Ways You Can Help the Monarchs

Always consult with your parent or guardian before clicking links or starting any project.

• Plant milkweed, start a butterfly garden or add flowering plants and shrubs to a yard. To get started, check these out:
  
  https://kidsgardening.org/gardening-basics-grow-milkweed-to-help-monarch-butterflies/ Focuses on creating opportunities for kids to play, learn, and grow through gardening.
  
  http://nababutterfly.com/start-butterfly-garden/ Focuses on educating the public about importance of butterflies and habitats.
  
• Only use butterfly and bee-friendly fertilizers and pest control methods in your garden and yard.

• Collect milkweed seed and contribute it to groups that distribute it.
  
• Participate in and/or donate to programs such as:
  
  National Wildlife Foundation’s Butterfly Heroes:
  https://www.nwf.org/Home/Butterfly-Heroes/About
  
  Monarch Watch’s Bring Back the Monarchs:
  https://monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the-monarchs/
  
  Save Our Monarch’s Pollinator Garden Program:
  https://www.saveourmonarchs.org/pollinator-garden-program.html

• Participate in the Monarch Watch tagging program. To get started, check out: https://monarchwatch.org/tagging Monarch Watch is part of the University of Kansas. They focus on monarch butterflies and their habitat. Each fall they recruit thousands of citizen scientists, like you, across most of the U.S. and Canada, to count and tag monarchs. A tiny paper tag is placed on one wing of the monarch. It does not hurt them, and will remain there for the rest of the butterfly’s life. Each tag has a code on it. Monarch Watch works with guardians at the sanctuaries in Mexico to collect data from monarchs at the sanctuaries. This helps scientists study the migration, health and habitat of the monarchs.
  
• Raise monarchs in your school or home. To get started, check out: https://monarchwatch.org/rear
  
• Encourage others to do the above things. Contacts could include: friends, schools, scout groups, houses of worship, libraries, zoos, local businesses, your city or county government. Your school may even be eligible to get free milkweed by applying at: https://monarchwatch.org/bring-back-the-monarchs/milkweed/free-milkweeds-schools-nonprofits/