Symbolic Monarchs in Mexico

 

Lázaro Cárdenas Elementary School
This school is located in the territory belonging to "El Rosario" Community.

This is the first time Journey North reaches this community belonging to “El Rosario” as its main political and territory heading.  I actually did not know of its existence in previous years. Teachers and children showed themselves pleased to greet Journey North for the first time!

On arriving, and seeing the life in the community around, it somehow looked as if life time had paused here. The local inhabitants live mainly from agriculture and forest activities. Because they are in the El Rosario territory families have the right to get a task/job at the Sanctuary to make an income. 

Reaching a new school, a new community, and delivering the message of life-cycle of Monarchs and preservation of their habitat fulfills the goal of the day in a really special way. It is so important to show teachers, children and their families about the importance of the conservation of their own natural surrounding.

Children were amazed to learn about Monarchs life-cycle and migration route for the first time in their lives.  Many of them said that Mom or Dad sometimes speak a little bit of it, and they knew Monarchs came from far away. The children had never in their lives imagined what Monarchs life-cycle was about and the reasons why they come to our region to overwinter in our forests. They also didn't know about Monarchs’ mating before leaving.  Teachers themselves also attended the presentation and were trilled to learn about Monarchs life. They actually did not make any questions at all;  all what they heard was so new!

In their response letters to children in US and Canada, they shared about the big wind-sleet-snow storm of last March 2016. “How not to remember those two day and nights”!, --most of them said—, and many of them started to narrate how frightened in different ways they and their parents felt about the 48-hour storm we experienced.

When the moment came for them to enjoy and read, and share what they received with their letters coming from US and Canada they were  simply thrilled and amazed! They couldn't believe that these letters were sent from children from so far away and that their Ambassador butterfly was hand painted and designed for them!  Many of them asked how the butterflies had arrived and could not believe it when I told them they came by plane landing on in México City and they by car up to their school today!

Lots of indescribable moments, faces, expressions!

Estela Romero
Angangueo, Michoacán, México.

Butterflies Received
This school received Ambassador Butterflies from the following U.S. and Canadian Schools:

Four Peaks Elementary, Apache Junction, AZ
The Willow School, Gladstone, NJ
Kent Place School, Summit, NJ
Kent Place School, Summit, NJ
Kent Place School, Summit, NJ
Kent Place School, Summit, NJ
Girl's School of Austin, Austin, TX
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
Warner Library, Tarrytown, NY
Highview Elementary, Hartsdale, NY
Nantucket New School, Nantucket, MA
Westerly High School, Westerly, RI
Westerly High School, Westerly, RI
Westerly High School, Westerly, RI
Westerly High School, Westerly, RI
Highview Elementary, Nanuet, NY
Highview Elementary, Nanuet, NY
Boulton Elementary, Bountiful, UT
Sawyer Road Elementary, Marietta, GA
Glendale Elementary, Madison, WI
Haycock Elementary, Falls Church, VA
Haycock Elementary, Falls Church, VA
Stevens Elementary, Houston, TX
Pownal Elementary, Pownal, VT
Tenacre Country Day School, Wellesley, MA
Episcopal School of Knoxville, Knoxville, TN
Oak Grove Elementary, Peachtree City, GA
Oak Grove Elementary, Peachtree City, GA
Hudson Montessori, Jersey City, NJ
Saint Kilian Parish School, Cranberry Township, PA
Saint Kilian Parish School, Cranberry Township, PA
Learning With Friends, Jefferson Hills, PA
Winchester Thurston North, Allison Park, PA
Saint Joseph Catholic School, Monroeville, OH
Saint Kilian Parish School, Cranberry Township, PA
Lamar Elementary, San Antonio, TX
Oak Meadow School, Littleton, MA
Merriam School, Acton, MA
Urban Discovery Academy, San Diego, CA
Urban Discovery Academy, San Diego, CA
Lamar Elementary, San Antonio, TX
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA
King Springs Elementary, Smyrna, GA