Glacier National Park
Interpretive Program Outline
Interpreter: Patrick Hair
Program Locations: Fish Creek Amphitheatre
Lake McDonald Lodge Auditorium
Program Type: Illustrated Program
Date of Outline: June 18, 2007
Revised: July 18, 2007
Program Title: Sounds that Shape Glacier’s Wilderness Nights
Program Goal: To expand visitors’ knowledge and perceptions of wilderness through a variety
of nighttime sounds that might be experienced during an overnight stay at Glacier Park.
Primary Tangibles: Wilderness, night sounds
Intangibles : Fears, joy, curiosities, uncertainties, knowledge, understanding, peace, loss,
perceptions, familiarity, the unknown, memories, experiences, wonder, renewal, revelation,
reconnection, solitude, silence, bonding
Program Theme: The nighttime sounds of Glacier Park evoke a multitude of feelings, curiosities,
and wonders that help shape our wilderness experiences and perceptions of wilderness.
Pre-Program Announcements
 Welcome group and introduce myself
 Jr Ranger, upcoming programs
 50th anniversary of the Student Conservation Association
 75th anniversary of the International Peace Park
 Bear safety message
Introduction:
Let’s close our eyes. Imagine that you are camping in the North Fork area of the park up on
Kintla Lake. It’s your first time to Glacier National Park; you’ve done some car-camping but are
still a little new to backpacking. You had a long day packing into the backcountry and are ready
for bed. You get in your warm sleeping bag, get real cozy, and close your eyes. Moments later
you hear this sound (play audio of immature barred owls begging to be fed). What might your
reaction be to this sound? Who or what do you suppose is making the sound? Was your first
assumption that the animal that made this noise looked something like this? (Show a slide of a
velociraptor- preferably one devouring a human). Or was your first impression of the noise
something more like this? (show a slide of barred owlets – the cuter, the better)
Tangible/Intangible: Kintla Lake wilderness, barred owlet/perceptions
Techniques and Methods: imagery, imagination, audio sounds, sensory experience
Intellectual Opportunities: Provide an opportunity to assess the accuracy of initial assumptions
and perspicacity of one nighttime sound.
Emotional opportunities: Provide an opportunity that peaks curiosity then offers a surprising
result.
Transition:
Darkness has a way of illuminating a different side of many of us. For some of us, darkness puts
us at ease, for others it can be thrilling or just plain scary (how many of us at some point in our
lives have been scared of the dark?). Wilderness is often viewed in the same light. Some of us
find solitude and peace in wilderness. Others find wilderness to be a bit too wild. When
darkness meets wilderness, the combination can bring out a variety of feelings and perceptions.
Tonight, we are boldly going to venture into the nighttime wilderness of Glacier Park. Together
we will explore the nighttime sounds one might encounter at Glacier Park. What we find may
surprise us; at times it may even frighten us. Either way, I hope the sounds we experience
tonight will invoke a sense of wonder you can take with you on your next overnight in the
wilderness.
Body:
Barred Owls
The little guy we have up on the screen is an immature barred owl. The call you heard is
assumed to be the little one begging for food from the adults.
I live here in the park, and every night around 11:00pm, assuming I am awake, I hear these two
calls. Let’s listen to both and think about how each of the calls makes us feel. (Play the first
adult barred owl call – the less familiar monkey-sounding barred owl call. Next play the more
familiar who-cooks-for-you call.)
Tangible/Intangible: Two barred owl calls/familiarity, the unknown
Techniques and Methods: sensory experience, audio sounds, compare and contrast
Intellectual opportunities: An unveiling opportunity is provoked when each of the noise-makers
in question is revealed.
Emotional opportunities: Each individual has the opportunity to think about how each of the
calls makes them feel, evoking a variety of potential emotions.
Transition:
(Ask the group how each of the calls made them feel). So who was making each of these
sounds? If you guessed the barred owl made both, you’re right on. The second call may have
been a give-away, but it just goes to show when we have a little bit of knowledge and
familiarity of what we are hearing – it changes our perceptions quite a bit.
Here’s another example:
Common Snipe
(Play the sound and talk about where one might hear it in Glacier) When I was but a young lad
growing up, I was scared of two things: the dark and being abducted by aliens. When I was
lying in a tent at a young age and I heard this sound, the Doppler effect of the sound reminded
me of a flying saucer (show slide) and I was certain of my imminent abduction. When I was
told, “hey don’t worry, it’s just a SNIPE” – all I could think to say was, “LIAR! Snipes don’t even
exist.”
How many of you have gone on a snipe hunt? This prank was pulled on me at the tender age of
five (show slide of a young Patrick in the woods holding open a pillow case waiting for a snipe
to crawl in) and after I figured out the truth about snipe hunting, I had just assumed snipes
were just about as real as the hunt.
But I am here to tell you today - no joke, no prank – snipes do exist, (show slide) and this is
what they sound like (show a picture and replay audio).
What you are hearing is not a vocalization of the snipe, the noise is actually produced by the
snipes tail feathers (explain how the winnowing noise is made). If I had known that the funnylooking bird up there on the screen was making that noise, I would not have even considered
being afraid.
Tangible/Intangible: Common Snipe/fears, memories, experiences
Techniques and Methods: humor, story-telling
Intellectual Opportunities: An opportunity for awareness of the common snipe as an actual
animal and not just a prank exists. A further understanding of how snipes make the sound they
make.
Emotional Opportunities: A feeling of empathy and nostalgia may be evoked for those who have
been involved in snipe hunts. The sound of the snipe peaks curiosity. Seeing the peculiar looking
bird is an opportunity for surprise.
Saw Whet Owl
(Retell another story about an overnight visit in the wilderness.) I had just dozed off and I had a
dream. In the dream I was sleeping in a tent in the loading zone in the back alley of a grocery
store. There was a truck that pulled up and began backing up to unload. As he got closer and
closer, I could hear the truck beeping in reverse. Just as he was about to run me over, I woke
up – and this is what I heard coming from the woods. (Play audio of Northern Saw Whet Owl).
(Talk about later experiences banding Saw Whets and how they use their calls to bring them in.
Also, mention how the Saw Whet got its name).
Tangible/Intangible: Saw Whet/experiences, perceptions
Techniques and Methods: Story-telling, audio samples
Intellectual Opportunities: Provide an opportunity of awareness of another sound, who is
making it, and how Saw Whets got their name.
Emotional Opportunities: Curiosity is provoked and an opportunity for surprise exists when the
source of the sound is unveiled.
Transition
When I visit new parks or wilderness areas, I make sure I am always up speed on what potential
critters I may encounter both day and night. It’s always good to go into wilderness situations
with a good foundation of knowledge.
Goatsuckers
That said, let’s imagine that you are just arriving to Glacier National Park. You head into the
visitor center to get the low down on the critters that live in a park. You speak with a nice,
handsome park interpreter with a flashy red beard. You are pleased with the information he is
able to give you, but are bit flustered when you ask about nighttime critters and he turns to you
and says (in a strange and somewhat discomforting voice) – “There’s goatsuckers in them
woods!”
Should you be scared? (Maybe of the weirdo with the flashy red beard) Let’s find out more
about these “goatsuckers”.
(Show a slide of a common nighthawk and play audio of its flight. Explain how it makes the
vroom sound with its wings – changes flight direction and wind vibrates through its primary
feathers. Explain how birds of the nighthawk family got the name “goatsuckers”.)
Tangible/Intangibles: Common Nighthawk/fear, uncertainty,
Techniques and methods: Story, imagery, audio, irony
Intellectual Opportunities: An opportunity for the unveiling of the identity of a critter whose
family has a scary name but, really is not all that scary at all.
Emotional Opportunities: Curiosity is provoked and an opportunity for surprise exists when the
source of the sound is unveiled.
Transition
We bring a lot of baggage with us into the wilderness. When the moon is new and the sun goes
down here at Glacier it gets dark, real dark. If we are fearful of one thing staying overnight in
Glacier’s wilderness, in the darkness, what is it? (Assume someone will say bears)
Bear or Non-Bear - Mystery Animal Game
How many of us have spent a good part of the night (or a whole night) awake because we just
were not sure what was making the noises we were hearing – and since we were not sure we
assumed that the noise must be coming from a bear? (Ask for a show of hands) - Glad to see
that I am not the only one. What is funny is it does not matter what we hear, it could be the
breeze, a boreal toad, or a barred owl – when we are in a dark wilderness (especially in Glacier
Park) we often assume the worse.
So to help us differentiate between bears and other nighttime sounds, I’ve prepared an activity
that will test our discernment and will help us eliminate some nighttime sounds from being
potential bears – and maybe save us some sleep. Your task will be to determine whether the
sound we have is from a bear or if the sound is from another animal we may hear at night in
Glacier Park. If we decide it’s not a bear, think about what animal found at Glacier Park it might
be.
Play a sound and then reveal the noise-maker with a slide. Take time to briefly talk
about the less-familiar noises (ie: pine sawyer):
 Red Fox
 Bear
 Raccoon
 Flying Squirrel
 Striped Skunk
 White-tail Deer
 River Otter
 Patrick (snoring)
 Pine Sawyer
Tangible/Intangible: Variety of sounds/uncertainty, mystery
Techniques and Methods: Activity, game, challenge
Intellectual Opportunities: Opportunities exist for the listener to use their discernment in
guessing what animal is making each noise. Further unveiling opportunities exist when the
maker of each noise is revealed.
Emotional Opportunities: Emotional opportunities include fear that is addressed regarding
grizzly bears and overnight stays in the park.
Transition: So how did you do? Did you fear the worse? Should you be a bit more wary? (Talk
briefly about bear safety in the wilderness).
We often paint the nighttime wilderness as a place of fear and uncertainty. I hope by now
some of those assumptions have been challenged. For the rest of the program tonight, I would
like to talk about some of the sounds of Glacier that really make a wilderness experience
special.
Loons and Wolves
(Quote Sigurd Olson - "The singing wilderness has to do with the calling of the loons….It is
concerned with the simple joys, the timelessness and perspective found in a way of life that is
close to the past.")
Two animals found at Glacier that epitomize a singing wilderness at night are loons and wolves.
Let’s take a listen first to the wolves (play audio).
(Explain some of the reasons wolves howl – location, territorial, rallying, etc.)
Let’s listen to the loons. (Talk about three of the loon calls – wails, tremolos, and yodels, and
what they signify.)
(Talk about how wolves’ numbers have recovered a bit in Glacier Park (from zero). Use this as
an example of sound that has made a come-back in Glacier Park. Contrast the wolf’s success
with the diminishing numbers of loons. Loons are one of our most prehistoric critters whose
calls have filled the night for millennia. Their hatching success rate in the park is not
sustainable.
Tangibles/Intangibles: Loons and wolves/peace, solitude, loss, wonder, future
Techniques and Methods: Compare and contrast, audio samples
Intellectual Opportunities: Provide an opportunity for awareness of loons and wolves within the
park – what their calls signify, there population status, etc.
Emotional Opportunities: (Personally, even after playing the calls numerous times now, I feel a
sense of homesickness and nostalgia when I hear wolf and loon calls.) A sense of peace and
solitude are provoked with calls. Loss is felt to learn how loons are on the decline in the park.
Transition: Will their (loons) calls be a part of our wilderness experiences in the years to come?
Campfires
For as long as humans have entered the wilderness, we have added and enjoyed certain
sounds.
There is something about the sound of a crackling campfire. When we are far away from
development, electricity, and all that comes with it - we find comfort in the wilderness from the
warmth, the smell, and the sound of a campfire (play audio).
I am convinced that fires are the stuff of miracles. With the sound of a campfire comes the
sound of talking. Families talking – to one another. This is sound that, this day and age, for
many of our family groups, is on the decline.
*For future presentations, consider adding a campfire sing-along.
Tangible/Intangibles: Campfires/family, relationships
Methods and Techniques: Audio samples, sensory experience
Intellectual Opportunities: Provokes an opportunity for awareness of campfires’ role in our
society.
Emotional Opportunities: Provokes an opportunity for memories to surface and families and
friends to think about feel nostalgia for their relationships.
Transition
People go into wilderness not only to reconnect with others, but also to reconnect with
themselves. This next sound is one of the reasons that people will pack many miles into
wilderness.
Solitude and Silence
You have to listen closely to hear it. (Pretend like audio is being played and let it be silent –
keep it quiet long enough to make the point.)
(Contrast the sound of silence with the sound of traffic – play brief audio of city traffic.)
Sometimes we need a break from the hustle and bustle. Silence gives us perspective. Solitude
brings us peace. So many of feel renewed from the time we spend in wilderness.
Tangible/Intangible: Wilderness (silence)/silence, solitude, peace, renewal
Techniques and Methods: Silence
Intellectual Opportunities: Provokes an opportunity for awareness of the role silence plays in our
lives – we surround ourselves with sounds on any given day.
Emotional Opportunities: Silence in a crowd of people is uncomfortable for many. Silence can
also evoke peace and quietness.
Transition
As we have experienced tonight, for some, the silence of wilderness can be relaxing and
renewing. For others it can be scary and/or uncomfortable.
Closing:
Rain/storms
The last sound we’ll cover tonight is one that evokes a variety of different feelings for different
people. Wilderness, and the sounds that its nights hold, will inevitably be different for every
unique individual who experiences it.
So I leave you all tonight with the sounds of a storm. Storms we encounter in wilderness can be
scary, thrilling, or relaxing. Any which way, storms always seem to be memorable, and
everyone seems to experience storms in their own way.
I encourage you all to take the time, plan and prepare, and get out there and experience what
the wilderness nights of Glacier have to offer.
(Play the storm audio and slides. Let the storm audio fade, show a slide with the following
quote and fade in with wolves howling.)
“In wilderness people can find the silence and the solitude and the non-civilized surroundings that can connect
them once again to their evolutionary heritage, and through an experience of the eternal mystery, can give them a
sense of the sacredness of all creation.”
- Sigurd Olson
Tangible/Intangible: Storms/Fears, peace, uncertainties, wonder
Techniques and Methods: Sensory experience, audio samples
Intellectual Opportunities: Provokes awareness of how each of us as individual experience
wilderness in different manners.
Emotional Opportunities: Provokes an opportunity for a variety of emotions including wonder,
amazement, and fear.
Audio Samples:
Elliott, Lang. (2004). A guide to night sounds. NatureSound Studio/Stackpole Books. China.
Elliott, Lang. (2005). A guide to wildlife sounds. NatureSound Studio/Stackpole Books. China.
Photo Citation:
(see Power Point slides)