It was destined to be a salmon day! The Silver Salmon crew were ready to explore, and our native Chum salmon were on their journey upstream.
We widened our circle and welcomed Maddie to our group. We checked our preparedness as the canyon is known as the "Icebox of the Chuckanuts" and the creek is cold!! Excitement was high as we headed down to the Arroyo canyon to see what awaited us in Chuckanut creek!
Heading east, we stopped a few times before settling beside a section of the creek beside the infamous magic tree. Here we were delighted by salmon moving upstream, hanging out in shallow pools, and the occasional salmon no longer able to journey, exhausted by the spawning process, succumbing to death. Curiosity about the dead fish resulted in touching, stroking and general examination. Several girls spent time sweetly and reverently preparing a couple of the dead salmon; covering them with nature's gifts and blessing them. Seems the girls really understand how all things are connected. Witnessing the struggle and death of these splendid animals often brings up sadness. We acknowledged and appreciated our feelings and also acknowledged that death is part of the cycle of life. In Nature, death is necessary to nourish new life. This is evident in nurse logs, fungus, the ocean, your own garden compost, etc. We discussed the importance of a salmon's body in terms of stream ecology and this forest we were exploring. And how in death, salmon can even nourish trees a mile into the forest. Bald Eagles play a role in that, please ask your Explorer how that works! 
We played some games, slid down slippery muddy slopes, built some forts, sailed wish boats down the creek to the ocean, drank hot tea and cocoa, made fairy gardens and spent time just visiting with one another.
At the end of our day we all enjoyed some moments of solitude beside the creek; playing in the mud, or with a stick or simply closing our eyes and listening to the sweet sound of the water moving past.
Words of the Day: Salmon, river, mud, adventures, friends, tea, cocoa and more!
See the photo album of our day here.
