Campout scheduled

Posted: Monday, June 15, 2009 9:13 pm

“Frogs, owls and crickets sing as you lay inside your tent at night. A soft breeze blows the old oak and maple trees that surround you. Outside, the smell of a freshly put-out fire and hot dogs still linger in the warm air. No television … no stereo … no telephone. To some, this may sound like a very frightening movie, but for many folks … this is camping,” a spokesman for Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge said.
Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge and the Reelfoot Lake State Park will host the fifth annual Great American Backyard campout June 27 at the Airpark Inn campground on Highway 78 at 7 p.m.
“Come see a few of our local nocturnal animals and then go looking for them during a night hike. We’ll listen for owls and frogs and maybe even see a few hundred spider eyes,” a spokesman said.
After discovering the night-time critters, participants will sit around a campfire and roast hotdogs and s’mores while hearing ghost stories from one of the refuge volunteers. Those who play music are encouraged to bring their instruments. Everyone should bring their own tents, sleeping bags, pillows, pajamas and flashlights/headlamps.
Participation is by reservation only when calling Tara Dowdy at 538-2481 Monday-Friday 7 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.
Published in The Messenger 6.15.09