Stargazing & Fireflies: Your Guide to Summer Nights

The sun may set, but the fun doesn’t have to! 🌙✨ When the temps cool and the stars come out to play, it’s the perfect time to gather your little night owls for some backyard wonder. Whether you’re chasing fireflies, hunting constellations, or simply soaking up that sweet summer night air, we’ve got you covered with simple, magical ideas to make every evening unforgettable. 🌌💫

Get ready to glow, giggle, and gaze—because summer nights are meant for memory-making! 🐝

Even if your backyard isn’t NASA-approved, you can still bring the cosmos a little closer!

Best Local Spots to Spot the Stars:

Palmer Lake Park (Palmer Lake): Low light pollution = high star power 🌠
Fox Run Regional Park (Black Forest): Wide open skies, perfect for planet-spotting 🔭
Florissant Fossil Beds (Teller County): Night sky programs + ranger talks = 👨‍🚀👩‍🚀
Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs): A dreamy place to stargaze (check for after-hours access!)

🧺 Pack This for Success: Blankets, bug spray, a star map (printable version on TheBuzzyB.com!), red flashlight (to preserve night vision), and of course… snacks. 🍪

🌟 2. DIY Constellation Viewer Craft

Bring the night sky indoors or prep before you go out!

What You’ll Need:

Paper towel tube
Black construction paper
Push pin or toothpick
Rubber band
Flashlight

Cut a circle from black paper, draw a constellation, poke holes, secure it over the tube, shine a light—and boom! Instant constellation projector 🔦💫

Bonus: Let your kids name their own constellations! “The Upside-Down Dragon” is totally a thing.

🪩 3. Firefly Hunt (No Net Required)

Did you know fireflies are found in parts of Fountain, Peyton, and Black Forest? These glowing little magic-makers love warm, humid evenings and grassy areas.

How to Spot Them:

Look between 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Be still and quiet (as still as kids can be, anyway 😅)
Bring a mason jar with holes for gentle, short-term observation—then let them go!

Want to turn it into a full activity? Try a “Firefly Dance Party”—everyone wears glowsticks and mimics the blinking bugs while music plays!

🌌 4. Summer Night Bucket List (Buzzy Edition)

✅ Watch the stars come out
✅ Catch (and release!) a firefly
✅ Make s’mores in the driveway
✅ Tell spooky stories with flashlights
✅ Fall asleep in a hammock
✅ Spot a shooting star
✅ Whisper your wishes to the moon 🌕

💫 Wrapping It Up

Summer nights don’t need tickets, batteries, or big budgets—just a little wonder, a blanket, and maybe a marshmallow or two. 🐝

Want a printable version of this summer night adventure checklist? 🖨️ Check TheBuzzyB.com for free downloads, star maps, and more nighttime fun ideas!