Gardner-Webb Honors Students Debut New Costumes at Broad River Greenway’s Enchanted Forest

Grant from Duke Energy Foundation Provides New Animal Costumes to Make Nature Come Alive for Young Visitors

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—After 18 years of delighting local families, the Enchanted Forest at Broad River Greenway is getting a whimsical makeover. With a generous environmental impact grant from Duke Energy Foundation, the Greenway has commissioned 10 brand-new costumes—replacing the well-worn originals that have seen countless smiles and stories.

Gardner-Webb University Honors students are excited to debut these new outfits and welcome the public on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Greenway, 126 Broad River Drive in Boiling Springs. The last tour departs at 8:45 p.m., and admission is free.

Broad River Greenway Executive Director Kim Duren explained the scope of the $25,000 grant. “We’re thrilled to be one of only 20 organizations statewide to receive this grant. It not only improves accessibility and safety across our trails, but also strengthens our partnership with Gardner-Webb University through the Enchanted Forest. After years of patching the well-loved animal costumes, this grant gives us the chance to refresh and update them so the magic and learning can continue for years to come.”

Beyond the costumes, the grant will fund several improvements to enhance accessibility, safety and education, including:

• Installation of 10 ADA interpretive signs featuring integrated QR codes offering optional audio narration and expanded materials when internet access is available.
• Placement of three benches along a high-traffic, accessible upstream trail segment.
• Construction of an inclement weather shelter for hiker safety.

The Enchanted Forest, a collaboration launched in 2007 by the Greenway and GWU, welcomes between 400 and 600 visitors annually to explore the wonders of nature after dark. Gardner-Webb students guide children ages 2 to 12 through a short trail around the Ranger Station, where costumed characters introduce them to the nocturnal animals that call North Carolina’s woodlands home. The goal: to entertain, educate, and inspire a deeper appreciation for wildlife and habitat conservation.

“I am very excited for the new costumes,” said GWU Honors student Hodges McCathern, who volunteered at last year’s event. “They will allow us to better serve children and their families, which is the entire goal of the Enchanted Forest experience. Any enhancements to the experience allow for a stronger impact to be made on the community for the better.”

McCathern, a junior biochemistry major from Lexington, S.C., didn’t portray an animal last year but helped with activities like arts and crafts and face painting while families waited for their tour. He sees the event as a meaningful way to share the beauty of God’s creation.

“This is a great event for not only the community, but also the Honors students at Gardner-Webb,” he emphasized. “It’s an awesome way to give back and educate the public about animals they may encounter in the Foothills of North Carolina in a safe, family-friendly environment.”

During the tours, costumed students engage in scripted conversations with guides, sharing fun facts and answering questions from curious children. They might explain how opossums are marsupials, frogs begin life as tadpoles, or moths undergo metamorphosis in a cocoon. They also meet a rat, spider, bobcat, owl, bat, bear, skunk, and firefly.

McCathern also praised the Greenway itself as a hidden gem in Cleveland County. “It is a beautiful area to experience the nature and ecosystems right in our backyard,” he said. “When you look at nature, you can’t help but recognize that there has to be an artist that created the art. The more I dive into the depths of my biochemistry major, I realize that everything is connected and coordinated in a dance that quite honestly could not happen without a Creator.”

For more information about the Enchanted Forest, contact [email protected] or call the ranger at 704-434-0040. 

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Learn more at gardner-webb.edu.