Join Indian Creek Nature center for our second annual Monarch Fest, Saturday July 8, 11 AM– 3 PM. Enjoy a fun-filled day of games, activities and learning at this family-friendly festival. See monarch releases, help make milkweed seed balls for RAGBRAI riders, and adopt a monarch caterpillar (one per family while supplies last). Learn from local monarch experts about the status of monarchs and how to help. Celebrate the journey these extraordinary butterflies make every year and why they are so important to our planet!
Vendor booths will be open all day. Come for a short while, or stay the whole day!
ALL-DAY ACTIVITIES
Children’s Crafts
Butterfly life cycle plates, Monarch dot craft, Chrysalis craft and more!
Classrooms
Milkweed seed ball making for Ragbrai riders
Patio – Hosted by Monarchs in Eastern Iowa and Milkweed Matters
Education Tent with live butterfly demonstrations; Q&A
Yard in front of patio – Hosted by Monarch Zones
Caterpillar Adoptions
Limited number each hour, one caterpillar per family
Near butterfly hoophouse to the east of the Nature Center, under tent
Food Vendors
Grateful Crepe and O’s Grill
Parking lot
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Face Painting and Photo Op area
Classrooms – Funny Face Designs by Lori
Noon-2:00 PM
Butterfly Releases
Education Circle – prairie in front of Amazing Space
Noon, 1:00 PM, and 2:00 PM
Educational Presentations
11:15 AM
1,000 Acre Pollinator Initiative
Daniel Gibbins, City of Cedar Rapids
12:15 PM
RAGBRAI Riders spreading milkweed
Kelly Guillbeau, Milkweed Matters
1:15 PM
Monarch Predators
Aaron Eckley, Monarch Zones
2:15 PM
Status of Monarch butterflies and how to help
Karla McGrail, Monarchs of Eastern Iowa
Children will have the opportunity to go on teacher-naturalist-led insect hunts and play monarch games while parents watch the presentations. Kids will be returned to parents before the end of presentation.
Thank you to our sponsor 