Branch Out Event: Butterfly Tracking & Education

Imagine spending a day in Cades Cove chasing butterflies while helping with conservation efforts for monarch butterflies! Monarchs are an iconic American butterfly known the world over. It is the only butterfly that makes a true migration every single fall, and this migration occurs only in North America where the butterfly can travel over 2,000 miles to its winter destination.
As the media has been reporting, this natural event is considered endangered. We will share detailed information about the monarch butterfly, its life cycle, migration, and when monarchs are expected to be seen in the Great Smoky Mountains. We will learn to identify family groups of butterflies found in Cades Cove. You will also learn of several citizen science projects you can join to help monarch conservation here in the Smokies or from your own home.