Tag You're It! Hands-On Monarch Conservation

Description

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