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Elizabeth Talbott's avatar

Did you know that the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) housed the Monarch Center for about a decade, led by Professor Norma Lopez-Reyna? Monarch Center prepared special education professors from minority-serving institutions (like UIC) to prepare their teacher candidates to be outstanding special educators (and write grants to recruit them). One of the Monarch Center's particular joys was working with leaders at tribal colleges and HBCUs. Here's to the Monarch!

https://www.newswise.com/articles/unique-special-education-center-established

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John Wills Lloyd's avatar

Love the divergent connection. Thanks!

The Monarch Center was wonderful. The folks there did lots of good for underrepresented groups.

I visited at least once. Norma may be able to clarify.

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Clayton Keller's avatar

Monarch Watch, out of the U. of Kansas (such a strong place for special ed), is another great source about all things monarch butterfly: https://monarchwatch.org/ And an informative and enjoyable book about monarchs is Sara Dykman's Bicycling with Butterflies.

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John Wills Lloyd's avatar

Nice one, Clay. Thanks for posting.

There are so many good sources. The Kansas site is very nice.

Folks may find these of interest, too:

• Monarch larval watch provides a citizen scientist opportunity: https://mlmp.org

• The Monarch Joint Venture is pretty cool: https://monarchjointventure.org

When Pat and I lived in DeKalb, IL, there was a tree in our back yard that was annually an overnight stopping place for huge numbers of migrating monarchs. We'd go out with flashlights and look at 100s in the beam as they hung from the leaves. I think it was an elm tree (one not lost to the disease).

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Clayton Keller's avatar

It would be cool to see so many monarchs hanging from a tree!

Two years ago we fostered about 50 monarchs from eggs or caterpillars into butterflies here on Madeline Island. My wife, Citizen Scientist Sue, tagged about 14 from the last migratory hatch (the butterflies are noticeably larger than ones from earlier in the summer) for Monarch Watch. None, however, were found among the hundreds in Mexico (though we still think they made it...). Last year we only hatched a few. This year we had 27 so far with one more still in its chrysalis.

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John Wills Lloyd's avatar

Wonderful report, Monarch-carer Clay! And, way to go Citizen Scientist Sue. Thanks for being on duty!

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