Full Moon Walk: More Ways to Experience Wonder in Nature

Moonlight is always a source of wonder, and let’s celebrate it by taking a full moon walk in nature. No flashlights needed! It will offer your kids a new perspective on a familiar landscape and add a little ‘magic’ to their week.

young boy taking full moon walk in forest

Normally, we’d think that nighttime walks in nature would require a flashlight or headlamp to see the way. But you’d be surprised to see just how much help that moonlight can offer. Once your eyes have adjusted, you may not even need any other source of light!

Preparation

Prepare for your full moon walk: when/where/how

Although full moon walks can also be spontaneous, you might benefit from a little preparation ahead of time.

Find out the date for the next full moon here or here. If that particular date doesn’t work for you, choose a day on either side of the full moon (within 2-3 days).

Look up the times for moonrise. Enter your location on this website or this website to find out the local times for moonrise and moonset.

Choose a trail that is:

already familiar to you (somewhere that will offer points of reference that will help you orientate yourself)
away from any artificial light (street lights, landscaping lights, etc.)
well defined (clear paths with few obstacles)
on relatively flat land (your depth perception may feel different)
close to home (bedtime awaits!)

young boy taking full moon walk in nature

Let your kids dress up: they can wear pajamas or tutus, or whatever will make this activity special. Just make sure they are wearing appropriate layers for the weather. You may find yourself walking at a slower pace than normal, so it might be harder to get warm if you’re not dressed appropriately.

Discuss some ground rules before you set off on your full moon walk:

make sure you always have an adult within sight
no wandering off by yourself
let someone know if you feel uncomfortable
keep a flashlight at hand in case you need it

Prepare for your full moon walk: adjust your eyes

Once the time has come for your full moon walk, a little more patience and preparation is required. To see even better in the dark, it’s important to let your eyes adjust to the darkness before setting off on your walk. It can take anywhere from 7 to 30 minutes for them to fully adjust, but even just a few minutes can make a difference.

full moon shining down on natural landscape

Listening activities while your eyes adjust

Take advantage of this adjustment time and give your kids something to focus on: enjoying the sounds of nature.

Close your eyes and focus on one sense — listening! Having them close their eyes has a dual benefit of helping their eyes adjust even faster and helping them focus on one sense.

Find a sit spot and ask some of these questions:

What can you hear? Nature sounds? Man-made sounds?
Can you describe the sound? Sharp? Muffled? Quick? Repeated?
How far away do you think the source of the sound is?
Did you know that…?:
- Wolves can hear sounds from up to 6 miles away in the forest and 10 miles away out in the open
- Many species of owl have asymmetric ears (one higher than the other, one farther forward), allowing them hone in on the sound’s precise location: the direction of their prey, its height off the ground, and its distance away.

Full Moon Walk

Once your eyes have adjusted to the dark, head out on your full moon walk! Keep your pace on the slower side and take the time to appreciate how much you can see and hear in the moonlight.

Now that your kids are practiced listeners, be sure to stop every once in a while, ask for quiet bodies and listening ears. After a few seconds (or up to a minute), have them report what they heard. Repeat this activity several times during your walk.

Change your focus to another sense (sight) and ask your kids to hone in on what they can see.

Notice the shadows. (Do they look different from sunlight shadows?)
Notice the colors. (Are they easy to see?)
Notice wildlife around you. (Do you see any birds? squirrels? insects?)

You may also choose to remember that not every moment needs to be filled with a “learning opportunity”. You may decide to enjoy this walk simply as a time to be in nature. To relax, absorb the beauty and tranquility around you. Nighttime offers its own special peace.

If any any point you need to double-check the trail’s direction, ask everyone to close their eyes while an adult uses a light source to orient themselves.

Enjoy your time in nature, soak in all the sights and sounds, revel in the magic of this ‘brand-new’ landscape.

At the end of your walk (or the following day, if they’re too tired!), take a few minutes to discuss their impressions and favorite parts of your full moon walk. Consider doing so over a moon-themed snack! Some options include: Moon cakes, moon cheese, crescent-shaped apple slices, sandwich cookies.

A full moon walk is a magical activity, where the familiar becomes unfamiliar and your perspective changes. It’s an opportunity to experience nature in a whole new way! Will you make it a monthly family activity?

Books about the Moon

For an additional layer of preparation before setting out on your full moon walk, consider reading some of these books — both fiction and non-fiction — to help them learn more about the moon.

I Took the Moon for a Walk City Moon Moon: A Peek-Through Picture Book Moon! Earth’s Best Friend (Our Universe, 3)