We enjoyed many kinds of activities and many kinds of weather today in Saturday Explorers! We began our day in the big field by sharing a word of gratitude and yelling it into the sky together, then stretched our bodies and did a few summersaults. We then stretched our minds with a riddle: What falls but never breaks, what covers but is not solid, what can you hide behind that is invisible? (The answer at the bottom of the page!).
Before splitting into our small groups, we played an energetic game of Dead Ant Tag. In this game, one person is the fierce predator, the antlion. The other players are ants and try to avoid getting eaten! However, if they are tagged, they can be rescued by four other people who carry them to the central safety zone to be revived. All the while both ant and rescuers sing “Dead ant, dead ant, dead ant, dead ant, dead ant, dead ant, dead annnttt!” to the tune of the “Pink Panther.” Once revived, ants can rejoin the game and help rescue other ants.
We then split into our groups and headed to camp. The older group headed to their camp for a game of toe tag and a fire challenge. Once enough fire-making materials were collected, we started a fire to boil water with chaga fungus in it to extract the healthful properties. After adding some cocoa powers, maple syrup, and coconut milk, we enjoyed some delicious “hot chagalate” right before lunch.
During lunch, Chickadee told a story about hearing a terrifying noise in the woods during bat surveys in the pitch black, that later was revealed to be…a baby barred owl! We also selected a group name, the Nighcrawlers. After lunch, we enjoyed some camp time exploring the site and even found some cool mushrooms and a red-backed salamander. While headed on our way to Jedi Training, the sky opened up into the forecasted rain. Changing plans, half the group shared stories back at Base Camp and the other half enjoyed some soggy games in the field. We met back up once the thunder began and struggled to get a fire going with flint and steel, but thankfully were saved by some dry basswood from Beaver and one single match.
The younger group had a fun morning at camp adding to forts, including lashing a new ladder together to climb on top. They also put their creative skills to work and opened a Nature Craftsmanship bartering area with all wooden materials. A fire challenge using flint and steel was a hit, as was delicious hot chagalate. They were very thankful for the fire once the afternoon rain came! During lunch, River Otter shared a story of a peddler who followed his literal dream, which led him home to London and then back home to find treasure right in his own backyard.
It was a fantastic day in the forest! And the answer to the riddle is Nightfall!
—Black-Capped Chickadee, American Beaver, River Otter, and Painted Trillium (Mary, Nathaniel, Chris, and Lauren), November 13, 2021