Monarch Park Bed & Breakfast is more than just a rustic retreat—it's a nationally certified Monarch butterfly way station (ID #25616) and a hub for ecological restoration and hands-on learning. Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in Albany, Ohio, the 5-acre property is dedicated to restoring native habitats by reintroducing native flora such as milkweed, bergamot, and sumac while actively removing invasive species like Autumn Olive and Multiflora Rose.

Through its Land Lab & Butterfly Way Station, Monarch Park offers immersive educational experiences for nature enthusiasts, educators, and conservation professionals. Workshops such as these provide hands-on training in habitat restoration, plant identification, and ecological conservation. Visitors are invited to engage with the landscape, learn sustainable land stewardship practices, and contribute to the preservation of vital pollinator habitats.

Through the Eyes of Butterflies...

Graduate Courses 1-credit each (Click image for description)

water, earth, wind, and fire

course 1 of 3

plants, pollinators, and people

course 2 of 3

creating a Monarch butterfly way station

course 3 of 3

Through the Eyes of Butterflies is an eye-opening learning experience designed to help educators—whether in public, private, homeschool, or community settings—teach students about our environment in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking. If you teach science or social studies, this program offers you the opportunity to explore crucial topics like the biosphere, environmental stewardship, and the urgent need for informed decisions about the future of our planet. By the end of this 3-course program, you’ll also learn how to create your own Monarch butterfly way station, helping your students develop a deeper connection to nature and community.

Aligned with Ohio’s Social Studies and Science Standards, Through the Eyes of Butterflies uses the Monarch butterfly—already a symbol of environmental fragility—as a lens to explore the delicate balance of life on Earth. Threatened by habitat destruction, climate change, and human actions that alter the natural world, the Monarch’s survival hangs in the balance. The butterfly relies on elements of nature—water, earth, wind, and fire—that we have changed, often irreparably. Through the eyes of the Monarch, you’ll experience the challenges of North America’s landscapes, follow its perilous migration route, and grapple with the pressing question: Is it too late to change our ways, or can we still make a difference in time to save this iconic species—and ourselves?

image description: Monarch butterfly migratory path across North America

image credit: Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

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Learning Outcomes...

- Help Students to Understand Ecosystem Interdependence
  Explain how the natural elements—water, earth, wind, and fire—shape ecosystems, and how human actions can either harm or restore these systems, using the Monarch butterfly as a central example.
- Connect Historical and Modern Environmental Practices
  Examine the relationship between historical environmental practices (e.g., Indigenous fire management) and modern environmental challenges (e.g., wildfires, habitat loss), and how these influence today’s ecological decisions.
- Use Inquiry and Data Collection in Environmental Education
  Design and implement hands-on science experiments and projects that engage students in inquiry-based learning on environmental science, with a focus on Monarch butterfly conservation.
- Promote Environmental Action and Stewardship
  Encourage students to take action in their local communities by creating Monarch butterfly way stations, designing pollinator gardens, and engaging in habitat restoration.

- Foster Collaboration and Leadership in Environmental Projects Support teachers in building classroom and school communities that promote teamwork, leadership, and environmental stewardship through collaborative projects like Monarch butterfly habitat restoration and pollinator garden management.

image description: Asclepius tuberosa (aka Butterfly Bush), Rudbeckia hirta (aka Black-eyed Susan), and other grasses growing in a field at Monarch Park Butterfly Way Station in Albany, Ohio.

image credit: Monarch Park Butterfly Way Station

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Program Structure

Each of the three courses builds on the previous one, but completing all three is not required. Each course stands alone to provide greater flexibility for busy educators. Each course is one (1) graduate credit hour.

Three (3) courses:
Format: Each course consists of several asynchronous, online modules and one in-person meeting at Monarch Park Butterfly Way Station, our land lab in Albany, Ohio.
Hands-On Learning: Educators will tour our 5-acre land lab and Monarch butterfly way station and engage in experiential learning at our land lab such as prescribed fire management, plant identification, and pollinator habitat creation.

water, earth, wind, and fire

course 1 of 3

plants, pollinators, and people

course 2 of 3

creating a Monarch butterfly way station

course 3 of 3

Ways to Join...

On Your Own

Participate on your own

With a Team

Form a Teacher Team to represent your school or district

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