2017 Monarch Butterfly Release

The Monarch butterfly is very significant to the El Valor community. Each year, children, families, adults with disabilities, teachers, and staff raise Monarchs at home and in classrooms. Dozens are released during the annual celebration. It is a perfect STEM tool for citizen scientists young and old: they study the life cycle of the creature and grow milkweed, the plant on which the Monarch lays its eggs. The Monarch is culturally relevant to our immigrant community, as well, because it travels south to overwinter in Mexico and then returns in the spring.

This year’s annual Monarch Butterfly Release was featured on ABC7 Chicago, Univision, and WTTW’s Chicago Tonight! Pictured to the right is one of our special guests, Representative Lisa Hernandez of the 24th District. Click to view other photos from the event.

El Valor’s Monarch butterfly program is a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. Learn more here.