By: Cali Martozie, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Writing Intern
On Thursday, October 30th, Beaver Creek lit up with spooky spirit as we celebrated this year’s Boofest!
After visitors checked in at the Wise Nature Center, they headed to our Storybook Hiking trail, where they were greeted with a blown-up orange and grey arch with floating ghosts. There, waiting for them throughout the trail were stations with our Environmental Educators, eager to hand out candy, and teach the creepy crawlers of Beaver Creek… Moths, black bears, salamanders, bees, opossums, cockroaches, termites, and dandelions! Once the trick-or-treaters filled up with candy and nature knowledge, they were met with cozy campfires where they could warm up with some hot apple cider and s’mores.
Inside the Wise Nature Center, visitors made their way to the Auditorium for a reading of I’m Not Scary or The Fierce Yellow Pumpkin, and the chance to see some of our very own animal ambassadors here at Beaver Creek, Luna the Barred Owl and Mickey the Eastern Fox Snake! The attendees could then go downstairs to our Woodland room, where both parents and children unlocked their creativity to paint a variety of beautiful pumpkins.
To end the night, and new this year, was our Halloween Candlelight Hike! Before the event, our Beaver Creek staff set up over 30 Jack-O-Lantern paper bags with luminaries inside across our trails. At 6:30, as the sun disappeared from the sky, guests had the opportunity to follow their light as they began their journey behind the nature center and made their way back to the parking lot by traveling down stairs, through the woods, and past the creek!
All in all, this year’s festivities were a success due to the hard work of our staff, volunteers, and the over 460 visitors who showed up to celebrate with us, making this year our biggest Boofest yet! If you are interested in joining us at more events like these, visit our Beaver Creek calendar for more information.
