Exploration & Navigation Skills Day at the Stimpson Reserve: 4-17-16

Many Explorers Club groups have visited the Stimpson Reserve and traveled remarkably short distances around the 3 mile loop, caught up as we usually are in our motto It’s About the Journey, not the Destination. When one walks with Explorers’ eyes, there is an incredible abundance to observe in just a short stretch of trail.

At our gathering circle, we discussed signs of spring and tapped into our olfactory sense. The girls inhaled the sweet smell of cottonwood and learned about the benefits of cottonwood balm (a product we will make in a couple of seasons). In addition to this, we recognized and applauded the conservation efforts of the Stimpson family who gave these woods to natural world (rather than to some other use, like an amusement park or housing development). We practiced using a compass to determine which direction we’re going, as well as talked about the value of natural landmarks to orient us. For example: Water means West! Baker means East! Then, we hit the trail and immediately began noticing signs of spring: the sticky buds of cottonwood, nettles, Salmonberry blossoms, and the sounds of many different species of bird staking out their territories. We encountered nurse logs that told the story of death giving life, a few fungal friends, and trees that bore evidence of pileated woodpecker and red breasted sapsucker activity.

Throughout the day we continually revisited our theme of navigation and orientation. How do we decide which way to go? What direction is North/South/East/West? How can we use landmarks to help us? How can we listen to our "inner compass" and how can it guide us? We also discussed the different ways we can use our awareness to orient ourselves on the land. One of the ways the aboriginal people of Australia used to do this was with Songlines, oral poetic “maps” that they believed were “footprints of the ancestors”. After discussing the Songline concept, the girls split into two groups and set off in different directions to create their own poetic Songline descriptions to notate landmarks. In this way, each group made a “map” of the path they had taken to give to the other group to follow. At the end of the map they would find where the other group hid an item. For example:

Walk through the house of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas (2 Douglas Fir trees)

Watch for medusa's hair (a root wad with its long spindly roots)

Climb over the mini-Rockies (a clump of small boulders sticking up out of the trail)

Girls creating a songlines map

The landscape came to life as we practiced this ancient form of orientation and mapping! Each group successfully found the hidden bandanna, and we discussed how this type of navigation is both an art form and really helpful.

The SHREW!

After our mapping activity, we spent some time just exploring. And wow, we encounter so much tiny wildlife when we slow down! We found frogs, searched for salamanders, watched a shrew mole, discovered 3 kinds of ferns, Rattlesnake Plaintain, Trillium/Wake Robin and Vanilla Leaf. 

Playing, frog catching and exploring on the banks of a pond surrounded by moss-carpeted trees and under the warming sun added a welcome sense of joy to the day.

Frog and salamander hunting

We experienced nature around us in a whole new way, using all of our senses and powers of orientation to become fully captivated by the cedar trees, the streams, mud, moss, trillium, and one another. 

Our words of the day? Fluffy, Frogs, Friends

Photos here: https://goo.gl/photos/VGxxLk2ohTGhjKpy8

Mottos especially in use today: Widen Our Circle, It’s About the Journey Not the Destination, Attitude of Gratitude