The Adventures of the Symbolic Monarchs in Mexico!
Travel with Estela as she delivers your Ambassador Butterflies

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Emiliano Zapata Elementary El Asoleadero Community, Ejido El Rosario, Michoacán

Every year, at every school, Journey North brings through Estela, information that most of our children do not know about the importance of preserving the Oyamel forests in our region and the Monarchs' life cycle and wondrous migration.

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images
Estela, explaining the life-cycle of Monarchs With an oyamel seedling, showing the importance of preserving the Oyamel fir forests in our region. Students receiving Ambassador butterflies
Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images

6th graders

 

5th graders

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images
 
Vicente Guerrero School El Rosario Community, Michoacán
Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images
     

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images
  Writing a letter to new friends in the US and Canada Students will plant this oyamel tree at home.
 
Guadalupe Victoria School El Rosario Community, Michoacán
Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images
4th, 5th and 6th graders receiving their butterflies and showing off our three country flags!   Playing Matatena
Can be played by both boys and girls.

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images The "Matatena" game, is a very old game played with rocks. The goal is to swing small rocks in the air and try not to fail catching them in order to gain more rocks for your team and with it, more points. The big bet is most of the times some candies or, some times, some coins.
 
Cobaem El Rosario Junior High School El Rosario Community, Michoacán
Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images
This community has only had High School for four years. Before then, students had move to Angangueo for high school. They only came home to spend the weekends with their families. The Oyamel trees planted last year at every school are healthy baby-trees now. The girls (lower left) are standing beside their trees.

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images
 
El Rosario Secondary School El Rosario Community, Michoacán
Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images
Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images

This is considered to be one of the biggest secondary schools in the state!

Children at the community on their way to school in the morning.

Downtown at the community of El Rosario there are a few signs informing of the life cycle of the Monarch butterflies for natives and tourists coming.
 
José María Morelos Secondary School El Rosario Community, Michoacán
Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images
Group photo of the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades

Estela broadening this season, at every school teaching children about the wonder and complexity of Monarchs' life and migration.

Emphazising about the marvel and beauty of the Oyamel trees. At every school, at least an Oyamel tree is being raffled.

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images
Having lunch at the dining room for only 3 pesos!

This is the only elementary school in the Ejido that has a dinning room for children. They can have lunch for only three pesos. Lunch consists of a delicious lentils soup, soja as main course and oats atole as dessert. All is prepared by their own mothers. Super nutritious, delicious. Cheaper? Impossible!

 


Secundario Numero 154 Ocampo, Michoacán
First time that Journey North project visits this school. It has been very welcome by students and teachers. Each group is planting their Oyamel tree as a memory of their time together at this school. All are 3rd Level students. Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images
 
Rincón de San Luis Secondary Ejido El Rosario, Michoacán
Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images This child keeps his horse hooked nearby while he attends classes, and rides him back home. Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images
 
Presidente Calles Elementary Ejido El Rosario, Ocampo, Michoacán
Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images

3rd. and 4th.

 

5th. and 6th. grades

In most schools there is a person in charge of the cleaning of the yard after break-time. In this school, the students themselves collect thier own garbage when break-time is over.

Students are thrilled at writing their letter to US and Canadian children! Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images
 
Niños Héroes Elementary San Luis Community, Ejido El Rosario, Michoacán

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images

Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images

Group photo of 6th grade

Learning about monarch migration

Enjoying the donated book
 
18 de Marzo Elementary Ejido El Rosario, El Paso, Michoacán
Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images Symbolic Monarch Butterfly Migration: Classroom Images

Group photo of 4th, 5th and 6th grades.

Children are moved and enthusiastic at knowing the importance of strenghtening the Oyamel population.

Students love the idea of planting one more Oyamel tree this year at home!