Five Rivers Metroparks Moths & Moons Event
Join Five Rivers Metroparks staff and volunteers at Cox Arboretum Metropark to celebrate moths and moons, and enjoy an evening in the park!
Event details
* this page may be updated if event is repeated in the future *
Five Rivers Metroparks Moths & Moons Event
Stargaze, Search for Caterpillars, Learn About Eye Shine at “Moths and Moons”
Cox Arboretum MetroPark will be open late this Saturday evening for a special event celebrating all things nocturnal.
Moths and Moons is a free event held from 8 to 10:30 p.m. on July 12 at the park hosted by Five Rivers MetroParks. Visitors will enjoy activities at 12 different stations, where they can help identify moths, search for and touch caterpillars, complete a craft, hear myths and other stories about the moon, look through a telescope at the moon and more. While it’s a self-guided experience and visitors can stop by at any time during the event, families should plan to spend at least an hour. And while the activities are suitable for kids (and adults!) of all ages, they particularly will appeal to 3- to 13-year-olds.
Activities will include:
- Citizen science activities: Visitors will help identify species of moths and other insects, and the information will become part of the Butterflies and Moths of North America project — just in time for National Moth Week July 19-24! Visitors also will be able to get up close and personal with caterpillars and learn about life cycles, the importance of these pollinators and more.
- Moon and stargazing: The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery and Miami Valley Astronomical Society will have telescopes on hand. Visitors may even see some solar flares!
- A chance to visit the Cox Arboretum MetroPark Butterfly House at night.
- Different ways to attract moths: A light bait station using black lights and a moth juice station, where a sweet and fermented mixture is used to attract moths.
- Learn about eye shine and what makes moths, spiders and other creatures’ eyes sparkle in the dark.
- If you bring flashlights, please cover the lens with red cellophane or plastic wrap to preserve everyone’s night vision.
- “Moths and Moons will help kids and families learn about the importance of moths, as well as all nocturnal animals,” said Lauren Stayer Asquith, Five Rivers MetroParks education coordinator. “It also will help families become more comfortable being out at night to explore nature and have fun outdoors.”
Photos: Five Rivers Metroparks Moths & Moons Event
Moths & Moons Map
Five Rivers Metroparks Event
Links & Tags
Cox Arboretum
Five Rivers MetroParks.
