When is the PA Firefly Festival?

Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29 from 7 pm to Midnight. Subscribe to the PAFF Newsletter at Pafireflyevents.org to get early notification of the online registration links.

Monday, May 16, 2016

6 Weeks to Go!

We had a very productive meeting yesterday.  Lots of details to cover between now and the festival.

The biggest item is the Volunteer Training on Saturday, June 18 at 8:00 pm.  This is open to anyone interested in helping to lead the interpretive walks the night of the event.  We will provide you with all the information you need and you will get an early opportunity to go out and look for fireflies.  Meet at the Black Caddis Ranch and come prepared to hike into the forest after sunset.  Can't make the 6/18 training?  We will be happy to give you a crash course the day of the festival too, so find a PAFF member at the festival and get registered.

We are also looking for local firefly monitors to watch and report on sightings of fireflies throughout the Allegheny National Forest in the weeks and days leading up to the festival on June 25.  You are welcome to post your sightings and observations on our Facebook or Twitter pages.   If you are willing to be either a volunteer firefly interpretive guide the night of the festival or a firefly monitor contact us at pafireflyfestival@gmail.com.

Saturday, May 7, 2016

May 15 Planning Meeting

The next meeting is next Sunday at 2:00.  Anyone interested in volunteering or getting more information about the festival is welcome to join us.  We are still looking for crafters and artists who would like to sell their items.  Be sure to check the new website pafireflyfestival.org for the applications.

We are also waiting to hear from the Ammonite Film company about the airing of the Bioluminescence film release in the U.S.  The BBC is airing it tomorrow night in honor of David Attenborough's 90th Birthday.

We have also been presenting our Firefly Educational program funded by the Huplits Wildlife Grant.  We have already presented to the Forest Area Schools 5th grade Science Educational Field Trip at the Flying W on April 29.  We are scheduled to present to the Seneca Rocks chapter of the Audubon Society on May 11.  We then have a 1 1/2 day workshop for the State of Pennsylvania DCNR Educators on June 8 and 9.  The programs are being very well received and word is spreading fast.

We are anticipating record attendance this year if the weather cooperates.  The current mGDDs for Bradford, PA is 215.   The target mGDD of 719-1200 usually correlates with the peak of the synchronous fireflies.  We will keep you posted on this blogspot and Facebook when we start seeing fireflies.