Registration is $150 per person, Age 12 and Over, for all registering before August 1, and for current members of the National Butterfly Center registering at any time.

August 1, event registration rises to $195 for non-members of the Center.

Registration includes:

• Three (3) days and nights of speakers, talks and guided activities;
• Optional, limited, overnight, on-site camping;
• Friday’s Welcome Reception and Event Orientation, with light dinner fare;
• Brown bag, grab ‘n’ go lunch on Saturday;
• Sunset Speaker's Program, silent auction and dinner on Saturday night; and
• Caterpillars Around the Campfire, communal cook out on Sunday.

Mega Moth Mission is a new adventure, brought to you by the National Butterfly Center. We have crafted a fun-filled event with fantastic guides, flavorful food and outstanding learning opportunities. Of course, your sack lunch will still be sack lunches...but you have the great outdoors in the ‘Magic Valley’ to help you get over that. 

If you choose to camp out at the Center for Mega Moth:

1. This is rustic camping, i.e. no water or electricity hook-ups are available and no generators are allowed. 
2. Tent, van and car camping is allowed; however, no pets are allowed.
3. There will be a limited number of “camp sites” available, and they must be reserved upon registration.
4. A communal campfire will be available for cooking.
5. The Center has one enclosed shower with NO HOT WATER. Showers may be taken there before we open to the public and after closing, each day.

More important information:

We’re not kidding. This is the really important stuff. Read it. Print it. Post it on the ‘fridge. 

After you register, you will NOT receive any further communication from us concerning the festival, other than ONE pre-event email, one week before the event, with any special announcements, weather warnings and reminders. 

Your registration packet and 'goodie bag' will be available for pick up on Friday, September 1, 2023, at the Center during hours specified on the schedule. Print your registration email and refer back to this website, should you have questions or concerns about the event or schedule.

We will have 10-12 moth sheets set up across the 100-acre property. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own flashlights and/or headlamps, lanterns and blacklight flashlights.  If you have your own mothing rig and lights and wish to bring them, please communicate with [email protected], so she may add you to our map. 

The Center has basic first aid kits and will have multiple, small ice chests or cooler bags at designated locations.  Registrants must bring their own medications and emergency supplies, such as epipens, rescue inhalers, etc.  If you require insulin, have critical allergies or a serious health condition, please remember to carry meds/info with you each day AND inform staff and/or your fellow Mega Mothers, so they may assist should an emergency occur in the field. 

Warnings related to hazards. If staff and/or posted signs at the Center alert you to real or potential hazards, please heed them. We appreciate the fact that many festival registrants are experienced naturalists, but the sun, snakes, thorns, fire ants, stinging gnats, chiggers and other dangers do not care how many times you have ventured out elsewhere. Everything in South Texas fights for its life, so please take us seriously when we suggest insect repellent, tall socks, hats, boots, handkerchiefs, long pants and light-weight, long-sleeved cotton tees and vented field shirts. We want you to have fun, and the best way to do that is to come prepared. 

The Welcome Reception is optional, but we do share important information with everyone at that time, such as field conditions that may impact your participation, and more. This will be the best time to meet staff and experts, and get the lay of the land.  For this reason, we strongly encourage everyone to attend and we provide a little food and drink to lure you here. 

PLEASE bring your own reusable water bottle. You may refill it at the hotel and at the Center. We are committed to reducing single-use plastics, and hope you will do your part, too. 

While Mission and the surrounding areas offer many fine places to stay, we encourage festival registrants (especially first-timers) to stay at the host hotel, unless you are camping. 

Please note: the 2023 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. 

The sale of limited space shall occur on a 'first come, first served' basis.  If you have questions about activities, camping accommodations or local conditions, please email: [email protected], and allow up to 24 hours for a detailed response. 

• Cancellations and Refunds: We know you don't want you to miss the inaugural Mega Moth Mssion, but if you must cancel, call 956.583.5400, during regular business hours, Monday - Friday. Refunds, less a $25 per person fee, will be issued up until 4PM, Friday, August 4. Cancellations up until 4PM, Friday, August 18, will be issued at 50%.  Regretfully, cancellations and no-shows will not be refunded after this. 
• Substitutions: The event organizers reserve the right to cancel any festival activity or make qualified substitutions. If a cancellation is necessary, a full refund will be issued, unless otherwise noted.

We look forward to seeing you!