Here’s a story about things that go bump in the night in the North Carolina Piedmont. But even more, this is a story about kids, outdoor ministry, and getting acquainted with God’s nighttime creation.

We are a group of fourteen: eleven middle school-aged campers, two counselors, and myself. It’s a dark, pleasant night in the North Carolina Piedmont. Without flashlights, we venture cautiously along the path, stopping now and then to look and listen.

It has been at least 45 minutes since our eyes were last exposed to light, so we know that our night vision is at its best. Crickets and katydids provide a backdrop of sound to our experience. Hearing some leaves rustling nearby, we all stop. The leaf rustling stops, too. We wait, barely breathing, straining our eyes and ears in the direction of the unidentified sound.

Suddenly, the animal jumps up and retreats through the underbrush to a location safely away from us, making raspy throaty sounds halfway between a cough and a bark on its way. Wide-eyed, we all look at each other, and then continue our careful journey along the trail, ready for the next encounter.

It doesn’t take long — now we hear a sound far off in the distance. We stop, again straining our ears in the direction of the sound. Realizing it’s a barred owl, I decide to try to call it closer. The owl, curious about who the intruding “owl” might be, obligingly flies to perch nearer to our group. After several minutes of “conversation,” the night hunter moves farther off, apparently unimpressed or realizing I am not an owl.

“What was that?”

“That owl was so cool!”

“Hearing the fox bark and run away was my favorite part.”

“I like listening.”

“That was amazing!”

Blazing Trails
Campers who want to get close to nature and are willing to explore under the cloak of night come to Camp Agapé, of Agapé-Kure Beach Ministries in North Carolina, to take part in the “Trailblazers” program. Offered to middle school children, this camping experience is an exciting extension of the “Nature!” camp program offered to younger campers. Special emphasis is placed on finding out about the wild things that make their living after the sun goes down. Campers experience everything from marveling at the stars to enjoying and identifying the sounds and creatures of the evening and night.

Many people are unsure about being out after dark without the aid of some kind of artificial light. The denizens of the dark are mysterious and, therefore, dangerous. During the Trailblazers week, campers discover some of the mysteries of the nighttime forest and discover that, as in the daytime, the most dangerous creatures in the woods are humans.

As described at the outset, one of the highlights of the Trailblazers experience is going on silent night hikes. To prepare for being out at night without flashlights, campers go on a day hike to the areas to be explored later in the darkness. Familiarity with the terrain and the direction of the path is helpful when venturing out into the woods after nightfall.

Campers who have taken part in Trailblazers leave the week with a better understanding of “what goes bump in the night” and an increased appreciation for God’s creative power. Creation at night is no longer a total mystery; it is something not to be feared, but enjoyed.

Mir Youngquist-Thurow, of Holly Springs, North Carolina, is the Environmental Education Director of the Agapé Center for Environmental Education (ACE Education) located at Camp Agapé of Agapé-Kure Beach Ministries. Her responsibilities allow her to both serve congregations and provide programs for public school youth.