Join Carnegie Museum - Nara Nature Park Monarch Butterfly Search June 25

A Monarch butterfly lands on one of its favorite milkweed plants. (Keweenaw Now file photo © Gustavo Bourdieu)

HOUGHTON -- The Carnegie Museum has teamed up with the Nara Nature Park and created a Summer Science Natural History program. This summer the program will include four explorations of Plants and Pollinators. The first event in this series, a Monarch Butterfly Search at the Nara Trails, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon this Saturday, June 25.

There is no fee for the program, but space is limited, so please email history@cityofhoughton.com or call 482-7140 to reserve your spot. Since programs are weather dependent, please remember to leave contact information so we can reach you in case of cancellation, postponement, or change of location!

Participants will meet at the Nara Chalet at 10 a.m., hike down to the open field and search for Monarch eggs and/or caterpillars, likely munching on milkweed. Along the way we'll learn about the amazing life of butterflies and why they are important members of our ecosystem. Hopefully, we will find a few to collect and then set them up in glass houses at the Carnegie Museum where they can be fed and watched for the next few weeks as they make their cocoons and eventually emerge from their chrysalis. Then we'll take them back to the Nara and set them free. Participants are invited to visit them at the Museum any time it is open and help let them go when the time comes.

Please email or call to reserve your spot by Friday evening, June 24!

In late July we will host "Bug TV"; in August we'll learn about Honey Bees; and in September we'll talk about Gardens for Pollinators and visit the Pewabic Street Community Garden. More information about July, August, and September programs to come shortly!

Located on the corner of Huron and Montezuma in historic downtown Houghton, the Carnegie Museum is open Tuesdays and Thursdays noon - 5 and Saturdays noon - 4. Parking is available behind the building or in the City lot across Montezuma Avenue. Free admission. Visit them on Facebook for more updates on exhibits, events, and activities.