Shelter Building in 100 Acre Woods

Welcome to "The Hillside Mansion"! Though it's a bit of a hike in, the views are stunning and this A-frame structure accommodates three quite comfortably. Down yonder you'll find the "Fave Cave", a comfortable single-room abode with a personal outdoor throne beside the front door. You might also enjoy a mud bath during your stay here- Just beware, you'll surely be joined by the "Mud Butts" who have been known to meet in ceremony here.

Wander back up the hill and you'll find a hidden and unnamed dwelling. A new subdivision has been developed in Fairhaven, using sustainable "green" construction methods and materials. No, these state of the art residences are not for sale, BUT! they are open for viewing in the Hundred Acre Woods. The talented architects and construction crew? The Trilliums!

We began our day in opening circle discussing the realities of wilderness survival, reviewing the Survival Rule of Fours and the rule of threes to remember how long you can survive without each (ask your daughter what the four survival priorities are and in what order...). On this day we focused on the survival priority of shelter, learning how imperative a properly insulating shelter is for surviving even a single night in the woods. On this chilly day we also discovered how useful the shelter construction process is in keeping bodies moving and warm!

Our first focus of the day was to put on shelter eyes, traveling up the trail and seeking nooks and crannies that could be or become a shelter for different sizes and types of animals. After a snack and shelter story from Tom Brown, we took a cue from the squirrels, who build nests with sticks and insulate them with leaves, and let their designs inspire our own natural shelters, which were built in the classic "debris hut" style. Our community dwellings sprung up from the forest floor, and within a few hours we had three deluxe shelters! On this super cold day, building shelters kept us warm, and that was a big bonus.  With the bit of time remaining, we played a couple rounds of Spiders Web, and did a Peaceful Place to calm our minds for a little while and take in the sounds and sights of this beautiful forest.

Finally, we hiked to a Closing Circle spot where we did acknowledgements of one another and shared the many connections we had formed throughout our season together. The girls spoke from their hearts, contributing gratitude and acknowledgements of the group as a whole for the support, laughter, connection, and positive, spontaneous, vibrant energy that radiates whenever the Trilliums come together. There were heartfelt words exchanged, and tears of both joy and sadness as we acknowledged one of our group members, Bailey K, for which Sunday's outing marked her last with GEC, though she will forever be a part of the Trillium family. We closed with our words of the day: Mud, Shelter, Spiders Web!

You may view the slideshow from our day here. 

EC MOTTOS that came into play today: Many Hands Make Light Work, All Things Are Connected, LIBK, Be Prepared, Get Dirty! Leave No Trace