| Hike
Preparation at Home
Materials:
Black construction paper
Reflective Tape
Poster board
Glue Stick
Markers
Copies of
Night Eyes Patterns
You will need to make two sets of eyes, one for the trail, and one for the
poster.
1. Cut black construction paper into 16 2"x 4" strips
2. Using the picture as your guide (print out and cut apart to make
templates), cut eyes out reflective tape and attach to construction paper
strips.
3. Attach one set of eyes to the poster board, and label each pair of eyes
(see patterns) for the group to use as a key when hiking.
Hike Preparation at
Camp
Materials:
Night Eyes Poster
Set of Night Eyes
Masking tape, string or thumbtacks
Do this during the day! The other adults with your troop should keep the
girls busy (preferably on the other side of camp).
1. Pick an area or trail that gives room for several people to stand
together, as well as an area that has room for a group to gather prior to
entering the trail.
2. Using the poster as your guide, hang the eyes at suggested heights on
trees or bushes so that they are visible from the trail. Avoid brushy
areas that would obscure the view of the eyes.
3. Map the trail for future reference and retrieval (optional)
Leading the Hike
This hike is
best done when it is very dark. Only the group leader should have her
flashlight on at this time. Lead the group to the Night Eyes Trail,
keeping your flashlight pointed to the ground. Have another adult bring up
the end of the line. As you walk, you may encourage the participants to
discuss the sounds you may hear at night and to listen carefully for them.
When you reach the gathering spot, hold up the poster and let everyone
shine their light on it. Explain that you are going to be hunting for
special animals on the trail. Only their eyes will be visible. Ask how
many have seen night eyes when driving. How could they tell what animal it
was just by looking at the eyes? Demonstrate by placing flashlight up
beside your eyes (girls can do this, too). Explain that they will be
looking for animals off to the sides of the trail and on either side of
it. They will need to look in the trees and undergrowth. If they spot a
pair of eyes, they should try to guess what animal they have found. You
may tell them how many eyes are out on the trail. The poster is available
to help them identify the animals.
If holding a contest for the most animals spotted, you may split up the
group into teams at this point. An adult should accompany each team. Give
the first team a few minutes head start. Instruct the girls to stay on the
trail and walk with a buddy. Flashlights can be turned on now, but they
should be pointed at the ground until they reach the beginning of the
trail. After each group finishes, they should return to the campsite.
Idea developed by Wally
Brines, Naturalist at Woodlands Nature Center, DuPage, Illinois and Girl
Scouts of DuPage County Council.
Night eyes patterns recreated by Scout Mom
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