Description
What it is
This is the 2022 pin from the Black Hills National Forest Moon Walk program. Each summer’s walk season gets its own animal, and 2022 is the bat year. It marks the 2022 season for anyone who attended and fills the 2022 slot for collectors working through the run.
About the design
The 2022 art is a Townsend’s big-eared bat shown head-on with its wings open and its outsized ears clearly visible, set against a cream circle ringed by the “Black Hills Moon Walk” name and the year. The bat is a fitting subject for an evening interpretive program, since the Moon Walks themselves happen after dusk.
About the Moon Walk program
Since 1996, the Black Hills National Forest has run the Moon Walk program on Saturday evenings near the full moon, June through September. A ranger or naturalist leads each one-mile round-trip hike to a different site, covering topics like fire lookout towers, mining history, beaver dams, and cave systems. The walks start at dusk, run about an hour to ninety minutes, and are free with no registration. Roughly 160 events and more than 16,000 attendees have logged in since the program started.
Specifications
- Dimensions: approximately 1 3/8″ wide x 1 1/4″ tall
- Weight: 0.3 oz
- Construction: die-cut enameled metal
- Backing: butterfly clutch (standard pin back)
- Manufacturer: L.W. Bristol Classics (Bristol, TN)
- Season: 2022
Who is this for
A keepsake for anyone who came to a 2022 walk, and a piece of the set for collectors. The big-eared bat is one of the more distinctive designs in the series. Light enough to pin to a jacket, hat, or pack, so it also works as a small gift.
Frequently asked questions
What year and animal is this pin?
It is the 2022 Moon Walk pin, and the 2022 design is a Townsend’s big-eared bat.
How big is it?
Approximately 1 3/8″ wide by 1 1/4″ tall, die-cut enameled metal with a butterfly-clutch post on the back.
Can I attend a Moon Walk?
Yes. Moon Walks are free and open to the public with no registration. Check the Black Hills National Forest events calendar at fs.usda.gov/blackhills for the current schedule.
Does buying this support the forest?
BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, as well as the Black Hills National Forest and Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands. Proceeds from every purchase support education programs, conservation projects, and visitor services at these sites.
