PA Firefly Educational Services
What can PAFF do for YOU? Whether it's just accessing the information and resources on our website to build your own curriculum for FREE, or a full-day of immersive firefly themed STEAM education program for your school, we want to share firefly information. If you need a firefly presentation for your special interest group like scouts or a garden club, we can present an informative program for a donation to the PA Firefly Festival non-profit organization. We also offer trainings for staff, faculty and private eco-tour guides for nominal fees. Please complete and submit the form below to submit a request for your program, training or speaker presentation. Please note that fees do not cover overnight lodging. CLICK HERE to submit a request for a program to fit your needs.
Staff or Faculty Training:
PAFF educators will come to your location and provide a training for your faculty or staff about how to develop and implement your own firefly STEAM program. We can also train your staff about basic firefly information so they can answer customer or client questions, and help the firefly tourists who patronize your business or facility. We will provide the materials and resources for a fee. Click this link to submit a request for a staff training.
Guest Speaker Presentation:
For a nominal fee, a PAFF expert will provide a slide show presentation to your group, conference or convention. The presentation will be individualized, adapted and scaled to meet the ability level and specific interests of your group. This is a popular choice for Scouts, Audubon, Sierra and garden clubs. Click this link to submit a request for a presentation.
Private Guide Training:
PAFF will provide training to individuals or small groups who would like to develop and run their own private guiding service for firefly tourists in the PA Wilds region. It is estimated that 1 million people around the world seek a firefly tour or program annually. We had over 5000 people in NW Pennsylvania apply to the lottery in 2024 for 150 spots leaving 1000s of tourists wanting and waiting. We see this as an opportunity to help and support an entrepreneur who wants to start a lucrative guiding business in this area. We will train guides at the Kellettville Firefly Farm on how to provide a safe and sustainable firefly tour in NW PA. We will also help to advertise, promote and refer the guides who receive our training. The Private Guide Training is a 2-hour training, and the fees are per person. Click this link to complete a request for a Guide Training.
Firefly STEAM Educational Program
The Firefly-themed Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math program is designed for elementary age students. This is a full day program for individual classes, groups or camps of no more than 100 students per day. This program is intended to unite diverse cultures through the universal firefly interest. We provide differentiated and leveled programs for students in the K- 6th grade. All the materials, activities and educational displays are included. The students will create firefly themed artwork, participate in hands-on STEAM activities, and at the end of the day, we display their work in a luminescent art show with the whole group. The day concludes with a whole group review and jeopardy style game show. The Firefly STEAM program is a full-day for up to 100 elementary students. Larger groups would need to add a second day. Click this link to complete a request.
ABOUT US >
The mission of Pennsylvania Firefly Festival, Inc. is to deliver STEAM ( Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) based firefly-themed educational programs that unite diverse races and cultures by focusing upon the
universal interest in fireflies. This mission will be accomplished by educational presentations to Pennsylvania K-12 schools, state parks, special interest groups and community firefly-themed events.
Our goals are as follows:
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Foster an understanding of natural world functions and the science and math behind firefly synchrony.
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Stimulate critical thinking about the key role of water quality, soil condition, and dark sky for habitat conservation/environmental protection.
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Provide actionable solutions to protect fireflies as well as other invertebrate habitats at home and throughout the community.
We celebrate the firefly season with the Annual PA Firefly Festival on the last weekend in June. This typically coincides with the mating displays of over fifteen different species of firefly in the Allegheny National Forest area including the Synchronous Firefly and the unique "Chinese Lantern" firefly along the Tionesta Creek. We also provide interpretive firefly programs at our Glow & Know Campouts for small groups interested in a more intensive and immersive firefly experience. PAFF is dedicated to responsible and sustainable firefly tourism in Pennsylvania and beyond.
You can view all documents related to our non-profit status HERE.
CONTACT >
Pennsylvania Firefly Festival
13558 Route 666, Tionesta, PA
T: 814-230-2035
