Last Day in the Woods: Farewell to BCE Gen 2

I just got home from BCE Gen 2’s last day in the woods together, and my heart is full of gratitude for these past couple of years with this amazing group. We had a closing ceremony at the end, and I tried to give a speech, but it was hard to find the words to express what I wanted to say. It didn’t help that the kids got together and made me a card so touching it made me cry. But, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s start at the beginning.

We started our day, much like any other. Field notebooks out. “What’s the date today?” (It’s June 3rd, 2026)

Then we played not-poker. We all laughed when the first reveal was Bella on Temp- perfect. Mostly, the randomly assigned jobs all felt right. With one quick swap, we were off to our sit spots.

The meadow grass was high, and I enjoyed listening to many birdsongs, observing a lot of similar beetles, and checking on the ants and spiders under my bark piece. I could see Juniper across the meadow, but just barely. From a seated position, she was just a head floating above a sea of grass.

I gave each BCE a present this year- their very own tree. Ben made them special brass tags, and they used the punch set (usually used to create numbered tree tags for plots) to put on their name and the year. They don’t get to take the tree home, but I do hope they will come back to visit someday. And I promised not to let the loggers cut down any of these trees. I had hoped to get a photo of each kid by their tree, but as it turned out, I only got Juniper.

The rest of our day was not a typical day. No big science objectives for today. Some explorers were very close to achieving mastery, so we jumped right into skill time. Ruani worked on his level 2 featherstick, Bella trimmed up her already finished basket, and several took me up on the offer to give cordage from nettles a second try.

Ru brought back his staff to show us, and we were all impressed with how well it turned out. He carved a vine with leaves spiraling around it. His featherstick was filled with tight, delicate curls, which means he’s our first BCE to achieve level 2 mastery!

I just happened to find this old photo while looking for another- here’s what one of his feathersticks looked like at the start of the BCE experience.

Since it was our last day together on the land, we wanted to visit all the places. We set off to the west, through Plot #1 (otherwise known as Plot Villa with Trilliums) where the kids remade a video performance from last year. I can’t post videos in here (sorry Ru) but I’ll be sure to share them both with the group. After that, we got the idea to retake photos at landmarks along the way.

This was the first bridge they built (at the start of the murder trail), and somewhere is a photo of them back when it was completed. I wonder if I can find it…

Ha! They look so serious. This was November 2024, before Juniper or Gavin joined us.

We stopped for a bounce on the fallen bouncy tree that we cut from the trail long ago.

They tried to ride the see-saw at Logstonshire, but there was just no way to counter-balance the overwhelming power of Juniper.

Rheah got us to take another picture at the split-log bridge at Logstonshire, but this time we attempted a jump photo. Clearly, my timing is less than ideal.

A quick stop at the clear-cut next door to check on the young trees.

Rheah taught us why this beautiful plant is called Foxglove!

By then, we were getting hungry, so we circled back towards the village. We checked on our unfinished group shelter. It occurred to me that this in itself is becoming part of the tradition- start a project, then leave it half-finished for the next group.

We warmed our hands by the pretend fire.

Somehow, all seven of them fit inside the doorless shelter that the BCE OG started many years ago, and the early BCE Gen 2s completed.

By then, we were quite thirsty and hungry, but that didn’t stop the fun hiking back.

Back at main camp, we prepared the feast! Simon spoiled us with an incredible spread of fancy cheeses and meats.

Terran worked hard to assemble one of his famous fruit platters. He spent hours cutting the fruit at home, with the mango pieces each holding a toothpick and even a strawberry rose on top.

We made it to feast time without anyone spilling the pickles! (If you know, you know.) It was delicious!

After, they wanted to play games in the meadow. Freeze tag? Maybe? I spent some time by the pond while they ran around.

Then it was time to circle up for our closing ceremony. I picked the spot we gathered at the beginning when I first read them, “Another Way to Listen.” (Rheah reminded me of this.) That’s when I tried to give a speech, and they gave me a card that made me cry. (The good kinda cry.) I gave them each one more present- a bead made from hazel with a gold-leafed trillium on it that says BCE II. I didn’t take photos during the ceremony, but here’s one I took last night as I was finishing them up.

I went around the circle, from youngest to oldest, and did my best to acknowledge something special about each of them and give them their bead. Many had achieved mastery and got extra beads. Rheah: fire 1, Bella: fire 1 and fiber 1, Gavin: hatchet 1, and Ru: fire 1 and knife 2. Look at that amazing basket she made, mostly from materials gathered at Bear Creek!

And then, because we hadn’t taken a group photo in a long while… one last selfie with me too!

My heart is full of gratitude for these kids and the land that connects us.

Tomorrow morning, I leave for the Sierra Nevadas for a three-day workshop on brain-tanned buckskin from my friend and mentor, Woniya Thibeault! Welcome summer!