Lazaro Cárdenas Elementary, Grades 4, 5, and 6
“La Salud”, Community, neighboring village to “EL Rosario” Sanctuary and its communities. This community has only minor influence/inclusión on the Sanctuary’s preservation policies and programs, however its sheltering forests are a secondary but determinant protector belt to the core áreas of forests surrounding.

At 8 o’clock in the morning.  Parents of the community driving to look for a day’s work on construction, caring after cattle, etc., in order to make the living income of the day.
The starting time for school is 9 a.m. Mother drop their little ones to make sure they reach school safe and on time.

Little children at school getting the base form for piñatas ready for decoration with their seven peaks each Piñata, since  Christmas time is coming and Posadas should be organized. Lots of joy and sharing and gifts of candies and fruit is awaiting them!.

On reminding the life phase of Monarchs during the months they live in the United States and South-East Canada, children are surprised to learn more facts and challenges of life to Monarchs’ survival than they learned the previous year.  Always new facts to learn about.  Then, the analysis and reflection on their life-time here while they overwinter. The importance of the Oyamel trees.

Each student studies the Monarchs’ life-cycle line, and are stunned to learn what a very low percentage of Monarchs´ eggs survive to become Monarchs butterflies.  This highly concerns them, however, Estela explains to them this is considered partly as the natural phenomenon.

Since forest activity was historically considered main working source to the region, and still is part of the life in the community, it is interesting how the teacher at this classroom has posted educational materials about forestry for the in the classroom.

Students higly enjoy writing their letters and sharing with their Friends in the United States and Canada. They want them to know about the wild richness existing in flora and fauna of the forests surrunding the Monarch Sanctuaries.  They show themselves proud to feel they are inheriting the knowledge of their grandparents and parents on their outstanding knowledge on local plants, animals, and the forest in general with all of the benefits this brings to their life.

Reading the map included in each of their Ambassador Symbolic Monarch they learn where their Friends from the North, either in Candada or USA live!. 

They ask, “So far away? This is where Monarchs come from?”  

Book donation: “México y sus Riquezas” game;  “Abremente” game;  “Manualidades de Fieltro”.
Break time.  Football for boys mostly, besides marbles and “Trompo” game, --this latter our traditional games.  Girls mostly sit down to talk among them during he 30 minute break they get while enjoying a snack sold by their own mothers which permit at the school is granted to them for making an extra-income for the family.

Farewell to Journey North while having been enchanted to be together today!

Background for the area of this school:
For some historical and most likely political reasons, as mentioned above, the inhabitants of this community have never been directly included in the program for preservation of the overwinterning sites for Monarchs.  For some unknown and historical reasons, it has been “El Rosario” main village and its smaller communities that dictate rules and regulations and territory limits regarding Monarchs.  Monarchs, however, during their leaving time in March, stream down and occupy the “Rio Grande” river, located at La Salud Community, where they can be admired in a wonderful way and perfomance, without its inhabitants having any right to declare the site as an important passing-by site for visitors to observe the wonderful event of Monarchs there.  Journey North visits the schools all over this neighbouring schools in the village, very near to “El Rosario” Sanctuary, letting them know that their natural surrounding is beatiful and very important to be preserved for the passing-by of Monarchs due to their nourishing on water and nectar.

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

Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte, NC
Moyer Elementary, Fort Thomas, KY
Johnson Elementary, Fort Thomas, KY
Moyer Elementary, Fort Thomas, KY
Moyer Elementary, Fort Thomas, KY
Moyer Elementary, Fort Thomas, KY
Saint James Episcopal Day School, Baton Rouge, LA
Saint James Episcopal Day School, Baton Rouge, LA
Saint James Episcopal Day School, Baton Rouge, LA
Saint James Episcopal Day School, Baton Rouge, LA
Saint James Episcopal Day School, Baton Rouge, LA
Saint James Episcopal Day School, Baton Rouge, LA
Saint James Episcopal Day School, Baton Rouge, LA
Saint James Episcopal Day School, Baton Rouge, LA
Woodfill Elementary, Fort Thomas, KY
Hillandale Elementary, East Flat Rock, NC
Parkview Center School, Roseville, MN
Otter Lake Elementary, White Bear Lake, MN
Otter Lake Elementary, White Bear Lake, MN
Otter Lake Elementary, White Bear Lake, MN
Howbert Elementary, Colorado Springs, CO
Pineview Elementary, Reedsburg, WI
Crestwood Elementary, Madison, WI
Crestwood Elementary, Madison, WI
Brooklet Elementary, Brooklet, GA
Mulberry Creek Elementary, Cataula, GA
Eastview Elementary, Canton, IL
Saint Jerome School, Oconomowoc, WI
Eastview Elementary, Canton, IL
Flagstaff Academy, Longmont, CO
Flagstaff Academy, Longmont, CO
Flagstaff Academy, Longmont, CO
Flagstaff Academy, Longmont, CO
Irving Elementary, Oak Park, IL
Northwood Elementary, Seminole, OK
Discovery Canyon Elementary, Colorado Springs, CO
Discovery Canyon Elementary, Colorado Springs, CO
Discovery Charter School, Porter, IN
Discovery Charter School, Porter, IN
Discovery Charter School, Porter, IN
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Discovery Charter School, Porter, IN
Discovery Charter School, Porter, IN
Discovery Charter School, Porter, IN
Discovery Charter School, Porter, IN
Davidson Academy, Nashville, TN
Highland Elementary, Ephrata, PA
Sheridan Elementary, Allentown, PA
Highland Elementary, Ephrata, PA
Highland Elementary, Ephrata, PA
Highland Elementary, Ephrata, PA
George Bancroft Elementary, Scranton, PA
Cunningham Elementary, Austin, TX
Hurlock Elementary, Hurlock, MD
Jefferson Elementary, San Francisco, CA
Evans City Middle School, Evans City, PA
Twin Lake Elementary, Twin Lake, MI
Twin Lake Elementary, Twin Lake, MI
Whittier School, Oak Park, IL
Whittier School, Oak Park, IL
Whittier School, Oak Park, IL
Longfellow School, Oak Park, IL
Sacred Heart School, Chicago, IL
Sacred Heart School, Chicago, IL
Silverdale Baptist School, Chattanooga, TN
Richard Crane School, Rohnert Park, CA
Woodbrook Elementary, Charlottesville, VA
Abbotts Creek Elementary, Raleigh, NC
Annie Vinton Elementary, Mansfield, CT
Miles Avenue Elementary, Billings, MT
Annie Vinton Elementary, Mansfield, CT
Annie Vinton Elementary, Mansfield, CT
Erie Intermediate, Ashtabula, OH
Waples Mill Elementary, Oakton, VA
Waples Mill Elementary, Oakton, VA
Siebert Elementary, Midland, MI