Halloween hike planned at Marr Park Saturday

AINSWORTH — Marr Park will host its annual Halloween Hike Oct. 12, inviting kids to wear costumes as they walk a trail packed with educational autumnal activities, and candy.

Washington County Conservation Naturalist Megan Jorgensen said this year’s theme would focus on migration, stopping trail goers at stations where they can learn about aspects of the natural phenomenon.

“It’s a fun family you can take to get people out here at the park, but also there’s an educational aspect to it, they’re still learning something as they go on the hike,” Jorgensen said.

One game this year will use magnet fishing to show obstacles for migratory sea creatures. Another involves throwing Ping-Pong balls onto felt trees, matching the roosting behavior of monarch butterflies. A third has participants play a game of hopscotch. Several stations along the trail will also feature some reading material.

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The event drew around 250 participants last year, after a rainstorm that ended shortly before the hike. Jorgensen said she hoped to draw a bigger crowd this year for the decades-old event that changes themes every year.

Overall, she said conservation staff were looking forward to this year’s event.

“Yes, it’s educational, but I think we’ve also done a good job of making it more enjoyable,” she said. “Coming up with unique, new ideas that are going to draw people, instead of just a flat-out educational thing … also it’s Halloween, and a lot of people enjoy anything that has to do with Halloween and getting outside.”

Washington County Conservation’s Halloween Hike is Oct. 12, from 6-8 p.m., and takes about 30 minutes for each group to complete. The last group typically starts the trail at 7:30 p.m., according to Jorgensen. Participants are welcome to light refreshments at the conservation center after their trek.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com