LESLIE SCIENCE & NATURE CENTER PRESENTS ANIMAL HAUNTS
Leslie Science & Nature Center’s (LSNC) beloved autumnal celebration returns! Celebrate Halloween in TWO ways with LSNC’s non-scary Animal Haunts. Join us Friday, October 26 from 7-9pm for our Adults-Only program featuring a night hike, live animals, and local beer and hard cider (must be 21+). Participants of all ages are invited to come out on Saturday, October 27 from 6-8pm to enjoy a family-friendly evening full of guided trail hikes, games, and live animals. Both events take place at our site, 1831 Traver Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105.
FRIDAY ADULTS-ONLY PROGRAM: Enjoy a beautiful fall evening with a night hike, visit our critter house to see live animals, wander our outdoor raptor enclosures to visit owls, and bring a “zero-waste” picnic to enjoy in our beer and cider garden. Desserts will be provided and tickets include one beverage. Additional beverages can be purchased for $5 each. It’s a unique evening you’ll want to enjoy with your friends! “Animal Haunts-Adults Only is a refreshing alternative to more traditional Halloween celebrations. Who doesn’t want to visit an owl, enjoy a local brew, and take a walk in the night woods? It’s definitely something your date hasn’t done before!” says Etta Heisler, LSNC’s Camp & Public Programs Director.
SATURDAY FAMILY PROGRAM: Animal Haunts “Underground Adventures” takes participants on a guided hike through Black Pond Woods, where costumed interpreters bring Michigan critters to life through storytelling. This year’s skits are all about Michigan critters that live underground. Your family will hear stories from a groundhog, a millipede, a star-nosed mole, and more! Hikes depart from the trailhead every five minutes and are 35-40 minutes in length; the final hike will depart at 7:25 p.m. Festive fun continues throughout the evening, and includes a live animal encounters, a hay jump, fall themed crafts, and STEM activities from the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum! Refreshments and snacks will be made available for purchase from local scout troops. “It’s a perfect opportunity to enjoy Michigan’s autumn weather with the whole family,” says Meg Robeson, Huron Pines Americorps Member and this year’s Animal Haunts Coordinator. “There is something for everyone, and families will love the opportunity to be outside together exploring our wildlife and making memories.”
Michigan animals and critters survive in all weather conditions, and Animal Haunts is held rain or shine to reflect this. Please dress for the weather, noting the latter half of the event will take place in dusk or dark conditions. Flashlights are encouraged but not required. Trails used during the program are maintained but kept natural and can be bumpy, occasionally narrow, and sometimes muddy. Unfortunately, the trails are not stroller-friendly. The program features a mix of activities held indoors and outdoors.
Animal Haunts is designed to appeal to children 12 years of age and younger, but all ages are welcomed and encouraged to attend in costume. Please join us Friday, October 26 from 7-9pm for our Adults-Only program or Saturday, October 27 from 6-8pm for the all-ages program. Both events take place at our site, 1831 Traver Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105. Pre registration is STRONGLY SUGGESTED as these events typically sell out. Register online at: https://www.lesliesnc.org/
Leslie Science & Nature Center creates moments of discovery that inspire curiosity, exploration, and respect for STEM and the natural world.
We believe in a world where curiosity today leads to more purposeful lives tomorrow.
Leslie Science & Nature Center – 734-997-1553 – http://www.lesliesnc.org
1831 Traver Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 – info@lesliesnc.org
