Past Programs and Events

The Midland School in Branchburg, NJ
September 24th & 25th, 2008

Monarch Journey was there for two days of programs with live caterpillars and butterflies. It was with delight that Loretta met with Mary Dee Atkins, Coordinator of Assembly Programs. Mary Dee had Monarch Journey set up in the beautiful naturally lit "great room". Loretta had two caterpillar towers with chrysalides, four containers with munching caterpillars, a huge bucket of fresh milkweed and a butterfly house complete with nectar flowers and fruit for the resident butterflies. A lively question and answer period followed the well received life cycle DVD and most exciting of all - a butterfly emerged just before the first class arrived! A butterfly release capped the program's end in the student maintained garden on campus. Loretta will be sending Mary Dee and her students milkweed seeds to plant in their garden for the upcoming return of the monarchs in 2009.

Neshaminy Manor in Warrington, PA
September 4th, 2008

Monarch Journey presented a one hour program in the Alzheimer Unit. The residents viewed the life cycle DVD about the metamorphosis and habitat of the Monarch butterfly and caterpillars. They also saw live caterpillars and butterflies.

Monarch Journey returned to Neshaminy Manor in Warrington, PA on September 9th., 2008 with a two hour program in which residents enjoyed the life cycle DVD, viewed live caterpillars and butterflies and did an art related project. A butterfly release was done in the on-site garden!

Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Butterfly Festival, Pennington, NJ
August 9th, 2008

Everything butterfly was celebrated at this wonderful family oriented festival. Hundreds of children, a butterfly costume parade, face painting, a free water slide, insect safaris, a butterfly house tour and walk. Monarch Journey was there showing Monarch butterfly caterpillars from egg to fourth instar. Chrysalides were also seen and a group of lucky observers witnessed the birth of a butterfly around 1:45 p.m.! A beautiful male monarch tumbled from it's chrysalis, hung by its feet for the afternoon drying its wings! Kids got to color butterflies and make bookmarks.

The Peggy Lewis Gallery, Lambertville Free Public Library
August 6, 2008

Children and parents gathered for a close up look at munching caterpillars, a DVD presentation of the life cycle of the monarch and had a great time making their own take home caterpillar!

Franklin Township Library, Somerset, NJ
July 22, 2008

Monarch Journey presented a program featuring the first caterpillars of the season! Assistant Aliya M. was there to lend a hand with the activities!

Loretta painted butterflies June 29th, 2008 at the Lingohocken Fire Company Benefit Car Show, held at The Grange, Wrightstown, PA. Kids and adults alike had a monarch butterfly temporarily aflutter on cheeks as well as arms. Everyone was quizzed on monarch butterfly and caterpillar fun facts as they sat for their own butterfly! Donations benefited the Lingohocken Fire Company. Left to Right: Nichole Schmauk, Grammy (AKA Nancy Murphy), Sophie Curtis, and Erin Murphy.