Service at Woodstock Farm: 11-11-16

In the past few days, a new personal motto has come up for me: The Antidote to Apathy is Action. Taking action can also help alleviate frustration and anxiety, and generally helps one feel purposeful. 

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

At our gathering meeting, we learned about the history of this place and the role of generosity and forward conservationist thinking that led to its preservation. Thanks to Cyrus Gates, 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 brainstormed on who the users of the park are: humans, yes, but also raven, salmon, chipmunk, raccoon, weasel, mouse, heron, slug and so much more. We talked about why a park needs caretakers for all these stakeholders, 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 salmonberry, overrun by invasive blackberry, the girls quickly understood how invasive species take over native ones rather quickly.

Then we were off on a very short trip by bus to our destination just up the road. The next few hours were spend collaborating in purposeful work, removing invasives with care and attention, singing and talking while we worked. Worms were admired, baby fir trees were transplanted, connections were made between within and between GEC groups.

Each group shared some time on the bluff overlooking the sea, marveling at this extraordinary view that is normal for us here in Bellingham, and feeling thankful that Cyrus Gates had the foresight to set this bluff 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!).

Other gratitudes shared included the company of one another, the chance to serve, Explorers Club, trees, the Salish Sea, connections, generosity, and people who understand that all things are connected.

Enjoy the slideshow from our day here! 

SWB & Trillium Exploration & Service at Larrabee State Park: 11-5-16

Our shared Saturday was a day where so many teachable moments collided: about assumptions ("it's going to rain all day and we'll all be soaked" - it didn't and we weren't), expecting the unexpected, being prepared, flexibility, going with the flow, serving where we saw the need, being present with process, accepting what is, and not labeling/judging experiences as good or bad.

As you likely heard, the day shifted as the wind gusts picked up, and our Washington Trail Association (WTA) partners made the difficult decision that working trailside in the forest could put our safety at risk. So, following our most important motto - Safety First - we brainstormed how to Turn Problems into Possibilities. Between WTA's ideas, Larrabee ranger Amber's input and the groups intention to serve somehow, we settled on heading to Clayton Beach to live out our Leave No Trace motto. Our mission was to use our owl eyes to find and remove litter, disperse illegal fire rings, and dismantle potentially harmful log structures.

We did all that, and along our journey we also:

* Found and marveled at fungi, camouflaged amidst the autumn leaves

* Discovered a plant mysteriously growing inside a bottle, and wondered at how it came to be and thrive in there

* Walked and talked and laughed together, the Silverwing Bats and Trilliums flowing freely between and among groups - a great connection and collaboration!

* Had an in-depth discussion about leaving one's imprint on the earth via art or writing. When is it graffiti and when is it art? What about historical graffiti, like petroglyphs? How is our behavior affected when we arrive to a place - like a driftwood fort - with lots of writing/signatures; do we feel encouraged to add our own, and is this ok? What if others are defacing a place - how does Group Think play a role in how we behave? Does it make a difference if the written on object is living, eg a growing tree, or nonliving, eg a rock or driftwood? Does the medium we utilize matter, eg. charcoal vs. ball point pen vs. spray paint vs. knife? Do we need others to tell us to do or not do something like write on nature - how does our own intuition guide us? How does our Leave No Trace motto speak to all of this? If someone does leave graffiti, how can we follow up with them without making them immediately defensive or guilt-ridden? How do we feel when we're approached with accusations?

* Rolled enthusiastically down the sand hill and clambered up on sandstone perches and long logs extending over the sea

* Had an impromptu deep discussion about materialism, consumption and happiness. A discussion of micro-trash and its effects on marine ecosystems led us down a conversational path about why we buy, the feelings of anticipation and temporary fulfillment consumption offers. But all agreed that satisfied feeling soon wears off, leading to a let down and wanting of more. One person shared statistical findings that those with enough basic needs met, plus a bit more, are happiest, while those with too little OR an over-abundance tend to be less happy and content. So, if obtaining things doesn't bring happiness, we brainstormed on what does. Girls offered the following: relationships with others, connections with animals, doing art, listening to music, being in nature, exercise, reading, good conversations, challenging oneself, creating, meditation and yoga, exploring, giving to others through service, and more. All of us agreed that these things are the heart of happiness, rather than consuming and buying (and they're all free!).

Part two of the day was an effort to further connect around the welcoming warmth of a fire. A small crew headed the short distance to Aimee's house to collect firewood (and cookie dough) then met the others at an empty campsite at Larrabee. We gathered round the fire, cookie dough circles flattening and baking over the flames, and shared another lesson, about the importance of flexibility in life. We agreed that, like today, things often don't go according to plan. How can we be receptive to what is, rather than be attached to how we think things ought to be? How can we be prepared for sudden or slow change in the path we're on, Expect the Unexpected? What mindset helps? What are healthy, and unhealthy ways to respond to change? How does being present help? Then we shared a favorite EC story of "Good, Bad, Who Knows?" about an old man in ancient China who teaches us through his response to life events that every experience is an opportunity to learn and grow.

We wrapped up this memorable service/exploration with our chosen Words of the Day: Good, Bad, Who Knows?

Enjoy two slide shows from our day! One here and the other here.

Hike to Heliotrope Ridge- 10/2/16

What a day full of glorious glacier views, challenging hiking terrain, and tricky creek crossing puzzles for the Silverwing Bats! Lauren and I are so grateful to have shared in the experience with this great group.

The Coleman Glacier in all its glory!

The connection began immediately - is there such a thing as Fall Fever (like spring fever)? If so, many of these girls had it and words were spilling out like the cascades we passed later along the trail. We bottled that energy into Moose and headed east, checking in with one another about summer and autumn changes.

We discussed the Ten Essentials in some depth, and agreed that yes, they are essential even for a day hike (and talked about why that is).

Ten Essentials

1. Navigation (map and compass)
2. Sun protection (sunglasses and sunscreen)
3. Insulation (extra clothing)
4. Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
5. First-aid supplies
6. Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candles)
7. Repair kit and tools
8. Nutrition (extra food)
9. Hydration (extra water)
10. Emergency shelter
11. Communication (emergency communication device)

We also pointed out different life zones that we would pass along the trail (and then really noticed these as we were hiking):

Hemlock, Redcedar, Douglas-Fir Zone Elevation 0-2,000 feet (most of the drive up)

River Valleys: Forest Floors Thrive on Soil 
Most recipes for life in nature's kitchen start on the forest floor with fertile, moist soils, teeming with life. The hemlock, redcedar, Douglas-fir forest contains a great diversity of plants and animals, including more than 3,400 species of "bugs".

Silver Fir Zone 2,000-5,500 feet (on the drive up)

Taking a quick break to check out this beautiful waterfall

Mountain Forests: Wet and Wooded Mansions If mountain forest habitat was a many-roomed house, the rivers and streams would be its hallways. Thousands of watery corridors connect the mountain slopes to the sea. These wet and wooded forests of the silver-fir zone provide shelter for many animals, including insects and birds.

Subalpine Zone 4,000-7,000 feet (At the toe of the Coleman Glacier)
Mountain Meadows: Winter Welcome Mats
Subalpine creatures nestle down in a habitat that invites chilly weather and nearly shrugs off summer. Stunted trees cluster on humps amid open meadows and rocky outcrops awaiting snow melt for a brief chance to grow after eight months of cold in the subalpine zone.

Alpine Zone Elevation 7,000+ feet
Rocky Ridges: Life in an Icebox
At high elevations, nature's freezer defrosts drip by drip. Cracking blue clusters of ice bury the tops of treeless rocks. Frigid winds and constant snowfall challenge organisms to adapt. Ice worms and red algae are some of the few life forms nurtured at the summits of the alpine zone.

Lots of creeks to cross

After a double-check of gear at the trailhead, we headed up to Heliotrope! Our group stayed Lauren was in front with the trailblazers, while Stormie moseyed on up the trail with the following group. We checked the map frequently to track our progress and met a new friend, the Silver Fir tree!

After a great hike through old hemlock, we emerged into the subalpine zone, navigated multiple perplexing creek crossings, and had our breaths taken away by the site of the massive Coleman glacier. Wow. Impressive is too small a word to describe this mammoth block of wavy ice.
We enjoyed a too-short Peaceful Place by the glacier, and then, far too soon, it was time to descend (though many girls could have happily gone up and up and up).

Silverwing Bats on Heliotrope Ridge

On the hike down the connections continued with talks of future aspirations, healthy eating habits, favorite outdoor activities, and fall exploration plans.

Mottos especially in use today: The Trail is the Teacher, Stretch Your Edge, Be Prepared, Safety First

Whatcom Creek Wander: Following the Salmon Home - 9-17-16

Though this urban trek took us out of the woods and onto pavement, it had all the elements of an adventure: enthusiastic and curious participants, a complex historical and modern story, fascinating intersections of human and natural constructs, games, lessons in empathy and more. We say The Trail is the Teacher, and this creek greenway through the city was no exception.

All our outings seek to ground us in a sense of place. In this case, it was Maritime Heritage Park, formerly a forest so thick it was difficult to walk through, beside a beach unfilled with fill, and a creek teeming with salmon. As we set the tone for the day, we traveled between past and present: we went back to the Salish fish camp on the bay, "seeing" men in canoes, fishing with their nettle nets, women and girls picking berries, the surrounding forest teeming with life: fox, bear, cougar, mink, beaver, countless birds; understood the impact of Roeder and Peabody's choice of the falls as the site for their mill, bringing dramatic changes, including a new town called Whatcom; heard about the march of progress, human ingenuity causing numerous degradations to the creek and bay. We came to the present, and saw the juxtaposition of streamside restoration and continued degradation, of visible efforts to shift past wrongs, and also problems that persist. Beside the displaced creek we saw evidence of displaced persons, and spoke of how to project love and compassion their way rather than fear and judgment.

Here were some of the gifts of the day:

• Saw (and picked up) lots of litter

• Discussed the value of commitment and Walking Your Talk in showing up to GEC on a rainy, blustery day.

• Began to understand the creek's history by playing Oh Salmon!, which highlighted the impacts on salmon and their needs (food, water, shelter) over time.

• Read the lessons in the Salmon Woman totem pole, about abundance, greed, and consequences, and making amends.

• Discovered many hazards on salmon's journey: fish hooks, churning waterfalls, pollution, an artificially straightened creek, pipelines, and other myriad impacts of the city.

• Met up with the GEC bus, Moose, to mimic salmon being bussed over a dam – in our case, we were bussed through the most urban aspect of the stream's journey.

• Engaged with the salmon art, mostly sculpture, all along the trail. A favorite was the large bell with the inscription: Our Simplest Wisdom is to Follow the Sea-Bright Salmon Home.

• Witnessed the challenge of living without the basic need of shelter in seeing temporary homes constructed of cardboard boxes, old tents, bushes, and men and women huddled in the rain with garbage bags for rain jackets. We were happy when we could offer some warm gloves.

• Asked questions with no right or easy answer: What is progress? Is it good or bad? How can we consider the next seven generations in how we live and act? What are our preconceptions of others? How is everything connected? What can we learn from the past? Why are salmon important? How can things that seem good become bad, and vice versa?

• Worked to navigate our way along the trail using map, trail markers, common sense, local knowledge, and trial and error!

• Learned about many of the human characters who have shaped the creek's journey: the native inhabitants, Roeder & Peabody, the Ladies Cooperative Society, The Whatcom Park Club, the advocates for creek straightening to prevent flooding, Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association, the victims of the pipeline explosion, & all of us who live, work and play near the Sound of Noisy Waters (Whatcom)

• Had a great time tracking (and tricking) one another as we played the Tracking Game.

• Experienced the changes in landscape along the way as we discussed changes over time all along Whatcom's journey, until finally entering the familiar comfort of the forest ecosystem in Whatcom Falls Park.

• Ended our day with a discussion of the Seventh Generation Principle, where one considers the impact of one's action on those living seven generations a head. It can be expressed thusly: 'We say that the faces of coming generations are looking up from the earth. So when you put your feet down, you put them down very carefully - because there are generations coming one after the other. If you think in these terms, then you'll walk a lot more carefully, be more respectful of this earth”.

• Reflected on the circle of life and how nothing really ever ends, but continues on, regeneration, and how those who have passed on become nurse logs for what comes after. This is true for salmon, trees, water and everything in nature. In our human realm, those who die can become nourishing nurse logs of inspiration, fundraisers, humor, memories, poetry, wisdom and so much else. Not gone, still going.

We let the girls know of a salmon celebration on October 23, offered by the fishers at Desire Fish Company. In their words: "This October 23 we will be hosting a Free Event at the Fairhaven Village Green. Come and enjoy! Bring a salad or potluck item for the table if you wish. Bring from your abundance to the Free Market to give. Or come and eat from our bounty and receive from the many offerings so many will be sharing!"

Finally, a contribution from a past GEC girl, now 15, who wrote this short poem throughout the day while walking this same route along Whatcom Creek:

Life and Death

Everything struggles to survive.

Though some things live and some things die.

Even though there may be strife,

It all makes the circle of life.

If some die, yet others live,

feeding upon what the dead bodies give.

Death makes life and life makes death.

So close your eyes and enjoy your breath.

Our words of the day? "Showers, Salmon, Streams, and Stories!"

You may check out the slideshow from our day here.

Service for the Chore Program: 5-14-16

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.

If you should ever need garden care, never fear, the Bats will be there! Upon meeting homeowner, Mark, he assigned us with the task of weeding his garden beds—easy enough. But then he took us over to his corn and squash bed, which is about 20 feet long and was being taken over by weeds and a hearty layer of grass. This would be no easy task! With some collaborating on how best to use our energy, the girls decided the job that seemed the hardest should receive our attention first. All tools were employed, not one girl was empty handed, and the shanty singing, laughter and weed busting began! Two hours later, the girls looked with deep satisfaction at their supremely turned garden bed and didn’t hesitate to get going on the next task at hand—more weeding!

What we learned about Mark is that he doesn’t just garden for himself. His garden is there for his grandkids and for donating produce to the Food Bank; Mark too is offering what he can to be a part of the “safety net” by giving back. So today our cups overflowed into Mark’s life, and this overflow will spill out of Mark’s heart and gardens and into the local food bank. We sure experienced the heartwarming joy of that connection today, being grateful to be able to help Mark out and in turn having our cups filled with gratitude and kindness.

Some highlights:

• Corn & squash row clearning! We busted up the grass, turned the soil, added soil amendments and edged the long stretch of garden like pros! These girls have some brawn!
• Garden bed tending! The girls divided up into task force teams between the three garden beds and the blueberry patch. Weeds were pulled up with wild abandon. Then with ever so much care, the girls planted new starts.

• Planting! No day of gardening is ever complete until you’ve planted a few seeds or starts. The girls planted corn, squash, pumpkins, tomatoes, and cucumbers!

Mark was so grateful for our work that he was kind enough to offer us a little chocolate treat at the end. The girls enjoyed this gift as they gave thanks to the Chore program and to each other's hard work. What was most amazing was after nearly four hours of weed busting, several girls said, “We could do this for one more hour!” There is no day more satisfying than a day spent in a garden with friends.

Words of the Day? “Help, dirt, plant, YAY!”

Check out the slideshow here!

Exploration on the Nooksack River: 6-11-16

Joy.  Joy and connection.  Joy and connection, giggles galore and jumping for joy, river splashing and rock hunting, birdwatching and berry gathering. Joy in wind and water, connection with nature and one another.  A perfect Explorers' day.

What more can we say? The Silverwing Bats have evolved to represent the best of EC: heartfelt, trusting connection with one another; unrestrained joy in nature; curious and compassionate; stellar stewards; making memories together to last a lifetime.

Literally Building Bridges and Not Walls.
Too bad 'Edgar' immediately floated down the river....

Saturday was a combination of all of the above, as all embraced the exploring spirit to explore connections to oneself, to one another, and to nature.  

After Jess shared a story on the importance of listening to the quiet voice inside, we each found a special rock that called to us.  

As the rain clouds swirled around us, we connected to each other through more shared stories and LOTS of shared laughter- some under the shelter of Jess's tent, some while in search of new sidestreams, whirlpools, and eddies, and some as we literally carried each other across the river.  

Playing Bat and Moth!

We tuned into the messages Nature gave as the weather shifted; swallows dived and swooped within feet of our group, snatching insects out of the air in a fabulous show of acrobatics (ask your daughter what it means when these sky dancers take flight!).  

Berry picking up a tributary!

Finally, towards the end of the day, a bald eagle swooped low over the end of our island and observed us from high in a riverside cottonwood tree.  Joy and connection to oneself, to one another, and to nature.

See the slideshow for the rest of the story!

Our words of the day? Special rocks, special people, giggles galore!

EC Mottos especially alive today: Be Prepared, Safety First, All Things Are Connected, Build Bridges Not Wall, Dance to the Beat of Your Own Drummer, It's About the Journey, Not the Destination, Leave No Trace, You See It You Own It, Get Dirty!, LIBK, Be Here Now, Expect the Unexpected

Service at the Marine Life Center: 5-1-16

This project was a great mix of indoor and outdoor service!  We directly connected to life in the Salish Sea as we served and cared for both natural and human-created habitats, and raised awareness and appreciation for those finned, shelled, and tentacled beings that live outside the Marine Life Center tanks.

With the guidance of MLC staff extraordinaire, Parker (and his pup, Cooper!), we began our day of service down on the beaches of Samish Island. We set off excitedly as crab wranglers and red kelp gatherers, collecting multiple buckets of sea life and hiking them back up the trail to be transported to their new home at the Marine Life Center.

Upon arrival at the MLC, we explored the tanks and its inhabitants before we set to work.  We sorted our collection of crabs, limpets, snails, red kelp, and oyster shells into several buckets and then placed them into the various touch tanks and exhibits.  Most of our collection was destined to be food for the current inhabitants of the MLC.  While distributing the creatures, we learned about the importance of places like the Marine Life Center, which provides refuge for sea life that was trapped illegally and would have been thrown out otherwise and also provides educational experiences for those without easy access to the Salish Sea.

After sorting and re-catching many of the escape artist crabs, we grabbed some nets and ran down to the dock behind the MLC to try our hand at catching fish.  There was a HUGE school of small silver fish swirling around all the sailboats and yachts, so we thought it'd be easy to snag at least one. Alas, after many coordinated efforts to corral and catch, the school eluded us all.  Our last task of the day was to wash all the windows and outsides of the tanks.

What a truly wonderful day of service, interacting with the fantastic creatures of the intertidal, all for the purpose of educating others about the importance of marine ecosystems.  

Our words of the day reflected the impact of service and the connections built: Crab, Fish, Seaweed, Habitat - Let's Make a Crabitat! 

Slideshow from our day here. 

Mottos in use today: LIBK, Widen Your Circle, Walk Your Talk, Our Cups Overflow, Stretch Your Edge, Challenge by Choice, Everyone Helps, Attitude of Gratitude, All Things Are Connected!

Chuckanut Overnight: 3-19-16

During the years girls spend in GEC, winding their way up a spiral curriculum of learning and growth, we aim to facilitate at least one group overnight, with the primary purpose of group bonding. We're not setting out to impart concepts like about ecological impacts/connections, do field science or service; we're hoping that through joyous connection and conversation, girls will become a more bonded group, rather than a group made of separate bonded friendships. Jess and I are delighted to report that this SB overnight was a success!  

The SBs arrived and the connections began within minutes (we were all delighted to welcome new member Calliope). After settling in the house, we discussed the flexible plan for the afternoon and evening, and then we were off to the beach! 

It was a high tide day, yet most of the group managed, with a lot of teamwork, tp navigate the shoreside rocks, while others explored shells, crabs and rocks along the beach. Soon we were all immersed in setting up crabitats, making mussel fingernails, creating the circle of life with colored rocks (see slideshow). It was very... pleasant. In fact, this might have been the most serene overnight I've ever hosted.

Many hands made light work in the kitchen and our circle of thanks before dinner was lovely – lots of gratitude in this group.

After dinner we chose to go on a night walk, leaving lights behind and instead activating our night vision. We settled on my neighbor's bluff overlooking the sea, and the sound of the tide walking back and forth lulled us into silence... then laying back under the moonlight... then singing some special songs. It was a truly magical, meaningful experience of connection. 

Then the girls all sat and soaked together in the hot tub, put on jammies, and snuggled in for the Good, Bad, Who Knows story. The moon shone bright through the windows, and the girls drifted peacefully off to sleep. 

Morning brought more sharing, slow movement towards clean up and breakfast, a feast of food, and a final circle of thoughtful gratitude, and then acknowledgements of one another. 

Again, the most serene overnight I've hosted - not quiet, just thoroughly pleasant and easy and fulfilling. Were Jess and I worn out? Nope! Our cups were more full when we ended than at the beginning. That's one of the best thing about Explorers' days. 

Please enjoy the entire slideshow from our overnight here.