Candlelight Hike sheds light on community bonding, winter activity

Accompanied by the crunching of snow underfoot, community members hiked back to the warmth of a campfire. The Candlelight Hike highlighted a one to two mile long journey in Winnebago County Community Park on January 18 from 5-7 pm. Daring hikers were able to venture out with flashlights and candles on the trail. 

This was the third annual year that the candlelight hike has taken place, and it featured various activities for the adults and kids in attendance, according to Justin DeJager, program and marketing coordinator at the park. 

“We plan to keep doing the candlelight hike as long as we can,” he said. 

Bathed in soft lights, the walk included other activities such as the children’s book, I Think I Can Help by Bel Richardson, cross country skiing if weather permitted, walking around in snowshoes during the mile long hike, and sitting by the campfire at the end of the trail making s’mores and drinking hot chocolate. This unique event allowed families in the community to come together in making new memories despite the colder weather.

DeJager believes families appreciate the opportunity to bond. 

“Just having families come out here and being able to get them outside and do something together is nice,” he said. 

Bago, the county’s acronym to promote the community to ‘Be Active’ and ‘Go Outside,’ gave rise to this event as the main idea was to get the community out and about during the chilly season so no one would be cramped inside houses, and kids could have fun outside. The event couldn’t have been successful without teamwork from both community and community partners. The hike brought a sense of teamwork to Oshkosh, allowing for everyone to participate in bringing locals closer together.

For those working with the program, like Veronica Robinson, Oshkosh Rec Department program supervisor, the collaboration aspect interested many. 

“I think it’s great to be a part of something where community partners come together,” she said. 

Although the weather didn’t permit for snowshoes and cross country skiing, the community still made the hike fun by conversing and eating s’mores and sipping hot chocolate by a warm fire at the end of the trail.

 However, this isn’t the only hiking event to come to the Community Park and many community members are already looking forward to the fall season, according to DeJager.

“We do a haunted hustle in October and some people dress up for it,” he said.

Many believed that the children’s story book was a great addition to the hike because kids can get antsy very quickly, and it helps to foster motivation within children to continue on the walk. The child-centered planning made the experience a memorable one for all participants, successfully capturing the community aspect of the event. 

Parents appreciated the consideration taken by Bago as the unique planning satisfied both children and parents’ attention spans. Community member Kimberly Brandt appreciated the addition.

“I think the book is a wonderful addition for the walk so the kids have something to do,” she said.

I Think I Can Help also had a message about helping people in need no matter who they were and that it was okay to ask for help. The valuable book helped encourage conversation on the importance of speaking up, even when it can be difficult. Not only did this entertain parents and children on the hike but left many feeling as if they learned something new.

Many community members had positive takeaways from the book and the event itself. 

“I like that the book was a way for kids to learn about helping others; it sends a good message,” Brandt said. 

by Kayden Brandt

Published February 3rd, 2025

Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue IV