2026-Summer-Guide

Set your imagination a-flutter for this year’s National Moth Week! This world-wide celebration engages people with citizen science projects, special speakers and fun activities that bring to light all the marvelous things that make these nighttime creatures not only vital to our ecosystems, but also downright fascinating. Lyman Woods will host several programs (descriptions below) for children and adults to highlight some of the most interesting facets and facts of the nearly 2,000 species of moths that call Illinois home! National MOTH WEEK July 19-27 • Lyman Woods

The Moth Ball Let your imagination and dancing skills take flight at our “Moth Ball!” We’ll have some moth-inspired games for the kids to play and learn all about moths and how they help the environment. Then we’ll try on some moth wing costumes and even make some moth costumes of our own to take home, as we do a little moth-dancing in the moonlight. We’ll close out the evening with a campfire, some hot dogs, s’mores and make some moth-like treats to enjoy at home. This is a youth-only, drop-off program. Age: 4-12 Min/Max: 5/20 Fee: $20 William F Sherman Jr Interpretive Center - Lyman Woods Class # Date Day Time 3500P22-01 7/24 F 5:00-7:00pm Marvelous Moth Hike Led by our naturalists, the “Marvelous Moth Hike” will give you hands-on experience with the practice of “mothing,” which uses light or bait to attract moths to a location for observation and data collection. We’ll show you how you can make your own special moth bait or “goop” for home, and take you on a short hike to search for moths around Lyman Woods. We’ll also have a campfire with delicious moth-inspired treats and some moth games for the kids! Please register everyone attending. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. Age: 2+ Min/Max: 8/30 Fee: $10 William F Sherman Jr Interpretive Center - Lyman Woods Class # Date Day Time 3500P18-02 7/25 SA 8:00-9:30pm

Mimical, Magical Moths: What Makes Moths So Special & Why We Should Care About Them New! Join us for a deep-dive presentation into the unique and fascinating features that make moths so different from other creatures in the natural world. We’ll cover not only local moths, but some of the most interesting moths found across the world. Please register everyone attending. Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. Age: All Fee: Free Min/Max: 6/30 William F Sherman Jr Interpretive Center - Lyman Woods Class # Date Day Time 3500P18-01 7/25 SA 7:00-8:00pm

99