Monarch Teacher Network-Canada

Hola Monarch Friends,

Two newsworthy items:

1) Wildflower Farm (near Orillia, Ontario) has just kicked off its growing season!!! We are pleased to announce that Wildflower Farm and Monarch Teacher Network-Canada (MTN-C) are growing together to make the world a greener and more butterfly friendly place to live.

Wildflower Farm, Canada's largest native plant nursery is pleased to offer a 10% discount to all members of MTN-C. In addition, Wildflower Farm is offering a 20% discount to members of MTN-C who combine orders with other members to create a group purchase or are purchasing for their school gardens (minimum $200).

Wildflower Farm's website, www.wildflowerfarm.com is an online catalogue and wildflower growing guide. You'll find a superb selection of gorgeous, hardy, perennial wildflowers (including milkweed!!!) and native grasses designed by nature to nurture and sustain monarch butterflies. Wildflower Farm also offers a 64 plant collection of wildflowers and native grasses featuring superb monarch attracting plants (find this collection in the "Gardens to Go" link).

Everything offered by Wildflower Farm is hardy through zone 3 which is very, very cold. Many of these species grow wild in Manitoba. On the website residents of each province can refer to the Plant Selection Guide link and see the wildflowers that we offer from their province.

Ontario members are cordially invited to visit Wildflower Farm's Natural Garden Centre and Native Botanical Gardens and see the monarchs and native plants working together. See website for location and directions.

2) Over the past few months, a number of teachers have offered to help with the Summer 2007 ‘Teaching and Learning with Monarch Butterflies’ workshops. We want to include as many of your contributions to the workshops as possible, as it benefits the project and everyone involved. We want you to know how much we appreciate your help, in any capacity. It’s all of you who will make the monarch workshops an overwhelming success for your upcoming colleagues. It is the people of MTN-C who make this project so powerful.

The Monarch Teacher Network-Canada (MTN-C) tour for July/August 2007:

July 24, 25, 26 Winnipeg, Manitoba

July 31, August 1, 2 Durham Region, Ontario

August 8, 9, 10 Ottawa, Ontario at Cairrine Wilson High School in Orleans

Let us know how you would like to help:

- promoting the workshops

- making monetary donations to the workshop … In the past, we have had several Parent Councils donate to the workshop and MTN-C staff have purchased books as door prizes. In schools where the monarch project has been really successful … Parent Councils have been thrilled to help out.

- preparing materials before the workshop … cutting tulle, preparing seed packets … this would work well for individuals who live in the Kingston, Ottawa or Winnipeg areas

- as staff during the workshops

We are requesting a four day commitment from staff; set-up day (we call this Day 0) and workshop dates (Day 1, 2, and 3) Workshop staff co-lead activities where they feel most comfortable or have the most expertise and also have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge in other areas. We would request that you indicate which area of the MTN-C curriculum you would be interested in co-leading.

- providing staff accommodations

- donating workshop materials (clothespins, tomato cages, rolls of craft paper …)

- donating door prizes (Please note: Door prizes must be monarch/butterfly related.)

- donating butterfly garden plants

There are site meetings planned for Winnipeg (May 9), Orleans (May 12) and Bowmanville (May 26). Please contact Anne at powersa@limestone.on.ca if you would like more information on these site meetings.

You have all helped make this project what it is. You inspire us. We would be honoured to have you part of the ‘2007 Tour de Monarca’ team. We promise you an exciting time … new adventures, new learning and new friends!!

Please join us!! Email Anne Powers at powera@limestone.on.ca (there are often difficulties accessing this monarchteacher@msn.com account)

Visit www.monarchcanada.org for registration applications for your colleagues (and great gardening info too!!)

If you are interested in helping out at any of the US workshops, visit www.eirc.org for workshop locations and/or email erikm@eirc.org. Our American friends would love to see you!

Sincerely,

Anne Powers
Elisabeth Sorensen
Morgan McQuay
Pat Cota
Monarch Teacher Network-Canada

www.monarchcanada.org