Enchanted Forest

Join Merry Lea this fall for an “enchanted” night hike! Trail guides will lead groups by lantern-light to meet real “live” animals on our trails. These friendly creatures will tell you about their diets, habits and favorite places. Our costumed staff and volunteers will answer questions about life as a native Indiana animal. Hikes are approximately one hour long and head out about every 25 minutes. While you wait for a guide, enjoy music and snacks. End the evening sipping hot cocoa around a campfire! This family-friendly evening is a great alternative to Halloween events that are too scary for young children. 

When: Mid-October

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:

Key: * Youth volunteers possible with adults!

Dinner, snacks, and hot cocoa will also be provided. Reach out to Foy at fspicer@goshen.edu or call 260-799-5869 to express interest.

Animals: The most essential part of the experience for our guests! As an animal, you are what they are here to see! Take on the persona of a frog, mouse, owl, or more and interact with the guests from the perspective of that animal! Field questions, and engage with the audience in an educational and run environment.

Trail Guides: One of the main facilitators of the experience for our guests on the trail. Trail guides create an atmosphere of curiosity and wonder by encouraging interaction with the animals. You will be carrying a kerosene lantern along the path. Training will be provided that evening to help equip you for the enchanted evening ahead.

Parking: Parking is an essential part of Enchanted Forest as you are the first to welcome and greet visitors to Merry Lea, help them find a safe (and correct) place to park and guide them to the registration station.

*Animal Care: Animal Caretakers are responsible for making sure the animals are well cared for out on the trails. This involves taking them out on the trail drinks (hot cocoa or water), snacks, and being as sneaky as you can be to avoid trail groups.

Costume Consultant: The Costume Consultant has the responsibility of making sure all the animals are costumed properly before they interact with visitors at Enchanted Forest. This would be great for someone who is detail oriented and is willing to get creative when the need arises.

Tickets/Registration: Tickets, Tickets, get your tickets here! Greet quests as they arrive, take their cash payments while helping them get assigned into a group for their enchanted evening. Work alongside Merry Lea staff at this fast- paced table

Refreshments: Apples, Popcorn, Hot Cocoa, Oh my! One of the most important tasks as our guests prepare for, or return from their enchanted nike. Melp serve up fresh apples, popcorn, and not cocoa for folks to enjoy around the picnic tables or campfire.

*Coloring/Activity Table: This task helps kids rind a run coloring sheet of some animals they are likely to encounter out on the trail. They can grab one with some crayons to help keep them entertained out on the trail. This also involves going around and picking up supplies to bring them back to the main table as folks leave for and from their hike.

*Campfire Attendant: Enjoy building and keeping a fire going? Love to tell family friendly campfire stories? This task helps keep two campfires going all evening for folks of all ages to enjoy safely.

Sound: Do you enjoy making people sound better? This task helps our entertainment/musicians sound great for our quests throughout the night. experience with working a soundboard is preferred.

Floater: Are you someone who thrives on doing many different tasks? Enjoy moving around and staying busy? Willing to troubleshoot or try new things on a moment’s notice? This lob is for you! Work alongside a Merry Lea staff member as we float around to do whatever needs to be done!