Banana Slugs Service at Mollyood 11-12-16

Mollywood Avian Sanctuary has been described in the past as: “A place with its own world of sounds.” A world of sounds indeed! Imagine over 150 parrots, mostly cockatoos, squawking and screeching for your attention, and you have some idea of the loveable chaos that we were fortunate to take part in on Saturday afternoon.

Mollywood was founded by Betsy and Nate Lott, whose love of the companion birds led to their unforeseen caretaking of hundreds of birds who have been abandoned, abused, or neglected by their owners. Parrots are the third most popular pet in the U.S. and can be found in 17.3 million homes. Unfortunately most parrot owners aren’t aware of the effort and  commitment needed to effectively care for these birds (parrots can live to be 80 years old!), resulting in 85% of them being given away within the first 2 years. This highlights the need for committed and compassionate people such as Betsy, who tirelessly work to provide shelter and sanctuary for these lively and loveable birds. Betsy volunteers day in and day out to care for these birds, forsaking a paying job and virtually all of her free time. She relies on other volunteers, such as the energetic and enthusiastic Banana Slugs, to help maintain the sanctuary and ensure a healthy and hospitable environment for the birds.

The Banana Slugs really lived up to the EC mottos of Our Cups Overflow, Everyone Helps, Walk Your Talk and Get Dirty as they ambitiously and diligently cleaned out the debris and food discards from under the cages and swept up huge, heaping piles of wood pieces, bird seeds, paper scraps - you name it - and put them into the garbage. Imagine a room packed with 100 birds, all in their separate cages, and now imagine the collective mess these birds make over the week (we ended up with 13 huge bags of garbage!). The girls tackled this mess with enthusiasm and a bright positive attitude, not letting the hard work dampen their spirits or weaken their efforts. The Banana Slugs filled the room with smiles and laughter as they cleaned and swept, all the while talking to the birds, who were whistling at them, vying for their attention with nonstop "Hello! Hello!" asking "How Are You?", bouncing up and down. Soon the girls had transformed the room into a clean, spotless sanctuary. 

We came to Mollywood committed to serving and making a small difference in the lives of these birds and their caretakers, but walked away with so much more. We spent the day basking in the love and joy that these birds carry with them and truly felt the pleasure that comes from sharing our work, time, and effort with those that deserve it the most.  For more information about this wonderful organization, please visit their website at:www.mollywood.org

Enjoy the full album of our service day here.

EC Mottos especially alive today: 

Be Prepared

Safety First

Walk Your Talk

Get Dirty!

Expect the Unexpected

Our Cups Overflow...

LIBK

You See It, You Own It

Everyone Helps

We're All Teachers

Collaborate and Compromise

Service at Agate Bay Preserve: 10-22-16

Though we love leading all types service, these more in-depth projects for older girls are particularly rewarding. On Saturday, many of us were giddy at the opportunity to do real, hands-on science fieldwork. The day truly encompassed EC goals to connect kids to themselves, to one another, to the community, and to nature.

After checking in, we met with naturalist and birder Patricia Otto about the important restoration she's been facilitating on this land for over 30 years, restoring 100 acres to intact habitat where beavers, birds, and bears alike can find refuge. Tricia realizes as we two-leggeds impact the environment it affects all these other community members, so she has invested herself for years to preserve and protect. She has fought against development and things that impact habitat, but she’s put most of her energy into helping habitat grow. When we asked her who she was doing this for, she answered for “you, for everyone.” We recalled the story Tricia told last time we visited about who had mentored her. She had said simply "my mother", and then proceeded to tell stories of powerful ways her mother had helped habitat, from starting a native plant landscaping business to rescuing robins convulsing in the street from day-before DDT sprays. Tricia talked about giving back as a doctor and then, 30 years ago, beginning to nurse this land back to health. We also discussed why someone would volunteer - unpaid - for so many years. What do they get back instead of money? Girls suggested one might receive a good feeling inside, a sense of integrity or doing the right thing, appreciation and recognition from others, a feeling of purpose, the satisfaction of seeing one's efforts pay off. Tricia added how much she has learned from being outside, how her curiosity is piqued and satisfied, and the peace she gets from time in nature. Truly, there are things money can't buy!

Next, we learned our tasks for the day: to create an "amphibian" retreat next to the pond, to create another habitat shelter in the meadow, and to check wood duck boxes. Dividing the group in half, one team went out and checked nest boxes for sign of wood duck nesting the previous spring. Jobs included: ladder carrier/stabilizer, box checker, box analyzers (feathers? Droppings? Eggs or egg membranes? Who was the occupant? Mouse? Bird? Chipmunk?), data recorder, box cleaner and re-stocker (with wood chips). This was the real work of field scientists, done with joy, giggles, and keen observation. 

We went from box to box collecting data, which included 6 un-hatched wood duck eggs (we learned about dump nests and surmised that these were laid by an opportunistic mother some time after the initial eggs were lain), lots of downy feathers, egg shells and membranes. Along the way we laughed, sang, and explored some of Patricia's 100 acres of forest, meadows and wetlands. We got to see the results of Patricia’s incredible re-wilding of her land, including her apple tree, clawed up the trunk, surrounded by bear scat, and almost barren of fruit. Patricia shared impressive photos of her neighbor black bear feasting on her apple harvest, and told stories of encounters with bob cats and other wild critters as we ate lunch.

While the nest box data collectors did their tasks in the deciduous forest alongside the upper pond, the rest of the group was screeching and laughing their way through their objective: to stack decomposing logs to create amphibian shelter. This is how Tricia helps create habitat - finding ways to provide basic needs to the myriad species sheltering on her land.

Finally, the group gathered to study the findings of the nest box checkers, and... this was a first... to dissect unhatched eggs. Mind you, these eggs have been sitting for months - they are essentially rotten eggs. But with a pocket knife, fascination, and some grimacing, a small group set to work while the rest of us stood back at a safe distance. And it was fascinating to see one egg with a fully developed duck inside, the other with a duck less far along, partially developed, and the third... well, the third sort of exploded a foul smelling liquid that splattered on the closest onlookers. Ewwww!

We left that egg matter out for other creatures to consume, and sure enough, Tricia reported that the next day it was all gone, along with many apples nearby, surely eaten by bear (who may have a tummy ache)!

At the close of the day, we shared our gratitude, for so much: habitat, bear, beaver as keystone species (a concept we'd learned about earlier in the day), wood ducks, one another, and that Patricia has chosen to walk her talk by dedicating time out of her busy life to the well-being of so many.

Our Words of the Day: Super Soggy Service Splatter Sniff!

Slideshow from our day here: https://goo.gl/photos/w1RoDYSnE7kmnSqR6

Mottos especially alive today:

Safety First

We're All Teachers

LIBK

Our Cups Overflow

Walk Your Talk

Attitude of Gratitude

Collaborate and Compromise

Many Hands Make Light Work

Expect the Unexpected

Racehorse Falls: 10-8-16

A perfect day for Banana Slugs:  wet and chilly!   The truth is, we never even got out our camera or phones to take pics of the day.....but this is what you would have seen!

Look closely for your daughter!

We met at Cascades School and headed out to Racehorse Falls for a day of exploring.  This area has a rich history weaving dramatic weather and place together.  In January of 2009 a "pineapple express" storm hit the PNW.  In the area of Racehorse Falls the result was a massive rock slide that uprooted and moved deep layers of bedrock, leaving behind blocks of Chuckanut sandstone containing (mostly) plant fossils.  The weather (again) was our biggest challenge and it proved too unsafe to move up past the waterfall to the area where we might be able to see some of these fossils.  The day proved to be a test of our collective fortitude, our skills of collaborating and compromising and our own individual ideas of adventure.  We had many opportunities to stretch our edges with the wet and cold conditions, as well as expectations and feeling disappointed.

And so we made our way back to Moose after a few hours out and headed east on Mt. Baker highway for a warm and dry indoor spot that also happened to serve pizza.

Our day unfolded into games and sharing and continued community building.  It was a sweet way to continue to welcome Ava to the Banana Slugs; to laugh and be silly together.

One of the greatest characteristics of this bunch of bananas is their ability to roll with what is tossed their way, and this day proved no different.

We set off back into town singing EC songs and steaming up the windows of the bus with the renewed energy. Back at Cascades we wrapped up the day with a few rounds of rock bippity bop boo...you have to just ask....and our sharing of gratitude.  This has got to be one of the things we share which is so very at the core of our organization, the heart of each collective group.  These young ladies share with honesty and conviction and I for one am certain it changes us all to share as well as witness.

thanks Banana slugs....Lauren and Rebecca

Hiking Skills Day at Mount Baker 9-11-16

The Banana Slugs started their season off with a bang! We met under a gorgeous sunny sky, eyes wide and smiles bright and eager for the day ahead. The group welcomed our newest Slug, Ava, and hopped on the bus. We shared stories, and re-connected after a summer apart. We as mentors could sense the excitement that the girls were together again!

As we wound through the deciduous forest into the thick groves of old growth trees, our bus, Moose, finally found her way to the end of Highway 542. There, we bundled up and scarfed down some lunch. While eating, we re-visited our intended hike on the map. Chain Lakes was our route-- hoping to accomplish the whole 8 mile loop! 

But, as fate would have it, we faced different challenges. We had a large group, too large, in fact, and our plans for hiking in the wilderness area were kindly shut down by a friendly ranger. We returned to this question of rules throughout the day. Can rules feel and be arbitrary? How do we keep to our integrity while simultaneously doing what we would like to vs. what someone else (e.g. the US Forest Service) would like us to? What rules are okay to break? The girls seemed interested in engaging in these questions. It seemed clear that we are all just trying to Walk Our Talk and enjoy a day that suited our wishes, and simultaneously, others as well.

In the hopes of Turning Problems Into Possibilities, we decided to find another majestic hike. The girls took this in stride, and off we went on an equally-long loop into the Mount Baker Ski area!

Though we'll never know what the hike in the Chain Lakes would have been like, we were greeted with empty trails, infinite ripe blueberries, plenty of sunshine, and a route-finding adventure! We wound our way up amongst chair lifts and ski runs, stopping to pause and take in the immensity of the beauty at such a high altitude and munch SO. MANY. BERRIES. (I wish we had photos of everyone's purple lips...). The girls spent plenty of time soaking it all in. I think I can speak for everyone in saying that we felt pretty lucky to be spending a day together in such a gorgeous place.

We used some intuition and a couple of maps to find our way back to the bottom of our loop, stopping for a quick dip in a tarn (Please notice in the photos how most girls are wearing sweaters and others were in their swimsuits!? Love the enthusiasm celebrated by all.) Pausing in a mountain meadow, we sat to enjoy a blissful Peaceful Place, surrounded by tall Hellibore and purple-red Heather. The brook babbled, the clouds flew by, and we all practiced our important motto: Be Here Now. 

Time slipped away, as it always does in the alpine, and we high-tailed it up the hill. Laurel and a couple of girls trekked the final leg of the loop to grab our bus, while the others enjoyed time by the water, playing games and connecting. 

In our bus ride home, we could sense the tiredness... I'm sure every Slug slept very well that night :) Another special day with special people in a special, special place. 

To see a slideshow, please click here. 

Outing on the Nooksack River: 6-10-16

Joy. Joy and connection. Joy and connection, riverside fires, long check ins, icy cold dunks, and bus-singing. Joy in rain and water, connection with nature and one another. A perfect Explorers' day.

What more can we say? The Banana Slugs have evolved to represent the best of EC: deep, heartfelt, trusting connection with one another; unrestrained joy in nature; curious and compassionate; stellar stewards; making memories together to last a lifetime.

Sunday was a combination of all of the above, as all embraced the exploring spirit to explore connections to oneself (digging deep into their personal stories/confusions/joys at check in); to one another (listening so well to one another, and giving such supportive feedback, and finding joy together in skipping, splashing, jumping, discovering); to nature. 

We opened our day with a discussion of the Nooksack - where it comes from, its importance to this place, the different forks and braids, and how dynamic it is. We used the river as a metaphor for our lives and for our group's dynamics. This led to a really powerful conversation around our group's dynamics, and how we can open up space for the introverts in our group to speak up. We talked about how to invite new ideas, listen, and really challenge ourselves to be both introverted and extroverted at different moments throughout the day. 

From there, we loaded onto the bus and headed to Mosquito Lake Rd. We arrived at the river, and immediately girls started looking for ways to cross the side channels of the Nooksack, and within a few minutes a number of gals had rolled up their pants and put on water shoes to simply plow through the river rather than attempting to stay dry. We worked together to make decisions on where to explore and practiced listening and coming to group consensus. 

We worked our way up river to a sandy bank and decided to have a fire. We gathered dry, down sticks, and practiced building a fire in wet weather. After our fire was going, we had a longer check in where girls shared what part of the river they were at this point in their lives. Some girls were in eddies, others working through some rapids, and others floating calmly down the stream. 

After a reflective Peaceful Place, it was time to head back for our closing circle. We ended our day by reflecting on the season past, brainstorming the multiple aspects of nature that we connected to. Each girl became a part of nature: rocks, slugs, mud, sunshine, cedar tree, etc, all connected to one another in the Web of Life. We discovered that as humans, we are also an important part of this web, and though sometimes we affect the web in a negative way, there are those of us that are there to serve with integrity to help pick up the pieces and to rebuild the web back to life. We talked about how the Banana Slugs made a difference this season - sharing stories from the HELP project, Bellingham Community Meals, and Animals as Natural Therapy.

Service for Bellingham Community Meals: 4-30-16

Saturday was a day overflowing with service, commitment, and a whole lot of integrity. The Banana Slugs could be seen serving, wiping, cleaning, composting, meal prepping, and washing, all with smiles on their faces and kindness in their hearts during Bellingham Community Meals’ monthly dinner.

Bellingham Community Meals offers an important service to those in need, providing a warm meal and a sense of community to those who are lacking in both. Attendees know that at least once every month they are able to fill their stomachs and reconnect with others in their community all because of the 60 volunteers who commit their day to making this meal happen. In our opening meeting, we discussed how this service project requires maturity, responsibility, empathy, and integrity. The Banana Slugs were full to the brim with all these qualities, serving goodwill along with food and making the participants feel welcome and respected. The volunteer coordinator, Kasey, even commented that the Slugs made better volunteers than most adults!

And whew what a busy day it was! The girls pitched in to every job no matter how large or small (or messy or monotonous): they set tables, poured drinks, filled meal orders, washed dishes, restocked food, cleared tables, answered patrons' questions, and helped serve food to the 650+ people that came for the meal.

Some girls overcame tiredness, others transcended feelings of discomfort, and some easily gave service with a smile. It was an eye-opening experience for all to realize how many people in need live in our city, and gave extra depth to our mottos “Our Cups Overflow” and "We're All Teachers".

All the girls did well with going with the flow – at these meals, with so many volunteers and many diverse tasks, one never knows what job will need to be done next; the girls were needed to pour coffee one moment, bus tables a bit later, and then serve enchiladas and milk after that. They worked collaboratively at all times, partnering up with different people for each job. In the end, they served multitudes, and had an impact on those at Bellingham Community Meals.

What a gratifying day with the Slugs!

FYI, no photos from this day

Service for Animals as Natural Therapy: 4-16-16

On Saturday the Banana Slugs eagerly gathered to give their day to Animals as Natural Therapy, a nonprofit that uses farm animals to heal humans. During our day, girls were able to see first hand all of the ways animals can provide therapy without human hands or voice. We witnessed horses, goats, chickens, bunnies, and llamas instinctively teaching trust, responsibility, love, connection, conscious movement, and clarity. In addition to this, during the Blessing of the Animals ceremony, we were able to hear stories from those who benefit from ANT’s services: youth and elders who have experienced trauma, dysfunction, illness, depression, addictions, and loneliness.

We spent the day experiencing many of the animals' therapeutic methods: llama’s wary size-up of our trust-ability; the horses’ stubborn response to brushing and snorting gratitude for cleaning their water dish; bunnies’ patience with our handling; chickens' incredible calm and trust; the goats’ playfulness and clear head-butting communication. We also got on-the-spot training about how to teach others about the animals at the farm, quickly learning how to relate to llama, goats, bunnies, chickens, before turning around and teaching visitors how to do so! It was just great watching the girls be empowered by real responsibility, and benefit others with their patience and new skills.

The day was broken up by the Blessing of the Animals, wherein all animals were led to the center ring to be individually blessed and honored. Some of the Banana Slugs even had the chance to participate in the blessing. 

By day’s end, the animals had worked their therapy on each one of us, and during our acknowledgements girls each chose an animal to thank for gifts given this day.

To see the full photo album, click here. 

Interurban Bike Hike! 3-19-16

What a great Banana Slug-invented day we had! The plan was borne of collaboration and compromise last fall, and all arrived ready to explore not on foot, but with pedal power!

After a thorough review of our H.E.L.P. Project service day in January, and a solid bike safety talk, we set out, and right from the start made collaborative, girl-led decisions about which route to take. We started not on the main trail (Interurban) but headed for the 100 Acre Wood, and at each fork the girls chose to take the road less traveled. This led us up, down, all around (and through some nice mud pits).

Once back on the Interurban, we reviewed how mindful we would need to be, given the Chuckanut 50K foot race happening. Serious runners meaning business on a long and tiring route would not wish to be impeded by 16 cyclists! Mel and I were so impressed by how well the gals shared the trail, kept appropriate distances between bikes, called out when slowing or stopping or when a runner was coming. They were a moving cheer squad, and most runners seemed grateful for the audible support.

Arroyo Park, with its tricky terrain, was a detour for some, while the rest of us went up, up, up California Street. Then it was a straight stretch to snack time with a gorgeous view of Chuckanut Bay, and a solid and heartfelt check in from each one of us. Check in becomes more personal and in-depth as girls make their way through middle school, and it's lovely to witness the listening support offered by each one.

We cruised on to our final stop of the day: my friends' expansive, dreamy property, complete with baby chicks, garden, pond, donkeys, and the outflow waterfall from Fragrance Lake. So much exploring happened here, and we even got to hold the chicks and give Cicely and Coco (the donkeys) a walk!

Five hours flew past, and our day ended with a circle of thanks, a reminder of how replenishing it is to really consider and count our blessings.

Our words of the day? Biking, Running, Donkeys, Waterfall Fun!

You may view the slideshow here

MLK Day HELP Project

Our mid-winter service project couldn't have been better timed, falling just prior to Martin Luther King Jr. day. That man is famous for seeing problems and taking action, for persistence in the face of challenges, for involving old and young in peaceful ways to create positive change. 

These girls identified a problem (homelessness), thought of a solution (assembling basic needs bags), overcame challenges (time and cost constraints) and completed their goal (assembling 215 basic needs bags). In the process, they had many rich discussions about poverty and its causes; the stigma of being homeless and others' judgements of those in that circumstance; ways to mitigate homelessness; what basic needs are and which needs humans must prioritize; being present; understanding what a safety net is; and how important the basic need of love is for people to thrive.

After a great frenzy of activity in the office gathering and spreading out our many collected and purchased items, we gathered and discussed the girls to tell us about Martin Luther King Jr. We read and discussed several quotes from him, including "Life's most persistent and urgent question is 'What are you doing for others?'" 

With that, we set to work creating a system for assembling our basic needs bags, creating an assembly line of items down the long hallway. Some girls made thoughtful notes to go in the bags, while others filled, sorted and counted the bags. It was a hive of busy helping! 

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During lunch we discussed our spring Choose Your Own Adventure outing, with all voices heard as we collaborated and compromised our way to a decision: to go on a "bike hike" trek from Fairhaven, ending at Aimee's house on Chuckanut for a hot tub (and maybe warm cookies or something like that!). Along the way, we'll have cycling challenges, greet streams and waterfalls, explore side trails, visit some donkeys, test our be prepared skills, and expect the unexpected. 

After finishing assembling the many basic needs bags (filled with socks, gloves, hand warmers, granola bar, bandaids, cough drops, bus passes, dental care, vitamin C packets, ponchos, and a note of encouragement), each girl took as many bags as she feels she can realistically hand out. We saved the remaining bags to refill our supplies in March or to distribute at the meal for the homeless we're serving at in April or to deliver to the cold weather shelter if/when temperatures drop below freezing again this year. 

Several girls realized we were quite close that day to a park where homeless men and women tend to congregate and suggested we deliver some bags right then. After a mentor mental safety check we set off down the street with vigilant eyes and caring hearts, and found just a few grateful people who received our bags. Being out in the cold rain was a direct reminder to us that wet rain inspires shelter seeking for everyone and anyone, and even a doorway with a slight overhang is more hospitable than the open sky. The girls were impacted by the act of direct service and were able to perceive the basic shared humanity in people of every age and color, some unkempt, others without teeth. We discussed that though we didn't know why these folks came to be living on the street, we understood they all had their story, most likely involving a fair amount of personal pain in past and present. We shared our bags with empathy and without judgement, and understood that it's not us and them - it's just us. 

H.E.L.P. Project Accomplishments:
• Saw a need, thought of a way to meet it by assembling basic needs' bags for homeless persons

• Fundraised, and through the generosity of friends and family received over $1000 to purchase items for bags

* Asked for and received donations from businesses totaling over $250

* Made complex, collaborative decisions about what should go in the bags and why, how distribution should occur, and personal time management

* Engaged in many enriching discussions about poverty and its root causes, judgement, value, privilege, generosity, the two-way reciprocity of giving, empathy, and more. 

* Distributed bags to those in need 

Our Words of the Day: Helping Everyone Live and Prosper!