A pair of destinations in our region, both dedicated to educating patrons about science and nature, are inviting folks to explore the outdoors on their brightly illuminated grounds.The Wild Center in Tupper Lake is once again presenting “Wild Lights,” a growing tradition in northern New York now in its fourth year. Thousands of lights decorate the facility’s outdoor “Wild Walk,” with sections set to immersive music. New this year, the nonprofit is promising displays around the grounds that are perfect for photo opportunities, like ice sculptures. Some evenings also feature the availability of hot cocoa bars or locally-brewed craft beers. Nick Gunn, the marketing director for the Wild Center, told NBC5 News the experience of exploring Wild Lights is really enhanced when there’s a new blanket of snow in the Adirondacks.”Whenever there’s fresh snow on the ground, it kind of creates this effect where it makes the lights even brighter — when there’s a lot of fresh snow to reflect off of — it makes everything look like it’s glowing,” Gunn said in an interview Tuesday. “For instance, I think my favorite spot in Wild Lights is the stickwork sculpture. When there’s fresh snow on the trees and in the canopy above it, it really makes the entire forest glow. It’s a pretty special experience.”Wild Lights runs Friday and Saturday nights through Feb. 24. Gunn emphasized there are extended hours from the day after Christmas through New Year’s Eve and again during the week of Presidents’ Day. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids, and free for babies and toddlers. Members of the Wild Center get discounts, according to the organization.In Quechee, the Vermont Institute of Natural Science has created what it calls “A Forest of Lights.” This is the second year of the event at VINS, and the nonprofit is promising it is bigger and better than last year’s debut. Thousands of lights transform the facility’s forest canopy walk into what Chris Collier, the senior director of operations and exhibits at VINS, described as a “magical ” experience.Collier said he hopes visitors find A Forest of Lights a good way to celebrate nature, and gets them excited to get outdoors and make the most of the chilly evenings around here.”Being with friends and family — that’s the other piece that we like being able to offer is just a place to get outside with friends and family at a time of year where we really relish that,” Collier said Tuesday in an interview with NBC5 News. “Times can be dark and cold, and there’s a lot of stuff going on in the world that’s not great — and stuff that’s going on in Vermont that’s not great. And yet, you can kind of step away from that on a night like coming here, and just relish what’s happening in the now. It just feels magical.”A Forest of Lights is open at VINS on specific evenings through Jan. 3, mostly Thursdays through Saturdays. However, more dates are added later in December, with the landmark open at night the day after Christmas through New Year’s.Advance tickets are required, Collier noted. He said those are $12 for adults, $7 for kids, and children aged 3 and under are free.For information on Wild Lights, visit the website of The Wild Center. And if you want to learn about A Forest of Lights, click here to visit the site of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science.Both organizations said they have found their winter programming helps drive interest in their year-round work to spark curiosity in and understanding of the natural world.