Activity
Head out on a quiet family night hike to listen for croaking frogs or spot other nocturnal creatures. Pause along the trail, turn off flashlights or use a red-filtered flashlight, and let your ears adjust to the nighttime sounds.
Can you hear frogs, crickets, or rustling leaves? Talk about how animals use their senses differently at night—and try moving like one of them as you continue your walk!
Materials
You can go on a night hike without any materials, though a flashlight or lantern will make it easier and safer if you are exploring a very dark area. Nature ID apps or field guides will help you identify what you see and hear.
Skill Building
By venturing out at night, children experience nature in new ways and have to rely on senses other than seeing, like listening or smelling, to understand the world around them.