Photo Gallery #3
(Search | Gallery 1 | Gallery 2 | Gallery 3 | Gallery 4)
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| La Salud School, La Salud Community, Michoacán |
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| Estela and students exchanging impressions about the monarchs' life cycle, the miracles of their long trip from the north to overwinter in México, and the importance of preserving the nucleous of Oyamel trees in their forests. |
The group photo with their symbolic Monarchs and their letters. |
Students planting their oyamel tree. |
| At lunch time, around 11, students get a snack, and in many schools, there is only a small stand selling some candies, snacks or some fruits. |
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I have decided to include secondary schools in the program in the region because we consider its is very important that older children get sensible about the importance of the preservation of the Monarch's Overwintering Sites. |
| Niños Héroes School, Rosa de Palo Amarillo Community, Mexico |
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| The group photo with their Ambassador Monarch Butterflies and their letters. |
Children planting their Oyamel tree and marvelling about the link it represents among the three countries hosting the Monarch butterflies. |
| In some schools, children had decorated their Christmas tree and show themselves off at it! |
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Compared to schools I visited in the state of Michoacán, schools on the other side of the border in the State of México have much lower population. |
| Educación y Patria Elementary 2a. Manzana de Nicolás Romero Community |
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| Group photo with their Ambassador Monarchs and letters. Grades 1-6 grades are in one group due to the low number of children. |
Children enthusiastic looking for the best place to plant the Oyamel tree in their school's yard. |
Proudness bright their faces once the Oyamel tree is planted. |
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Children enjoying the content of their envelopes with letters and photos. |
Two teachers coming from far away, teaching in the school and living in the community for two years, move now far away. Both teachers and children find it really hard to say good-bye. New teachers will take over, and will as well fall in love with the pride children and parents keep to their community teachers. |
| This is the first time I experienced a farewell to community teachers coming from too far away. A very sad thing for children, parents and teachers to separate after years of living together in the small community. |
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"Rocinante" served as the official transportation dropping the leaving teachers in town to start their long trip to their new school. |
| 11 de Julio School, Palo Amarillo Community, State of México |
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Group photo.
Grades 4, 5 and 6 go to school in one group. |
Children enjoying their letters and photos. |
Great enthusiasm at contributing to planting the Oyamel tree. |
In schools in the state of México, the population of children diminishes dramatically, compared to schools in the State of Michoacán side. The nearest monarch sanctuary is Sierra Chincua. |
| "Octavio Paz" School, Palo Amarillo Community, State of México |
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Group photo
The 4th, 5th, and 6th grades attended my presentation together. |
Here I am delivering the Monarchs' life-cycle message and the environment-preservation message. Among other things, I explain how a land-slide can originate, how protective and important it is to preserve our forests, including the rare oyamel species. |
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| Students and teachers participate in planting their Oyamel tree. |
In this school, the students caved a "Time Capsule" and explained how they filled it with letters, toys, electronic devices, videos, photos and fashion accessories; it was sealed, and it should be opened in 50 years more by the future generation in the school then. I found it as something very interesting for you to show. |
I am very proud to say that this is the community where my mother was born. The values and traditions are very much preserved than in most communities. The nearest monarch sanctuary is Sierra Chincua.
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| San Jerónimo School, San Jerónimo Community, State of México |
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Journey North Letters go as far as where there are One-single Classroom Schools with only a few students. |
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| students asking Journey North to come back next year. |
Only a few schools and homes in our region still have the traditional wooden-made bathrooms. |
| Emiliano Zapata School, Pancho Maya Community, State of México |
| A far away school, visited for the second time this year. They immediatly recognized "Rocianante" on arriving to the school this morning and children hurried to make sure it was me carrying their letters to them. This areas are far from any town around and preserve their traditions and simple living in a way I hope will last for a long time. |
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| Estela "testing" children about their knowledge on Monarch's life cycle. |
Children participate enthusiasticallly. |
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| Older children assit younger ones at writing their letters, so that NO child misses recieving and sending his letter to US and Canadian children. |
Their Oyamel tree has been planted at the school. |
Group photo.
This is a Multi-level school where the six levels attend classes in an only classroom.
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| Francisco I. Madero" School, Nicolás Romero Community, Angangueo, Michoacán |
| This school is located in one of the closest communities to Angangueo. Exceptionally, in this school, two Oyamel trees were planted due to the great enthusiasm of children at it. |
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Grade 3 and 4 group photo (left) and planting their oyamel tree (right). |
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Grade 5 and 6 group photo (left) and planting their oyamel tree (right). |
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Symbolic Migration
