On Saturday, August 22, join the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum for a special nighttime Nature Series program called “The Nocturnal World of Moths!” Moths are incredibly diverse and beautiful insects, well adapted to avoid predation and find love in the dark. Yet we hardly know them due to their nocturnal behavior. Join Lancaster Conservancy Naturalist Keith Williams for a presentation about the biology and ecology of these nocturnal beauties, followed by a special moth lighting set up to see what moths we may attract in the Tanger Arboretum!

What is a moth lighting? A moth lighting (also called ‘mothing’ or ‘light-sheeting’) is an activity where an artificial light source is used to attract moths and other nighttime insects to a white sheet, allowing for individuals to look at the nocturnal specimens up close. We’ll attempt to attract moths on August 22 using this method.

Keith Williams is a naturalist, educator, writer and photographer. He has a BS in Environmental Biology from Kutztown University and MS in Ecological Teaching and Learning from the Lesley University Audubon Expedition Institute. He has been taking people into backcountry settings for 30 years and has established outdoor education programs across the contiguous US, China, and in Puerto Rico. His first book, Snorkelhead, Adventures in River Snorkeling, was published in 2016, and his second river snorkeling book, Snorkeling Rivers and Streams an Aquatic Guide to Underwater Discovery and Adventure, was published by Stackpole Books in March 2020. Keith is the Vice President for Engagement and Education at the Lancaster Conservancy where he serves as the conservancies lead naturalist, develops and manages volunteer and education programs, and manages the interpretive ranger program.  He is a Nationally Registered Paramedic, Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician, Wilderness medicine instructor, swift water rescue technician and wildlands firefighter.

HOW TO REGISTER
The program, “The Nocturnal World of Moths” will take place on Saturday, August 22 from 8-10pm in the Carriage House at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $10/Adults (18+) and Free for Children 17 and Under (must be accompanied by an adult). Friends of the Tanger Arboretum members receive complimentary admission, but should still register for the program. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling 717.392.4633. Advance tickets recommended as walk-in tickets are not guaranteed.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE

Please note that the program will begin with an indoor presentation before heading outdoors to view the moth lighting. Attendees are recommended to wear comfortable shoes and bring bug spray (to ward off mosquitos) and a flashlight or headlamp.

Membership gets you more! Membership to the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum not only supports the care and conservation of this local natural resource, but also gets you great benefits such as complimentary admission to Nature Series programs! Learn more about membership and sign up today here.

The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum is a member of the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admission Program. AHS Reciprocal Admission Program members may register for tickets in advance and must show a valid membership card upon checking in. AHS Members should contact Emily Miller, emily.miller@lancasterhistory.org, with any questions or to register for tickets in advance.

This event is hosted by the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum. The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary organization of LancasterHistory, helps foster public interest in, and support for, the maintenance and development of the Tanger Arboretum as a community asset. To learn more about the Arboretum or to become a member, please visit the Arboretum’s webpage.

The 2026 Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Nature Series is sponsored by Pine Brook Farm, Inc. and Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care.
Their support enables us to offer these programs for the community and free tickets for children! Thank you for your generosity!