The Eastern PA Coalition For Abandoned Mine Reclamation is now preping to start a new Monarch Butterflies And Minelands science education project in Wilkes-Barre this Fall.

As part of the run-up to the program, EPCAMR has posted a live YouTube video feed of painted lady butterfly larvae going through their metamorphosis as an example of how part of the program will work.

EPCAMR is working with partners from the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, the Earth Conservancy and environmental educators from the Musto Visitors & Environmental Education Center at Nescopeck State Park to introduce 8 classrooms of 7th through 9th graders to the lifecycle of the monarch butterfly.

The students will raise the butterflies in their classrooms, tag and release them in new habitat areas planted with milk weed on reclaimed mine lands monitored by EPCAMR for the Earth Conservancy.  Students will follow-up by tracking the number of butterflies.

It is hoped the new butterfly habitat areas developed on abandoned mine lands will become regular stopovers points for migrating monarchs.

EPCAMR is also partnering with the Huber Breaker Preservation Society which already has experience with creating pollinator habitats at its Memorial Park.

Funding for the project comes from a DEP Environmental Education Grant.

Tune in to see how the butterflies are doing!

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8/15/2016