Families celebrated what has fast become a favorite holiday tradition last Saturday at the Environmental Learning Center, which hosted its annual WinterGreen Night Lights event, spreading Christmas cheer and a magical spirit through music and twinkling lights that filled the cool evening air with merriment amid nature.
Despite early fears that rain might dampen spirits, it turned out to be a perfect night with the cooler temperatures only enhancing the holiday atmosphere. More than 500 attendees enjoyed a festive time on the lagoon, many slicing through the water in canoes under lit mangroves that formed a sparkling canopy of white lights above their heads.
Music performed by the Beachland Singing Sharks and the Sebastian River Middle School Madrigal Singers as well as the Boat Captain’s Blue Grass, Jingle Jammers and Heart of Oak kept everyone entertained and added a backdrop of Christmas cheer.
Volunteers provided instruction on ways to create gift items fashioned out of bits of natural materials that had been collected from the grounds of the 64-acre ELC campus, such as picture frames, bird feeders, jewelry and crowns.
“Education illuminates. Lights illuminate,” said ELC Executive Director Molly Steinwald. “Holidays are a time of joy, and contact with nature brings joy. Holidays are also time for giving gifts, and nature’s wonders and time spent together, especially outdoors, are invaluable gifts. We, as a nature education center, are both joyous and grateful to be able to combine all these elements through WinterGreen Night Lights, to engage our community in a magical nighttime nature experience like no other around, that both leaves lasting happy memories and provides deeply needed nature contact for people of all ages.”
Matt Vasquez said he particularly enjoyed the kayaking aspect, saying that the energy and excitement of the children seeing the lights and being on the water was the most fun part. He also loved the experience of the ELC’s Touch Tank, calling it “pretty awesome.”
“I have never touched any exotic fish like that before,” said Vasquez. “At first it is intimidating and I was hesitant, but I would still do it again. However, the mangrove tour was like going through a fantasy world and was the best. Even if you are not into nature, it was just a fun day to experience the outdoors and seeing what they can do to bring Christmas to life as you are immersed in nature.”
