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Community-Based Approaches to Monarch Conservation North American Monarch Institute Workshop

3 Days

(Milwaukee, WI | July 22nd – 24th, 2015 | Urban Ecology Center – Menomonee Valley)

Background The Monarch butterfly and its habitat are in danger. Habitat loss, heavy pesticide and herbicide use, and a changing climate are threatening this species. The US Forest Service is working with partners in Canada, Mexico and the United States—specifically along the species’ migratory path—to curb these threats. Together, they are exploring solutions, both biological and social, that would increase survivability and create healthy habitats. One approach is to promote the planting of milkweed, on which Monarchs depend for successful reproduction, and of native plants, which serve as nectar sources during migration. Another way is to strengthen links to urban and rural communities through outreach, education and capacity-building.

Since 2010, the North American Monarch Institute— a collaboration between the US Forest Service International Programs and the University of Minnesota Monarch Lab —has convened teachers and nature educators to attend workshops designed to study Monarchs and build networks along its flyway route. Experts in the science and conservation of Monarch butterflies, train the participants on implementing an inquiry-based curriculum and developing experiential approaches to learning. The workshop is geared towards teachers of all grade levels. They learn about creating schoolyard habitats that would support Monarch conservation and using these gardens as a resource to carry out other types of science inquiry investigations. To date, almost 400 teachers have been trained, with many returning to train other teachers in their own schools and communities. In 2015, over 150 teachers from around the United States will be trained.

Day 1 of 3 | Tentative Agenda Monarchs

8:30 Introduction and Opening Activity

9:00 Monarch Observation Stations

Milkweed Observation

Observe eggs, raising healthy eggs & larvae

Observe larvae, using larvae

10:00 Introduction to the Forest Service & North American Monarch Institute

10:45 Monarch Observation Station (cont’d)

11:15 Large Group Presentation: Monarch Biology and Conservation

12:00 Lunch (Meals will be provided at St. Coletta)

1:00 Monarch Observation Stations

Pupae and caring for pupae

Using adults, spore checking, Monarch Health, & tagging monarchs.

Adults (outside in large cage) and caring for adults, feeding, handling

2:30 Break

2:45 Introduction to Citizen Science: the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP)

3:45 Curriculum guide skimming, get to know your monarch curriculum

4:00 Breakout lessons 5:10 Explain Assignments, Monarch Store, and

Garden Grants

5:30 Close-out

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This year, in Milwaukee, WI, the Monarch workshop will take place July 22nd – 24th, 2015 at the Urban Ecology Center – Menomonee Valley, one of the Agency’s partner schools in the area. The teachers will acquire tools and expertise necessary to lead their students, colleagues and community in the science and conservation of this butterfly. The North American Monarch Institute: Embracing Conservation in

Curriculum

The 3-day workshop will be conducted in partnership with US Forest Service Urban Connections – Region 9, and approximately 40 teachers, representing all levels from kindergarten to high school and from about 20 schools, will attend the workshop.

The workshop is at no-cost to participants. The primary goals of the course are for educators to:

Learn monarch biology and ecology,

Participate in conservation efforts and research for monarchs,

Learn to rear monarchs in their classroom,

Learn to use and enhance their schoolyard habitat for science research, and

Become part of a long-term nationwide science partnership among educators, researchers and students along the monarch migration flyway.

o Course & Instructors An intensive 3 day workshop taught by university scientists and expert classroom teachers with a standards- and inquiry-based approach to science. The course consists of field and laboratory work, lectures, and research projects. Participants will gain hands-on experience with monarchs, and work in grade-level collaboration groups to translate their knowledge of monarch butterflies into classroom activities and projects. Regular contact with a mentor/instructor follows the summer program.

o The Importance of the Monarch Workshops The benefit of these workshops has been to build and strengthen relationships—connecting conservation projects, increasing citizen science monitoring, and facilitating the ongoing exchange of ideas—across Canada, United States and Mexico. Additionally, by using this charismatic species, the program bolsters the conservation message within urban areas and to different age groups—from students to adults in the communities.

Day 2 of 3| Tentative Agenda Using the Schoolyard as a site for science exploration

8:30 Aldo Leopold Activity 9:00 Large group presentation: Introduction to major

orders of insects 10:30 Break 10:45 Insect sampling techniques Session 1 (three

1/2hr sessions including travel, rotate between the three)

Sweep nets

Beat sheets, insect traps, potato and pit trap

2-liter pop bottle traps 12:15 Lunch 1:30 Session 1: Activities that focus on observation that could lead to questions and experiments 2:30 Break 2:45 Session 2: Activities that focus on observation

that could lead to questions and experiments

Insects & Flowers

Species area curve

Interspecific Interactions 3:45 Discussion of how your second lesson could be expanded into an inquiry project 4:45 Jigsaw sharing of inquiry project ideas 5:30 Wrap-Up

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o Schoolyard Habitat Grants Participants in these workshops are eligible to receive grants from the US Forest Service International Programs to create, maintain and utilize schoolyard habitats that support Monarchs and other important native species. This is a wonderful opportunity, especially in underserved areas, for students to learn about nature and gain exposure to environmental careers. Teachers can learn to grow viable habitats, perform appropriate outdoor science experiments in these gardens, and most importantly, build a class of future stewards.

Benefits This program has built and strengthened relationships – both at the community-level and along the monarch’s flyway. At the local level, schools have strengthened their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs and nature centers have integrated monarch conservation and citizen science into their outreach programs. International Programs has formed long-term partnerships to create both healthy habitat for monarchs and educational opportunities for students and families throughout the monarch’s range.

Contact Information To learn more about the North American Monarch Institute and to discuss possible collaboration, please contact: Michael Rizo Katie-Lyn Bunney Urban & Community Program Specialist Coordinator Latin America Program Monarchs in the Classroom US Forest Service University of Minnesota mrizo@fs.fed.us kbunney@umn.edu 202-569-1981 612-625-8304

Day 3 of 3 | Tentative Agenda Planning, Promoting Gardens as Learning Laboratory

8:30 Monarch Citizen Science 9:30 Schoolyard Gardens: Promote It. Build It. Use It. 10:30 Break 10:45 Plan and write garden grants in small groups w

school/organization teams 12:00 Lunch 1:00 Implementation, curriculum orientation, and

roadmaps

Discuss curriculum guides, show sample roadmaps, prepare roadmaps

Start working on implementation plan 2:15 Roadmap Sharing 3:00 Importance of Getting Kids Outside 3:30 Closing Remarks, Evaluations 4:00 Goodbye!

Above: A map of NAMI participants and instructors, along with photos and what each person hopes to get out of the workshop. Left: De Cansler, NAMI instructor from Rochester, MN, opens up a potato pit trap. Pit traps are one insect sampling method participants learned about, along with sweep nets and beat sheets. Below: NAMI participants had the opportunity to get up close and personal with adult monarch butterflies in this walk-in tent. (All 3 photos by G. Bowers)

Above: Christy Hermann and Amelia Howard enjoying the company of monarchs in the walk-in tent. All NAMI participants rotated through monarch stations, learning about each stage (egg, larva, pupa, adult) along the way. (Photo by M. Rizo) Right: Alicia Salyi uses a hand lens to inspect an insect to determine what order it belongs to. (Photo by G. Bowers) Below: NAMI participants had the opportunity to learn about insect orders and sort insects from samples collected with sweep nets. (Photo by G. Bowers.)

Above: NAMI participants transfer insects from the sweep net to a plastic bag, where they will be released on a white sheet (Below) to see what was collected from the edge of the woods on campus. This sampling method allows for observation without killing collected insects. Right: Michelle Lee-Reid carefully observes a monarch pupa, trying to determine if it’s a male of female monarch. (All 3 photos by G. Bowers)

Above: NAMI participants take the learning outside in this breakout session! (Photo by G. Bowers) Right: In addition to rotations through the monarch stages, participants also learned about growing different types of milkweed. (Photo by G. Bowers) Below: On the last day of class, participants had a chance to brainstorm ways they would use the knowledge gained from the course in their curriculum. Each regional group got a chance to share their ideas with the rest of the group. (Photo by M. Rizo)