Into the Woods with Curio: Giant Silk Moths

“Thus says the Lord who made the earth,the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known”

Jeremiah 33:2-3

If you are at Beacon this June or in early July keep a look out for an amazing insect – a giant silk moth! It might be a light green Luna moth, with a pair of twisted ‘tails’ on the bottom wings, or one of the several species with reddish-brown colouring, or possibly a pale-yellow Io moth. There are potentially 9 species of giant silk moths found in Ontario, though only 6 of these are commonly seen in Muskoka. Besides the Luna and Io there are also the cecropia, Columbia, polyphemus and promethia moths.  Depending on the species and whether it is a male or a larger female, (she can have up to 100 or more eggs inside her body) any of these moths are as thick as a man’s thumb. Their wingspan is twice as large as that of a monarch butterfly -- as large as that of a hummingbird.

It used to be that these beautiful moths could be found under the outdoor lights of any of the camp buildings. The old incandescent lighting attracted them each night, along with many other flying insects. About 10 years ago Beacon replaced this lighting with low voltage LED lighting. This low-impact lighting is less attractive to moths and other flying insects and causes much less light pollution. Another important measure that camp has put in place is a good steward of God’s Creation.

Why are these moths at the lights? CBC’s Quirks and Quarks host Bob MacDonald mentions this; “A new study suggests that insects flit around artificial light at night because they are confused, not because of a fatal attraction. Sam Fabian and Yash Sondhi used motion capture and high-speed imagery to understand insects’ flight patterns and found that they always turned their backs to the light, which left them trapped in a spiral around the source. This suggests the insects are mistaking the lights for the sky, which normally helps tell them which way is up. The research was published in the journal Nature Communications.”

Some scientists also believe this behaviour is why there are far fewer flying insects than there used to be. Too many are dying, and being predated, when trapped at artificial light sources, especially lights that are not environmentally friendly.

Fortunately, there are still giant silk moths in Muskoka and at Beacon.

Despite their surprising size, these are harmless insects. They have no pincers or stingers, or even mouths. That’s right, no mouths because they don’t eat. They ate as caterpillars, and now that they are adults, they just need to find a mate. They use chemicals to help locate each other. The female releases pheromones that attract the males – 1 drop can be detected by the male, using his amazing antenna, up to one kilometre away. Once they have mated the females lay their eggs, and then die. These moths only live a week or two as adults.

The eggs hatch within 1 to 2 weeks, and the tiny, (at first) caterpillars start eating right away on the leaves of their host plant – cherry or birch or sumac, oak or poplar. Within 2 months – by late August or early September – they will be up to 10 cm or more long. That is a large caterpillar. Then they find a place to pupate and spin their cocoon, which takes about a day, and over 1 kilometre of silk thread. This seals them into their leafy enclosure for the winter, to emerge next June as moths and start the cycle again.

Another amazing example of the incredible variety of God’s Creation which he shows us in His love for us.

Monk's Musings: God's Anointing

“Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over his inheritance?” … Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him...”

1 Samuel 10:1, 16:13

About three thousand years ago, Israel first began to have kings. Saul and some years later David, were both anointed to be king over Israel by God’s prophet Samuel. After their anointing, God’s Spirit also came powerfully upon both men, empowering and guiding them to lead Israel. Both men started out very well, humbly and courageously serving God and God’s people, and leading them to victory over the cruel and oppressive nations that surrounded them.

But that’s where their lives started to differ: Saul slowly moved away from God’s word, twisting it in subtle ways so that he could do his own will instead of follow God’s commands. On the other hand, David, despite his serious failings, kept God’s word and His holiness central in his aspirations; he tried to serve the Lord faithfully as best as he knew how. And when he went astray, he received correction humbly, repenting and turning away from sin, asking God to give him a clean and undivided heart to serve and worship Him alone. Saul ended up rejected, his life and family destroyed by his own stubbornness. David ended up being called by God “a man after my own heart”, whose kingly lineage continued for a thousand years, right up to Jesus Christ, the King of Kings!

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God has also anointed you with the Holy Spirit to serve Him powerfully in every facet of your life. And we are confronted with the same choices Saul and David faced: How will we respond? The outcome of our lives depends upon these choices we make daily. May we all follow the Lord and His Word faithfully this summer and for the rest of our lives!

On behalf of all the Beacon Onsite Staff,
Andrew “Monk” Nunn

Into the Woods with Curio: Welcome back, Migrants!

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”

Romans 11:33-34

May is when the spring migration is at its peak. Every day a new bird species arrives back to Beacon from their wintering grounds. Some will stay to raise a family in Muskoka, while others are passing through on their way to the boreal forest north of Lake Superior, or even up to the Arctic.

For some birds, it is just a short distance for them to come back from where they spent the winter. Robins are an example. They don’t go far, often spending the winter in southern Ontario if it is a mild winter, such as the one we just experienced. There they shelter in the ravines, feeding on a variety of berries.

Other migrants go further south, to a warmer climate where they can find the appropriate food. The hermit thrush is an example. A close relative of the robin, they winter along the Gulf Coast states in the U.S., arriving back in Muskoka in late April.

You are more likely to hear them than see them at camp. Their beautiful flute-like song, coming from somewhere in the woods behind the Crow’s nest, is an anticipated part of the summer evenings. If you chance to see one in the underbrush it is the same size as a robin, but with a spotted breast, plain brown back and rusty-coloured tail.

Some migrants leave the North American continent during the winter, making their way into Central or even South America. The very is an example of a long-distance migrant. Also closely related to robins, (and Hermit thrushes) veeries are common at Beacon in the summer. A warm brown, with a white belly and slightly

streaked breast, these robin-sized thrushes are also beautiful singers. Listen for their cascading series of notes in the early morning hours, beginning around the same time as the staff training weekend.

What brings these birds back to camp each summer? Some of the same reasons that you and I return -community and good food and singing. Their reasons for leaving each fall are similar, too -- the cold and snow make it much harder to live at Beacon in the winter. But their trip to the sunny south is not a holiday. Birds face many dangers there, including more predators, more competition for food, and habitat destruction that limits where they can safely live. Their migration journey there and back here is also full of perils. Often flying at night to avoid predators, they are at risk of crashing into tall buildings, wi-fi towers and sometimes windmills. Unpredictable weather also wreaks havoc on migratory birds, blowing them off course, stranding them in a vulnerable place, or sometimes over the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico!

How do they do it? At one time it was all attributed to instinct, though ornithologists are now understanding there is much more to it. Birds are not really ‘bird-brained’ but much more intelligent than we have given them credit for, (think crows).

We shouldn’t be surprised, as they are part of God’s Creation. Though we don’t understand all of what it takes for these birds to find their way back to Beacon each spring, we can appreciate them all the more when we consider their amazing travels.

Monk's Musings: God is Powerful and Loving

“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

IsaIAH 40:28-29

Recently I’ve been reflecting a bit on how great and powerful God is. He is everlasting, never-ending, has no beginning and no limitations! He created the colossal quasars, the miniscule quarks and everything in between. His knowledge and understanding are unfathomable. And then, the prophet Isaiah reminds us, this almighty God is the very one who promises to strengthen weak little you and me! In fact, repeatedly God reveals Himself as our Heavenly Father, the one who not only created us but who loves us unconditionally and delights in relationship with us. The one who invites us to call Him “Abba Father”, which may be best translated as “Daddy”. Do we delight in being with Him and opening our hearts to His love? Do we willingly acknowledge our weakness and rejoice in His strength? Or do we try to get on with life as best as we can in our own understanding and power? As we live out today, with all its ups and downs, may we surrender to His pursuing love, and trust our lives to His provident strength.

This is also true for us at Beacon Bible Camp. We seek to encourage all who come to open their eyes to the majesty of His creation, but also to open their hearts to the wonder of His love. And so we encourage you, in whatever chapter of life you find yourself, to make Beacon a part of your plans for this year. Perhaps God is calling you to come, with someone else, as a camper. Or perhaps God is calling you to take the step of faith of serving at Beacon, not in your own weak strength, but trusting that His almighty power will enable you to be a blessing to others. Even more importantly, we challenge you to be an active serving member in your own local church and neighbourhood community. Trust fully in God’s love and His power. Fix your eyes on Jesus, not on yourself. If we trust Him, He will come through for us!

May we all learn to trust God’s love and His power.

Andrew ‘Monk’ & Marianne ‘Tia’ Nunn

Monk's Musings: God’s Good Promises Never Fail

““You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.”

Joshua 23:14

About 3400 years ago, God used Moses to take Israel out of slavery in Egypt, lead them for 40 years through the Sinai desert, and bring them to the Promised Land. Afterwards, Joshua led the 12 tribes in the conquest battles that allowed them to take over this land that “flowed with milk and honey”. Towards the end of his life, Joshua called together the elders, leaders, judges and officials and challenged them to remain faithful to the LORD their God, to love Him with all their hearts, and to keep separate from the idolatry and immorality of the pagan nations. Then he reminded them how God had kept His promises to them, yes, every promise had been fulfilled!

As we look back in our own lives, we too can confirm that all God’s good promises towards us have been fulfilled. And at Beacon Bible Camp we also gratefully acknowledge that He has kept his many promises, brought us through the winter camps, and is preparing us for the upcoming Spring and Summer season. The fact that He has been faithful in the past gives us confidence to trust Him for the unknown future. I don’t know what challenges you may be facing, but I know the Lord wants you to trust Him and follow His will for your life, so that we too, may experience the “milk and honey” with which He wants to bless us. That does not mean there won’t be trials and difficulties, even deep sorrows to face. But it does mean that the Lord wants to work all things out for the good of those who love Him. And it also means that we can be strengthened in the knowledge that He keeps his promises.

So I encourage you during this spring, as buds appear and nature is renewed all around us, to fix your eyes on Jesus and to trust in His good promises. Take steps of faith and renewed service for God, trusting He will come through for you, and that His purposes for good in your life will prove true. And here at Beacon, as we gear up for a new season of camps, and as we begin work on the new Maintenance Shed, pray for us so that we too will trust the Lord and count on His promises to bless his work, so that His Name might be exalted, and He would get the all the glory, and we would rejoice to see Him bless many campers and staff this year.

With all our best wishes to you all,

Andrew “Monk” & Marianne “Tia” Nunn

Into the Woods with Curio: Canadian Geese Family Strategy

“My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth…Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep…The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night… The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” 

Psalm 121:2,4,6,8

The geese are back! You have probably seen and heard the V-shaped flocks flying over, their unmusical honks telling us that spring is on the way. It’s an advantage for the geese to come back early, as it gives them the best choices for nesting locations. Soon they’ll be raising another brood of goslings. Once they have young it is best to beware, as Canada geese are territorial, and aggressively protective of their young.

Canada geese didn’t always nest here, or anywhere south of the arctic. That’s right – Canada geese used to nest in the arctic, and some races of Canadas still do, along with the five other goose species in North America, including snow geese, white-fronted geese, Ross’ geese, brant and emperor geese. The only times Canada geese used to be seen in Muskoka and in southern Ontario were during their spring and fall migrations. When Europeans arrived the Canada geese were eventually not seen much at all. Overhunting and habitat destruction greatly reduced their populations, as it did many other ‘game-bird’ species. That changed with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which provided much needed protection. Following the implementation of this act a profusion of new wildlife refuges were created, helped along by a number of captive breeding programs. The Canada goose population slowly recovered. The geese didn’t migrate as far south in the winter, and soon some of them stopped migrating altogether.

Fast forward to the present. We now have an over-population of Canada geese in Muskoka and in many other locations in eastern North America. Regulating hunting certainly helped, but their population boom is also because we have created ‘goose heaven’. Canada geese are grazers, feeding on grasses all day long, something like cows. The lawns of golf courses and municipal parks provide lots of food, water is right there, and the open spaces and docks provide loafing areas. With few natural predators in these urban and suburban areas, and no hunting allowed there, the geese are quite safe.

It’s no wonder there are so many geese. However, there is something else besides regulated hunting and ideal habitat that has made Canada geese so successful. It is also because of how well they take care of their families.  

If you have ever watched a family of geese, from a safe distance, you will have noticed that one of their number is always ‘on guard’. The family or flock always has at least one adult watching for danger while the others feed. The adults take turns, but they rarely let their guard down. This, I think, is one of the main reasons that Canada geese prosper. They take excellent care of their families.

We want to do that, too. However, even with grandparents and aunts and uncles, families can’t always be on guard. We certainly need to be, with all of the dangers nowadays for our children, and ourselves.  Thankfully God is always ‘on guard’, watching over us better than any parent can. He has provided the ultimate deliverance from evil and sin through His Son. Asking the Lord Jesus to be our Saviour brings us into His family, making us one of God's children. God the Father pardons us and becomes our loving heavenly Father, who protects and provides for us now, while we are here, and forever.

Duncan’s Reflections: Winter Days and Summer Nights

Praise the Lord from the earth … lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars (Ps. 148:7-9).

Fifty years ago my wife and I first came to Beacon, bringing groups of High School students as well as our daughters. Back then we were given the camp names of Duncan & Hines, perhaps because Duncan Hines was someone’s favourite cake mix!

Since then, we’ve come in every season and every kind of weather. We always saw the hand of God in the exquisite beauty of the rocks and trees, bare or covered in snow, the sunny days when time stood still, and the powerful storms that made the trees sing.

I’ll never forget our X-country ski hikes in those early years. Together with a group of 8 students, we’d blaze a trail through deep snow. Up the rocky hills, along the train tracks, down the hill, and onto the 3rd lake. (Beacon had no snowmobiles in those days.) The first skier would make the initial cut in the deep snow, with the 2nd and 3rd skiers also working hard. We’d take turns. When we took a break, there was a profound stillness, as deep snow is so effective in absorbing sound.

Another indelible memory is a summer evening at one of the adult camps. John and I decided to go for a late paddle under the stars. Unknown to us, that was the night God had decided to place in the sky above the lake an enormous, scintillating blue-green band - the Northern Lights. What an awesome, unique display!

Northern Lights only appear every decade or so, when the Sun is in the active part of its cycle. Fortunately, it's reaching its peak activity in the year 2025. So, this summer and the next two might give us some remarkable displays. Often, however, they don't come out until near midnight. (You can see them well from up the ridge on the other side of the railway crossing. So, there’s no need to go out on the lake at night, as we did!)

In Psalm 104, the poet considers all these wonderful aspects of nature – brilliant light, clouds, winds, even deep snow – as God’s clothes and chariot: “Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendour and majesty. The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment … He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind” (Ps. 104:1-2). That’s why we give “eyes to creation” at Beacon, as well as “hearts to God.”

So far, I’ve only reflected on winter and summer at Beacon. Spring and Fall have many other special things to show us. But that’s for another time. Meanwhile, as we reflect on the many things we’ve seen at Beacon, we can just repeat the final verse of the Psalms. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” (Ps. 150:6).

Monk's Musings: The Kingdom of God is Near

“The time has come”, Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

“Come, follow me”, Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:15,17

After a warm start, winter has well and truly arrived at Beacon! Wherever we live and whatever season we are experiencing, it’s great to enjoy God’s wonderful creation and worship Him as the Almighty Creator. But God is not just a Mighty God, He also became a Merciful Redeemer when Jesus came to give his life on the cross for us. It is good to remember that the main reason Beacon exists is to continue the work Jesus began when he came to announce the Kingdom of God. It is still true today that “repentance and faith” in the “good news of Jesus Christ” is what makes us into children of God; and “fishing others” to come to Jesus is still the hallmark of every one of His disciples.

So we encourage everyone to take to heart the words of Jesus and accept His Kingship in your life. Let Him truly be the Lord of your life and the one who directs your life decisions. “Turning eyes to creation, and calling hearts to God” is our camp’s motto. So yes, let us admire and enjoy God’s handiwork in the forests, lakes and stars; but even more, let us each listen to His voice calling our hearts to love and follow Him. And as we reflect on His calling, we want to especially encourage adults and young adults to invest their lives in serving God and loving people into the Kingdom of God.

Perhaps God is calling you to come up to camp to volunteer, and in this way to help carry out Jesus’ invitation to his disciples to be “fishers of men”. Or perhaps He has another calling for you. One thing is certain, we are all called: let us be active in serving Him!

Whatever we do, may we all follow God’s calling and leading this year.

With all our best wishes for us all,

Andrew “Monk” & Marianne “Tia” Nunn

Into the Woods with Curio: Nature by the numbers

"This is the day the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it." Ps. 118:24

Late winter and into the spring and early summer are the times for wildlife surveys. The types of surveys range from the Great Backyard Bird Count this upcoming weekend, (Feb 16th to 18th) to nocturnal owl surveys, frog surveys and marsh bird surveys in early spring. May is the time for ‘Big Day’ bird counts, and the start of a variety of breeding bird surveys, which go through to the end of June. July sees a butterfly and the dragonfly counts. Different associations organize these surveys and recruit citizen scientists to gather the valuable data they need for their many research projects. 

Beacon has been part of an annual turtle survey for several years now, conducted by a local conservation organization each spring. Every July there is a butterfly count done near Torrance by members of the Muskoka Field Naturalists. This dedicated group often finds upwards of 50 species and many hundreds of individual butterflies. 

Silvia and I used to participate in a few wildlife surveys on a regular basis. In mid-June, we’d be out on a breeding bird survey that took us down the Southwood road, past camp. Starting a 5 am at the first stop near the 169 and the Southwood Road intersection, we’d listen to the bird calls for 3 minutes, and record the different species, all the while battling the bugs. Then we’d jump back into the car and drive 0.8 km to the next stop, and repeat. There were 50 stops in total, taking us through the Torrance Barrens and down to the Trent-Severn. By the time we finished, we had usually tallied approximately 60 species of birds and several hundred individual birds. 

We also did an owl survey each spring, picking a clear night in early April to drive our 20 km route in south-eastern Muskoka. Stopping every 2 kilometres, we’d play owl calls through the car’s radio and listen for a response, while standing outside for 15 or 20 minutes at each stop in the bone-chilling cold. The results varied, but we never failed to hear at least 1 or 2 barred owls reply to the recorded calls.

These surveys not only provide data for the various conservation organizations, such as Birds Canada but are also an opportunity to see and learn more about which animals live around the local area. Despite minor hardships from weather and bugs, it’s always a rewarding time for the participants. You’ll often encounter wildlife other than what is being surveyed for. At night you might catch the eyeshine of a deer or fox in the car headlights. You’ll hear other night noises – the sleigh bell-like notes of spring peepers, wood frogs quacking, a dog barking in the distance, the plaintive ‘peents’ of woodcock, or the weird, winnowing reverberations made by a snipe.

You never know what to expect when you go out looking for owls, other birds, butterflies, or just going out. God's Creation is always delightfully surprising.

Monk's Musings: I Am With You. Now Go!

And God said [to Moses] “I will be with you…” Exodus 3:12 
“Now go, I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” Exodus 4:12 

Here at Beacon we are now in the middle of the Winter Camp Season. Thick snow covers everything. Perfect for cross-country skiing and for sliding down the tube-run. Also great for gathering round the fireplace to enjoy a hot chocolate drink and a chat with friends. But wherever we are, the same God who called Moses also calls each of us. He has a meaningful plan for our lives. He calls us to follow Him and to serve others, and he also promises “I will be with you…” Moses felt small and insufficient and afraid, perhaps we do too. Moses made excuses and tried to wriggle out of obeying God’s calling, perhaps we have also. But God reminds us, as he did Moses, that He will help us and teach us each day what to do and what to say. The Great I AM said to Moses “Now go…” He also says this to us: No excuses. Just like centuries later Jesus called the twelve disciples: “Come follow me… Now go, I send you out…” May each one of us also obey His calling, and step out in faith to follow where He leads and to live as He wants us to! 

On behalf of all of us at Beacon, may we all follow God’s call, trusting Him to lead us day by day. 

With all our best wishes for this winter season, 

Andrew “Monk” & Marianne “Tia” Nunn