3rd Annual Light Up The Woods Lantern Hike

Experience forest school after dark as we watch the sun set and then light up the woods with our lanterns on a short guided hike!

On Saturday, December 7th from 4pm until 6pm, bring the whole family to enjoy a campfire, paper lantern making/decorating, and a short guided hike through the woods at Kingston Forest & Nature School.

This is our BIGGEST event of the year and such a special way for us to embrace the early darkness and welcome back the light – let’s light up the woods with our lanterns, our voices, and our good cheer!

Join us for an evening of crafting, campfire, song & hike!

We will welcome you into the clearing for paper lantern-making/decorating at 4:00pm, we will have the campfire going and the kettle on for tea (BYO travel mug), and we will aim to hit the trail shortly after 4:30pm, when the sun is expected to set. If you’re making your lantern at home, please ensure that you are in the clearing by 4:30pm. We will teach you a song and then take you on a short meander on one of our little loop trails (about 1/2 km) and extend it longer onto a second loop trail if you’re up for it (total of 1km), looping back to the clearing either way (the choice will be yours, we will have at least 2 guides). With little legs, this could take a full hour, with longer legs, not so much time. Feel free to stick around at the bonfire and sing a few more songs with us before you head out for the night! Lanterns will lead you back to the parking lot by 6:00pm.

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO MAKE YOUR LANTERN IN ADVANCE – cold fingers are not a fun way to start a hike. For paper lanterns, we like the looks of these ones. We will have the supplies for a simplified version of those paper lanterns available on the night of the event. If you’re up for more of a challenge and want a more durable lantern, we recommend these tin can lanterns.

Candles will NOT be permitted on this lantern hike. We will have LED tealights available for use in paper lanterns, otherwise feel free to bring a battery-operated lantern, flashlight, headlamp, etc.

This event is open to all ages, however, please keep in mind that our regular programs & site are geared towards children 2-13 years of age. Please also keep in mind that our site is not lit, the terrain is uneven, and all aspects of this event may not be suitable for all ability levels (if the hike isn’t for you, you’re welcome to come just for the campfire). You can expect to walk 1.5-2km on fairly flat but uneven terrain for the entirety of the evening.

IMPORTANT DETAILS:

Please read more about our location here: https://kingstonforestandnatureschool.ca/about/contact-us/. More information will be provided to registered participants.

You must register in advance in order to attend.

In order to keep this event financially accessible, we are offering tickets on a by donation/pay-what-you-can basis. All proceeds from these events pay for staffing of the events & help KFNS to support more children in the outdoors. Suggested donation of $5 per family member.

REGISTRATION: please use this Google form to register for the event

PAYING VIA PAYPAL: please visit bit.ly/kfnspaypal to make your donation via credit card or PayPal balance.

PAYING VIA E-TRANSFER: please send your donation to kingstonforestandnatureschool@gmail.com with the event name in the memo line.

There may be a limited capacity due to parking constraints at this time of year.

PHOTOS: We take photos at our events. If you do NOT give permission for photos of your family to be shared publicly, please send an email with a list of all participating family members, and a note stating that you do not give permission for photos to be shared publicly, otherwise permission to share will be assumed.

NOTE: All participants will be required to sign an assumption of risk waiver and to follow our Illness & Community Wellness Policies.

Please email kingstonforestandnatureschool@gmail.com if you have any questions.