Celebrating National Moth Week at the John Brown Farm
The John Brown Farm State Historic Site will be the setting for A Moth Ball, a nighttime insect celebration led by Westport-based writer and naturalist Loree Griffin Burns, beginning on Friday, July 26.
“As the sun goes down, we will use lights and bait to attract local moths for a closer look,” explained Griffin Burns. “Together, we’ll expand our knowledge of Adirondack biodiversity, practice our skills as a naturalist, and celebrate National Moth Week—all by studying local moths!”
Sponsored by John Brown Lives!, the Moth Ball will begin on Friday at 7:30pm, as the night wears on and moth activity increases, and run until 10:30pm. All are welcome back to the John Brown Farm early Saturday morning, from 7:00-9:00am, for a peek at straggler moths and to continue learning.
The event is free and open to all.
It is held in conjunction with the Harriet Tubman “Beacon of Hope” statue, by sculptor Wesley Wofford, on view at the John Brown Farm through October, to further elaborate on Tubman’s life and legacy, including her close connection to nature and extraordinary skill navigating the natural world.
“By connecting participants with their local flora and fauna, I hope this program will honor Tubman’s deep understanding of the environments she lived in and led freedom seekers through,” said Griffin Burns. ‘
Participants in the Moth Ball are encouraged to bring a flashlight or headlamp. If there is a hard rain on Friday evening, both events will be canceled.
The Moth Ball and additional Tubman-related programming are made possible with support from Lake Placid Public Library, North Elba LEAF, Stewart’s / Dake Family Foundation, Humanities New York, and an anonymous angel donor.
John Brown Lives! is a nonprofit dedicated to honoring John Brown’s legacy and promoting social justice and human rights through community engagement, humanities programs, arts, and education.
The John Brown Farm State Historic Site is the home and burial site of famed abolitionist John Brown. Today, the site provides tours and interpretation on the life of John Brown and introduces visitors to the 1846 “scheme of justice and benevolence” that attracted Black New York families to settle an Adirondack community that came to be called “Timbuctoo.” For more information, please visit: John Brown Farm State Historic Site.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 84 million visits in 2023. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Join us in celebrating our Centennial throughout 2024, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and the OPRHP Blog.