Tag You're It! Hands-On Monarch Conservation
Every summer, across the country, a quiet miracle happens: multiple generations of monarch butterflies fuel up for an impossible quest. But it’s the season's final generation that performs the true marvel, embarking on a staggering 3,000-mile odyssey to the mountain forests of Mexico and Central America. How do we unlock the secrets of this epic voyage? With a tiny sticker and a lot of heart.
Scientists and citizen scientists help track these delicate navigators by gently placing lightweight tags on their wings. When a tagged monarch is spotted along its highway south or at its winter roosting grounds, its unique number reveals vital clues about migration routes, travel speeds, and survival rates.
Event Details + Highlights
- Expert Insights: Join retired State Park Naturalist and veteran monarch tagger
- Beth Goeppinger for an inside look at the monarch’s complex life cycle, migration habits, and why tagging is crucial to their conservation.
- Interactive Q&A: Bring your curiosity and get your monarch questions answered by a seasoned expert.
- Hands-on Fieldwork: Step into the garden center to find, net, tag, and release monarchs as they prep for their journey south.
Ready to play a direct role in protecting one of nature's greatest wonders?
Please pre-register for this event. Cost: $9.99