Sunny skies and warm temperatures greeted us this Saturday morning for the Salish Seals' first outing of the spring season! We looked for signs of the turning season around us as the girls gathered- budding leaves and blossoming flowers on Indian Plum and cherry trees, earthworms wiggling in the warm mud, the bright green grass below our feet, and robins chirping happily in the trees above.
Before coming together for Opening Circle, we played a round of "Who Am I?", pasting tape with different animal and plant names on each girls back. The girls mingled and asked each other "yes" or "no" questions until they guessed their plant/animal.
Our Opening Circle was especially exciting, with a lot of new faces in the Salish Seals group. Welcome Paige, Azadeh, Ava, and Shiloh! A lively name-game got our bodies moving as we each shared our name and an action to represent something we like to do outside (climbing trees, swimming, napping, hammocking, biking, discovering new things...).
Before beginning our trek to Whatcom Falls Park, the returning girls in the group helped teach and act out our S.T.O.P. safety principals (Stop, Think, Observe, Plan) and we assigned group roles (trash carrier, "spirit girl", water cheers leaders, etc.) The girls Stretched their Edge by pairing with someone they didn't know well in the group to be their trail buddy for the day before we set off. The day unfolded with new discoveries, sharing of nature knowledge, free exploration, and connections made within our group and with the many different places, plants, and animals we saw along the way. Read on for some highlights of our sunny Saturday. You can find our words of the day, the mottos that guided us, and the full photo album below.
Before coming together for Opening Circle, we played a round of "Who Am I?", pasting tape with different animal and plant names on each girls back. The girls mingled and asked each other "yes" or "no" questions until they guessed their plant/animal.
Our Opening Circle was especially exciting, with a lot of new faces in the Salish Seals group. Welcome Paige, Azadeh, Ava, and Shiloh! A lively name-game got our bodies moving as we each shared our name and an action to represent something we like to do outside (climbing trees, swimming, napping, hammocking, biking, discovering new things...).
Before beginning our trek to Whatcom Falls Park, the returning girls in the group helped teach and act out our S.T.O.P. safety principals (Stop, Think, Observe, Plan) and we assigned group roles (trash carrier, "spirit girl", water cheers leaders, etc.) The girls Stretched their Edge by pairing with someone they didn't know well in the group to be their trail buddy for the day before we set off. The day unfolded with new discoveries, sharing of nature knowledge, free exploration, and connections made within our group and with the many different places, plants, and animals we saw along the way. Read on for some highlights of our sunny Saturday. You can find our words of the day, the mottos that guided us, and the full photo album below.
* We stopped to admire the wonders of wetlands at Scudder's Pond: redwing blackbird's brilliant markings and song, beaver's chew marks on trees, cattails' many talents (food, shelter, insulation, medicine, multiple uses in every season), and wetland plants' skill at removing toxins from water before releasing it beyond...
*Before leaving the Scudder's Pond, we acted out the service project that wetlands do every day. A few girls became oil, pesticides, and other toxins. Some became mud, a few danced like water, and some girls became plants rooted in the pond. The skit we created showed the pond in action- as the toxins began seeping into the pond, the mud worked hard block these toxins from getting to the plants. Some toxins still got through but the plants put up a good fight, absorbing the toxins through their roots and acting as a strainer for the clean water to dance and flow freely through. We gave gratitude to this wetland ecosystem for the incredible service it does for the earth before moving on down the trail.
*Before leaving the Scudder's Pond, we acted out the service project that wetlands do every day. A few girls became oil, pesticides, and other toxins. Some became mud, a few danced like water, and some girls became plants rooted in the pond. The skit we created showed the pond in action- as the toxins began seeping into the pond, the mud worked hard block these toxins from getting to the plants. Some toxins still got through but the plants put up a good fight, absorbing the toxins through their roots and acting as a strainer for the clean water to dance and flow freely through. We gave gratitude to this wetland ecosystem for the incredible service it does for the earth before moving on down the trail.
* We learned how to identify cottonwood trees, with their curvy branches, large buds, and heart-shaped leaves. We stopped at a particularly large cottonwood tree and saw how many girls it took joining hands to wrap around the trunk. We thanked the cottonwoods for providing us with yellow sticky sap, which can be used as an antibacterial remedy for the skin. Some glued their hands together, while others simply enjoyed the sweet smell.
* Observed trailside inhabitants like blossoming Indian plum, a sunning snake, a giant upturned root system, beaver signs, Oregon grape, Salal, big cedar trees...
*The girls used their Collaborate and Compromise skills to navigate their way towards Whatcom Falls Park, stopping to make a group decision whenever we reached a fork in the trail.
*The girls used their Collaborate and Compromise skills to navigate their way towards Whatcom Falls Park, stopping to make a group decision whenever we reached a fork in the trail.
* Meandered down "Lichen Lane", discovering the variety of dust, crust, scale, leaf, club, shrub, hair and other types of algae/fungus relationships! So green and hairy, and lots to observe with our Owl Eyes.
* Crawled under a bridge to see the river before returning to a side trail for lunch in the sun!
*We had a very thoughtful group check-in, sharing the recent changes in our lives and discussing how each of our lives is constantly moving, changing, ebbing, and flowing, just like the river we have followed throughout the day. We talked about the safe space that we create as a group when we listen to one another and build trust as a group.
*Played "Pooh sticks" on the bridge after lunch.
*We had a very thoughtful group check-in, sharing the recent changes in our lives and discussing how each of our lives is constantly moving, changing, ebbing, and flowing, just like the river we have followed throughout the day. We talked about the safe space that we create as a group when we listen to one another and build trust as a group.
*Played "Pooh sticks" on the bridge after lunch.
* Found serenity in Whatcom Creek, and sat along the slow calm edges for Peaceful Place, watching waterfowl, writing, sketching, imagining, sitting still...
*Made it to "Licorice Fern Bridge" near the main falls where we watched the churning water below.
*In closing circle, we followed the EC Motto "Attitude of Gratitude" by giving thanks. We were thankful for sunshine, trees, cattails, mud, wetlands, friends (new and old!), and each other for supporting our exciting discoveries this outing.
Enjoy our full album of the day here.
Enjoy our full album of the day here.
Our words of the day? Awesome sunshiny day exploring clear waterfalls, mud, trees, cattails, and fish hatcheries with new friends and mentors at Whatcom Falls!
Mottos that guided our day together:
Be Prepared, Widen the Circle, Collaborate & Compromise, All things are Connected, Make sure you Meet before you Eat, Leave No Trace, Attitude of Gratitude, and Stretch Your Edge!
Be Prepared, Widen the Circle, Collaborate & Compromise, All things are Connected, Make sure you Meet before you Eat, Leave No Trace, Attitude of Gratitude, and Stretch Your Edge!
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