,
initiative, comradery, thoughtfulness, skill, and community that would be hard
to find in a similar group of males their age. We are so thrilled to see this
group of Vespula Veterans, Daredevils, and even members who never had the
opportunity to do Explorers Club, begin to grow closer and meld into their own
group; The Four Shields.
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| Living in the present is always easier with a fire going |
