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July: Night Shift Naturalists
Activity Type
Outdoor nighttime observation activity
Topic
Moths, insects, pollinators, biodiversity
Audience
Children, Teens, Adults, Families, Intergenerational groups
Location
Outdoors, at night
Materials
White sheet, outdoor light or bright lamp, internet-connected smartphone or tablet with a camera, and optional moth identification resources
Low Tech Options
Participants can photograph moths during the event and upload their observations later. Libraries can also provide paper observation sheets so participants can record what they see without using a device outdoors.
Program Description
Discover what happens in your community after dark during National Moth Week!
Moths are important nighttime pollinators and an incredibly diverse group of insects. National Moth Week brings people around the world together each July to observe, photograph, and document moths while contributing valuable information about their diversity and distribution.
Become a Night Shift Naturalist by hosting a moth night at your library. Hang a white sheet outdoors and shine a light onto it, then wait to see who arrives! Participants can photograph visiting moths, practice identifying what they find, and submit their observations to platforms like iNaturalist or Project NOAH.
No moth expertise or special equipment is required. A light, a sheet, and a little curiosity are enough to start exploring the nighttime biodiversity around your library.
Prep & Flow based on a 1 hour event
Prep:
5 min – Review the National Moth Week project page and Mothing 101 resources.
10 min – Choose a safe outdoor location where you can hang a white sheet and set up a light.
10 min – Practice photographing and submitting an observation using iNaturalist.
10 min – Set up your sheet and light before participants arrive. If possible, choose a location near vegetation and away from competing bright lights.
Event Flow:
5 min – Meet the Night Shift: Welcome participants and introduce National Moth Week. Talk about the diversity of moths, their role as pollinators, and why scientists are interested in documenting them.
10 min – Learn to Moth: Show participants your sheet-and-light setup and explain how to safely observe and photograph moths without disturbing them.
30 min – Become a Night Shift Naturalist: Watch the sheet and surrounding area for moths and other nighttime visitors. Photograph what you find and upload your observations.
10 min – What Did We Find? Gather together to look through observations. Compare colors, sizes, patterns, and other features and see whether iNaturalist or other resources can help identify your visitors.
5 min – Wrap Up: Show participants how their observations contribute to National Moth Week and encourage them to continue mothing at home throughout the week.
Recommended Projects
iNaturalist
Photograph the moths and other nighttime visitors you discover and upload your observations directly from your phone using the iNaturalist app. This is a great option for participants who want to document and submit their observations in the moment during your event.
Anytime
Outdoors
Biodiversity, Plants, Wildlife
Project NOAH
Photograph the moths and other organisms you encounter during your event, then upload your photos and observations to Project Noah later from a computer. This is a great option for participants using digital or professional cameras, or for groups that prefer to focus on observing and photographing while outdoors and submit their findings afterward.
Anytime
Outdoors
Biodiversity, Plants, Wildlife
Program Resources
SciStarter LIVE #46: National Moth Week
Watch this recorded SciStarter LIVE where we learned how anyone can participate in National Moth Week. We heard from moth expert Elena Tartaglia and Liti Haramaty, researcher and co-founder of National Moth Week.
Complimentary Projects & Resources
Keep exploring the world of pollinators! For additional ideas, check out our June program plans featuring Pollinator Week and The Great Sunflower Project.
