Are you ready to run, walk, bike, swim, roll, or paddle and take meaningful steps toward monarch butterfly conservation? The Miles for Monarchs event presents a unique opportunity to make a real difference while embracing a physical challenge. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just looking to get moving for a cause, here’s your comprehensive guide on how to join our Wild Ones team traveling Miles for Monarchs and embark on your own miles for monarchs journey.
1. Understanding Miles for Monarchs
Miles for Monarchs is a twice-yearly event held by Wild One’s partner, Monarch Joint Venture (MJV) that corresponds to the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) fall and spring migration. Each fall, North American monarchs travel from their summer breeding grounds to overwintering locations. Learn more about the migration with MJV’s interactive map.
Miles for Monarchs is more than just a run—it’s a movement aimed at raising awareness and funds for the conservation of these iconic pollinators. The event invites individuals and teams to log miles as a symbolic representation of the long migration journey that monarch butterflies undertake each year. The fall “migration” will be hosted from August 28 – October 1.
Map from https://milesformonarchs.com/ shows the approximate migratory route of the monarch butterfly.
2. Joining the Event
Getting started is easy! Here’s how to join Wild Ones as we track Miles for Monarchs:
- Visit the Registration Website: Select individual registrations or help sign your whole chapter up at once with team registration.
- Join the Wild Ones Team: Follow the prompts, and use “Wild Ones” when prompted for your Miles for Monarchs Team/Family Name on the additional information screen.
- Provide Your Details: Fill in your personal information, including your name, email, and any other required details.
- Make Your Contribution: Pay the $14 registration fee and optional additional donation. Your registration and donation support MJV’s work to conserve the monarch butterfly, its migration, and other pollinators.
3. Setting Goals
Setting goals keeps you motivated throughout the event. Here’s how to do it:
- Determine Your Mileage: Decide how many miles you aim to cover within the event’s timeframe.
- Personalize Your Journey: Consider how you want to track your miles. Walk, run, roll, bike, paddle, swim, or a combination (anything self-propelled). If you use a mobility device, you can still track the distance you travel, whether self-propelled or motorized.
4. Logging Your Miles
Tracking your progress is an exciting part of the journey. Here’s how to do it:
- Every Week: We suggest entering your miles at the end of each week on the Miles for Monarchs website. Please make sure your miles reporting matches your registration information (Name and email address). See the FAQ for converting different activities into miles.
5. Connecting and Sharing
The Miles for Monarchs community is all about coming together for a common cause. Here’s how to engage:
- Share Your Journey: Post updates on social media, share photos, achievements, and the impact you’re making! Be sure to tag @WildOnes and @MonarchJointVenture and use the hashtags #wildformonarchs, #MilesforMonarchs, and #MonarchjointVenture. MJV event created some handy social media images to use via Canva.
- Stay Connected: Engage with fellow participants, share stories, and motivate each other throughout the event.
- Check Our Progress: You will receive a weekly email from Monarch Joint Venture with team totals! Wild Ones is keeping track too, so we can give out awards for top migrators and chapters that have logged the most miles!
8. Celebrate Your Achievements
As the event concludes, take a moment to celebrate your achievements:
- Reflect on Your Journey: Look back at the miles you’ve covered and the impact you’ve made for monarch butterflies.
- Celebrate Together: You’re part of the Wild Ones team! Check back often to celebrate the collective effort and the difference we’ve collectively contributed.
Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) on Solidago spp. Image from 2022 Wild Ones Photo Contest by Jill Spindler titled “Gotta Go to Mexico.”
About the Monarch Joint Venture and Wild Ones
MJV unites federal and state agencies, NGOs, businesses, and academic programs in a collaborative effort to safeguard monarch migration across the United States. As a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, all donations are tax-deductible.
Wild Ones has been a proud partner of Monarch Joint Venture for over a decade. Our collaboration aims to create habitats that support local ecosystems by emphasizing the crucial relationship between native plants and pollinators. Together, we seek to educate and engage communities in planting native species that provide food, shelter, and breeding grounds for pollinators, thus enhancing biodiversity, improving ecosystem resilience, and contributing to sustainable landscapes. The joint mission underscores the interconnectedness of plants and pollinators, aiming to restore and maintain healthy ecosystems for present and future generations.