The Four Shields Turn Problems into Possibilities at Point Whitehorn

The Four Shielders arrived at Cascades Montessori excited to make a second attempt at a snow cave outing. The group waited patiently on the bus while the mentors chatted outside. The mentors had spent a better portion of the morning considering the inclement weather around the ski area and the risk management associated with running the outing and driving up to the hill. After talking it over with their Executive Director one final time the mentors decided that the risk associated with running the outing outweighed it’s benefits.

Circling up outside the bus the mentors shared the news with the group. The Four Shielders processed the unexpected news with grace and flexibility. It was inspiring to witness the boy’s demonstrated maturity and ability to turn problems into possibilities.

The mentors presented three options to the group: head out into the Chuckanut Mountains on a long hike and exploration, connect with a Girls Explorers Club group that was driving down to Samish Flats to go birding, or head up to Point Whitehorn for a beach exploration and then to Birch Bay State Park for a campfire.

The group unanimously chose to head to Point Whitehorn. Before heading out the mentors took a moment to recognize the power in the group’s response to the outing change and passed along some wisdom about staying adaptive and graceful when life’s unexpected hurdles inevitably occur.

For our Explorers this vital life skill has been strengthened and tested throughout their time spent in the natural world and by balancing the needs of the group vs. the individual. In order to thrive on outings our Explorers need to be able to react to environmental and interpersonal demands with adaptability, impeccable attitudes, undefeatable spirit, persistent problem solving, collaboration, compassion, and care. The intrinsic reward for our Explorers is the realization that the embodiment of these character traits and coping skills falls in direct alignment with the harmony in the group and with the natural environment.

The Four Shielders leadership and maturity was rewarded with a beautiful day of sunshine and expansiveness at the Point Whitehorn Marine Preserve. Pilling in the bus we stopped by the Wild Whatcom office to pick up some firewood and then by Fred Meyer to get some hot dogs and dough stick materials. Arriving at the reserve we hiked through the Sitka Spruce and Paper Birch laden wetland listening to the sounds of Black-capped Chickadees and Robins calling until it was muffled by the sound of crashing waves against the beach.

Spilling out onto the beach we felt a strong westerly wind which brought large waves and energy in the surf over the long fetch between us and Vancouver Island. The sunlight shined through the shallows and lit up the water in aquamarine hues. It was absolutely gorgeous. The Four Shielders wandered the beach in free exploration, looking closely at the Decorator and Kelp Crab shells along with the vast array of seaweed and kelp all piled on the beach.

Letting the power of the place do the teaching the boys began to use wedge shaped rocks to split the seasoned Western Red Cedar logs on the beach in planks with the thickness of shingles on a house. The straight grains of the split cedar were aromatic, beautiful, and made popping sounds as they split from the rounds. Finding three poles roughly a few inches wide and twelve feet in height the group used Bull Kelp to lash the logs together. Raising the logs they spread the legs out wide to make a tepee like structure. Using the Cedar planks they lashed them onto the structure horizontally, creating an effective shelter and wind block.

After many expansive hours on the beach the group took a short sit spot before piling back into the bus to head to Birch Bay State Park. While the mentors mixed up a batch of dough for dough sticks the Shielder’s used fatwood and a jute chord tinder bundle to start a fire. Roasting our hotdogs and dough sticks over the fire the mood was lighthearted and celebratory. We ended our day with a heartfelt circle of thanks around the fire. A resounding theme was a recognized gratitude for the group decision to make the most out of the day and the wonderful result of that decision.

What a pleasure it was to spend a day out on the land with this group of arriving adults.  The Shielders took ownership of their day and showed support for one another. They were fully present and connected in the moment and to the place. Our outing together was the essence of what we hope for the Four Shields program; cohesive, creative, and timeless.

For more pictures from our Point Whitehorn outing please visit the Four Shielders’ photo album from the day.