The following is a compilation of ideas for night hikes (or, as the author prefers, nite hikes) that have been gathered from various sources and are now being shared via the WAGGGS-L listserv and this web page.  I hope you enjoy these ideas as much as I have. Please read the introduction and general guidelines for an overview as well as safety guidelines. Remember to also take into account the specific safety requirements of your own geographical area and Council.
 

I lead Nite Hike trainings for my council. I've done so for about 5 years now. It's a training I came up with after going through many church camp nite hikes. I usually give this at our council's fall training weekend, "Fall Kickoff". I've expanded my repertoire by reading many 'nature' books, like those written by Joseph Cornell, "Sharing the Joy of Nature" and "Sharing the Joy of Nature with Children". I also am a Project Wild and Project Learning Tree facilitator for my council (and am trying to incorporate a few of these activities as well).

These are several very good activities that can be done with a variety of age levels (from Br to adults). Some are trust activities, others are activities that help people learn more about their bodies (seeing, hearing, etc), some are just fun for the girls. I really enjoy leading this training.

I've listed them in no particular order (only the order I thought of putting them down in the outline). For several years I didn't hand out anything at my training and many people asked for a handout. This didn't come about until about 2 years ago.

I think many people take this training more than once. The hike is fun and I don't get to all the activities every year. Some years during the "Fall Kickoff" it's very cold and I only stay out until we're a  cool. One year it was raining and I did the "hike" in a group shelter where we could make it dark. This was really interesting, doing a hike in a building.

The activities come from a variety of sources, people just told me some, others I found in books (?which ones?). Most are just ones that I participated in when I was working at church camp and one of the camp leaders led this hike. They sometimes passed out an official 'certificate' that read that "(person) survived and Camp (name of camp) Night Hike".

When some people take this training they think they are out for a hike at night, but that's a "Night Hike". So the difference is: "Nite Hike" is a group of activities that you can do with a group of people in the dark, and "Night Hike" is a walk in the woods at night.

What spurred me to tell my AES (adult education specialist) about Nite Hikes was that (before she was AES), I had attended a OTC (overnight troop certification) [old term for what is now in our council overnight camping in tents] and someone in one of the patrols volunteered to lead a night hike. What she did was run (I mean run) the entire camp in the darkness. She did occasionally holler back the names of the things we were running by or the names of the trails we were on. This was my first time at that particular camp and it wasn't a good way to learn about that camp. This camp is one of the most favorite in my council (a former resident camp and site of about 1/2 of our day camps). It's the site where the "Fall Kickoff" is now held.

I carry one flash light on each hike, my participants are instructed to pocket theirs and only use as necessary and to keep them pointed down to keep them out of my eyes. I usually let them use them to return to the main portion of camp, but many choose not to once they become familiar with the camp and feel comfortable in using their "night vision". I also carry along a ziplock bag with a bottle of "strike anywhere" matches (and a place to strike them), several different colors of construction paper and a short outline of the different activities, so that I can review and only do the activities without forgetting some. (And don't forget a small first aid kit, just in case - but I've never needed one.)

Good luck with your activities. Email me back if you have any questions. I'll do my best to answer them.

Yours in Scouting,
Mary L.H. Riley

        This is the list of activities I choose from each time I lead a NITE HIKE.  You will need to be familiar with the area (trail) you are leading the activities in.  Walk through the area in the daylight where you will be taking your group.  Even if you have walked the location before, you ll need to walk through with your mind set on leading these activities in special areas.  You do not need a long trail, but remember some of these activities involve risks. Look for places which could harbor a hazard or that will be big enough for your group to use.

        The NITE HIKE is a group of activities that raise people s awareness of the world around them and helps them learn more about themselves.  Keep on researching activities that you can use.  The NITE HIKE is not a set group of activities, but an ever growing group of activities that are fun to do as cooperative group activities.

        Gather your group in a circle for a debriefing after each activity so they voice their comments and concerns.  Use the debriefing time to evaluate whether you have done things in a safe way and/or if you can improve your techniques in leading these activities. The debriefing will help you get a feel for the comfort level of the group and whether they are ready for more challenging activities.  Debrief questions should always include,  How might we do this better?  if your group is fifth grade or higher.  Younger than third grade, you may just ask if they re ready to do another activity. [not a part of usual outline: I debrief during the training as well and include questions about how the leaders feel about the activities, could they use them with their troop, how could I improve the activities and what kind of safety issues does this bring up. I keep reminding them SAFETY at all times and to think through any activity before they do it with their troop.]

         DO NOT ridicule anyone who may not want to participate in an activity, encourage everyone to participate in some way. All participants need to be aware of the activity going on.  In most of the activities, all participants will need to help with group safety. [not a part of the usual outline: I encourage everyone to try all the activities, but when someone prefers not to I remind them to help out and often these people do things to help with the safety of the group. Many people are uncomfortable in the dark and prefer not to jog or run in areas they aren't comfortable. I just recruit them to help with the activity. If the noise level gets too high at any point, I just remind everybody that we all need to be aware of what's going on to maintain the safety of the group.]

        Move the group away from nearby buildings, if possible, so that the noises in them do not disturb your group.  Have fun.  Don t feel like you have to do every activity listed here each time you lead a  Nite Hike.   Start with simple group activities, feel out the mood of the group and stop when you ve all has a good time.

1. Blind Group Walk.  This activity can also be done as a daylight activity.  I like to start with this one if the hike is starting about dusk; this gives people the opportunity to start acclimatizing and adapting to the idea of being in the dark without a flashlight.  The walk should be an area you are familiar with. Participants line up side by side and hold hands.  Everyone but the leader closes their eyes.  All are to remain silent.  Participants need to send messages to the next person via their hands.  The leader holds the hand of the first participant and walks at a quick pace, as the group will allow. Go on and off the trail and through some obstacles.  If your group is young, you should not do many obstacles or move very fast.  The more obstacles, the slower you ll walk.  The group follows walking single file while holding hands. Do not run.  Listen and caution the group not to talk, but to pass messages with nonverbal signals.  If you hear painful words, stop and make sure that everyone is all right.  If you have time to set up before the hike, you can fill some garbage bags with leave and hang them from a tree for the participants to walk under.  Debrief questions include,  How did you feel when you couldn t tell the next person what obstacle to prepare to meet? . [not a part of the normal outline: I tell my participants that when I do this activity with Brownie and younger Juniors that I put adults among the group to help girls with their fears and for safety of the girls.]

2. Blind Pairs.  This activity is also good for day time.  This activity is best done in the dusk if done as part of a  Nite Hike.   Have people grouped in pairs. The leader tells one of each pair to close their eyes for the activity.  (Younger age people may need blindfolds to help them to remember to keep their eyes closed). The person with their eyes open takes the other person around to things to feel of and make discoveries about.  Warn people about poison ivy. After a few minutes, you will have the pair exchange places (the person with their eyes open now becomes the person with their eyes closed). Debrief questions include,  Were you able to trust your partner?  and  What kinds of things did you discover? [not a part of the usual outline: I very often am one of the items that participants choose to 'show' their blind partner.]

3. The Owl.  Participants stand back from the area where one participant hides along the side of the trail.  (S)he goes far enough ahead that (s)he seems to disappear into the darkness. (If possible prearrange for someone who has done the activity before to go and hide just before this activity starts.  Then when you start, let the participants know that you prearranged the  hiding  with the  owl ). When the  owl  is ready (s)he calls loudly  hoo-hoo.   The others walk slowly and quietly along the trail trying to locate the  owl .  Every five seconds the  owl  does not hear noise, the  owl  calls  hoo-hoo. The game continues until the  owl  is found.  Debrief questions include,  Did you have trouble finding the  owl  in the darkness?  and  What caused you the most problems?

4. The Bat.  This activity works best when the group has more than 12. One person is selected to be the  bat .  The  bat  is told that when the group leader calls out  ready,  (s)he is to call out  BAT  and move toward the group.  (S)he is to  listen to find out where the  moth  is.(S)he is to move among the other participants listening for the person not making any sound.  The person not making a sound is the  moth . You send the  bat  to one side where (s)he cannot see while the game is set up.  Explain to the rest that they are different animals about the area that the  bat  will also be hearing.  Each person needs to select an animal noise to make while the bat moves around the game area.  For instance they can say,  mouse, mouse  if (s)he is a mouse if they cannot make the animal s noise.  Or they can say  woof-woof  if (s)he is a dog if they can make the sound of the animal they wish to be.  The favorite animal sound in my family is,  Mad Dog. Mad Dog. RUFF-RUFF-RUFF-RUFF-RUFF-RUFF. They do not have to remain the same animals from game to game.  Only one person, picked by the group leader is the  moth  for a game.  Scatter the participants about the playing area to start the game, then call  ready.   When the  moth  is found, (S)he becomes the new  bat .  The group leader selects a new  moth .  Parts of debriefing will include a short explanation of the bat s skill of echo location (sonar).  Be sure to let the participants know that a bat is not blind. Debrief questions include,  What was it like?  and  How difficult was it hard to find the  moth?  [not a part of the usual outline: Girls really enjoy playing this activity and it can go on for a long time. Adults find it njoyable and I always have to stop this activity to go on with the rest of the hike.]

5. Group Circle Walk.  Have groups of six to twelve-people gather in a circle.  Everyone puts their arms around each other (around their waists).  Tell the group to move their circle of people up a trail a distance and back while turning the circle. [not a usual part of the outline: I tell them that I'll tell them when to turn around. An experienced person can have 2 to 4 or 5 circles (of adults or with groups that have adults mixed in it). This activity always challenges people but they have great fun.]  The group making up a circle will need to decide which way to turn the circle.  Debrief questions include, What was it like?  and  Was it hard to decide which way to turn the circle?

6. Run Uphill in the Dark.  This activity must be prepared for.  Pick a hill you are familiar with.  Walk it in the daylight, checking for obstacles and holes. It s better for this activity if the hill is a smooth paved road, but gravelled roads and grassy areas work as well. Pick a hill that has about 50 feet of clear, straight or slightly curved area to run.  You will need to have one flashlight for the group to use during this activity.  The flashlight will be used to guide the runners to the place to run to.  Walk the group to the bottom of the hill at a casual pace.  Gather everyone at the bottom of the hill and explain the activity.  Make sure everyone understands they can move up the hill at their own pace, running or jogging. They will be the only ones on the hill moving when it is their turn. They take turns, one at a time, going up the hill moving toward the flashlight that is turned on and pointed at the ground.  Send anyone that wishes not to run up the hill about 50 feet up the road (or trail) with the flashlight.  Have the non-runners stop, call out  ready  and wave the flashlight back and forth twice while pointing it at the ground.  Have the participants line up. Release the runners one at a time by tapping their shoulder and saying  go.   (Another method is to hold the shoulder of the next runner and release when you say  go.   As the runners get to the top of the hill they should stand quietly with the non-runners waiting for the rest of the group to catch up.  At the end of the activity, walk up to the group for the debriefing.  Debrief questions include,  What was it like?  and  How did you feel as you ran up the road?  [Not a usual part of the outline: I make it clear when setting up this activity that the leaders know that it's very important not to force anyone to do this activity (and many people do only walk up the hill). I also make it clear that only one person will be moving at a time, so that you can keep an eye on only the moving person. I also let everyone know that they need to keep aware of what's going on and not to make too much noise while the activity is going on.]

7. Indian Sneak. [not part of the usual outline: Sorry about the name. The person who did this activity called it this, you could change the name if you wish. It's the activity that's important, not the name.] You ll need a flashlight for this activity.  The area you play this game in is best grassy (or paved).  It s hard to play on a gravelled area. Have the participants gather in a circle around you.  They should be an arm s length or more apart.  The circle should be more than 20 feet across (if possible).  Explain the game, then pick someone to take your place in the center of the circle.  Give that person the flashlight.  They are the  Indian .  Each person tries to sneak up on the  Indian .  (It s best if not more than two or three people try at the same time). If the  Indian  hears something (s)he turns on the flashlight and points it at the noise then turns it off. If they point the flashlight at someone, that person has to rejoin the circle.  The game continues until someone reaches the  Indian  and touches him (her).  They become the new  Indian .

8. Identify the Color.  This activity is best when you set it up ahead of time and just  come across it  during your hike.  Several different colors of paper or material are set up or shown to the participants in the darkness.  If the activity is set-up then place the colors far enough apart that the flashlight beam will not shine onto the next color.  All try to guess the color being shown.  After all the guesses, turn on the flashlight and show the color.  Debrief questions include,  Was it hard to decide what colors were being shown?   Debrief should include a short explanation of the properties of the rods and cones in human eyes.

9. Listen with Eyes Closed.  Gather your group in a circle around you and discuss the noises they hear in their everyday life.  Ask all the participants to close their eyes and just listen to all the sounds. After several seconds, ask the group to say quietly the noises they are hearing.  Debrief questions include,  What was it like?   If no one says anything about their hearing being better because their eyes were closed, then ask,  Did closing your eyes make a difference?   Debrief may also include a discussion of how losing your sight makes your hearing ability increase. [not a usual part of outline: this activity is best not done in a residential area. If you can scout out an area where lots of different noise can be heard. The area I lead in have a highway sound and residential neighborhood sounds, I'd like to have more sounds, but o well.]

10. Bat and Moth.  You can also play this game as a day light activity. This game can also be Coyote and Rabbit, Owl and Mouse or Cat and Mouse. Gather participants into a circle, there should be an arms length or a bit more between the people.  Explain the game and select two people. One will be the  bat  and the other will be the  moth .  The  bat (hunter) will be blindfolded.  The  moth  tries to not get caught by the  bat .  When the  bat  says  bat,  the  moth must reply  moth.   The  bat  and  moth  move around the area inside the circle, and the circled participants keep the  bat  and  moth  inside the circle.  The  bat  must tap the  moth  twice to catch him (her). Debrief questions include,  Was it hard to find the  moth?

11. Eyes Adjusting to Light.  This activity is done near the beginning of the hike, but well after dusk.  Be sure to do this activity before the retina burning activity.  It helps the participants to realize why they don t each need a flashlight. Gather the participants around you in a circle.  Have them look at the ground. Quickly turn on the flashlight for several seconds, then turn it off and have the participants look away from the lighted area.  Give them time for their eyes to adjust. Do the activity a few more times.  Debrief questions include,  What do you think?

12. Retina Burning.  You need to have a bright flashlight or matches for this activity. Store the matches in a tight, metal, waterproof container.   Make sure the area is not windy if you re using matches. You may do this in a fire circle.  This activity requires a little preparation of your participants.  Tell them the name of the activity and tell them you re not really going to burn their eyes.  But rather you re going to draw a  light  image and their eyes will remember the image for several seconds.  Be sure to give one participant the responsibility of taking care of the spent matches.  Gather the participants into an arc in front of you and make sure they can see the area in which you are going to do the  light  movement.  Have them close their eyes.  Tell them they are to open their eyes when you say,  open,  look at the area you are moving the light in, then close their eyes when you say,  close.   After they close their eyes, they will see the  drawing  you made.  You should  look  at the image on your retina as well.  Once the images have faded, do the activity a few more times.  Debrief  questions include,  What was it like?

This activity can also be done with a flashlight (for safety), but does not provide the leader of the group a "picture" to see (as the flashlight is pointed away from the leader and towards the group). (S)he must ask the group if their 'picture' is gone before drawing the next one with the flashlight. [My personal favorite is using the matches and having someone who's your personal assistant (my daughter usually) to take care of the matches.] Our council does not allow lighters to be used to start fires and so I've never used one, but I feel like that using a lighter would be much too (very much) dangerous for use. Moving your hand around might cause you to be burned by the lighter.

13. Parallel Lines. This is also a good daytime activity.  Think safety when you select an area for this activity.  The area will need to be free from obstacles and holes.  Prepare the participants as you are setting up this activity. Have the participants line up in two parallel lines facing each another.  The two lines should be four to five feet apart.  The people in the lines stand about an arm s length apart from each other.  It is the responsibility of the lines to keep the runner from running out of the area between the lines.  The participants are to take turns, one at a time, running between the two lines with their eyes closed. Each person can run at their own pace.  The group leader should demonstrate the activity for the group, a trial run, so that the group learns to trust one another. The group leader goes back to the head of the line to start the  runners .  The group leader and the runner stand at the head of the lines.  The group leader lays a hand on the shoulder of the  runner  and releases the  runner  when (s)he feels that the  lines  are ready.  The  runner calls out,  ready?  before running and waits for all in the group to respond,  ready  back to them.  The runner then says,  running  before running between the lines.  The leader may choose to stop the  runner by laying a hand back on the shoulder of the  runner , should (s)he feel that the group isn t ready.  The persons at the  finish line  are to be responsible for stopping the running person by keeping one arm out for the runner to feel where the  finish line  is.  It is important that everyone remain alert for the safety of the runner. The people who are a part of the lines are called spotters. Encourage everyone to try out this activity. [not a part of the usual outline: I usually do this activity last and almost everyone participates in it. They build trust in each other and feel  comfortable with each other. Also demonstrating my confidence in them by doing it first help too.)