Monarch butterflies will again be experienced first-hand in 15 elementary schools in Lennox & Addington County this fall.
Monarch butterfly
The Monarch butterfly population is dwindling and all of our pollinators need help. The pilot project began in 2015 when 20 Monarch kits were supplied to 13 elementary schools in L&A County. Students and teachers have been thrilled to witness the entire life cycle of the Monarch from caterpillar to adult.
Monarch Breeding Kit
From a local classroom teacher, on the Monarch 2015 program:
This experience was incredible for my Grade One students. We hit so many areas of the curriculum while studying our monarch friends, BUT the best part was the wonder that we saw in our children and just how fantastic it was to see the changes from each stage of a butterfly’s life first-hand. They treated the butterflies with care and respect and felt like they were helping our world by protecting them. Amazing!
Nine schools planted gardens in 2016 to help attract pollinators of all kinds: butterflies, birds and insects.
J.J. O’Neill school kids with aviary
Partners are essential to our program. Maya Navrot, Educational Outreach leader at Quinte Conservation, will again assist schools with advice on native plantings. Funding for this program has been gratefully received from the Napanee District Community Foundation, as well as the contributions from participating schools.
Monarch in classroom
For more information, contact Marilyn Murray, manager of the Monarch program, at marilynannemurray@gmail.com