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This National Pollinator Week, Pheasants Forever and the Monarch Joint Venture have announced a new Miles for Monarchs campaign to raise awareness around the decline of native pollinators, while raising much-needed finances to support pollinator conservation work throughout monarch, pheasant and quail country.
Miles for Monarchs is an exciting new way to support monarch butterflies and associated pollinator habitat through athletic activities. By way of running, walking, biking, hiking or paddling through monarch regions of the United States, individuals and communities can host or join with existing fun runs, 5k’s, or other events with the purpose of funding habitat projects for monarch butterflies across North America.
“Monarch butterflies are a great barometer of environmental health and easy for nature lovers to identify with,” stated Drew Larsen, Pheasants Forever’s director of habitat education programs. “Using these attributes, we’ve designed a new, fun, and conservation-minded platform for individuals, organizations, and whole communities to support the comeback of the iconic monarch butterfly. Additionally, great pollinator habitat fuels the life cycle of upland birds, which is why Pheasants Forever maintains itself as a leader in pollinator habitat projects nationwide.”
Every dollar raised through the campaign will fund national habitat, research, and education work to protect monarchs and other pollinators through programs implemented by Pheasants Forever, the Monarch Joint Venture, and partners. These programs include youth habitat pollinator projects, demonstration habitats and field events, and educational seminars.
“Monarchs are an ambassador for environmental conservation at large,” said Wendy Caldwell, Monarch Joint Venture Executive Director. “With communities coming together through Miles for Monarchs, we can bring back monarchs and support many other interconnected species and ecosystems.”
How to Participate
1. Make a Direct Donation
- Receive a Miles for Monarch t-shirt for donations of $30+
2. Sign-up to Become a Fundraiser
- Register for an existing run/walk or other event
- Leverage the event to fundraise for monarch conservation
- Get Miles for Monarchs gear for you and your team!
- Not a competitor? Do it on your own by creating a goal
3. Host an Event
- Communities and organizations can organize their own fun run, 5k, or other outdoor activity to raise funds for butterfly conservation through the Miles for Monarchs campaign!
- Dedicate a portion of funds raised from an event to a local habitat initiative
For more information regarding the Miles for Monarchs campaign or to host an event in your own community, visit the website or contact Wendy Caldwell (651-222-7631 x 701 or wcaldwell@monarchjointventure.org) or Drew Larsen (308-293-1194 or DLarsen@PheasantsForever.Org).
The Monarch Joint Venture is a national partnership of federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations, businesses and academic programs working together to conserve the monarch butterfly migration. The content in this article does not necessarily reflect the positions of all Monarch Joint Venture partners. Header photo by Wendy Caldwell.