Once the sun goes down, have your family bundle up, grab a headlamp or flashlight, and head out on your walk. It could be in town, or out in the woods, or in the corn fields, or on the road. If you aren’t familiar with the woods you’re walking in, I’d recommend staying on a path for now. I encourage you to turn off you light while you’re walking, at least for short time or when you’re stopped (but maybe keep it on if you’re on the road).
Stop every now and then and listen to the sounds around you. If you hear something, get curious about what it might be. If you are walking in an open place, look up at the sky for a while and hopefully you can see the stars! Definitely turn off the flashlight when looking at stars. Tonight in VT it might be a clear night for stargazing.
You could bring a thermos with you filled with something warm to drink, and sit somewhere on your walk to enjoy a nighttime cup. If it’s before bedtime, try chamomile or catnip with honey!
If it’s above freezing and there’s a body of water nearby, you could go check and see if the spring peepers are singing! There’s nothing quite like being surrounded by a chorus of peeper songs at night. If tonight is too cold, definitely check it out on a warm night sometime in the next few weeks.
*A note about fear of the dark: I used to feel nervous about being out in the dark. When I was about 23, I spent the year challenging myself to never use a flashlight at night, and i eventually became almost as comfortable in the dark as I am in the daylight. It took time, though. Learning to see the beautiful aspects of the dark and feel safe without a light is a process, and takes practice, and should be done at one’s own pace.
ALTERNATIVES AND EXTENSIONS
*Before you head out, figure out with your child what phase the moon is in. Is the moon waxing or waning? Will there be moonlight on your walk?
*If being outside at night feels edgy to you or your child, no need to push it. You could keep your walk short, do a walk around the outside of your house once or twice, or even do a walk inside the house in the dark. Please adjust to your own comfort level. Now is a time for wonder and connection, not a time to add to our fear and stress levels.
*Research which animals in your area are nocturnal, and which animals might be more active at night in the springtime. Read about what amphibians are doing at this time of year. Bonus points if you find a place/org to go help out! @nothbranchnaturecenter had a great post about this recently.
*If you decide to stay inside, try turning off all the lights and only using candlelight. You can make and eat dinner, tell jokes or riddles to each other, or play games by candlelight. 20 questions is great ,or you could play “two truths and a lie”, or read a chapter book aloud.
*In VT a lot of folks have a fire pit and make outdoor campfires regularly. If this sounds like you, go out and make a fire at night and tell stories or look at the stars together.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s activity!