by Bill Mees, Nature Areas Coordinator

A rainy Friday night did not deter over 250 people from attending the first-ever “Crepuscular Creepl” sponsored by Columbia Public Schools Science Department and Columbia Audubon Society.

125 carved pumpkins lit by glow sticks were displayed on the concrete trail from the entrance of Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary, down the path and across the boardwalk, leading to a beautiful candle-lit (LED candles, not flame producing!) forest floor.  In the CANS parking lot, Raptor Rehab owls were a big hit with families on this spooky night. Along the pumpkin-lit trail educational tables were set up with animal skeletons, creepy crawly insects and information on everyone’s favorite mammal at this time of year:  BATS! (Fortunately, no live bats were in attendance!)

A minimal entrance fee of $2 per person was collected to benefit CPS Science Trip Scholarship Fund.  Over $1600 was raised!  CAS was proud to collaborate with CPS for this educational, family-friendly outing. Checkout the CPS Science Facebook page for “spooktacular” photos! See here for the article in the Missourian: https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/crepuscular-creep-captivates-cps-students/collection_885ab8b0-3937-11ec-bc9a-8f9015ae364f.html