Nighttime Adventures Exploring and appreciating the mysteries of the night by leading walks after dark By Brad Daniel and Clifford Knapp
“In darkness I remember that it is not knowledge to which we most deeply belong but mystery, and I sense in the
mystery of night a beauty that exceeds even the great and notable beauties of the daylit world.”1 —John Daniel
P
OETS AND NATURALISTS have raved and written about the values of darkness and the night for centu- ries (see sidebar for selected quotations). The beauty
and magic of nighttime walking emerges in ways seldom apparent during the day. The air smells different, nighttime sounds are strange and more varied, and the trails that may be familiar in daylight appear new and mysterious in the dark. The organized night walk is a way to minimize pos- sible dangers and increase the pleasures for participants attending camps, environmental and nature centers, or those just taking a recreational walk in the woods and fields. This article explains some of the hows and whys of planning and leading a night hike. It describes the purposes of night hikes, some potential barriers, leadership guidelines, safety tips, and suggested activities. We have been leading night walks for many years now and we know the impact they can have on adults and children. We
know that when a night experience is conducted with care and concern for positive outcomes, the participants go away with pleasant and powerful memories and want to go again. We want participants to learn to love the night and to feel com- fortable in nature after the sun goes down. We want them to discover a sense of awe and mystery for the plants and noctur- nal animals. We know that these goals don’t just happen—they must be facilitated with skill and knowledge of the land in a particular place. We hope that these ideas will help launch a series of night adventures for you and your students, and enable you to successfully lead others through the darkness.
Purpose
The purpose of leading an organized night hike is to guide an experience that increases participants’ appreciation for the outdoors while they learn about the nocturnal world. For example, they can discover bioluminescent organisms (per- haps foxfire fungus or firefly glow worms), animal behaviors and adaptations, how to identify star constellations, and many more wonders of the night. Although almost everyone has walked around at nighttime, relatively few have participated in a guided experience that promotes sensory awareness and mindfulness through a sequence of planned activities. Night hikes are exciting experiences for people of all ages because the outdoor darkness in natural settings is new to most.
GREEN TEACHER 93 Page 31
Photographs: Jennifer Haynes Photography
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52