“When children come into contact with nature, they reveal their strength.”
– Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the Child
Chesapeake Montessori School was awarded an official Monarch Butterfly Waystation in 2015. The school community is committed to sustaining, conserving, and protecting Monarch Butterflies through measures that include extending our gardens, planting common milkweed, nectar plants, and shelter for them throughout their annual cycle of reproduction and migration. Each year, students, parents, and teachers work together to ensure that the Monarch caterpillars are brought inside to a suitable habitat where they make their chrysalises, are monitored, hatch, and then re-released to make their transcendental flight to Mexico. It is fascinating and rewarding experience, especially their metamorphosis, for all who engage in the process. We thank the founding families and staff for initiating this work, donating time and resources, and for creating a legacy for families at CMS to enjoy for generations to come. This CMS project is a measure of stewardship that encourages a deep love for our natural world.