Spring Valley celebrates release of 200th monarch butterfly

After a two-year initiative to increase the monarch butterfly population, 200 monarchs have been released at Schaumburg Park District's Spring Valley Nature Center.

Throughout spring and summer in 2018, volunteers raised the butterflies from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis in two rearing enclosures outside the Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road.

The initiative was spearheaded by Schaumburg resident Carol Johnson, who began working in 2016 to have monarch waystations featuring milkweed and other monarch-friendly plants installed in district parks and other areas in the community.

Enclosures were built at the nature center in May 2018.

"This project has exceeded our expectations," said Dave Brooks, manager of conservation services for Spring Valley Nature Center.

"We don't really know of anyone else who has taken monarch rearing to this level. It's a testament to not only Carol's dedication, but the crew of volunteers who've been working hard at the nature center."

Johnson's monarch butterfly conservation efforts were led with the help of Deloris Potter of Schaumburg and Judy Wood of Elk Grove Village.

"We had no idea the monarch initiative in Schaumburg would be so successful," Johnson said. "Schaumburg Park District has played a large part in making this happen. They were very supportive."

Volunteers are rearing their last generation of caterpillars for the season, with plans to release the butterflies in mid-September for the monarchs' annual migration to Mexico. Those butterflies will be tagged and tracked through Monarchwatch.org, Johnson said.

"Our goal is to have more monarch waystations and more milkweed planted in Schaumburg so everyone will have the experience of seeing monarchs pass by in their gardens," Johnson said.

The nature center has hosted butterfly releases daily throughout the summer, drawing large crowds of all ages to witness the magic.

"We try to get kids involved in the releases," Johnson said. "We put the butterflies on children's fingers. We let children name them. It's so cute when little ones clap their hands as the butterflies go up in the air."

For information, call (847) 985-2100 or visit parkfun.com.

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