Shining A Little Less Light On McCall
Lauren Johnson’s Bright Idea
When most teens are glued to their phones after dark, Boise High School senior Lauren Johnson thinks about turning the lights off. Her Girl Scout Gold Award project, “Reducing Light Pollution,” takes aim at an issue that’s hiding one of McCall’s most beautiful natural resources—the night sky.
Lauren’s family spends their holidays in McCall, where they love to ski, sip cocoa by the fire, and stargaze over Payette Lake. Or at least, they used to stargaze—until the Milky Way began to fade behind a growing halo of artificial light. “It’s wild,” Lauren says. “You don’t realize how much brightness affects the stars until you go somewhere truly dark—or until you can’t anymore.”
Her project, featured on her website https://www.reducinglightpollution.my.canva.site, aims to bring the stars back into focus. Through research, community outreach, and a bit of good old-fashioned Scout determination, Lauren is showing locals how small changes can make a big difference.
Among her tips: use shielded light fixtures that point downward instead of into the sky, choose warm-colored bulbs under 3000K, and install motion sensors so lights are on only when needed. Not only does this save energy and reduce glare, but it also helps protect wildlife—from migrating birds to nocturnal critters—that rely on natural darkness to survive.
Lauren’s project doesn’t stop at advice. She’s helping others get involved through fun, hands-on activities like mapping night sky brightness with the Globe at Night program and discovering local “dark sky” spots using DarkSky Finder. Her message? You don’t need to move to the middle of nowhere to see the stars—just rethink how you light your home and neighborhood.
As Lauren and her family return to McCall this holiday season, she hopes her project will inspire others to look up—literally—and remember the wonder of a truly starry Idaho night. Because sometimes, the best way to brighten your community is to shine a little less.
Events Calendar
Brundage Mountain
- Dec. 7 — Stuff-A-Snowcat & Can Food Drive
- Dec. 25 — Santa Shreds Brundage!
- Dec. 31 — Light up the Night: New Year’s Eve Celebration
- Jan. 17 — Best Trick Pony Feature Focused Terrain Park Competition
- Jan. 20 — Silverton Avalanche School: Pro 2
- Jan. 26 — Silverton Avalanche School: Pro 1
- Feb. 5 — Avalanche Science Guides Level 2
- Feb. 6 — Avalanche Science Guides Level 1
- Feb. 7 — Centennial Speed Dating
- Feb. 12 — Avalanche Science Guides Level 1+
- Mar. 6 — B4BC Weekend – Love Your Peaks Tour
- Mar. 7 — Diva Day
- Mar. 8 — Chris Bodily Memorial 4-Way Races – Giant Slalom
- Mar. 14 — Beer and Gear Festival
- Mar. 28 — Mountain Madness
- Apr. 1 — Gaper Day
- Apr. 4 — The BREWlympic Games – Beer Relays & Gelande Quaff
- Apr. 11 — Brundage Cardboard Classic & Spring Party!
- Apr. 12 — Last Tracks – Closing Day
Little Ski Hill
- Dec. 6 — Snow Ball Gala
- Dec. 13 — McCall Life Town Edit
- Dec. 20 — T-bar Opening
- Dec. 27 — Holiday Rail Jam
- Dec. 30 — MWSC Holiday Camp Celebration
- Jan. 15 — Soda Pop Local Youth Town Race
- Jan. 17 — LSH Freeride Event
- Feb. 19 — Soda Pop Local Youth Town Race
- Feb. 21 — LSH Slopestyle
- Mar. 5 — Soda Pop Local Youth Town Race
- Mar. 14 — 14th Annual Banked Slalom
Tamarack Resort
- Nov. 27 — Thanksgiving Dinner at The Reserve
- Nov. 29 — Christmas Tree Lighting in The Village
- Dec. 5 — Full Moon Snowshoe Experience
- Dec. 25 — Santa Skis for FREE
- Dec. 29-Jan. 2 — Winter Break Basecamp
- Mar. 6 — SNOWFORT
- Mar. 7 — SNOWFORT
Bear Basin
- Dec. 21 — Winter Solstice Nordic Ski
Toby’s Place
- Nov. 24–26 — Shred Shed
McCall (General / Town Events)
- Jan. 30–Feb. 8 — Winter Carnival: Where in the World is Sharlie?
