As a part of your community, it is important to recognize and understand ways that you can do your part. Businesses are able to do plantings outside their storefront and integrate habitat as part of the norm. You also can adopt an area in your community whether it be highways or landscaping areas. It’s a wonderful way to bring the team out to do plantings. Specific businesses are able to utilize their space differently. For example, parks and golf courses are able to utilize their space as habitat areas when they are out of play. Advising your local government may include encouraging your leaders to sign the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge or make a comprehensive plan for your city. Even habitat management practices on a city-wide basis can be improved with mowing practices along roadsides.
All ages are encouraged to participate in conservation. Experiential learning can help take students outside of the classroom to build Monarch Way Stations or habitat areas of their own. Our partner, the National Wildlife Federation has suggestions for classroom activities and youth groups in addition to habitat. Becoming a citizen scientists by tagging or tracking monarchs can help the monarch community gather data. In fact, this is the way the monarch migration was discovered! If you are a member of Future Farmers of America, grants are available to help your group with projects through Monarch Joint Venture. Field trips and tourism are also a wonderful way to explore the state of Missouri and see butterflies up close. The Missouri Botanical Garden, Branson’s “Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure,” and the Springfield Botanical Gardens all have butterfly houses with activities.