100 Acre Wood Exploration

"As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen" Winnie-the-Pooh.

The Ospreys last fall outing was into the 100 Acre Wood for exploring and adventure.  The girls gathered and we all checked in with each other around being prepared.  The Ospreys were ready - multiple garbage bags, many rain coats, gloves, hats, rain pants. Many of the girls joked they could hardly move! We waddled our way to our opening circle to talk about our day. We reviewed both the excitement and challenge of a purely exploration-based day. The girls knew that on an exploration day they would be in charge of where we went and what we did, but they also knew that with this comes Collaboration and Compromise. We talked about how the Ospreys would work together on this day and how we would follow the motto It is about the journey, not the destination.

We started our exploration with some orientation skills. We talked about the value of being oriented to place and talked about ways to get oriented. Using compasses, the girls determined which direction was north, east, south, and west. We practiced using landmarks (the sea, the mountains, and the city) to help us, and thought about how tricky this skill can be. With a bit of practice a number of gals got really good at using compasses. It was fun to check in with our navigators as the day went on to see which direction we were walking and which direction the wind was blowing.

In addition to a mini-skills lesson on navigation we learned some of the history of this amazing forest. We learned that at one point, it was almost sold to be developed! We talked about what usually happens when land is sold, and one girl joked and mimed with her hands, "chop, chop, chop, build, build, build, house, house, house!" We all laughed and returned to this multiple times over the day as we talked about habitat and species preservation/conservation.

As we wandered down the trail, we immediately began to notice some of the treasures of the 100 Acre Wood. The girls found some amazing nurse logs to climb on, wonder at, and ponder. Nurse logs are true treasures. The 100 Acre Woods even has nurse logs that have completely decomposed just leaving raised, exposed roots.

We found dead standing trees and discussed how these dead trees are CRITICAL to the forest. One particular dead tree had wonderful cavities, and we talked about how, when near bodies of water, these cavities provide the perfect habitat for wood ducks. However, humans frequently remove dead standing trees and leave wood ducks with no where to lay eggs. This led to an amazing conversation about reproduction. Specifically, how reproduction is essential for species to be successful. We focused on wood ducks, and how without these dead trees, wood ducks can not reproduce, and in time, this leads to fewer wood ducks. And without any place to reproduce, they may go extinct.  Our reproduction talk led to questions about tree reproduction, species with male and female parts (slugs!), gender, and even how the Ospreys can deconstruct gender norms! It is amazing how much the natural world can teach us about ourselves.

With more wandering, came more learning. We practiced our tree identification skills by learning different ways to identify cedar, doug fir, and hemlock. Girls learned to use ALL their senses to identify trees. We smelled the needles, touched the bark, and examined the shapes of the needles. We learned about what makes a cedar The Tree of Life, and imagined living in a world where we would get so much from one tree!

This day was so full of learning; as we explored, some gals found a cavern created by an uprooted tree. We decided that if we had to sleep in the forest, this would be our shelter. Despite the wet conditions, this cave was very dry! We also found a tree that split into two half way up the trunk. We questioned whether or not this was one tree of two - none of us really know! We made guesses and found ways to say both answers were right. Deep in the 100 Acre Woods, we came upon an impressive wetland. We walked out onto the mossy roots just above the wet ground, and imagined being different creatures that would have live in this space.

We ended our day with a peaceful place. During this peaceful place the sun was starting to set and darkness was approaching. We collectively listened to the wind, watched the trees dance around us, and spent some quiet time in the woods.

At this point, it was time to conclude our day. We headed back towards the trail head to meet our families and have our closing circle. This closing circle began with a discussion of our season. We remembered our earlier outings, shared funny memories from the season, and talked about the plants, animals, and concepts we connected with. Reflecting on the season past, we ended our day by creating a Web of Life. Each girl became something from nature she had connected to this fall: mud, water, wind, leaves, explorers…Through this web, we underline our EC motto All Things Are Connected, and understand that whenever one thing in the web is altered, it affects all the other aspects. 

For photos from today, click here. There are fewer photos than usual because I really struggle to remember to take pictures (Hannah always takes them!) and it was cold and rainy, so I was focused on keeping my hands warm. :)

This has been yet another fantastic Ospreys season. I have loved getting to explore with these gals!
- Laurel

Service @ Padden Creek: 11-7-15

Smiling with our new statue friend

What could be better than the Ospreys together on a rainy fall day? Being together and helping the Padden Creek ecosystem with a solid day of service, of course! We began our day with our usual check-in and then revisited the motto, Our Cups Overflow.  The girls shared their deep understanding and appreciation of just how much they have in their lives by leading the entire activity! Be sure to check in with your Osprey about how her Cup is Overflowing. We left Fairhaven Village Green and headed for the work party site, as the anticipated stormy day brewed ever so slightly.

The bird-focus of our day!

On our way down to the work site, we found ducks, geese, and a large, white bird of mystery. After checking in with local "bird nerds", we determined that the bird was likely an ergret. Though they're uncommon in our area, it isn't totally out of the ordinary. The girls were transfixed watching the birds feed, bathe, swim and play in the Padden Creek estuary. 

Hauling mulch to our service site amongst the newly planted native trees

Our project site was a sweet little patch of young trees near the creek.  We pulled invasive buttercup and dug out Himalayan blackberry, both of which had taken the soil around the native Red alder trees hostage. We gently unwound Morning Glory from their branches, clipping them off from their life source of soil.  We learned about how to best support a young tree.  And we hauled lots of mulch to spread at the base of the trees. 


We Widened our Circle, working alongside new friends.  The weather was just right for working and it was quite enchanting to be there all together in our tiny little grove. We found earthworms and spiders.  When we finished, we had planted a new Western red cedar and supported a gang of Red alders to grow in a healthy environment, working to help restore this land to the ancient forest it was long ago...

Now we set off through the woods...After Collaborating and Compromising to decide which route to take, we marched on! We stopped, yet again, to observe the entrancing birds on the water, and began to high-tail it up the hill when the real rains ensued. 

We wrapped-up with a couple quick games of Everybody It and Toilet Tag, then ended with Closing Circle, where we shared our Attitude of Gratitude for the people, plants, animals and other things that had filled our Cups on this day. Another fantastic day of commitment, integrity and fun for the Ospreys!

Words of the Day: "Birds, trees rindy (rainy+windy) service!"
To view photos from our day, click here!

Outing to North Lake Whatcom 9-27-15

The Ospreys gathered at the pedestrian and dog friendly entrance to the N. Lake Whatcom Park with playful hearts ready to go exploring! With sunny skies and chilly temperatures, the girls came prepared and ready to get to know this popular Whatcom County Park. For more photos from our day, you can find our photo album here. 

Before we set out, we gathered leaves of all colors and crafted a Circle cycle of Life. We reflected on its mysterious winding path and discussed how each color represents the seasons of the year and the seasons of our life. Looking around at the green emerging from the decaying woods, we understood that fall and winter, death and decay, have their place. And that we too are part of this circle cycle.

This ended up being a great reference tool for our day, asking the girls “So, where does this tree fit into our circle of life?” etc. We talked about humans/animals/things we had known that had died before finishing the wheel. Death as a part of life, a necessary stage to support and nourish new life. This message emerged repeatedly in the forest around us in the form of the decomposers role. We found it echoed in the fungus, slug love and the function of nurse logs (via interpretive dance). Do ask your Osprey about "Cubicle Butt Rot" and it's job in the forest to turn trees into dirt!

As we sipped from our water bottles, we reminded ourselves that we were drinking from the beautiful lake around us! We talked about the human history of the lake, and what steps had gone to turn it from a logging operation into a protected park. The girls expressed gratitude for the people who decided that this place was worth saving-- thankful to have humans who care in this community!

By the time we got to the lake, the sun had exploded out of the sky and it was time to embrace it. We sat on a log for lunch, and afterwards, discovered the myriad of gifts the lakeshore had to offer us.... Pebbles and mud to create a "cupcake shop", sticks to build a fairy village, boards and rocks to create a teeter-totter (we had a legitimate physics experiment going!) and a "trinket shop". The mentors stood amazed by the squeals and peals of laughter as these girls widened their circles with a creative play time. It was truly lovely, and much needed for this group of high-energy doers.

As our beach time wound down, the group Collaborated and Compromised to decide to head down the trail towards the waterfall. As we explored, we came across a gravel pit, which totally enthralled the girls. We slid down (some of us penguin style...), climbed up, and slid again, until it was time to reflect on our day through Peaceful Place. The girls shared about their Peaceful Place with 5 different partners on their return stroll, ensuring to Widen their Circles and interact with new girls. We also shared about the things we love, what gets on our nerves, what we are passionate about, etc. So great to hear this dynamic group of 3rd graders talking so deeply one-on-one. 

Heading back toward the trailhead (five hours flew by!), we also thanked ehe lake for its many gifts: beauty, peace, sunlight, and the source of life itself for all of us by providing all the water for our households' use. 

Mottos especially in use today: Widen the Circle, Be Prepared, Collaborate and Compromise, and Stretch Your Edge

Words of the day? “Fun, mud, pie, fairy tree houses!"

Service for International Coastal Clean Up: 9/12/15

This past Saturday was a total blast. For the first time this fall, the Ospreys came back together. Now in their second year of EC, they felt completely comfortable jumping right back into things, and it was as if we did not miss a beat.

We started our day on the front yard of an EC family's house. As gals gathered, we played pack leader, met some new Seastars, and broke the ice with goofy dance moves. From there, we opened our day with a reminder of our service ethic, a discussion of International Coastal Cleanup, and stories from our EMAs about their experiences doing this outing years ago. Hannah described our magic cup and how even service fills our cup while we are filling the cup of others and our community. The girls discussed how good it feels to do service and what a difference something like cleaning a beach makes for our entire community and world. This outing is particularly special because we really are making a BIG impact; we talked about the trash we are picking up comes from all over the world, and how this outing connects us with the other 500,000 members of coastal communities globally, who also participated in the International Coastal Cleanup.   

Hannah describes the Magic Cup.

After this, we talked about the process for picking up trash off the beach. Surprisingly, there is a TON to think about. The girls helped create a plan for how we would remove trash, sort the trash, and lug it all back up to the cars at the end of the day.

Before heading for the beach, Holly taught us even more about how the tides affect all this garbage. We were lucky to be at the beach during a super low tide, and before playing we discussed how tides bring garbage in and how it ends up staying washed on a beach rather than just being swept away again. To reinforce all this teaching, plus have some fun, we played a crazy game of tide tag where Holly acts as the moon, and the girls try to tag her, but can only move during low tides which completely depend on her moon phase. This game is not only fun, but really helps reinforce how things move around the beach and how different tides can be.

Holly as a waxing moon.

At this point, it was time to go serve! We broke into groups: log lookers, sand seekers, and shoreline searchers to start our clean up. During these few hours the girls worked hard, goofed around, and found some crazy things.

Cora collected our garbage and danced for us!

 One group found a decaying dog fish shark that we eventually dissected! During our dissection, we saw the shark's eggs, heart, and stomach. The smell was a bit over whelming for some, but for those who could handle it, we learned tons! 

We finished our day by writing letters to the beach in the sand; girls had the chance for a brief moment of quiet to thank the ocean in any way they wanted and allowed everyone to take in the beauty of this space without games or noise. 

The girls spread out along the beach to thank the ocean.

After our thank you to the beach, we lugged all the trash up the hill to the driveway. We did our closing circle by sharing our Attitude of Gratitude and talking about ways we can make a difference for the beach and ocean. Time after time, the girls come up with impressive ways they can help their community and change the world for the better. As always, thanks for sharing your daughters with us for a few hours. They are fantastic kids!

To see a photo album from our day, click here.