History of Miner Monarchs

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Suzie Ronk with tagged Monarch.

The History of Miner Monarchs

Miner Monarchs began when Emma and I were in 5thgrade. I found an article in the New York Times explaining about the monarch’s decline in population. I sent Emma a link to the article, and we agreed we needed to do something. My father, who is on the Friends of Goosepond board, spoke to the Friends, and they kindly agreed to let us share their booth at Marsh Madness. We sold rubber-band bracelets, cupcakes, and coloring sheets. We raised $300, and we decided to use our profits to build a butterfly garden at the new Goosepond visitor’s center.

When Emma and I entered sixth grade, we decided we wanted our club to be more than just she and I, so we approached our science teacher, Cara Graves, about sponsoring a club for the middle school. She said she would help us, and Miner Monarchs was officially born.

Before the next Marsh Madness, we were invited to speak at the Marsh Madness banquet, and to sell something at the silent auction. My father and I, with some help from a few other people, made a bench after Aldo Leopold’s design, who, in my opinion, is the greatest conservationist of our time. The bench sold for around $500, and the next day at Marsh Madness, we raised about $300 selling duct tape items, scarves, hair bows, and brownies.

A bit after Marsh Madness, we were invited to have a booth at the Indianapolis Earth Day Festival, because the theme was monarch butterflies. We went there, and helped to spread the word about monarchs, and their troubles.

Emma and I were invited to speak at the Indiana Wildlife Federation, but since Emma was on vacation, I went, and gave a speech about what Miner Monarchs goals were. I was surprised that, while I was there, Emma and I had earned Wildlife Conservationists of the Year Award.

Miner Monarchs will return to Marsh Madness this year, and hopefully we teach more people about these amazing creatures, and why we need to protect them.  See you there!!

Suzie Ronk

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