7:20-7:30 PM Optional early login

7:30-7:45 PM Actual start at 7:30 PM with announcements

7:45-8:45 PM Fireflies – Nature’s Twilight Delight

For generations, these magical insects have sparked curiosity and wonder. Once a common occurrence to the delight of many in suburban backyards, these tiny twinklers are slowly disappearing. This one-hour educational talk will deep dive into how fireflies do what they do, why there are fewer occurrences of this natural spectacle and how you can create a firefly friendly yard.

A naturalist and educator for almost 20 years, Laurel Zoet has worked for the Michigan DNR, the Huron-Clinton Metroparks, West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation, and non-profit nature centers. In 2013 she started her freelance nature education business, Nature on the GO! LLC, to travel throughout the state of Michigan teaching about Michigan wildlife and ecology at schools, libraries, scout troops, and senior living facilities. In March of 2017, Laurel and her husband Mitch opened the Wild Birds Unlimited nature shop at the Green Oak Village Place Mall in Brighton, Michigan, as a way to connect people to nature through the hobby of backyard bird feeding. Laurel teaches in-store nature education programs every month while also offering community outreach programs to local garden clubs, churches, libraries, Audubon groups, and more.

When teaching outreach programs, Laurel donates her speaker fee towards funding Wild Bird’s Unlimited “Ornitherapy” and “Birds in the Schoolyard” programs which provide bird feeding stations, and bird food, to local senior living facilities, other care facilities, and classroom teachers so they can connect their students to nature right outside their classroom window.