HRVU Kids Study Endangered Monarchs

How lucky are we that two monarch butterflies decided to emerge from their chrysalises just a few hours before HRVU's "How to Raise a Monarch Butterfly" class was held??

HRVU co-founder and naturalist, Alanna Facchin, taught our group of homeschool students everything they need to know in order to raise monarchs successfully. Students learned about the life cycle of the monarch with a story and a game. Teeny tiny eggs, caterpillars in various stages of growth, and gold-spotted chrysalises were available to view up close in a butterfly cage and under the digital microscope. Students learned how to identify milkweed to feed the caterpillars they took home (milkweed is their only food source!). Kids completed an adorable butterfly craft, and the class ended with the magical release of the newly emerged butterflies.

Good luck on your journey to Mexico, butterfly friends!

Thank you for sharing your butterfly joy with all of us, Alanna!

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Did you know that monarchs were recently designated as an endangered species? To find out how you can help save the monarchs, check out the Xerxes Society website - an international nonprofit organization that protects the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. Learn more at https://www.xerces.org/