The Winnie Palmer Nature Reserve at Saint Vincent College will conduct a monarch butterfly monitoring training workshop from 9 a.m. to 12 noon Wednesday, July 16 starting at the Barn. The training will prepare individuals, both children and adults, to monitor a plot of milkweed, collect larvae (caterpillars) and report the findings to the Monarch Larval Monitoring Project (MLMP) – www.mlmp.org.

"The monarch butterfly habitat is depleting and the MLMP is working to track the butterflies on their way to Mexico,” explained Beth Bollinger, environmental education coordinator. “This workshop will train those who are interested in monarch butterflies to keep a record of the numbers we have in our own area and monitor how many come back from year to year.”

Volunteers will be trained to conduct weekly monarch and milkweed surveys, measure per plant densities of monarch eggs and larvae, and milkweed quality. Trainees will also learn how to handle the larva and butterflies. The training will enable individuals to find their own milkweed plot or have the opportunity to assist with the plot at Saint Vincent College, along the fitness trail near Brouwers Drive.

The workshop is free and open to the first 40 people who register. Participants can register by contacting Mrs. Bollinger at 724-537-5285 or e-mailing her at beth.bollinger@email.stvincent.edu.

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