Lansing Elementary School Monarch Butterfly Garden from April 2023 Revisited
Lansing USD469 is thrilled to share an update on the Lansing Elementary School Monarch Butterfly Garden Project. Last year, our second-grade teachers and the previous year's second-graders (now third-graders) created a haven for monarch butterflies in honor of Earth Day. The response from our community was overwhelming, with families donating plants and high school National Honor Society students lending their green thumbs to the cause. Our maintenance staff also played a crucial role in preparing the ground for planting the garden. Our then second-graders tended to the 10-foot by 10-foot monarch gardens in anticipation of the arrival of the monarchs in September 2023. The students also painted rocks to decorate the garden.
Fast forward to today, and our two small gardens have become sanctuaries for the monarch butterfly. With monarchs teetering on the edge of the endangered list, these gardens have provided a refuge. We've been fortunate to witness the transformation of 31 monarch caterpillars and 27 chrysalises in various stages. None of this would have been possible without the support of our parents, who generously donated plants.
Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22nd that promotes environmental awareness and encourages people to take action to protect the planet. The first Earth Day was held in 1970, and since then, it has grown to become a global movement with millions of people participating in activities such as tree planting, beach cleanups, and energy conservation initiatives. Earth Day aims to raise awareness about the impact of human activities on the environment and inspire individuals, communities, and governments to take action to create a sustainable future for our planet.
Thank you to our parents, maintenance workers, teachers, and now third-graders for their hard work in helping the monarch species and for beautifying our elementary school.