Moth Ball
Explore the night-flying relatives of monarchs and other butterflies during an evening of mothing with MJV at our Prairie Oaks campus! We’ll explore the differences between moths and butterflies, learn various ways to attract and collect moths, identify different groups of moths, and discover the important roles moths play in our ecosystem. We’ll also collect data through iNaturalist to help us understand the wildlife at Prairie Oaks better!
This program is family-friendly, but please note that it takes place after dark.
Date and Time:
- July 25, 2025 (this event has been rescheduled due to inclement weather), 8:30 - 11:00 pm
Cost: Adults and youth (12 and over) - $10
Kids (under 12) - $5 (must be accompanied by an adult over 18)
Family (up to 2 adults and 2 kids) - $25 (each additional child $3)
Located at 1100 W. South Street, Belle Plaine, MN 56011
Community Science Trainings
Monarch Larva Monitoring Project
Be a community scientist with the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project (MLMP)! The MLMP team from MJV and the UW-Madison Arboretum co-lead virtual one-day training on how to collect data that contributes to our knowledge about the monarch population. Participants learn about monarch biology, monitoring procedures, and data entry protocols and are able to ask monarch biologists their questions about monarchs and monitoring.
Live interactive MLMP training sessions are typically held in the spring and early summer each year. You are welcome to take the trainings below regardless of your location.
2025 Live Interactive Training:
If you'd like a self-paced course, you can sign up for the online MLMP course offered at the Monarch NECTAR Hub.
If you'd like to book a private training for your group please email education@monarchjointventure.org.
Reach out to info@mlmp.org if you have any questions about community science training.
Located at 1100 W. South Street, Belle Plaine, MN 56011
Butterfly Days at Prairie Oaks: Supporting Nature
August 23rd, 2025, from 11am-3pm
Located at 1100 W. South Street, Belle Plaine, MN 56011
Free and family friendly: Join us for an afternoon of nature-themed fun!
The event will feature other community organizations that will each have interactive activities at their tables. MJV will offer a variety of activities for kids, lawn games, and monarch tagging demonstrations throughout the event.
Organizations & Vendors joining us:
- Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community
- National Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Center (be sure to shop their hummingbird-themed items!)
- Living Earth Center
- Carver-Scott Master Gardeners
- University of Minnesota Bee Squad
- Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources
- The Prairie Enthusiasts
- Nature Enthusiations (insect-themed jewelry: 100% of profits will be donated to MJV)
- Bluebird Program of MN
- Girl Scouts (presenting their pollinator projects)
- Cottage Delights mini cakes
- Saint Paul Spice Company (gourmet hot sauces: 20% of profits will be donated to MJV).
- Gray Duck gourmet beverage syrups
Activities:
- Science Explorations Tent and Monarch Tagging
- Paint a Garden Rock
- Llama petting zoo
- Bouncy House for the kids
- Coloring
- Bubbles!
- Button Making
- Make-Your-Own-Native-Seed Packet Station
- Lawn Games
- MJV Store
- And More!
Food and Drinks:
Summer-themed meal deal: hot dog, chips, freezy pop, and a drink sold by 4H. Vegan hotdogs will be available for those who request them. Cash only. If the meal deal doesn't interest your group, we welcome folks to bring a picnic to enjoy on our grounds!