National Moth Week - Global Citizen Science With East Brunswick Roots

In 2006, the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission began holding "moth nights" in our local parks each summer. These events are always well attended and great fun. If you haven't been to one, try to come out this summer and see what they are all about.

In 2011, the Friends expanded our local moth nights by starting National Moth Week. It was hoped that there would be moth nights across the country all during the same week. We created a website and Facebook page to help spread the word and in July 2012, the first National Moth Week was held. Much to our amazement, it rapidly grew into one of the largest global Citizen Science projects with 308 registered locations in 49 states and 29 countries. Moth events and moth nights were held everywhere from inner cities to some of the most remote places on Earth on 6 continents.

This year, National Moth Week will be held from July 20-28. We hope everyone will participate. There is no required level of expertise or knowledge, simply an interest and curiosity about the natural world. Participating is as easy as turning on a porch light at night and seeing what flies in. Setup some lawn chairs and watch the light, invite friends over for drinks and a BBQ while waiting to see what flies in, hold a Moth Party, come to the Friends National Moth Week moth night. The National Moth Week website has lots of easy tips on How to Moth.

On Monday night the Mayor and Town Council recognized National Moth Week and established via Proclamation that July 20-28 is National Moth Week in East Brunswick. We hope everyone will join people all around the world this July for National Moth Week, global Citizen Science with its roots in East Brunswick.