Last August I attended a workshop through the Monarch Teacher's Workshop/EIRC 
to learn about the Monarch butterfly.  During the course of the workshop we were
all told of an opportunity to travel to Mexico to learn more and there was a possibility 
of grant money available.  Why Mexico?  Well, the butterflies overwinter there and in 
March start back through America and Canada.  In the fall butterflies fly to the state 
of Michoacan in Mexico from as far north as Canada.  Anyway, the applications had 
to be in by October and we basically needed to document everything we had done in 
the classroom (or in my case classrooms) up to that point with supporting photos and
copies of the children's work.  We could also include projects we were going to do 
during the course of the year.  Much to my delight I was awarded grant money and 
went to Mexico for a week starting February 25 through March 4.  I joined up with 
22 other teachers from Canada and the U.S. and we toured two different butterfly 
sanctuaries, a local school where we visited with the teachers and children and where 
the teachers actually dressed up and danced regional dances for us, saw the temples
of Teoutihoucan outside of Mexico City, the Shrine of the Lady of Guadelupe, Diego 
Rivera's murals in the palace in Mexico City, a silver mine, several small towns, the
island of Janitzio where the Purepecha Indians continue to live, Alternare which is 
an organization that a biologist and farmers started to help teach the people who 
own the land the butterfly sanctuaries are on to build houses out of adobe and not wood, 
homeopathic medicine, and how to farm the land more effectively.  My 7-8th 
grade class actually had a chili dinner for their parents before I left as a fundraiser
for this organization and we were able to raise $160 to give to them.  I delivered the 
money in person to Ana Guitierrez, the biologist and founder.  

Every day was an amazing experience and it was just unbelievable to see, literally, 
millions of beautiful Monarch butterflies.  Although I had seen many pictures, and
knew intellectually what to expect, it's just hard to describe how magical it was.  
The native guide stopped and carefully picked up every butterfly, living or dead, 
on the path and put them in the wooded area.  We all helped her out as we made 
our way up the mountain.  She also let us know to walk up in silence so as not to 
disturb the butterflies.   
 
In the second sanctuary we visited we could ride horses.  That was a challenge as 
the stirrups were not adjusted for any of us and most of us had long legs!  
 
The week flew by but I was ready to come back and share my photos and experiences 
with all the NCCL students and staff.  I owe a great debt of thanks to everyone in the
school for making my trip possible.  The children for working so hard with their butterfly 
projects and being so enthusiastic as we started the year off with live caterpillars 
in three out of the four groups.  The teachers for helping out so much and for bringing
even more butterfly related topics to the class.  And to the parents for encouraging 
the level of enthusiasm, helping out with bringing milkweek in to feed the cats, and 
for helping so much with our fundraiser.

By Paula Hines
Spanish Teacher

NCCL teacheer Paula Hines (right) & Ana Guitierrez

Butterflies in Mexico

Mexican Teachers Dancing