International Firefly Symposium, Portugal 2022

  Ken & I were proud to attend the International Firefly Symposium in Gaia, Portugal in June 2022, sponsored by Fireflyers International Network (FIN).  We had been waiting for 2 years for the opportunity which was delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns and travel restrictions.  Since 2012, we have learned more about fireflies than we ever thought we would need to know.  We've learned about the biology of fireflies, ecology, conservation, and the issues concerning ecotourism thanks to the help of firefly researchers and expert authors like Lynn Faust, Sarah Lower, Avalon Owens, and of course Sara Lewis.  So, we were honored to be asked to present at this year's IFS about firefly tourism in Pennsylvania. 

Portugal as a country is very special.  The cities of Porto and Villa Nova de Gaia are beautiful and historic.   The terraced landscapes along the Duro river were breathtaking.  We enjoyed meeting the people, eating the food, especially the seafood, and drinking the vinho.  

The FIN/IFS held at the Parque Biologico de Gaia was three days of presentations and exhibits on firefly ecology, behavior, taxonomy, phylogeny, genetics, conservation, citizen science, art, and society.  It sounds very heavy and scientific, but surprisingly inspirational and enlightening! 

The IFS was mainly a chance for us to meet other researchers and firefly experts from around the world that we couldn't pass up. Our presentation titled "Pennsylvania Firefly Tourism: Be Careful What You Wish For" was well received by the audience, but we took away much more than we gave.  We met over 70 people from across the US, North, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.  Most impressive were the young students who presented and exhibited posters.   PAFF was among the sponsors that helped the students with travel stipends so they could attend the IFS.  The most amazing thing that stood out for us was that even though we had just met most of these people for the first time in person (many we knew by name or from virtual meetings), we became fast friends all because of a little lightning bug.  We will have many fond memories to look back on, but now we look forward to Mexico City in 2025!

Planning for the 10th Season of Fireflies!

 We are counting down the days until our 10th season of events.  We are planning for 3 Glow & Know Campouts and 2 nights of the PA Firefly Festival.  The first event of the season starts on Tuesday, June 8 with the Glow & Know Campout at Scarlett Knob Campground in Fayette County, near Ohiopyle. Saturday, June 18 the G&K campout is at Camp Lutherlyn in Butler County.  Next, the 10th Annual PAFF will be held in Kellettville on Friday, June 24, and Saturday, June 25.  The last event will be the G&K campout on Tuesday, June 28 in Kellettville.  Each event offers firefly programs with experts, guided interpretative firefly viewing, and fun for all.  Online pre-registration is required for all events.  Space is strictly limited to ensure a safe and intimate setting that protects the habitats of the fireflies.  

Registration will begin on May 1st at 9AM EDT.  Links for the registration will be posted on the website, pafireflyevents.org.  Subscribers to the quarterly newsletter will receive advance notification of the links.  So, be ready with your credit card when the box office opens.   Here are some tips and courtesies to keep in mind when registering:

• Please register you and your party for only ONE event.  Booking multiple dates with the intent of attending only one prevents others from attending on the night of their choice
• Complete your registration and check out as soon as possible.  Holding tickets in a cart does not complete your registration. It only blocks others from registration.  It can crash the site and you may lose your spot when you eventually check out.
• You do not have to have a PayPal account to checkout.  PayPal is our credit card processor.  
• Registration is non-refundable, but is transferrable.  If you are unable to attend your scheduled event, please feel free to send someone in your place.  We do not ask for IDs at check-in.
• There are no tickets. You will get a wristband when you check in.  DO print a receipt.

We appreciate that the demand to see fireflies is immense.  There are estimated to be over 100,000 people trying to see fireflies this year in the US.  We are only one of a handful of sites in North America where people can go see the Synchronous fireflies.   That said, we are doing everything we can to maintain a responsible and sustainable eco-tourism opportunity.  We want to raise awareness of the significance of the firefly in the ecosystem of the forest while we protect the environment for future generations of fireflies.   We hope you will be one of the lucky patrons at one of our events this year or in the future.