Audubon Adventure Hike Showcases Nature at Night

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By Chéye Roberson

Sentinel Correspondent

Audubon Greenwich invited families last Saturday to an evening of s’mores and exploration that proved to hold a few exciting surprises.

Before settling in for a campfire on Quaker Ridge, Audubon Greenwich’s official fall hawk watch counting station, the families were treated to hike through forested trails just as the day met dusk to show what kinds of nocturnal animals are found in the area.

“We hiked through the meadow, historic apple orchard, along our Old Forest Trail, where we selected our marshmallow roasting sticks,” said Susan Matthews, education coordinator of Audubon Greenwich. “Along our walk we heard gray catbirds and common yellowthroats calling in the meadow.”

As the hikers neared Indian Spring Pond, they listened for green frogs, bullfrogs, and gray tree frogs. The kids became excited when they heard the green frog make sound like a banjo. After Matthews played the sounds of the calls of a green frog on her phone, she told the hikers to be on the lookout when they walked, so as to not step on any green frogs that might be hopping across the trail path. Sure enough, the kids spotted an energetic green frog in the path before them. They gathered around and watched closely as it hopped away into the forest.

Parents appreciated the “Family Night and Adventure” hike and simply having a place like Audubon Greenwich nearby.

“We do a lot of stuff here. We’ve been members for at least two years,” said Alexandra Stevens, who brought her son, nine-year-old Ethan Cooper, on the trail. “This is one of Greenwich’s treasures.”

The many the night hike was a breath of fresh air.

“What’s better than a beautiful evening in the summer outdoors, seeing and hearing things?” said Mitch Dickey. “Being out at night in the summer—it’s lovely.”

The kids also loved the opportunity to explore what the outdoors has to offer.

“I think it’s a great place to walk around and hear all the animals,” said Cooper.

A hike during the Audubon Greenwich Family Night Adventure Campfire led by Susan Matthews. photo credit: Chéye Roberson
A hike during the Audubon Greenwich Family Night Adventure Campfire led by Susan Matthews. photo credit: Chéye Roberson

Audubon Greenwich continuously makes adjustments to enhance the nature trail experience in the areas of accessibility and interactivity.

“I like the fact that they paved part of it so that it’s easier for folks to navigate it that couldn’t navigate it before,” said Dickey. “They’re going to put a boardwalk into the pond, and people can go out and scoop up water and look at all the little things that are living in there.”

Dickey appreciates Audubon Greenwich’s efforts to help the natural environment flourish.

“I really like the care they take with everything. They had to dredge out that pond,” said Dickey. “There’s two ideas—that you let nature do whatever it’s going to do, or you can help it along the way to keep a lot of the diversity.”

When the group arrived back at Quaker Ridge they saw two tiny bats flying in the distance. After roasting marshmallows, families enjoyed campfire stories and a campfire sing-along led by the Audubon summer camp staff, which included summer camp counselors in training Kaleigh Bryden, Emily Resnik, and summer camp counselors Michael Lindquis and Ford Lockyer.

Matthews said the family campfire night was a great example of what Audubon Greenwich tries to provide for families.

“Here at Audubon, we enjoy encouraging families to un-plug, unwind, and enjoy exploring the natural world,” said Matthews. “Children attending this program had the chance to enjoy the wonder of catching fireflies, playing nature games, and enjoy time with their families around an old fashion campfire. They are able to have fun exploring the outdoors and discovering their local sanctuary close to home that they can come back and visit with their families and friends time and time again.”

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