Butterfly gardens provide host and nectar plants these creatures need to survive. They are also a beautiful and fun way to encourage students get outside for a variety of learning experiences. Here are some of the benefits and learning opportunities these habitats provide: ♦ Plants to which butterflies are attracted ♦ Plants that are hosts for butterfly’s caterpillars ♦ The best habitats for butterflies and their caterpillars ♦ Plants native to our area that attract butterflies ♦ Life cycle of butterflies and plants ♦ What plants and butterflies need to thrive ♦ Migration, hibernation, camouflage, mimicry of butterflies

♦ The growing process for plants ♦ Planting and maintaining the garden The Nature Generation (NatGen), formerly the Newton Marasco Foundation, has guided schools to establish outdoor classrooms on school grounds. The information presented here is designed to help your school create a butterfly garden, monarch waystation, or other outdoor classroom on school grounds. There are steps, suggestions, and resources, along with links to information for teachers on how to use these habitats as a teaching tool.

Steps ♦ Get support of the school principal. Explain the project, its benefits, and how teachers can use the butterfly garden as a teaching resource for a variety of subjects.

♦ Secure a teacher to lead the effort. ♦ Present the project to teachers to explain what their involvement will be and how they can use the outdoor classroom.

♦ Consider working with the Parent Teacher Association or Parent Teacher Organization to help with funding, volunteers, and donations.

♦ Bring in a local gardening expert from a local nursery and/or other local organizations with expertise on gardening for monarchs and native butterflies to determine the best location and the right size for the garden, help select native plants for the butterflies, design the garden, and provide tips on maintaining it.

♦ Identify any requirements that the school system may have before installing the outdoor classroom and work with the school to complete any necessary applications.

♦ Provide resources to the school, such as information about native butterflies and plants, teaching resources, and maintenance.

♦ Consider a school-wide assembly to present the project to the students and what their involvement will be.

3434 Washington Blvd/2nd Floor AC 2189/Arlington, VA 22201/Phone 703.284.6059/Fax 540.668.7711 www.NatGen.org

Proud Member of the Combined Federal Campaign (#37682)and National Capital Area United Way Campaign (#9845)

Creating A Butterfly Garden at Your School

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♦ Secure funding or donations for plants, leaf compost, top soil, and perhaps gardening tools for the school.

♦ Purchase plants, leaf compost, top soil, etc. ♦ Establish a plan that will address at least the following:

♦ Fundraising/donations ♦ Preparing the area (clearing it of existing plants or grass, amending the soil if necessary; this may require adult volunteers, depending on what needs to be done)

♦ Planting the garden (i.e. coordinate with the principal and teachers to have each class come out to plant a section, spread leaf compost, and water the plants or considering having one grade be in charge of the garden)—and remember that you’ll need gardening tools

♦ Maintaining the garden (i.e. consider having a grade or class adopt the garden for two weeks or a month to weed and water it, and mulch it twice a year)

Some Fun Suggestions ♦ Establish a ballot on which students would vote for the native butterflies, including monarchs, and the plants they need; winning plants would be planted by the students.

♦ Have students research, write, and design plant identification markers so all who visit can learn about the plants and their purpose.

♦ Have one class or grade rear monarchs to be released during a school-wide event.

♦ Have 4th and 5th grade students create activities about monarchs and other native butterflies to teach to the younger grades in the outdoor classroom.

♦ Install benches and a pathway to make it easy to access the waystation and observe the wildlife. ♦ Have gardening tools and field equipment for students to use in the garden. ♦ Certify your outdoor classroom: monarch waystations can be certified through Monarch Watch.

Teaching with a Butterfly Garden Teachers may use the butterfly garden, from planning it to caring for it, to teach a variety of lessons. Some broad examples are below. ♦ Science: life cycle of butterflies and plants; how to care for the garden after it has been planted and how this helps butterflies.

♦ Math: Have students chart the growth of plants or butterflies they see at a certain time each day; encourage them to plan the garden using symmetry.

♦ Social Studies: Hold a vote for students to select plants, which demonstrates democracy and voting process, and how they need to be prepared by researching information before they vote.

♦ Art: take students outdoors and have them draw plants and butterflies, and other wildlife they see in the garden.

♦ Writing: Have students write a poem or story about what they see in the garden; encourage students to keep a journal about the garden and what they experience there; write a report.

3434 Washington Blvd/2nd Floor AC 2189/Arlington, VA 22201/Phone 703.284.6059/Fax 540.668.7711 www.NatGen.org

Proud Member of the Combined Federal Campaign (#37682)and National Capital Area United Way Campaign (#9845)

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Resources about Pollinators and Monarchs Here are just a few of the many resources available about planting for pollinators and for monarchs, and how to teach about these amazing creatures.

Journey North http://journeynorth.org/

♦ Monarchs http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarch/index.html

♦ Core Teaching Resources http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/

♦ Resources and Links about Monarchs http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/indexCurrent.html

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy http://www.loudounwildlife.org/

♦ Bringing Back the Monarchs http://www.loudounwildlife.org/Monarch_Campaign.html

♦ Monarch Campaign http://www.loudounwildlife.org/Monarch_Campaign.html

♦ Host and Nectar Plants for Monarchs http://www.loudounwildlife.org/PDF_Files/Monarchs_Plants_for_Waystations.pdf

♦ School Monarch Waystations http://www.loudounwildlife.org/PDF_Files/Monarch_Waystation_School_Garden.pdf

Monarch Joint Venture http://www.monarchjointventure.org/ Monarch Teacher Network http://www.eirc.org/website/programs-services/global-connection/monarch-teacher-network/

♦ Teacher training/workshops http://www.eirc.org/website/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/MTN-Project-flier-Aug-2011.pdf

♦ Suggestions for how teachers can use monarchs to teach http://www.eirc.org/website/programs-services/global-connection/monarch-teacher-network/core-content-standards-and-monarch-butterflies/

3434 Washington Blvd/2nd Floor AC 2189/Arlington, VA 22201/Phone 703.284.6059/Fax 540.668.7711 www.NatGen.org

Proud Member of the Combined Federal Campaign (#37682)and National Capital Area Unirted Way Campaign (#9845)

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3434 Washington Blvd/2nd Floor AC 2189/Arlington, VA 22201/Phone 703.284.6059/Fax 540.668.7711 www.NatGen.org

Proud Member of the Combined Federal Campaign (#37682)and National Capital Area Unirted Way Campaign (#9845)

Monarch Watch www.monarchwatch.org

♦ Monarch Watch, Bring Back the Monarchs http://monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the-monarchs/

♦ Monarch Waystation Program http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/

♦ Creating a Monarch Waystation Guide http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/waystation_guide.pdf

♦ Monarch Waystation brochure http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/waystation-brochure.pdf

♦ Monarch Waystation Requirements http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/waystation_requirements.pdf

♦ Monarch Waystation Seed Kit http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/seed_kit.html

♦ Application for Monarch Waystation Certification http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/waystation_application.pdf

The Pollinator Partnership http://www.pollinator.org/monarchs.htm

♦ What is a pollinator? http://pollinator.org/Resources/What%20is%20a%20pollinator.pdf

♦ Planting Guide for Pollinators in our region http://pollinator.org/PDFs/Guides/CentralAppalachianrx7FINAL.pdf

U.S.D.A. National Resources Conservation Service, Insects & Pollinators http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/plantsanimals/pollinate/ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pollinator Protection http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/ecosystem/pollinator/ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pollinators http://www.fws.gov/pollinators/ U.S. Forest Service, Pollinators http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/ World Wildlife Fund http://worldwildlife.org/species/monarch-butterfly

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About The Nature Generation

The Nature Generation (NatGen) inspires and empowers youth to make a difference. We reach our nation’s youth through innovative environmental stewardship programs in literature, science and the arts. The Nature Generation is a 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit organization. Learn more about us! • Chapman DeMary Trail—a nature trail located in what is considered to be the last stand of old growth forest in the Town of Purcellville

• Education on Energy and the Environment—fun and free games that help teach about our environment

• Green Earth Book Awards—the nation’s first environmental stewardship book award for children and young adult literature

• Growing Green Readers—encouraging youth to read environmental books

Visit us online: www.NatGen.org Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/thenaturegeneration

Follow us on Twitter: @TheNatGen

Xerces Society www.xerces.org

♦ Monarchs http://www.xerces.org/monarchs/

♦ Article about Monarchs http://www.xerces.org/2014/01/31/number-of-monarch-butterflies-overwintering-in-california-holds-steady-but-still-well-below-the-1990s/

Washington Post Article: Why Are the Monarch Butterflies Disappearing? http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/12/03/why-are-the-monarch-butterflies-disappearing/?print=1 NY Times Article: The Year the Monarch Didn’t Appear http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/24/sunday-review/the-year-the-monarch-didnt-appear.html?smid=fb-share&_r=1& NY Times Article: Setting the Table for a Fluttering Comeback with Milkweed http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/21/us/setting-the-table-for-a-fluttering-comeback-with-milkweed.html?_r=2&