Monarch Workshops

The Monarch Teacher Network began in August 2001 when eighteen (prek-8) New Jersey teachers took part in a three-day teacher workshop "Teaching and Learning With Monarch Butterflies". In August 2002, ninety more teachers took the workshop, which is based on extensive research and practice. In August 2003, 220 more teachers were trained, 260 more in August 2004.  In 2005, more workshops were held in NJ, CT, DE and Ontario, training another 260 teachers.  In 2006, 300 more teachers were trained in NJ, CT, OH, Ontario and Manitoba.  In 2007, 400+ teachers were trained in NJ, CT, OH, VA, Ontario and Manitoba.  In 2008, the project continued to expand both in terms of people trained and workshop locations.  For the first time a Monarch Teacher Workshop was held in Texas, Alabama, and Illinois in 2008 reaching nearly 500 teachers for a total of about 2,500 educators who have completed the MTN workshop.  In 2009 the project expanded into our Nation’s Capitol (Washington DC) as well as OH, VA, NJ, TX, and CT reaching nearly 500 additional teachers putting us over the 3,000 educator mark.  We have started some strong relationships in 2009 so look for new and exciting MTN partners in 2010.    

The change in Monarch Workshops from three days to two worked so well we have decided to go with this change for our future workshops.  This will enable the project to reach more people and hopefully make it more enticing to teachers home on summer break.    

The Monarch Teacher Network is made of veteran teachers (teaching children of varied ages and abilities), non-traditional educators, master gardeners, naturalists, park workers, or anyone who has a passion for the monarch butterfly and teaching others about it. They share information and resources and are eligible to apply for fellowships to visit the monarch sanctuaries in Mexico. Often the people who attend a workshop one year turn around and start helping to teaching Monarch Teacher Network workshops the following year. Monarch Teacher Network has expanded to Canada where two centers of activities have emerged.  One is organized in the Toronto area, in partnership with the Evergreen organization (www.evergreen.ca) and it services the Province of Ontario.  The second center of activity is based in the Manitoba area, in partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (www.natureconservancy.ca) and services Western Canada. 

For more information about Monarch Teacher Network activities in Canada contact Erik Mollenhauer at erikm@eirc.org or 856.582.7000 x128.  For information about Monarch Teacher Network – Western Canada (Manitoba) visit www.monarchteachernetwork-westerncanada.com/ The project receives funding support from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. Major support has also been provided by the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA); in collaboration with New Jersey Network public television, NJEA produced a special 30- minute "Classroom Close-up" documentary about the project which was seen across New Jersey in October and November, 2003.  Additional support has also been provided by the October Hill Foundation. For more information, contact Erik Mollenhauer at erikm@eirc.org.

Teachers, educators, or Monarch enthusiasts from any state/province can register for Monarch Teacher Network workshops.  Click here or go to the Monarch Workshop Registration page to find a workshop that fits for you.