Hoots & Howls: A Spooktacular Evening

Experience the forest by night, learn about nocturnal creatures, then warm up by the bonfire with hot cocoa and treats, no tricks! When the sun goes down, the forest wakes up. Join us for an evening trail walk through the woods, where IslandWood educators and docents will be stationed along the way to share stories from the nocturnal world. Arrive anytime between 6:00 and 8:00 PM to check in at the Welcome Center and pick up your custom trail map, then set off with your family at your own pace. Flashlights are welcome, but optional—the dark is half the fun. Along the route, stop for puppets, stories, echolocation experiments, hands-on science, and a few surprises tucked along the trail. Find out how owls hunt without making a sound, how bats navigate by listening for echoes, what it's like to rely on night vision, and who's hunting—and who's trying not to be hunted—once the sun goes down. We'll explore why darkness matters, too: for animals that need the night to feed, rest, migrate, hide, and find their way. And keep your eyes and ears open as you walk. We can't promise you'll meet any of IslandWood's wild residents along the way, but you never know who might be out there with you. By 8:00 PM, we'll make our way to Friendship Circle, where the fire will be going and we'll settle in for hot cocoa, treats, and songs around the bonfire until 9:00 PM. Nothing along the way is meant to be scary. The only thing lurking in the shadows might be a spider (and honestly, she's just trying to get some work done). Halloween costumes are very welcome, and we'll have a few seasonal touches along the way. Mostly, though, this is a chance to spend an October evening outside, let your eyes adjust to the dark, listen to what's happening around you, learn a little about the lives being lived while most of us are asleep, and then warm up together around the fire. We've curated activities that are very IslandWood, very family-friendly, and more curious than creepy. We can't wait to see you this fall season! This event is for all-ages! • Families welcome! Special welcome back to our summer camp graduates, and our incoming school overnight student families. We love it when the students become the tour guides! • One trail only will accommodate all-terrain strollers. • Infants on laps, or in baby carriers (Baby Bjorn, backpack, Ergo, wrap, etc.) are free of charge. • Wear shoes appropriate for a light hike such as sneakers or hiking boots. • Halloween costumes are optional, but make sure they are sturdy enough for a hike on the trails with trail appropriate footwear. • Flashlights and headlamps are not required, but you may bring a flashlight optionally for navigation. Our main campus paths from the Friendship Circle to the parking lot have lighted posts. • As always, we love dogs, but please leave yours at home unless they are an ADA-defined service animal.