Monarch’s Eventful Journey:  Making Connections – One Schoolyard Habitat at a Time

The Monarch Monitoring Program was in full swing this autumn with Dick Walton (MMP Director), Louise Zemaitis (MMP Field Coordinator) and Bradley Smith (MMP Field Technician) and multiple volunteers.  The goals of this ongoing program are to gather data about monarchs during migration as well as to conduct public programs on monarch life cycle and migratory movements.  Three times a day, from September 1 through October 16, one of the monarch team would take a census run on a pre-prescribed route to count the number of monarchs seen.  Additionally, monarchs would be caught and tagged at various sites in the county.  During the height of migration, a public outreach program was conducted at Cape May Point State Park almost everyday – participants would learn about the monarch’s metamorphosis, the process of tagging and at times were able to view hundreds of monarchs coming to roost for the night.  This year’s field technician kept a blog (with some short video clips) that can be found at NJAS Cape May Bird Observatory's website. 

Louise shows how the tag is placed on the monarch butterfly's wing.	Dick Walton gives youngsters a chance to touch the monarch butterfly.
Louise takes measurements of the monarch before tagging it and releasing it.	Mark Garland and Louise talk to participants about the monarch life cycle.

In conjunction with the Monarch Monitoring Project, NJAS received a grant from an anonymous donor and The Tabitha Foundation to engage children in Cape May and Cumberland Counties in Monarch studies.   In October, 450 children from 20 elementary and middle schools met with Sue Ann Slotterback from Nature Center of Cape May to learn about the Monarch’s life cycle, their habitats needs and migration, and the efforts of NJAS/CMBO’s monarch research and monitoring team.  Sue used interactive discussion, demonstrations, role playing and simulations to engage the students during their programs.  Children “changed” from eggs to caterpillars to chysalids to adult butterflies.  After this wonderful metamorphosis, the children “flew” to points north to search for habitats rich with milkweed and then “flew” south to their wintering site in Mexico.  In addition, the children learned about Monarch tagging and what plants Monarchs like as caterpillars and as adult butterflies.  Each classroom received a Monarch starter kit which included Monarch magnet plants (New England aster, Seaside goldenrod, butterfly bush and sedum) and milkweed seeds to plant.  Teachers received a resource packet which included a year’s worth of activities designed to bring Monarchs into the curriculum all year long.  Said Bridget Fischer (Upper Township Primary School), “The visuals and game were very engaging and age-appropriate.  We look forward to watching our garden grow and attract butterflies and other wildlife.  This grant will have long-lasting benefits as we observe the garden with future classes.”

Children simulate a monarch migration to and from Mexico	After a tagging demonstration, children are given the chance to release a monarch butterfly.
Students plant one of the butterfly garden "starter" plants in their schoolyard habitat.	The "monarch" quilt at Dr. Joyanne Miller School in Egg Harbor Township. Click here for their award details.

For additional information, call, write or email
 NJAS Department of Education
 Center for Research and Education
 600 Route 47 North
 Cape May Court House, NJ  08210
  (609) 861-0700  

New Jersey Audubon Society (NJAS) is a statewide, not-for-profit, membership organization committed to preserving New Jersey’s habitats and species biodiversity.  We invite your support through membership and participation in our programs.