Monarch Teacher Network
LSU Hilltop Arboretum is pleased to host two professional development workshops led by the Monarch Teacher Network, a national nonprofit organization that helps educators use monarch butterflies, migration, nature, language, and the arts as tools for teaching and learning.
These hands-on workshops are open to traditional classroom teachers as well as non-traditional educators, including homeschool educators, informal educators, Master Gardeners, nature center staff, librarians, youth program leaders, and others who work with learners of any age.
Hilltop’s natural setting provides an ideal environment for experiential, place-based learning, where science, storytelling, art, observation, and outdoor exploration come together in ways that can inspire learners of all ages.
Advance registration is required. Space is limited. Lunch is provided.
Monarch Workshop
Thursday and Friday, July 9-10, 8am – 4pm
Workshop cost $99
Every fall, monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains migrate roughly 2,000 miles to Mexico, while monarchs west of the Rockies migrate to the California coast. Their extraordinary journey provides a rich, cross-curricular theme for teaching science, literacy, geography, environmental studies, and more.
During this two-day workshop, participants will engage in hands-on classroom and field experiences while learning how to rear monarchs and use monarch migration as a foundation for standards-aligned lessons. Participants will leave with the knowledge, skills, and materials needed to create memorable learning experiences for their students or program audiences.
Participants receive:
- The comprehensive Journeys teacher guide
- The trilingual film Journeys and Transformations in English, French, and Spanish
- A trilingual monarch life-cycle poster
- Rearing cages and other classroom materials
Video about our monarch project.
Voices from the Land Workshop
Saturday, July 11, 8am–4pm & Sunday, July 12, 12:30–4:30 pm
Workshop cost $99
The Voices from the Land project celebrates the connections among language, nature, art, performance, and the human imagination. Designed for people of any age or ability, the project can be adapted to any landscape and any language.
This workshop will guide participants through the creative process of observing the natural world, creating materials-based art, developing prose or poetry, and preparing oral or public presentations. Through hands-on instruction and experiential learning, attendees will gain the skills and confidence to facilitate Voices from the Land projects with their own students, participants, or community groups in natural settings.
Participants receive:
- A comprehensive written guide with activities, examples, and templates
- Practical methods for guiding outdoor exploration and materials-based art
- Strategies for translating art into oral and written language
- Techniques for coaching performance and public presentation
About Monarch Teacher Network
Monarch Teacher Network is a nonprofit organization that provides hands-on professional development for teachers and informal educators using monarch butterflies, migration, and place-based learning as pathways for interdisciplinary teaching. Through its workshops and educational resources, Monarch Teacher Network supports educators in creating meaningful learning experiences that connect students with nature, science, language, culture, and the arts.
Monarch Teacher Network Details
Monarch Workshop
July 9-10 | 8am-4pm
Voices from the Land Workshop
July 11 | 8am-4pm
and
July 12 | 12:30-4:30pm