The Swallowtails gathered on Sunday at the Clayton Beach parking lot to embark upon an Explorers Club rite of passage: The Larrabee Coast Traverse navigation challenge! Before leaving the parking lot we reviewed different methods of navigation: landmarks, our intuition and common sense, local knowledge, map, compass, GPS and oriented ourselves with landmarks north, south, east, and west. We considered potential hazards and how to mitigate them, understood variables that might affect our progress (personal pace, the tides, weather, unexpected circumstances). We then set out west to follow a stream and seek the shore.
Before getting too far, we found a group of Boys Explorers. Together, we played a monstrous game of Spider's Web, working on our camouflage and sneaking skills. The girls seemed to really enjoy their time with the BEC, and came away with a newfound appreciation for our small, tight-knit group.
One of the EC mottos that often stands front and center on our exploration days is: It's about the Journey, not the Destination. This liberates our curiosity to lead us in rambling, wandering, circuitous routes, often encountering gems of discovery that may have remained hidden had we moved with a more goal-oriented intention. Today however, we practiced the opposite technique for the sake of challenge, and we set the goal to make it to Larrabee in time to meet the parents while juggling variables of route-finding, safety, weather, and tides. That is not to say that the day was without gems of discovery... they abounded as we made our way north along the shoreline. Along the shore we encountered many species of eye-popping anemones; sea-hewn tunnels, ledges, and nooks in the sandstone; starfish of varied colors; crabs of varying sizes; tide pool communities; large boulders that challenged us in satisfying ways; and a cave large enough to fit us inside!
Our route was learning-packed with discussions about Multiple Intelligences Theory. The girls determined their strongest areas of intelligence, and we talked a lot about how our school and social systems favor certain types of intelligences. These girls are SMART in so many ways, and they shared the beauty of this intelligence with us on this day.
A lovely day to be outside with the crew!
Our words of the day? "Navigating Chuckanut sandstone in the sun"
Explorers Club Mottos especially alive today: Be Prepared; Safety First; Stretch Your Edge; Challenge By Choice; Collaborate and Compromise; Widen The Circle; You See It, You Own It; We're All Teachers; Expect the Unexpected; LIBK (Let It Be Known); We Not Me
