Symbolic
Monarch Butterfly Migration Update: October 27, 2006
Butterfly
Ambassadors Staging in Minnesota
"Wow!
Look at this one – it’s so beautiful," "This one’s
an ambassador! Look at these patterns," "Every one--so different!" These
are just a few of the exclamations coming from Journey North headquarters
as workers open all the packages of symbolic butterflies headed for Mexico.
Like beautiful
snowflakes, each unique butterfly demonstrates a caring and interest
in monarch safety and conservation. The message is loud and clear, “Thank
you for taking care of our Monarchs!”
Here's
a peek at some of the thousands of butterflies staging in Minnesota. |
|
|
|
Thanks
for the class pictures! |
|
We
love your enthusiasm! |
A
Mountain of Delightful Butterflies
The
deadline has come and gone, and it seems the Journey North headquarters
is bursting at the seams with your beautiful butterflies. Before
long, the mountain of butterfly envelopes – a staggering
sight – will all be opened, sorted, and boxed for their
journey to Mexico.
The
Journey North staff and volunteers open each and every
envelope to check its contents. We are the first to see
the new year’s crop of delightful creations. We
want to make sure of a safe return of butterflies back
to you in the spring. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dedicated workers sort, examine, count and
enjoy each of your butterflies! |
Try
This! Are You an Ambassador for Your Monarch?
The
migration of the monarch butterfly is one of the most spectacular
natural phenomena in the world — but it is considered "endangered." Protecting
these fragile natural resources and their habitat is critical
to their survival. The symbolic monarch you made represents you
and expresses your interest, friendship, and appreciation for
the role the Mexican people play in monarch conservation.
As you follow the migrations of real and symbolic butterflies
this year, plan to look for similarities and differences between
the migrations. Keep a list of comparisons all year in your Journal
and watch it grow. If you haven't already done so, here are some
questions to consider and some lessons to try.
Journaling
Questions:
- Who is
responsible for the monarchs at each stage of their lives?
- What
happens when the butterflies cross national borders?
- What
obstacles might they encounter during their migration?
- How do
the butterflies find their wintering grounds?
- Are there
times during the fall, winter or spring when the entire population is
at risk?
These
butterflies are a shared natural resource.
Symbolic
Migration Lessons help reinforce the spirit and objectives of the
Symbolic Monarch Migration.
The Longest Symbolic Migration
|
Symbolic butterflies to Mexico |
Just as the real monarchs travel miles and miles in their fall migration,
the symbolic monarchs also can chalk up the miles. Whose butterflies
will travel the farthest this year? One package arriving at the Journey
North headquarters contained butterflies made at Vogelweh Elementary
school Germany! Here’s
a puzzle for you:
If the German butterflies migrated directly to the
monarch
sanctuaries in Mexico how many miles would they travel?
This information might to help you solve the puzzle:
- Vogelweh
Elementary School is located in Kaiserslautern, Germany (49.45N,
7.78E)
- Their
butterflies are traveling to the sanctuaries in Mexico (19.62N,
-100.28W).
How many different ways could you determine the distance between the
2 places? Give it a try and share your information with your class!
Mark
your Calendar! Here What's in Store for Your Symbolic Butterflies:
COMING
November 3rd
- Symbolic
Butterfly Art Galleries:
View a sampling of your creative masterpieces!
|
Beth
Allen, in charge of the Symbolic Monarch, oversees the entire
project. |
COMING
NOVEMBER 22nd
- Passenger Lists (so you can make sure your Symbolic Butterflies
were on board).
COMING
December 9th
- Total
number of Symbolic Butterflies revealed.
- Total
days, hours and minutes it took to reach Mexico revealed.
- List
of donors to the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary Foundation proudly displayed.
- Focus
on life
in the sanctuary region.
The
Next Symbolic Monarch Migration Update Will be Posted on November 3rd,
2006.
Copyright
1997- 2005 Journey North. All Rights Reserved.
Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our
feedback form
|