May 8, 1995
The note below just arrived from a Tennessee teacher who visited the monarch sanctuaries in Mexico last year. As you'll read, it was an unforgettable experience for her. Perhaps your students have questions they would like to ask about this remarkable place:
"Hello to all the Monarch watchers!
"I just wanted you to know that to visit the site of the migration is a wonderful experience. About 20 years ago, I saw a National Geographic with a picture of the sanctuary in Michoacan, Mexico, and was fascinated by it. I made a silent vow to see it someday, if I ever got the chance. Well, that chance came in February of 1994. Now I can't wait to go back again, hopefully in '96.
"The best way to describe the setting is to say that I felt as though I were in "butterfly snow". Even though we were at an altitude that was so high it made walking very difficult, we were able to forget our discomfort because of the ethereal feeling of being so intimately involved in the beauty of these precious creatures. It was unique to be very still and quiet and to hear the whir of their wings around us.
"I congratulate you on your interest. We must work together to preserve the trees and other natural resources in order to perpetuate the lives of these beautiful butterflies. No amount of money made by man is worth what we are doing to our world.
"I haven't seen any Monarchs in Chattanooga, but it's probably because I'm inside in my classroom all day. I have my husband and son on the watch. I will let you know if they spot any. Hope that we can keep in touch about this great project."
bolemanp@ten-nash.ten.k12.tn.us
Journey North 125 North First Street Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 Phone: (612)339-6959