The Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter’s Spooktacular Weekend will raise the Halloween spirit from Oct. 26-27.The second-annual event will feature trick-or-treat geocaching, a creepy scavenger hunt, a spooky Sunday craft and treats at the top of the EcoCenter’s Wetlands Climbing Wall, said Hunter Klingensmith, director of exhibits and visitor experience.“We know that Halloween is one of a lot of our staff’s favorite holidays, and we love that this gives us the opportunity to talk about some spooky critters,” she said. “There are a lot of animals and wildlife out there that have some pretty crazy adaptations that help them survive, and while those things are creepy, they are actually beneficial to our ecosystems.”Bri Cencak, the EcoCenter’s visitor experience coordinator, who was out on a training event last week, organized the event, according to Klingensmith.“I know that Bri has a specific scavenger hunt planned for this weekend that features some creatures like a lizard that shoots blood out of their eyes to scare predators and the corpse flower that has a terrible scent and looks scary, which helps it to survive,” Klingensmith said. “This year, out on the preserve, we had a ton of Jacob’s Ladder blooming, and it has a gross, skunky and stinky scent as well. But that attracts pollinators.”The trick-or-treating geocaching is another highlight of the Spooktacular Weekend, Klingensmith said.We’ll have some special treats — candy and other trick-or-treating options —  in each of the geocaches, so it will be like a treasure-hunt, trick-or-treating opportunity,” she said. “We have seven geocaches on the preserve, and our geocache volunteers have a lot of fun stocking those up, so they’ll be ready for the weekend.”The geocaching will take place even if there is a little snow on the preserve, Klingensmith said.“If there is a lot of snow, it will be difficult to reach some of the geocaches because they are close to the ground,” she said. “But if there is a couple of inches of snow, we should be fine and everybody will be able to access them.”The Wetland Climbing Wall, which is open most weekends from 1:30 to 4 p.m., on Saturday and Sunday, will feature some treats as well once climbers reach the top, Klingensmith said.“We do recommend people preregister to do the climbing wall,” she said. “We offer six slots per hour. And it costs $5 for five climbs. It’s free if you’re a member.”Climbing-wall registration is now open and can be accessed by visiting extension.usu.edu/swaner/visit/climbing-wall.On Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Spooktacular Weekend will culminate with an upcycled, bat-themed craft, Klingensmith said.“We’ll express our spooky creativity and will have a surprise guest,” she said. “The Park City Hummingbird Hospital will bring a critter for us to meet.”The hospital, which is also known as the Park City Wildlife Rehab, is a nonprofit run by owner Jody Giddings that provides wildlife rescue, emergency medical care and wildlife rehabilitation for hummingbirds, bats, birds of prey, migratory birds and small mammals in Utah.“Jody is the coolest,” Klingensmith said. “We can’t wait to see who she’s going to bring with her.”Kilngensmith also encourages Spooktacular Weekend attendees to come in costume, adding to the festivities.“We’ll also have our animal costumes set out for kids who don’t come in costumes but want to dress up when they get here,” she said.Klingensmith is one of the many Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter staff who love Halloween.“I love dressing up, and I’m going to a Halloween event tonight, and I’m wearing my tarantula costume,” she said. Klingensmith made that costume in 2018 when the EcoCenter hosted Build 4 Impact’s arachnid exhibit.“It’s been a constant in my rotation,” she said.Speaking of costumes, Spooktacular Weekend attendees will get to see “Beauty and Beaks,” a photo exhibit about sandhill cranes by Park City-based photographers Steve Krongard and Jodi Buren, Klingensmith said.“Although sandhill cranes aren’t the creepiest of creatures, they do have some cool adaptations where they change the color of their feathers to blend in with the scenery, and that reminds me of changing into costumes,” she said. “So, we’re excited to get people here and learn more about these and other wild adaptations that happen out on the preserve.”Spooktacular WeekendWhen: Saturday through Sunday, Oct. 26-27 Where: Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter, 1258 Center Drive Web: swanerecocenter.orgThe post Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter plans a Spooktacular Weekend appeared first on Park Record.