The North American Monarch Institute (NAMI) is a partnership between the US Forest Service International Programs, Monarch Joint Venture, and the University of Wisconsin - Madison Arboretum. It brings together teachers, non-formal science educators, and scientists to study monarchs and build lasting collaborations along the monarchs’ migration flyway route to Mexico.
A key goal of the Monarch Flyway Network is to promote a standards- and inquiry-based approach to science, by encouraging and supporting ongoing engagement in conservation and research activities. Participants study monarch biology and ecology, engage in citizen monitoring programs (such as Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, Monarch Watch, Journey North, and Monarch Health), study the plants and animals with which monarchs interact in the wild, and create schoolyard habitats to support monarchs and other pollinators. These activities are supported during an intensive summer workshop, followed by ongoing communication and networking.
NAMI After 10 Years
In its first ten years, the North American Monarch Institute was an effective collaboration between the US Forest Service and the University of Minnesota to promote monarch education and monarch conservation practices. This partnership now continues with the Monarch Joint Venture and the University of Wisconsin - Madison Arboretum, with collaboration and support from the US Forest Service. In ten years, over 700 educators completed the 3 day intensive training and 200 school gardens have been planted to provide habitat for monarchs and for students to conduct outdoor observations and investigations. These monarch habitats and experts are located across the United States.
North American Monarch Institutes have now been held in six different cities across the nation. Communities of educators in St. Paul, MN, Chicago, IL, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, GA, Milwaukee, WI, and Denver, CO engaged in rigorous lessons and activities that promoted better understanding of science skills, monarch biology, citizen science, and schoolyard ecology. The reach of the NAMI trainings extends to thousands of school-aged students, nature center visitors, and museum and zoo attendees. Bolstering NAMI with experienced educators will ensure that NAMI concepts will continue to empower students and communities to engage in monarch education and conservation.