Mary Anne Rishebarger, Program Director USA, Monarch Sister Schools Program, and member of the NHSM Lep Club will share with us information about the program’s national and international efforts as well as what is being done on a local level here in Maryland. We may even start thinking about ways to make the NHSM Campus a Monarch Way-Station. This meeting of the NHSM Lep Club is offered in person as well as virtual.
The Monarch Sister Schools Program was created by the educational nonprofit Natural Partners to involve students in a real environmental problem: the ongoing destruction of Monarch butterflies’ habitat in the U.S. and Canada (driven by herbicide use on farms) and of their over-wintering habitat in Mexico (due to illegal logging), resulting in a precipitous decline of the Monarchs population.
Through hands-on projects, students learn about the habitat, life cycle and the amazing migration of the Monarchs, while collaborating across borders on projects to restore habitat for future Monarch generations.
The Lep Club, is made up of novice and expert lepidopterists who meet to exchange knowledge and support concerning habitat, threats, food sources, identification, and life cycle of butterflies and moths. Club meetings encourage a sharing of knowledge for the raising and breeding of moths and butterflies through hands-on lessons and guest speakers. Club members are also involved in outreach in the greater Baltimore community through educational programs and service projects. Club meetings feature a guest speaker that share their knowledge on a topic related to moths and butterflies as well as time to distribute caterpillars and eggs. As a group, we rear and share incredible native butterflies and saturniid moths (lunas, polyphemus, cedropia, imperials and more) with one another. Senior club members always walk you through everything you need to know in order to successfully raise your new friends.
To learn more about all NHSM Clubs: https://youtu.be/pIA7naRjXws
To become a member: https://www.marylandnature.org/club-membership/
