Monarch Stewards

Field of flowers with butterfly graphics

The Monarch Stewards Certification Program provides volunteers with the skills and knowledge needed for conservation of monarchs and all pollinators. Throughout the program, volunteers will learn to create native pollinator friendly habitats, to contribute to research through monarch citizen science, and to amplify pollinator conservation through outreach and educational presentations.

Become a Monarch Steward

Over the past few decades, the Eastern monarch butterfly population has rapidly declined. Like many other pollinators, monarchs face serious threats from pesticide use, habitat loss, urbanization, and climate change. Protecting this iconic species, and its extraordinary 3,000-mile two-way migration across our continent, requires urgent conservation efforts and widespread community involvement. We need the help of future Monarch Stewards to educate your community, conduct outreach, create and sustain pollinator-friendly gardens, and contribute to vital scientific research. Together, we can help ensure the survival of the monarch butterfly for generations to come!

By attending the 3-part Monarch Stewards workshop series, you will receive the National Wildlife Federation's Monarch Stewards Certification!

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

You may attend any single workshop if you're interested, but you must attend all three workshops to obtain the certification.

1. Introduction to Monarch Conservation

This workshop centers on the biology and ecology of monarch butterflies, including their physiology, life cycle, annual cycle and migration, natural threats (predators, weather), and human activities that impact their survival. The workshop also includes an overview of pollinators and pollinator conservation. You will also learn what the locally adapted native host plants (milkweeds) and nectar plants are in your area that also benefit many other wildlife species, including other pollinators and birds.

2. Citizen Science

Citizen Scientists are an important asset to the Tri-National monarch conservation effort. At this workshop, you will obtain the technical skill and knowledge to collect monarch-related information in the field and provide meaningful data to the different organizations that are performing monarch butterfly scientific research. The Citizen Science workshop focuses on understanding and using the Monarch Larva Monitoring Protocol (MLMP), testing for the Ophryocystis elektroscirrha protozoan parasite (monarch health), tagging monarchs (Fall migration tracking), and collecting and reporting data on monarch sightings. You will also learn how to efficiently use crowd sourced online apps, such as iNaturalist, to identify species and to collect specific monarch related data.

3. Gardening for Monarchs and other Wildlife with Native Plants

This workshop focuses on learning how to design and create urban gardens using native plants adapted to specific ecotypes. It will also help you hone your presentation skills for working with community groups in support of monarch conservation and audiences that are new to the topic. You will learn how to identify opportunities for monarch habitat restoration, and how to create an attractive garden for wildlife in your front yard and other urban areas using native plants.

Stay tuned for upcoming workshop dates.

Additional Webinars

Learn about native pollinators from pollinator conservation experts in a relaxed, friendly environment. These one-hour webinars are free and open to the public. View upcoming webinars in this series on our Eventbrite events page. View recordings of past presentations: