Week 7: Venture into the Night

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“Life begins at night” ― Charlaine Harris

As the days get longer and warmer its the perfect time to do something different by spending time engaging with the night and the all the adventures it provides.

Take A Night Walk2

Taking a walk at night is so different than walking in daylight. It awakens the senses for a totally different adventure. For some, being out at night is an exciting adventure and for others the experience of being outside at night is a scary one. Taking night walks can help overcome fear of the night. This time of year provides a great opportunity to engage with nature.

Night Walking/Hiking Safety Checklist

Before venturing out on your night walk review this safety check list to make sure you have everything you need for a safe walk.

  • Make sure to check the weather to be certain there is not a chance of a pop-up thunderstorm.
  • Select a safe path that you know well.
  • Dress in light-colored clothes or your favorite light colored PJs.
  • Wear safe, comfortable, well-fitting shoes.
  • Grab a flashlight or battery-operated lantern (make sure to check the batteries first).
  • Do not venture out without a walking buddy!

More safety tips about walking/hiking at night

Learn more about hiking with kids.

Take the Moon for A Walkitookthemoonforawalk

Take a walk in the moonlight. This is an especially fun walk to experience on a night when the moon is in the full moon phase but can be taken any night that the moon is visible.

Different as Night and Day?

What’s the difference between night and day? A lot!  

  • Read a Story. Before you head out on your day and night adventure, reacwp_9780763662844_270d the book Owl 
    Babies by Martin Waddell and talk about why some of us find nighttime scary.  
  • Take a Day and a Night Walk. Take the same walk during the day and at night.
    • Take a walk during the day and create a map of the route identifying different points of interest along the way.
    • During the walk use your senses to observe things like a bird’s nest, bird song, a busy anthill, a special tree or pollinators visiting flowers. Take note of the special things that make the spot unique.
    • Then go back over the same route at night visiting the landmarks on your map and use your senses to detect what is different at night. Make a note.
  • Make. A sun and moon craft. (via: Krokotak.com)


Creatures of the Night 

Nocturnal animals are creatures that are active at night. How many native nocturnal animals can you owlmooncovername off the top of your head? Raccoons, foxes, owls, cats, bats...can you think of any more? These activities celebrate the sometimes misunderstood nocturnal animals that share our world while we are asleep.

Let the Night Games Begin6

Playing outside after dark can be enlightening. These games provide opportunities to experience the night in a fun way.

Firefly Hide and Seek

Use a small pocket flashlight for this fun version of hide and seek. One person is the firefly and hides in the dark while the other players count to 50. The firefly moves around from hiding spot to hiding spot turning the flashlight on and then off again every minute or so. When someone catches the firefly, they take a turn hiding with the light.

Cricket Hide and Seek

An entertaining game for players of all ages. Each hiding player needs two sticks to tap together. Have a few people hide themselves while the others count to 50. The hidden players must tap their two sticks together every 60 seconds. The seekers attempt to find them by listening for the tapping. The hiders can move around if they wish. The game ends when all the tappers are discovered.

Nighttime Reflector Hunt

Kids love the excitement of finding hidden items. Although this nighttime game takes a bit of advanced planning, the fun makes it well worth the effort. Before you get started, place glow sticks, reflectors or other glow-in-the-dark items in the yard or along a walking path. Seekers use flashlights to search for reflecting objects.

Bats and Moths

This game demonstrates how bats and moths use echolocation to locate things in the night. Watch this video to learn more about echolocation. 

Stand in a circle and choose one person to be the bat, two are chosen to be moths and all other players are trees. Blindfold the bat and the moths and have them stand in the circle.

Rules of the game:

  • The bat tries to catch the moths.
  • The bat flies around the circle trying to catch the moths.
  • The moth must try to evade the bat.
  • Once the bat touches the moth the round is over and new participants are chosen for the game.
  • When the bat calls out “bat" or claps once, the moth must answer “moth” or clap twice.
  • If the bat gets close to the edge of the circle and bumps into the trees the trees can say "trees."
  • The trees keep the bat and moth contained by holding their arms out to prevent escape from the circle.