Paul Smiths Visitor Center -- St Regis Mountain from Heron Marsh

Monarchs in the Meadow
Saturday, 25 August 2012
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, rain or shine
Free -- Donations accepted.

Paul Smiths VIC Native Species Butterfly House -- the only such facility in the Adirondacks and northern New York StateThe Monarch Butterflies in the Paul Smiths VIC will be released on 25 August.

 

10 AM - 4 PM Information on Monarchs, migration and tagging by butterfly expert Sue Grimm Hanley
1 PM Explore Drumming workshop with Inisheer's Erik Van Yserloo
2 PM Bird-on-Hand Demonstration with Mark Manske

 

Adirondack Butterflies: Monarch Butterfly in the VIC Native Species Butterfly House (30 June 2012)The Monarch Butterflies in the VIC Native Species Butterfly House will be released on 25 August to begin their long journey south. The VIC is marking the event with a family-friendly celebration of arts, music, and dance. The activities will take place in the Paul Smiths College VIC Butterfly House and adjacent meadow. This is a rain or shine event. The rain location is inside the VIC building, in the Great Room, on the rug. This is a great opportunity for families, nature lovers, folks who like to play music outdoors, and nature photographers. Call the VIC at (518) 327-6241 for more information.

Adirondack Butterflies: Monarch Butterfly in the Paul Smiths VIC Butterfly House (10 July 2012)The Monarch Butterflies which will be released on 25 August have been living in the VIC Native-Species Butterfly House during the summer. The Butterfly House features butterflies and moths in all stages of development. It is the only such facility in the Adirondacks and one of a very few in the northeast which concentrate on native species butterflies. The VIC butterfly house also hosts butterflies which migrate to the Adirondacks in the summer, including the Monarch Butterfly -- one of the most popular of the butterflies and moths in the Butterfly House.

Adirondack Butterflies: Monarch Butterfly in the VIC Native Species Butterfly House (30 June 2012)Monarchs arrive in the Adirondacks in late May. These butterflies are the adults of the first generation which have emerged in late April in northern Mexico and the southern US. Some butterflies fly all the way north; others fly part way, with their children completing the journey. Here in the north the next generation of Monarchs emerges. In August or September, they begin a lengthy journey south to their wintering habitat in central Mexico -- 2,500 miles from the Adirondack Mountains. They soar and glide on wind currents much of the time and travel in very large groups. It is estimated that they fly up to fifty miles a day, arriving in Mexico in early November. Our Monarchs will be part of this miraculous migration.

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Explore the VIC

The Paul Smiths VIC offers a wide variety of programs throughout the year to educate and inform Adirondack Park residents and visitors about the natural wonders of the Adirondack Mountains. You can help support these programs by joining the Friends of the VIC. More information on Friends of the VIC memberships

Explore the Trails

The VIC trails are free and open to the public, from dawn to dusk, spring through fall. In winter, the trails are open to cross-country skiers and snowshoers for a fee. Day or season passes may be purchased.