Butterfly Discovery

This event is FULL, but if you would like to be put on a waitlist in the case that a spot opens, please email Sara Norman at sara@landmarkwi.org

Event Details

This event is intended for adult participants. Explore the beautiful world of butterflies guided by Beaver Creek Reserve naturalists Jim Schwiebert and Megan Giefer! Take a walk through a native prairie in bloom that provides prime habitat for a wide variety of local butterflies.

There will be a demonstration for how to use butterfly nets and then you’ll get the chance to catch and observe them up close before releasing them. Learn about host and nectar plants. Hear about the challenges pollinator populations are facing, and how land protection and prairie management can be part of the solution. You’ll leave knowing some ways to attract butterflies to your yard and how to support and increase butterfly numbers in the wild.

After our time exploring the prairie, head to Beaver Creek Reserve, a 7-mile drive. Bring a bag lunch and we will eat at the picnic tables there. After lunch, we will have a private tour of the Monarch Caterpillar Lab, usually not open to the public. Get up close and personal learning about all four stages of their life cycle (egg, larvae, chrysalis, and adult butterfly). The Butterfly House will also be open if you’d like to extend your visit and experience the enchantment of this enclosed butterfly garden. 

Trip Itinerary: (all times are approximate)

• Prairie & Butterfly Hike: 1 hour
• Travel to Beaver Creek Reserve: 15 min
• Lunch (bring your own): 30 min
• Caterpillar Lab Tour: 20 min
• Butterfly House: 20 min

This event is part of Wisconsin Land Trust Days, an annual celebration with events hosted by land trusts in July, August, and September. Join us to learn more about what a land trust is and why it matters for butterfly conservation!

Hike Details:  This will be an easy walk through a relatively flat prairie on a mowed trail. Approximate distance: less than 1 mile.

Location: The prairie walk will take place at a private property in eastern Eau Claire County that is protected through a conservation easement with Landmark Conservancy and owned by Beaver Creek Reserve. The exact location will be provided after registration. Participants will drive to Beaver Creek Reserve to finish the field trip.

Parking: Limited to roadside parking at the meeting location. Beaver Creek Reserve has a parking lot for the second part of the trip.

What to Bring: Please wear comfortable shoes, dress appropriately for the weather and wear layers. Bring sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat, water, and a bag lunch. We will be in a prairie with little opportunity for shade.

Additional Information: No restroom facilities are available at the prairie location, except the great outdoors. Restrooms are available at the Beaver Creek Reserve for the second part of the trip. No dogs please.

Contact Information: Sara Norman, Community Engagement Manger, sara@landmarkwi.org

Cost: $10. To make this event accessible to all income levels, there is a free option on the registration form. Please select this option if the $10 cost of this event would be a barrier to your participation. No questions asked. Tickets are transferrable to another participant; no refunds.

Registration Required: Capacity 15 people