Camp and retreat directors know the nighttime sets the stage for really neat group activities. Recently at a Father-Son retreat we organized a “sky lantern launching” activity.
“Sky lanterns”, or fly lanterns, et cetera, are little “air balloons” made out of flame retardant paper that float up into the air powered by a contained, small flame in its core. The flame heats up the hot air, which rises and pushes the lantern up, up and away! The wind does the rest…
So we got the small group of boys and dads together, and started lighting 5 lanterns one at a time. Once upright and lit, we all tried to hold on to it as we offered a general prayer intention and prayed an Our Father and Hail Mary. This was helpful because it takes a minute or so to get the air inside warm enough to inflate the sky lantern. Then, we let go and watched our “prayer” rise up to the night sky.
It was neat to see the boys hold on to the sky lantern as we prayed. It was as if somehow holding on to it, or touching it at some point, gave the impression that this was a holy object that would carry a piece of me and my intentions up to God. After we let it go, they would run after it until they could hardly see it anymore.
Each sky lantern is a different color. It is also made out of 100% bio-degradable material. We deliberately tried to light it on fire, but the paper just turned to ash without catching on fire. They are also inexpensive. It’s advisable to go to an open field, not just because they might hit a tree or building, but because you would want to see it in the sky as long as possible.
I imagine the activity would be really majestic if done in a large group. I’ve seen pictures of these in large gatherings with thousands of people, or at weddings, et cetera.
And it’s certainly possible to do this as a family. Just pick a family night, talk about what prayer intentions you’d like to offer God as a family, and then send them up!
There are also all kinds of other similar products, such as:
Floating lanterns: these are lit, colored bags with neat designs that float on water
Candle bags: same as floating lanterns, but to be placed on the ground
Glow lanterns: lanterns that are hoisted from a roof
Led balloons: balloons that light up from the inside
Light laces: shoe laces that light up!
You’ll find these online by looking up the product on Google. Have a happy night activity!!!
If you liked this idea, please “share” on Facebook and let’s light up the sky with sky lanterns and prayer intentions at summer camps all over!
