Families are invited to the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center for a spook and a stroll
Published 7:31 am Sunday, October 8, 2017
- The first group of walkers reach the first skit, back-lit by an emblazoned horizon as the sun sets, during the second night of a previous year’s Halloween Warm-up. Herald file photo
For 33 years the woods surrounding the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center have been turned into a frightening good time and a chance to get out into nature.
Just, not too frightening. Next Friday and Saturday will be the 34th annual Halloween Warm-up at the nature center and like past years the goal is ultimately two-fold.
“This has been a standing event that incorporates the thrill of the Halloween spirit and yet it’s educational in the environmental sense,” said Julie Champlin, office manager for the nature center.
Each night hikes will start leaving for the trail where eight skits will be presented about nature with just a hint of fright to get in line with the spirit of the season.
It’s a unique event that features the education the nature center is all about as well as a way to involve families.
“This is really a fun family event,” Champlin said. “We get a lot of adults that come just to take a nice long walk in the woods.”
Matchbox Children’s Theatre players perform for the first group of the night during the second night of the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center’s Halloween Warm-up last year. Herald file photos
What really makes this event unique, though, is the partnership with the Matchbox Children’s Theatre, whose actors are featured heavily in the skits.
This has been a long-standing part of an event that got its start in the early 1980s and then-nature center naturalist, Vince Shay.
“It started in 1983,” said MCT board of directors member and secretary Cindy Bellrichard. “Vince Shay was the naturalist at that time and he approached us because he wanted to do something to get kids out in nature, in the woods at night and not be afraid.”
The skits themselves are often based on familiar subjects that will spin a scary tale as each group passes and in the course of the night actors will perform their skit about 15 times. In the past the group has presented anywhere between eight and 10 skits along the 45 minute to an hour hike.
“There are funny skits along the way with a little bit scare and fun,” Bellrichard said. “We’re thrilled that [Vince] approached us and that we are able to work with the nature center like this.”
But aside from those visiting, the nights are also fun for the actors who take part in MCT, especially for those with the acting bug who maybe can’t find the time to commit to the lengthier productions the MCT puts on throughout the year.
“It allows us to reach other people and it also, with the shorter skits, allows people to take part who can’t commit to a whole night. They can get their acting bug taken care of.”
Each year the skits will vary, with different subjects being presented, but this year an old favorite will be brought back featuring the Billy Goats Gruff, which hasn’t been performed for nearly 15 years.
“We lost part of the script and so Janet Anderson rewrote it this year. We’re excited to get that one back,” Bellrichard said.
There is also a skit about frogs that Bellrichard hints will be a fun stop.
“This really has been a natural fit,” she said. “We’re involving some younger kids, working with adults and we’re bringing nature to life in a different sense. It’s a fun way to be able to learn.”
The first group of the night heads into the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center for the second night for a previous year’s Halloween Warm-up.
And of course that’s the same goal for the nature center which has made youth education a central part in what the nature center offers.
Another aspect that stands out for Champlin is just how hardy the event has been and for that she credits the community of Austin.
“It’s really fun to showcase the talent that our community has,” she said, referring to co-op with the MCT. We have a lot of youth that share their talent with us.”
“I think that’s what makes it such a long-standing event, because it’s a community event,” she continued. “They all get excited in this community event and every year I look forward to this because every it’s something new.”
This will also be the first the first Halloween Warm-up with the new interpretive center.
“We’re excited about it, because this year we’re going to be incorporating the new building,” Champlin said. “You can come in afterwards for apple cider and a cookie.”
Jay C. Hormel Nature Center’s 34th annual Halloween Warm-up
When: Friday, Oct. 13, Saturday, Oct. 14. First hike leaves at 6:50 p.m., last hike at 9:10 p.m. Groups will leave from the gates next to the Ruby Rupner Auditorium.
Tickets: $8 (includes cookie and apple cider). Tickets can be purchased at Super Fresh Produce, Bakery & Garden Center, 2104 4th Street NW
