What an amazing and fun-filled, stretch-your-edge kind of day we had with the Red Foxes this past Friday! We had two new GEC participants join the Red Fox group (welcome, Celeste and Amanda!) so excitement levels were high from the get-go. Mother Nature made her presence known with an energizing mix of sunshine, clouds, and strong, yet exceptionally warm gusts of wind throughout the day as the Red Foxes explored the forests, beaches, and bluffs of Chuckanut Bay...OFF TRAIL!!! This unique weather pattern—a result of Hurricane Oho brewing off the coast of Hawaii—made for rich discussion and excited energy first thing as the girls gathered at the North Chuckanut Trailhead.
Our day of adventure began with the
simple task of leaf collection. As the trees danced and leaves swirled in the
air above us, the girls ran around the woods gathering leaves in greens,
yellows, oranges, reds, and browns. Once every color was accounted for, we
formed our opening circle around the collected pile of leaves. The girls worked
together to create a color wheel out of the leaves, starting with green hues,
and ending with brown. With the leaf circle in front of us, we discussed the many
things cycles could represent: The cycle of life; the circle of seasons; the
natural process of death and decomposition; the process of photosynthesis in
the warmth of summer; the loss of chlorophyll and nutrient production as days
shorten and temperatures drop. We looked at where each of us might fall on this spectrum, and though we decided it best not
to dwell on death, we acknowledged its importance in the circle of life and
agreed that death is not bad, just sad. As a few girls rightly noted, “death
and decomposition in the forest allow new plants to grow!” The cycle of life
and process of decomposition became reoccurring themes throughout our day of
exploration.
Another theme of the day, closely related to the
cycle of life, was our featured medicinal plant: Devils Club. We discussed Devils Club’s infinite medicinal uses
(temporary cure for arthritis, blood sugar regulator for diabetes, cure for
stomach pain, remedy for skin disease, and many more). We compared Devils Club
to Nettle and discussed how both have negative connotations. After this
discussion a new name, “Medicine
Club”, was given to our plant of the day to honor its many healing properties
despite such a menacing appearance. Throughout our morning circle discussions, the girls passed around a jar of olive oil, in which they mixed and mashed up Cottonwood buds (collected on our previous outing), to be made into salve on our next outing!
Once oriented, we set out towards
the forest along our chosen route. Honoring our GEC motto, “It’s About the Journey, Not the Destination”, we found ourselves
stopped moments later to fill our bellies with one of natures greatest sources
of Vitamin C: Rosehip. A few girls
pointed out Licorice Root growing nearby, a favorite medicinal plant among the Red Foxes. With happy
bellies and healthy hearts, we set off towards the Medicine Club grove. 
Things got real as we entered Medicine club territory. The
girls used S.T.O.P risk assessment, full body awareness, and the buddy system
to make sure everyone in the group was together and safe as we bushwhacked
through the thick undergrowth. A handful of the girls were nervous about off-trail hiking through tall-standing Medicine Club plants (some almost twice their height!), but with encouragement from fellow Red
Foxes, the group pushed forward towards the bay. At first we found ourselves surrounded
by fern-covered Douglas Fir trees, High Oregon Grape, Huckleberry, and Medicine
Club plants. As we got closer to the bay, the girls
were quick to notice the change in flora around us. A quick pop-quiz affirmed
the Red Foxes keen eye and exceptional naturalist knowledge as they called out
the names of Skunk Cabbage, Cottonwood Trees, Holly, Vine Maple, Rosehip, and
Salmonberry bushes. 
Excited yells and laughter filled
the air as the group emerged out of the forest and into the warm sun cascading
down on Mud Bay. Lucky for this group of Mud lovers, tide was out and that
meant play time! The new Red Foxes in the group were quickly informed by the others
that one of GEC’s mottos (or “muddos”, as they called it) is “Get Dirty!” And that they did! Mud
skating, animal tracking, river exploration, and facepainting (with mud, of
course) became the main activities for the next hour or so. 
Our journey continued after a quick
face rinse and some mid-day laundry in the river to rid ourselves of mud. The girls used their collaborating and compromising skills to get us
to our next stop, Woodstock Farm. There was good energy all around as the girls
emerged from the woods and ran out into the sunshine and warm, whipping wind.
The Salish Sea was alive below us, with huge swells and white caps crashing
towards the shore. We spread out to do Peaceful Place, with sunshine on our
faces, wind in our hair, and the sound of the sea churning below us.
After 20 minutes of solo time, we regrouped and hiked up to the bluff to reflect on this special place. We talked about the people who made it
possible for us to be here by preserving this land and donating it to the state
of Washington. We noticed the human impacts around us—the railroad tracks,
carvings in the Madrona tree, oil barges sitting out in the bay, planes above
us, houses lining the shore, and many more. Finally, after a game on the grassy bluff, we thanked this beautiful area and carried on to our final destination.
Our day ended in the forest above
Teddy Bear Cove, where we acknowledged ourselves for something we were proud
of, something we learned, or a something we did well that day. Some girls felt
they were well prepared with a change of clothing and warm layers, which
allowed them to play freely in the mud. Others were proud of overcoming a
previous fear of going off trail! Some girls felt they stretched their edge by
getting dirty, tasting a medicinal plant, or using maps to navigate.
The
Red Foxes Medicine Club Traverse was a day filled with naturalist knowledge,
stretching our edges, body awareness and S.T.O.P assessment, navigation on a
path less traveled, enjoying eachothers company, and getting dirty! We ended closing circle with all hands in to yell out our words of the day: “Muddy water, Medicine Club, Games, Epicness!"
To see our full album of the day, click here.
EC Mottos of the day:
· Collaborate
and Compromise
· Stretch
Your Edge
· Challenge
By Choice
· Get Dirty!
· Safety
First
· Be
Prepared
· It's About
the Journey, Not the Destination
· Leave No
Trace
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