About Monarch Teacher Network
Monarch Teacher Network (MTN) began in August 2001 when eighteen New Jersey teachers were trained at the first “Teaching and Learning With Monarch Butterflies” workshop. That workshop was held at the EIRC facility in southern New Jersey, near Philadelphia. MTN has grown each year since, training teachers and others to bring monarchs into their lives, schools and communities. Workshops are normally conducted in June, July or August. Since 2001 MTN has trained over 5,000 people, holding workshops in 18 states and 6 provinces.
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 story and teaching. They share information and resources with each other and can apply for fellowships to visit the monarch sanctuaries in Mexico or California.
In the United States the project receives funding support from the Geraldine R. Dodge and October Hill Foundations. In Canada, the project receives funding from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation.
In summer 2012, MTN workshops were held in New Jersey, California, Florida, Virginia, Iowa, Illinois, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and several Canadian Provinces. Over 700 teachers were trained.
Our partners in 2012 included: University of California – Santa Barbara [California], Gilroy Gardens Family Park [ California], Coyote Hills Regional Park [California], University of Illinois Extension [Illinois], Quad Cities Botanical Center [Illinois], Charlotte Country Day School [North Carolina], William Paterson University [New Jersey], Raritan Valley Community College [New Jersey], Boston Nature Center [Massachusetts], Valusia County Schools [Florida], Lyonia Environmental Center [Florida], Loudoun County Schools [Virginia], Fairfax County Schools [Virginia], Heartland Area Education Agency [Des Moines, Iowa], The Childrens Museum of New Hampshire [New Hampshire], more.
Monarch Teacher Network in Canada is active through the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority http://www.trca.on.ca/.
To see where workshops will be in Canada in summer 2013, and to register for a Canadian workshop, visit: www.monarchteacher.ca
Sites and dates for summer 2013 “Teaching and Learning with Monarch Butterflies” workshops in the United States can be found on the Monarch Summer Workshops page early in 2013. New locations are being added so continue to check that webpage for updates. To explore the possibility of bringing a workshop to your area/state, contact Brian Hayes at bhayes@eirc.org
