Monarch Joint Venture Webinar: Monarchs in Action: Youth-Led Conservation Projects and Initiatives

Monarchs in Action: Youth-Led Conservation Projects and Initiatives, presented by Rayna Lambert and Morton Freshman Center students (Citlalli Mendoza and Vanessa Hernandez)

15,000 Square Feet of Hope: Students Transform a Patch of Grass into a Globally Recognized Monarch Habitat

In Cicero, Illinois, students at Morton Freshman Center transformed an empty schoolyard into a thriving monarch butterfly habitat, combining science, engineering, and community action to support pollinators. What began as a classroom project grew into a nationally and internationally recognized conservation effort, with the project now permanently featured in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, presented at the United Nations International Day of Forests, and photographed by National Geographic. Led by teacher Kevin O’Toole, students continue to lead the way in urban conservation, showing that even in the heart of an industrial urban area, young people can make a lasting environmental impact.