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Local elementary school students explored the world of Monarch butterflies through an educational program by Champions for Wildlife during August and September.

The organization visited five elementary schools in the county, providing comprehensive lessons about Monarch butterflies, including their habitat, life cycle, anatomy and the challenges facing the species.

Students participated in the Symbolic Monarch Migration Project, a collaborative initiative connecting southeastern United States schools with Mexican schools through artistic expression. Each class created and decorated a collaborative butterfly, symbolically mirroring the Monarchs’ annual migration to Mexico.

In November, the student-created butterflies were delivered to Lazaro Cardenas Elementary School in Mexico, coinciding with the time real Monarch butterflies arrive to overwinter in the region.

The program offered students an interactive learning experience about the intricate journey of Monarch butterflies, highlighting the insects’ remarkable migration patterns and the importance of conservation.