Conquering a fear: At this time of year, when darkness comes early, it’s a scarier time for kids. To help address that fear, Heller Nature Center Supervisor Steve Barg, other naturalists and volunteers at the Highland Park center set out to demystify the darkness. In what he hopes will be an annual event, Barg and his merry band, dubbed night watchers for the occasion, recently introduced about 200 youngsters and their parents to bats and owls by taking a trek into the night at the center.
Starting with the Halloween season, “everything is focused on scaring kids,” Barg said. Explaining the motivation, he said, “We wanted to provide an alternate experience. We found … that kids, even parents, are scared to go into the woods at night. It’s okay to be scared a little, but people should know that night can be fascinating. It’s filled with interesting, wondrous creatures and sounds.”