Monarch Teacher Network

Our focus is on empowering communities through environmental stewardship and educational innovation – working towards a sustainable future where knowledge and nature thrive together.

We began as a project about monarch butterflies but now Monarch Teacher Network has many ways to connect people to nature. Explore our projects and events below.

What we do: Presentations, Educational Workshops, Environmental Projects, School Projects, Community events and activities including clean-ups, STEAM projects, Habitat education and restoration, Citizen Science, Green Infrastructure projects.

Teaching and Learning with Monarch Butterflies

MTN’s two-day workshop… ‘Teaching and Learning with Monarch Butterflies’… is a combination of hands-on classroom and field experiences. Participants gain the knowledge, skills and materials to raise monarchs and use them to create an outstanding learning experience for other people. Workshops are taught by a team of experienced educators at sites across the US, June through August,engaging people of all ages.

Voices From the Land

The Voices from the Land (Voices) project is an exploration and celebration of oral and written language… of science, art, performance… and the human imagination. Voices projects can be done with people of all ages and abilities… in any landscape… using any language.

Stories From the Land

Stories from the Land celebrates the teaching and healing power of nature and storytelling and how (when nature and stories are combined) they prepare us for the everyday struggles of life. Everyone tells stories; every life is mythic. Stories aid our search for meaning and purpose. They help us build community with people and with the land that sustains us.

Mad Hatter’s Tree Party

Mad Hatter’s Tree Party is a fun way for people to learn about the trees of their community and the critical role trees play in a healthy environment… a chance for families and people of all ages to share a whimsical adventure in a community forest.

South Jersey Firefly Festival

Join us for this festival in June at Tall Pines Nature Preserve in NJ. The festival includes a number of fun, family-friendly, education stations scattered along a half-mile mile, self-guided trail. The highlight of the night is viewing multiple species of fireflies! Additionally, we can help your organization plan a Firefly Festival for your community to enjoy “nature’s light show”. You will learn how to explore the world of fireflies… the Night Country… and how you can help their numbers increase.

Big Year Eco- Challenge

The Big Year Eco-Challenge (BYEC) is a year-long effort by teams of volunteers – individuals, families, people of all ages – to identify and document all plant and animal species found in selected parks or natural places. BYEC brings together the traditional knowledge of retirees and aging field naturalists… with younger generations and digital technologies. Anyone who can “spot” something interesting or different can participate in BYEC (kids too!).

Bird Quest

Bird Quest is a community event that brings together families, friends, and even strangers to compete and learn about the birds that live in their county. Teams of birders work together to visit parks and identify birds by sight or sound. Everyone learns more about the natural places around them and the birds that can be found in them.