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!