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Family Camping


SPARK A FIRE FOR MIDNIGHT ADVENTURES. PHOTO: KEVIN MCELHERAN


[ LITTLE EXPLORERS ] A WEEK’S WORTH OF BEFORE-BEDTIME ADVENTURES AFTER DARK


Creepy Crawlies Get up close and personal with your campsite’s creepy crawlies. Drape a thin white sheet over a taut line or tie it up between two trees, then point a bright light at it. Sit on the other side of the sheet and see the silhouettes of all types of nocturnal insects, including moths, beetles and crane flies that come to visit—can you identify them all?


Glow Bowling


Fill five to seven clear, plastic bottles with water and take them to an open area. Line them up in bowling pin formation, drop a differently colored glow stick in each one and screw the lid on tight. Stand back 15 feet and try to knock them all down with a ball—strike! Use a glow-in-the-dark ball so you can locate it if it rolls away.


Count the Stars


The big dipper is easy, but can you find Venus in the night sky? Use an app like Star Map to familiarize yourself with the constellations, or go old school and bring a star chart. Awe the family by star gazing at one of the two-dozen International Dark-Sky Association reserves across North America—under good conditions, expect the Milky Way to cast a shadow. www.darksky.org.


After Dark Safari


Set off around the campground or walking paths and see how many nocturnal creatures you can find. Use the red light on your headlamp to maintain your night vision. You can also turn any regular flashlight into a red light lamp with a piece of red cellophane. Look for the glowing eyes of raccoons, possums and otters in the dark. Watch out for skunks!


Radio Nocturne


From the comfort of your campsite you can investigate the local wildlife just by being quiet. Mark an X at the center of a blank piece of paper, representing your location. Listen for the night hoots of owls, croaks of bullfrogs, squeaks of bats and scurrying of mice. Draw symbols to make a map of the sounds you hear.


Night Bubbles


Add a few drops of glow-in-the-dark non-toxic paint to a jar of bubble solution. Mix it well and blow. Because the surface of the bubble is so thin, their luminescence will only be noticeable if it’s very dark, but when they pop their neon colors gleam, leaving galaxy patterns wherever they burst.


Capture Lightning


Fireflies are easy to spot—just look for their tiny flashing lights. You’ll find them near marshy areas and at the edges of lakes and streams. Catch fireflies using a net and put them into a jar with a lid that closes tightly and has little holes to let air in. Keep fireflies for just a few hours and release them the same night.


Bonus: Best S’more Ever?


Sweet and delicious, this might be the best s’more recipe yet. Place one Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup on a graham cracker and top with slice of banana and marshmallow. Wrap in tin foil and place next to the fire to heat to gooey perfection. —KP


36 | Canoeroots


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