Schedule - coming soon

The Event! In the biologically rich 3000-acre Highlands Nature Sanctuary and nearby Pike Lake State Park and Forest, we will have the opportunity to witness large numbers of moth species and other nocturnal insects that will be attracted to our specially-installed light stations, all while under the mentorship of expert naturalists. Evening presentations will be hosted at the Paxton Historic Theater in Bainbridge, Ohio, 5 miles east of the Sanctuary. Be prepared to stay up late into the night, so come well rested!

Optional Friday and Saturday afternoon guided hikes will expose participants to the stunning beauty of the karst country landscapes and Appalachian foothills of the larger region, with additional sit-down classes. After you register and once we get closer to the event, we will be emailing you details on these offerings, asking you for your preferences, and then confirming your assignments by email, along with all the driving directions you’ll need for the entire weekend.

Registrants will be well fed by Sanctuary staff who will be serving two brunches and one Saturday night dinner.

The primary hub for Mothapalooza will be at the Appalachian Forest Museum with evening presentations at the Paxton Theater in nearby Bainbridge, five miles east of the Museum on US-50.. Click here for directions to the Museum.

Drawing us in like moths to flame. For those of us who think of moths as mostly errant drab-colored creatures that accidentally stray into our homes through an open door, an intentional encounter with moths in their natural environment - with their exquisite wing patterns, often brightly furred bodies, and remarkable diversity - is a transformative experience. Once hooked on mothing, hot mid-summer nights will never be the same.

Ohio has over 3,000 species of moths - ranging from micro moths a few millimeters in size to giant silk moths larger than the palm of our hands. True, some look like "little brown moths," but others look like they are woven out of the finest tapestry or that they have borrowed the hues of fruit sherbets. Moths can look just like wasps, hummingbirds, bird droppings, owl eyes and even spiders! And, they bear marvelous names, like Blurry Chocolate Angle, Pistachio Emerald, Scribbler, Green Marvel, Betrothed, Penitent, German Cousin, and Blinded Sphinx, just to name a few! 

Questions? If you have any questions, contact our Education Coordinator, Cassidy Drummond at 937-794-3360, or for questions about lodging contact Office Staff, Seth Oglesby at 937-365-1935 or arcpreserveinfo@gmail.com.

Cancellation policy. In case of cancellation, refunds will be granted in full up until May 19, 2024. After that time, all payments are final and if not used, will be recorded as a tax-deductible donation to the Arc of Appalachia. Registrations are transferable. If transferring your registration to another party, please be sure to give us your recipient’s name and email.

Lodging. We have set aside all of our lodges at the Sanctuary and all of nearby Pike Lake State Park’s cabins at a variety of price points. Group lodges at the Sanctuary can be rented by the room. Note that the Sanctuary and Pike Lake are the locations of our two primary light stations. Lodging reservations are made separately from our online event registration process. To reserve lodging, call us at 937-365-1935 during office hours to secure your space. Note, you must first be registered to attend Mothapalooza. The Sanctuary has many beautiful overnight facilities, most of which are historic and all of which are tastefully and uniquely decorated. They can be previewed here. All lodges and cabins have kitchens or kitchenettes and one or more bathrooms. If you are coming alone and you are willing to share unoccupied beds with another single person of the same gender, we can look for others who may be willing to do so, which will, of course, reduce your cost. Just let us know when you call.

What if lodging is booked at the Sanctuary and at Pike Lake? There are a large number of private lodges in the larger area that you can take advantage of. Check AirBnB, HipCamp for camping, and the travel and tourism websites for Ross and Highland Counties. Private rentals that are closest to the Sanctuary are: Lazy H Cabins, Kinder Farm, and Blueberry Hill Motel. You may wish to stay in nearby Chillicothe, which is very historic town with many old homes that have been turned into lodges, but please do note that it is a half hour drive from the Sanctuary.

Meals: Brunches will be served over an extended period of time each morning to accomodate the inevitable need to sleep in late, and which also helps to turn over our limited parking at the Museum. It is helpful if you up “stagger” your way to breakfast, that is to say, stagger your times of arrival (although if you stagger away from brunch with a happily full belly, that’s good too). Saturday dinner will be served in two reserved shifts, at 5:15pm and 6:00pm, with seating times assigned closer to the event. Optional outdoor seating is available under an outdoor tent for all meals.  Please bring snacks or food to supplement as desired. The Arc of Appalachia is well recognized for its fabulous meals that are often based on local Mennonnite produce. All meals vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options - please inquire when you arrive for a meal if you have special needs and we will be happy to accomodate with meal alternatives. All of our lodges have kitchenettes and refrigerators.

What if I am a beginner at mothing? BEGINNERS ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED! Previous experience is not at all necessary and we are eager to help beginners enjoy the event. Special traiining and orientation programs are available to beginners on Friday afternoon. Fortunately, unlike butterflies, once moths land on a lighting sheet they usually relax and will linger quietly for minutes, sometimes hours, allowing you to closely approach, providing plenty of time to take photographs (even your cell phone will do) to facilitate identification, which, for the sake of convenience, often takes place the following day.

Bringing a field guide and loading on Phone Apps before you come is recommended. We highly recommend Peterson's Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern America, by David Beadle and Seabrooke Leckie. On your phone, we highly recommended LEPS by Fieldguide, iNaturalist, and iSeek by iNaturalist.

Pack along shoes for getting in the water. A few of our Saturday field trips will be in the water. For those outings, bring something equivalent to Tevas or Chacos, or old-fashioned tennis shoes - whatever shoes you don't mind getting wet. 

What if it rains? Rain will definitely make mothing challenging if we have a long steady downpour. Chances are any summer rains we have will be brief and we will be able to work around them. It would be unusual to get wiped out two nights in a row. That said, rain is a risk we just have to take.

What should I bring? 

• Cell phone for moth ID apps like LEPS and iNaturalist, emergency flashlight, and photography

• a strong handheld flashlight separate from your phone

• Raingear

• Moth field guide of choice

• Water bottle and day pack to carry it in

• Water-worthy sandals or shoes if yo are goign on an acqatic field trip

• a notebook or clipboard, pen, pencils, and paper (for sketching and field notes)

• Pocket money for snacks and small purchases

• A light-weight wide-brimmed hat for sun protection

• Personal care items (soap, shampoo, etc.); Sunscreen if you use it (note there are also environmental reasons not to- check it out);

• Sunglasses if you are sensitive to bright sunlight

• First aid kit appropriate to your needs

• Optional. Insect repellent for ticks & chiggers, see details below.

Cell phone coverage and internet limited: Please note that the Sanctuary is in a rural location in the foothills of the Appalachians. Cell phone coverage is spotty and connectivity depends on your phone service company. However, limited Wi-Fi is available at the Museum headquarters where we will be spending a lot of time, and a short drive to Highway 50 connects to nearly every service provider.

Comfort in the out-of-doors: We will be spending most of our time in the field, so please pack clothing that will allow you to be comfortable for a variety of weather conditions. In southern Ohio, the low to mid-nineties are common daytime highs in July. If you work daily in an air-conditioned environment, you might be wise to prepare for the course by taking mid-day walks so you can begin adjusting to midsummer outdoor temperatures. Night time lows are widely variable, anywhere from the high sixties to eighty degrees. Hot nights produce better mothing experiences.

Flying in? Participants may fly into either Cincinnati or Columbus. Both airports are 1 hour and forty-five minutes away from the Sanctuary. Shuttles are not available so participants may need to rent a car.

Emergency Messages: Emergency messages for course participants can be left at the mainline of the Highlands Nature Sanctuary (937) 365-1935 during daytime hours.

Poison Ivy. You will have minimal but possible exposure to poison ivy. In any case, the leaders know the plant well and will help you avoid exposure. If you do touch the leaves, washing vigorously with soap within an hour avoids reactivity in most people.

Should I prepare for insects?  Generally, the Sanctuary is not a buggy place for biting insects. We experience very few to no mosquitoes or black flies at the Sanctuary. You may encounter several species of ticks in the open fields, and chiggers in tall grass if you choose to wander into them (which is a good reason not to), and a few deer flies in low moist areas. That said, our tick population here is lower than in most southern habitats. If any of these challenges are new for you, let us know and we will do our best to orient you. No exposure to at least some insects in southern Ohio is not a realistic expectation for outdoor field work. Since we do have ticks in our southern Ohio preserves, please read the notes below.

A Special Note on Ticks. It is wise to minimize exposure to ticks. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE USE OF ROSE GERANIUM OIL ON YOUR LEGS AND PANTS which, when diluted 1:10 with rubbing alchohol and put in a spray bottle, has proved to be an excellent deterrent. We also recommend a good tick check at night before or after showering.

The key to addressing Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme’s disease risks are to be aware of symptoms and demanding proper diagnostic tests if you suspect the disease. Both diseases are treatable if detected early, so it is wise to be proactive in your health care..

Here are some symptoms to remember, which tend to be flu-like. In addition Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever usually results in rashes.

• Pain areas: in the joints or muscles

• Whole body: fatigue, fever, or malaise

• Joints: stiffness or swelling

• Also common:  appearance of large red blotches, sometimes with bulls-eye pattern,

• Headache

• Palsy

A Special Note on Chiggers. Chigger bites are very annoying if numerous, and are itchy for about a week in most people, but are not dangerous. The best way to minimize or better yet, completely avoid chigger exposure is to stay on the trail and spray your lower extremities (see our our recommended rose geranium oil concoction which can go directly on your skin.). Perhaps, ironically, we have found that open-toed sandals attract less chiggers than socks and shoes. Chiggers love to bury into tight places between skin and clothing. Bare legs can also deter ticks because you can easily feel them crawling up your legs, as well as visually see them and more easily send them on their way.

We are not necessarily recommending shorts and sandals during the day, but if you enjoy wearing them, consider doing so and spraying yourself lightly with diluted rose geranium oil (see above). You may fare better than your less scantily dressed colleagues. After an outing in the field, regardless of your dress and use of repellants, to minimize chigger bites, wash vigorousy with a wash cloth and soap and make a visual check. If you have good eyes and you get to the task fast enought, you can even see chiggers as very tiny dark dots on your skin that can be scratched off.