"Winter Notes" from Mexico A Letter to Say Your Butterflies Have Arrived Safely! After sending your butterflies to Mexico you won't see Symbolic Monarchs again until spring. However, we want your class to know that your butterflies have arrived safely in Mexico. Therefore, during the winter, watch your mailbox for a "winter note" from a student in Mexico. Timeline for "Winter Notes" October At the fall staging grounds in Minnesota, one representative butterfly from each class is placed in a special box labeled "winter notes." This box travels along with all the others to the monarch sanctuary-area schools in Mexico. (We can't afford the postage to send a winter note for every butterfly we receive, so one representative butterfly per class is selected. This way, every participating class should get one "winter note.") November When the box arrives in Mexico our coordinator, German Medina, immediately hires people in Angangueo to address mailing envelopes in which to mail the winter notes. Each classroom's address is written on the front of an envelope. December & January German distributes thousands of Symbolic Butterflies to students near the sanctuaries. He takes also envelopes for the winter notes. Students write a letter back at that time. Late January, Early February German attaches stamps and mails the Winter Notes to the U.S./Canada. After January: Watch Your Mailbox! Photo: Lee Pagni Sometime after January, you may receive a letter postmarked from Mexico. However, Please Note: Mail sent from Mexico is not always reliable. While one "winter note" will be mailed to each participating classroom, we cannot guarantee you will receive it! The Cycle of Friendship Continues... Winter and Spring: After receiving a winter note, some U.S. and Canadian classrooms write back to their new friends. All letters to Mexico are sent in care of German Medina. Late Spring and Summer: German distributes them to the mountain schools in late spring and summer. Copyright 2003-2004 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form