Nature at Night

In spring 2023, the Johnny Morris Conservation Foundation asked RWS Global to create a nighttime experience for the Lost Canyon Cave Trail, a 3-mile long path through an Ozarks woodland traversed by guests in golf carts. The client asked for a celebration of the holidays, Osage heritage, and the foundation’s conservation mission, in time for the 2023 holiday season.

As Creative Director, Monica led an RWS Global team in developing an anthology storytelling format that could hold all of the thematic goals. Key to the strategy was a narrator character: a young storyteller following in the tradition of her beloved grandmother. Story sections were triggered along the trail by RFID sensors mounted on guests’ golf carts, pairing thematic sections of original music and audio with environmental lighting installed throughout the trail.

With the story arc in place, the team turned to art direction and visual design, including custom fabrication of 3D light sculptures (some more than 30’ tall) and a comprehensive lighting design. Monica ensured that creative goals were front and center as RWS Global completed the three-month installation of trail lighting. Nature at Night opened in November 2023 and delights tens of thousands of guests each holiday season.

Photo credits: RWS Global